Before embarking on the Camino, I thought I had a clear idea of what to expect. After all, I had planned every detail and prepared myself mentally. But as it often happens in life, my journey was filled with unexpected surprises, and I ended up learning a lot about myself along the way.

One thing that stood out was how much I thought I knew myself before the walk. We all have certain habits, quirks, and ways of approaching life, and I thought I had mine pretty well mapped out. However, the Camino was a humbling reminder that even when we think we know ourselves, there’s always room for a few surprises. Let me share how my expectations clashed with reality during this transformative walk.

Music & Podcasts: Keeping Boredom at Bay

Expectation
I was sure I would need music and podcasts to pass the time and stave off boredom. I even went so far as to curate a playlist of songs recommended by friends, hoping to listen to them while walking and text the person when their track played.

Reality
To my surprise, I rarely found myself bored. While I did listen to music and podcasts, it wasn’t nearly as much as I expected. On the long stretches, especially the monotonous pavement walks, I would occasionally listen to the Smartless podcast, which kept me laughing during some of the harder days. But more often than not, I found peace in simply walking in silence and soaking in the surroundings. I also discovered an unexpected love for classical music, especially Max Richter. It was an unplanned but delightful change, and by the end, I hadn’t even made a significant dent in my playlist.

Busy Trails vs. Cows

Expectation
I assumed the Camino would be filled with fellow pilgrims, walking in large groups and sharing the journey.

Reality
Instead, much of the Camino was surprisingly quiet, and I found myself surrounded by cows more than people. Not a complaint, by any means—actually, I quite enjoyed the solitude, and the occasional moo was a peaceful reminder of the rural nature of the walk.

Private Rooms: A Desire for Solitude

Expectation
I thought I’d prefer staying in private rooms as much as possible. After all, who doesn’t love a little alone time, a safe space to relax, and the luxury of not having to worry about a snoring bunkmate?

Reality
I did enjoy the occasional private room, but I quickly realized that I often longed for the communal atmosphere of the albergues (pilgrim hostels). The camaraderie in these shared spaces, comparing blisters or having a laugh over dinner with fellow pilgrims, was something I didn’t expect to miss as much as I did. If I could do it again, I’d choose albergues more often, especially the ones that offered communal meals—there’s something magical about sharing food and stories with strangers from all over the world.

Rest Days: A Time to Relax?

Expectation
With five weeks of walking ahead of me, I planned to take a rest day every week to recharge.

Reality
As it turned out, I took only two rest days—one in Bilbao to explore the Guggenheim, and another in Santillana del Mar to give my blisters a much-needed break. I had thought I would crave downtime, but instead, I found myself restless and eager to continue walking. My body had adapted to the routine, and the idea of sitting still felt more like a challenge than a luxury. In hindsight, one rest day might have been enough, and I’d recommend taking one near a beach if I were to do it again.

Large Cities: Too Much to Handle

Expectation
I was excited to explore big cities, visit museums, historical landmarks, and relax in coffee shops.

Reality
However, when I arrived in larger cities, I felt overwhelmed. The busy streets, the crowds, the constant decision-making on where to eat—these things that once seemed appealing became jarring. I realized that I had become accustomed to the peaceful, slower pace of the small villages along the Camino, where the simplicity of life was a relief. Even in cities like Bilbao or Laredo, I found that I preferred to keep moving and exploring smaller, quieter places. Thankfully, coffee shops and historical sites were plentiful along the way, so I didn’t miss out on them entirely.

Repetitive Conversations

Expectation
I feared I’d be stuck repeating my life story over and over again to fellow pilgrims: where I’m from, what I do, how long I’ve been traveling, and so on.

Reality
What I discovered on the Camino was that the conversations were refreshingly different. Most pilgrims shared a common experience of walking for days, so the usual small talk was replaced with discussions about the walk itself, where we were headed, and how we were feeling. No one really cared much about the usual introductory details. I found these deeper, shared moments much more meaningful and enjoyable than I ever expected.

Booking Ahead: To Plan or Not to Plan?

Expectation
I thought I’d need to book my accommodations in advance to guarantee a spot at the albergues, especially given how busy the Camino can get during peak season.

Reality
While booking ahead had its perks, especially in larger cities, I found that it was more of a hindrance than a help in some cases. On days when I felt up for walking further, I was limited by the reservations I’d already made. I quickly learned that flexibility was key, and it was often easier to just show up and figure it out. Emailing ahead to reserve a spot or booking last-minute worked out well for me.

The Social Butterfly I Never Expected

Expectation
I imagined I would walk mostly alone, savoring the solitude and quiet of the Camino.

Reality
Surprisingly, I found myself enjoying the company of fellow pilgrims more than I anticipated. Although I still valued my alone time, I walked with companions for a good portion of my journey, and it turned out to be an incredibly enriching experience. We shared stories, laughs, and the highs and lows of the walk. It was an unexpected but delightful change.

Hiking Wardrobe: The Simple Life

Expectation
I expected to get fed up with wearing the same clothes day after day, and maybe even long for variety.

Reality
To my surprise, I found the simplicity of my wardrobe to be a relief. With just a few shirts, a pair of hiking pants, and some comfortable shoes, I didn’t have to think too much about what I was wearing. After a day of sweating through miles of walking, I didn’t care about variety or appearance. It was blissfully easy, and my minimalist packing was exactly what I needed.

The Camino Experience: More Than I Expected

Expectation
I thought it would be a long walk across Spain, something to check off my travel list.

Reality
The Camino turned out to be so much more than just a physical journey. It was an emotional and spiritual experience that deeply affected me. I left Spain feeling full, but also wrung out, with a profound sense of connection to the world and to myself. It wasn’t just a stroll—it was a transformative journey, one that I will carry with me for a long time.

Traveling After the Camino

Expectation
I thought I would enjoy traveling at a slower pace after completing the Camino.

Reality
In hindsight, I wasn’t ready for the transition. The endorphin highs of walking each day, the routine, and the community I had formed left me feeling adrift once I stopped. I didn’t fully enjoy the post-Camino travel, even though I visited beautiful cities like Porto, Seville, and Granada. The change of pace was jarring, and I felt disconnected. I would have preferred to spend more time at home to decompress, rather than traveling immediately after.

The Camino was filled with surprises—both big and small—and it taught me more than I expected about life, people, and myself. It was a journey that showed me the beauty of embracing the unexpected.