Setting off on the Camino de Santiago by yourself can feel like a big undertaking. There’s excitement, of course, but also a great many questions and plenty of nerves. Will I be lonely? Is the Camino safe for solo walkers? Will I feel out of place eating dinner alone? These concerns are completely normal for anyone considering a solo Camino, especially if it’s your first time doing such a trip.
But here’s the truth: while you may start the Camino alone, you’re rarely on your own for long. The Camino has a unique ability to bring people together. There’s a natural rhythm to the days, a shared sense of purpose, and remarkable openness among fellow walkers. Solo pilgrims are a common sight, and they are welcomed, supported, and will often find new friends within a day or two.
Whether you’re looking for time to reflect on life or simply want the freedom to travel in your own unique way, walking the Camino solo can be deeply rewarding. And with routes like the Camino Francés and Portuguese Coastal Camino offering well-marked trails and plenty of fellow pilgrims, it’s one of the most solo-friendly adventures out there.
The Freedom to Walk Your Own Way
One of the most immediate joys of walking the Camino solo is the freedom it gives you. You set your own schedule. You decide when to rest, when to explore a village, when to take a long lunch, and when to keep walking. There’s no need to negotiate plans or worry about anyone else’s pace. If you feel like stopping to watch the light shift over a field of sunflowers or taking a detour for an extra coffee, you can simply do it.
Daily life is filled with noise and expectations, but on the Camino, your time belongs to you again. This rare sense of autonomy can be quietly transformative. It’s not all about solitude, either. Along the way, you’ll find company whenever you want it, whether it’s at the next coffee bar, in a shared dorm, or during dinner with other pilgrims.
The Camino Community: Alone, But Never Isolated
When we stop to think about it, pilgrimages have always, paradoxically, been about both shared and solo experiences. The spiritual quality of pilgrimages is often intensely personal, as are our motivations for wanting to complete the walk in the first place. The physical challenge also depends upon your will, your readiness to persevere. And yet, a pilgrimage differs from other hikes or epic challenges in that we know we are participating in something with a long history; we follow paths first laid down by the pilgrims of bygone eras. Company, too, is expected. We depart on a famed pilgrimage route, knowing that we will encounter people who share our dream of walking to Santiago de Compostela.
Many solo walkers are surprised to find out just how social the Camino actually is. From the moment you tie your boots on and set off, you’re part of something bigger. Communal dinners, shared dorms, and encounters on long stretches of trail and at holy sites… By undertaking the Camino, you’re writing an interesting chapter in your life, and many interesting characters are sure to find their way onto the pages!
Time Alone: A Gift You Didn’t Know You Needed?
Having long stretches of the Camino to yourself opens up mental space you didn’t realise was missing. The steady rhythm of walking, the sound of your footsteps, and the wind in the trees create room to think, or not to think, as the case may be. It allows you to explore things deeply inside yourself. As always with pilgrimages, there is an exterior journey and an internal one.
As a solo traveller, you’ll be better able to control just how much time you spend alone. We have seen solo pilgrims join a group on day one and remain with them throughout their journey; others guard this alone time away from home, knowing just how precious it is to them at this time in their lives.
Is the Camino Safe for Solo Travellers?
This is one of the most common questions we get. The short answer? Yes. The Camino is widely considered one of the safest long-distance walking routes in the world, especially for solo travellers. Thousands of people walk it alone every year, including many women of all ages.
The main Camino Routes are well-marked and well-populated, with lots of towns, villages, and services along the way. You’re rarely far from help, should you need it.
Of course, as with any solo travel, common sense applies: let someone know your plans, keep your valuables secure, and trust your instincts. But overall, most solo walkers report feeling very safe, not just physically, but emotionally supported by the community of fellow pilgrims and locals alike.
And if you’d prefer a little extra reassurance, guided or semi-guided options are a great way to have solo time while still having structure and support when it matters. We offer several flexible Camino tour options to help you find that balance.
So if you’re thinking about walking solo, we say do it. Be nervous if you need to be. But don’t let it stop you. The trail will meet you exactly where you are. And if you’d like help planning your solo Camino, take a look at our self-guided tour options. We’ll take care of the details, so you can focus on the walk.
