8 Life Lessons from the Camino de Santiago

In the six months since I boarded my flight home from Spain to the United States, my mind has swirled with reflections on my experience walking the Camino de Santiago. When I first arrived home, I wondered if the 500-mile, 33-day pilgrimage would prompt a major epiphany or spur a huge life change when I returned to my life in Los Angeles, California. 

Would I lace up my shoes and go for a long walk every morning? Would I stay in touch with fellow pilgrims I met in France and Spain? Or would I return to my life and act like nothing had ever happened?

Since returning, I’ve answered those questions and gained further insight into the lessons the journey has meant for me and for many others who have walked the Camino de Santiago. 

What is The Camino de Santiago?

Before we start, let’s talk a little about The Camino de Santiago. Also known as the Way of St. James, it is a network of pilgrimage routes leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain.

This historic pilgrimage, which dates back to the Middle Ages, attracts thousands of pilgrims from around the world each year. Traditionally undertaken for religious reasons, modern pilgrims also walk the Camino for spiritual growth, adventure, and cultural exploration. The routes vary in length and difficulty, with the most popular being the Camino Francés, which starts in St. Jean Pied de Port in France and spans approximately 500 miles (800 kilometers).

Jen Pellerito shares here lessons learned by walking this historic route, and now that we have read it, we are more determined to tackle this incredible pilgrimage in 2025! If you are planning your Camino de Santiago hike, read Jen’s post about Where to Stay on the Camino de Santiago

Time moves slower when you’re walking

When you walk the Camino, you can cover a distance of five to twenty miles per day, which takes anywhere from five to eight hours. It’s a stark contrast to routine life at home, where we can drive, fly, or train our way around.

When you walk, you travel at a slower pace. The result of literally moving slower contributed to a sense of having more time on my hands.

I felt like I could see the passage of time. I noticed the the sun fell at different times of day, how the weather patterns changed, and how the flowers bloomed as the days passed. 

I learned that nothing ever stays the same. My daily routine continued to repeat itself, yet everything in the…