Are We Hooked on the Camino?

5 September 2026Exclusive Trips, Trip

In June 2026, Hooked did something we’d never done before.

We walked the Camino de Santiago.

Unlike our usual itineraries, this adventure came with a physical challenge. Every single day we laced up our shoes and set out to conquer anywhere from 22–32 kilometres through the rolling hills of northern Spain. We thought it would simply be an extended walk in the park.

We were spectacularly wrong.

And honestly… that’s what made it so unforgettable.

Before We Took Our First Step

Thankfully, we built a few days into the itinerary before starting the walk. Between adjusting to the time change and taking a day trip to Finisterre to learn about the history of the Camino, everyone had a chance to understand what this journey was really about.

Most of us had heard of the Camino, but few of us truly understood its significance.

Here’s the Coles Notes version.

Jesus had twelve disciples, and one of his closest followers was James. After Jesus’ death, James spent his final years preaching in Spain before eventually being beheaded in Jerusalem. According to tradition, his followers brought his body back to Spain, where he was laid to rest in what is now Santiago de Compostela.

Over the centuries, pilgrims began making the journey to his tomb, creating what we now know as the Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James.

Today, people don’t walk the Camino solely for religious reasons.

Some are celebrating graduation. Others are navigating divorce, career changes, grief, or simply trying to reconnect with themselves. Many just need a break from the constant noise of everyday life.

There is something incredibly powerful about spending hours each day with one simple goal: put one foot in front of the other.

Somewhere along the trail, many people find clarity, perspective, healing, and a renewed sense of purpose.

My Camino Reality Check

I’ll be honest.

I wasn’t prepared.

On a scale of 1 to 10, Day One was about a 14.

The night before we started, hardly anyone slept. Excitement. Nerves. Curiosity. A little fear.

And then there was me.

I hadn’t trained.

At all.

I genuinely believed walking 23 kilometres a day wouldn’t be that difficult. After all, how hard could walking be?

Turns out…

Very hard.

I have absolutely no problem admitting when I’m wrong, and I was VERY wrong.

The Daily Adventure

The Camino quickly became about far more than just walking.

We collected:

Sunburns
Blisters
Hotel mishaps
Shoe problems
Sock problems
Passport stamps
Countless laughs
And probably a few muscles none of us knew existed.

Thankfully, nothing serious happened. After a few days, you simply learn to embrace whatever the Camino throws your way.

What amazed me most wasn’t our group.

It was the people who do this for 800 kilometres.

Day after day.

Week after week.

That’s next-level human determination.

Was It Spiritual?

For me?

Not particularly.

For others in our group?

Absolutely.

And that’s one of the beautiful things about the Camino.

Everyone walks the same trail, but everyone experiences a completely different journey.

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My Official Camino Review

Day 1 – 22 km
“I’ll never walk again.”

Day 2 – 22 km
“Delightful! Confidence restored.”

Day 3 – 28 km
“I felt like a medieval commander leading a weary troop through their greatest test of endurance.”

Day 4 – 23 km
“Delightful again. Funny how that works.”

Day 5 – 16 km
“Rewarding. Emotional. And thankfully… shorter.”

By the end of Day Three, our group looked less like a hosted tour and more like contestants on Survivor who had lost the reward challenge, the immunity challenge, and possibly their will to live.

Looking back, I laugh at how confidently I stood at the start of Day One saying,

“Twenty-two kilometres? That’s like walking a golf course a couple of times. No big deal.”

Oh, sweet, innocent Darci.

The Finish Line

Our final morning began in complete darkness.

At 6:15 a.m. we started walking so we could arrive in Santiago de Compostela in time for the noon Pilgrim’s Mass.

Walking into the cathedral after days on the trail was emotional in a way I hadn’t expected. Whether people came for faith, fitness, friendship, or simply the adventure, crossing into Santiago felt like an accomplishment we all shared.

That evening we celebrated in a delightfully bougie hotel.

The tour was over.

The Camino was complete.