Can a 72-Year-Old Woman Walk the Camino de Santiago?

The first steps to Santiago began with determination and a sense of adventure.

I have a plan for next year. I’m 72 years old, and I want to walk one of the Camino de Santiago Routes. Most people say, “Are you nuts? And yes, maybe I am a little nuts, but that isn’t new.

People plan to take this pilgrimage for many reasons. Religious and spiritual reasons are one. Going as a physical challenge. Can you do it? Some do it during a mid-life crisis. Where are they going in their lives?

I have several reasons to go. I want to see another part of the world. I like the idea of spending hours each day thinking about what I have accomplished in my life and what I still want to do. I also like the idea of hours of meditative walking.

There is another reason for doing this walk. Most seniors I have talked with say they feel like they have disappeared and that their opinions are no longer valued. Once out of the workforce, they feel discarded.

I want to show people that being a senior is a good and valued thing. We can do lots of things. Not every senior is able to do a walk like this but then not everybody under 55 can do a walk like this either.

History

About twenty years ago, I had an opportunity to go on the traditional route, ‘the French Way.’ My best friend, Connie, had done a walk to raise funds for breast cancer and felt ready to make this pilgrimage, so she asked me to go with her.

I wanted to go with her, but I had three sons at university, a husband, and a demanding job. At that point, I didn’t feel I could afford the time or the money.

Fast-forward twenty years. I want to go now, but I’m not too sure about the French Way. It would take six weeks to complete, and the path will be through the mountains. Yikes!

The Plan

I’m looking at the different ways to make this pilgrimage, and I think the best way for my friend and me may be to take the Portuguese coastal route. I could do the route from Lisbon to Santiago or a shortened version from Porto (this is where Christopher Columbus sailed to the New World).

I am retired and would love to do this in the near future. Fall of 2025 would work well for me.

There would be a lot of preparation before I could go. I think the time to go would be mid-September. My husband could fly to Portugal to meet me when I am done with the walk. We could then do one of the long stay holidays.

So many plans and so much to do. First, though, I need to check things out.

Research

There are many things that I will need to research. They will include the following.

1. Which route to take?

There are several basic routes, and I will check out each one before choosing the best one for me. This will take a bit of research. I would like to walk along the coast of Portugal, but several other routes seem to be just as beautiful.

2. Which time of year is the best?

I think it’s the fall, but I need to check. I’ve been told that spring tends to be rainy in the area, but that may be just one person’s perspective. The summer may be too hot.

3. How much will this trip cost?

From the initial search, it will depend on certain things. First off, I am a senior, and I don’t camp or sleep in army barracks-style hostels. That’s just me. Second, it depends on what you want or need to help you do this pilgrimage. Third, it depends on how long you want to take to do this.

4. What kind of preparation will I need to do?

I can walk 20 km (12 miles) in a day, but can I do it every day for one to eight weeks? What kind of preparation does this involve?

5. Which companies will help arrange the accommodations?

Sleeping on the beach at 72 is just not an option. I didn’t like camping when I was decades younger, and I certainly don’t like it now. My idea of camping has always been at the Holiday Inn.

6. What do I need to bring in my backpack?

What kind of clothes will I need to take? Shoes? What style of backpack will I need? I won’t want to take too heavy a load, as I will carry this backpack all day.

7. Can I learn Portuguese?

I’m not great at learning languages, but I have about 18 months to figure out basic words and sentences. I just downloaded the Duolingo app and did the first lesson today. Eu tenho vinho para compartilhar.

I am quite sure that I will find lots of things that I haven’t even thought of yet that I need to research. But isn’t that half the fun?

Why am I doing this?

One reason for doing this is to show people that seniors can do whatever they want. We don’t need to sit on the sidelines of life. We can choose to enter the scrum.

You may want to follow along as I prepare to embark on this pilgrimage. I intend to publish my progress every two weeks. I have lots of decisions to make. Everyone has a different idea of what an adventurous life is, and you may choose a different walk or a totally different adventure.

I will listen to any thoughts you may have on preparing to go. (Especially if you have done this before.)

Whatever you decide, I hope you follow along with me on Medium as I prepare to go on this adventure. It’s new for me, and I’d love the company.

I’m still trying to convince Connie to come with me. It may take some time, but I’ll keep working on her.

We all have things we still want to do. Don’t let others dissuade you from following your dreams. I sure won’t and it’s so much fun living your life to the fullest.

Viva a vida ao maximo!