should i go camino for the first time just spontaneously in november
Hi, I think I’ve lost my mind. For the past few months, I’ve been feeling like I don’t really know where I’m headed in life, and a few days ago I experienced what was probably my first major setback as an adult. About a month ago, I started with the idea of going on the Camino (the Portuguese Central route, ending with the Espiritual variant). It actually started as a way to procrastinate and have some fun, but I ended up looking for more and more information until I started taking it seriously. And I’d love to go right away—at the end of October or in November. Flights aren’t expensive, and I still have a few days of vacation left at work, which would give me 12 days for the trip. I know these are the colder, off-season months, but in the past I’ve walked in the rain and even snow—to me, that makes the pilgrimage feel more authentic, and I also like the idea of being more on my own along the way, maybe meet very few people to have deeper conversation. I’ve done two mountain crossings in the past, but never alone; generally, I’ve never traveled alone—it would be a big challenge for me in that regard. I don’t know—what do you think? Should I go ahead with it this way, or should I prepare better, think it through more? I have a lot of respect for this pilgrimage, and I wouldn't want to go on it for the wrong reasons. I’d hate to end up doing something just on a whim or out of boredom—and sometimes it’s hard to tell whether something is calling to you or whether you’ve just lost your mind.
Or what are your experiences and recommendations for the later winter/fall months? And what about albergues - some sources say that it is easier with them in off season time, some say it gets more challenging to find one because many of them are closed.
Thank you very much and please if I just went crazy be kind to me :D
Posted Sep 25, 2026, 7:50 PM UTC