You walked the Camino. You followed the yellow arrows. You reached Santiago. You returned home. And now, something strange is happening. You find yourself daydreaming about the trail, longing for the simple rhythm of walking, the weight of your backpack, the shared laughter of pilgrims, the quiet beauty of a sunrise over the hills.

You thought you were done. But the Camino is calling you back. Why does this happen? Why do so many pilgrims return—sometimes again and again? The answer is different for everyone, but one thing is certain: once the Camino is in your heart, it never truly leaves.

The Camino is a reset button. For weeks, life is simple. You walk. You eat. You reflect. You connect. There are no distractions, no stress, no unnecessary complications. You feel alive, present, free. But then, you return home. Schedules take over. Notifications flood back in. Busyness creeps in. And that feeling you had on the Camino? It starts to fade. Before long, you miss it, not just the walking, but who you were while walking. And so, you start to wonder: What if you went back?There’s Always Another Camino to Walk.

You return because there are so many ways to walk the Camino. Did you walk the Camino Francés? Now you want to try the Camino Portugués. Did you start in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port? Next time, maybe Seville, Lisbon, or Le Puy. Every route has a different personality, different landscapes, different challenges. Some pilgrims even choose to walk the same route again, because no two Caminos are ever the same.

The first time you walked, you had a reason, even if you didn’t know it at the time. Maybe you walked to heal from something, find clarity, or reconnect with yourself or others. And you did. But life keeps moving. New challenges arise. New questions emerge. And so, the Camino calls again, this time, for a new reason.

It’s strange, but true: the Camino feels like home. Maybe it’s the simplicity. Maybe it’s the kindness of strangers. Maybe it’s the rhythm of walking, eating, and sleeping. Whatever it is, stepping onto the Camino again feels familiar, comforting, and right. You no longer worry about where to sleep, what to eat, or how to pace yourself. You just walk, breathe, and let the road unfold. And that feeling? You crave it.

If you’ve walked the Camino before, you know this: you never forget the people you met. Some became lifelong friends. Some were only part of your journey for a day, but left a mark. Some are waiting for you to return, to walk together once more. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll meet new people who will change your life all over again.

At home, walking is just a way to get from Point A to Point B. On the Camino, walking is life. You walk with purpose. You walk through beauty. You walk through your thoughts. And after weeks of that, walking becomes a part of you. When you return home, you keep walking, maybe on local trails, maybe through your neighborhood, but it’s not the same. The Camino? That’s where walking feels magical. And so, you long for that feeling again.

The Camino doesn’t stop in Santiago. It continues in the way you see the world. It lives in the lessons you carry home. It stays with you, waiting… And one day, when the time is right, you’ll feel it again. That quiet whisper. That deep longing. It’s time to go back. And when that happens? You’ll tie your boots. You’ll grab your pack. And you’ll walk. Because the Camino always calls you back. And you always, always answer.

Buen Camino! until next time. 🥾✨

P.S. in two weeks time, I will once again depart for Spain to walk yet another Camino. This time, I will pick up from where I left in May of 2024 when I cut my Camino short. This time, starting in Bilbao, I will cross the Cordillera Cantábrica three times, on six different named routes. It’s not the shortest path from point a to point b, it’s a meandering path through the mountains, for I am still searching for something that eludes me.

I will be sharing my journey on this same blog, join along to live vicariously through my journey.