The Magic of Slow Travel: How Walking the Camino Brings Families Closer

Walking slows life down and deepens connections. Here’s how walking the Camino strengthened our family bond

Hiking = Walking meditation

There’s something about walking that has a meditative quality. The steady rhythm of your steps, the sound of your breath, the calming presence of nature, and the spirituality of the Camino all work together to create a peaceful, reflective state of mind. Hiking allows you to disconnect from the noise of daily life and just be. It’s an opportunity to clear your mind, refocus, and reflect on your thoughts, either by yourself or in a conversation with your family.

You are a family 24/7

When you embark on a long hike like the Camino with your family, you’re not just walking with them, you’re living it together. There’s no escaping each other. You’re in each other’s company, learning, growing, and adapting as a unit. This constant proximity creates and strengthens deep connections that go beyond everyday life and allow you to appreciate each other’s company more fully.

It is just about you

With the hustle of modern life, it’s easy to get lost in the demands of work, social obligations, and technology. But on the Camino, it’s just you, your family, and the world around you. There's nothing to distract you, no deadlines to meet, and no external pressures. It’s just the raw, real moments of your journey together, where everything else fades into the background.

Discover the world with your child

Walking together allows you to share the world in a way that is truly amazing. You’re not just showing your child the sights, you’re experiencing them together. Your child meets new people, new languages, he smiles, he discovers the world in a special way. He is curious, he smells the flowers, he plays with the sand, he tries to eat both the flowers and the sand. These moments will make you re-discover the simple things with a different perspective.

Create lasting memories

There are some moments in life that stay with you forever, the Camino has a high chance of creating memorable moments. Whether it’s the feeling of reaching a summit, the shared laughter over a funny thing, your baby randomly starting singing while you walk, or the quiet moments spent watching a sunset together, these experiences become a part of your family’s story. These are the kinds of memories that are treasured for years to come, becoming family stories told over and over again.

The sense of accomplishment

There is a feeling that you feel when you finish the Camino. You are proud. You made it. For us that feeling was magnified by the presence of our child. Not only that we made it, we made it together with him! We can tell the story for years to come. How cool does "Our son walked the Camino de Santiago before he could walk" sound?

Final thoughts

Our Camino was amazing. Throughout it I could feel how our family relationships become stronger. I was enjoying getting to know myself and my family better, and I am definitely planning to do it again. The Camino does bring families closer.

Have you had a hike that made you feel closer to your family? Let me know!

Want to read all about our journey? Get your copy of Baby Walks to Santiago here.