Compostella Mountains

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Camino to Healing: From Oviedo to Santiago

In September, I embarked on a walk from Oviedo to Santiago de Compostela, a route of approximately 330 kilometers. I chose this journey to reconnect with nature, God, and myself. The past few years had been quite challenging for me:

A divorce after a nine-year relationship
Selling my house, which took more than a year
Closing my gardening business after five years
A lot of stress and major life changes

This journey was also a preparation for my shoulder surgery in October, which ultimately came with serious complications. I really needed to get away from Belgium, be alone, and have the space to process and reflect.

I love walking. It’s not overly strenuous, but it brings so many health benefits. Walking allows you to move forward physically, which acts as a mirror for your thoughts and emotions. Step by step, you move forward on the path, and simultaneously forward in your mind and feelings. It’s a way to process, reflect, and find inner peace.

E-motions: Energy in Motion

Emotions aren’t just feelings that happen to us. They are actually energy in motion—or e-motions. The ‘e’ stands for energy, and the ‘motion’ for movement. Fear, loneliness, or frustration are forms of energy flowing through you.

The beauty of this concept is that it gives us a way to work with our emotions. Feeling a negative emotion means the energy is stuck or moving in a certain way. To change the emotion, you simply need to change the motion.

Concretely: move. Walk, dance, stretch, exercise—whatever works for you. By putting your body in motion, the energy flows differently, and the emotion shifts from heavy and stagnant to fluid and light.

Emotions are not static; they invite you to let your energy flow. By moving consciously, you give yourself the power to influence and transform your feelings.

Exercise: Boosting Your Brain

Moving your body does more than strengthen muscles—it also affects your emotions. During exercise, your body releases “happy chemicals” like serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins. These make you feel happier, more energetic, and less stressed.

Serotonin stabilizes your mood, dopamine gives you a rewarding sense of motivation, and endorphins act as natural painkillers and stress relievers. Together, they leave you feeling light and relaxed, even after a tough workout.

In short, exercise is not just good for your body, but also for your mind. Movement sets energy in motion and helps your brain produce the chemicals that make you feel better.

Camino Primitivo: The Original Pilgrims’ Route

The Camino Primitivo is the oldest pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. The journey starts in Oviedo and covers approximately 320 kilometers. It’s a beautiful but sometimes challenging route, with plenty of hills and mountains.

Along the way, you’ll encounter stunning nature: green forests, quiet valleys, and small streams. Fields are often yellow and green in summer, while autumn brings golden and red hues to the trees. It’s the perfect place to walk slowly and immerse yourself in nature.

During my journey, there were few other pilgrims on the route. Perhaps because it was September, but likely also due to the higher difficulty level of this Camino. This made the experience feel especially calm and peaceful, almost as if the nature was entirely yours.

Route and Planning

The walk is usually divided into daily stages of 20–25 kilometers, depending on your pace and fitness level. Most people complete the route in about two weeks, though it can be shorter or longer if you want to linger in nature or the villages along the way.

A good guide or app is extremely helpful for planning and navigation. I used the Buen Camino app, which neatly maps out the distance, albergues with contact details, and sights along the route. I highly recommend this app to anyone walking the Camino—it helps plan each day and ensures you don’t miss anything along the way.

Overnight Stays: Albergues and Tips

Along the Camino Primitivo, albergues are the most common accommodations. These simple lodgings range from shared dormitories to private rooms, usually costing between 8 and 20 euros per night. I occasionally opted for a private room, especially when albergues were busy or to escape noisy fellow pilgrims.

One of the charms of the Camino is the freedom to stay spontaneously, though booking ahead is sometimes necessary in busy periods or popular villages. Both options have benefits: walking without reservations allows flexibility, while booking ensures a bed and prevents stress at the end of a long day.

Staying in albergues is not only practical and affordable, but also a unique opportunity to meet other pilgrims and share stories. It strengthens the sense of community and makes the Camino experience even more special.

Food and Drink Along the Way

On the Camino Primitivo, food and drink are simple but satisfying. Local dishes are available everywhere, and for me, eggs appeared most often on the menu. With a budget of 15–20 euros per day, you can usually cover meals from breakfast to dinner.

Along the route, you’ll also find vending machines and small shops for drinks and snacks. Water fountains exist but are not always standard, so carrying a bottle is wise.

The simple, regular rhythm of walking, eating, and drinking supports the Camino flow and helps maintain your energy throughout the long days. The food is straightforward, local, and nourishing—just what you need for such a long journey.

Encounters and Insights

It took me a few days to truly get into the flow on the Camino Primitivo. Once I did, I didn’t want it to stop. Life became simple: walking, eating, sleeping, and connecting with others in nature. It was a wonderful way to release worries and simply be.

The connections with fellow pilgrims were often remarkable. What others shared sometimes reflected back on my own life in unexpected ways. Through these conversations, I often discovered parts of myself I hadn’t consciously recognized. These moments felt deeply spiritual and gave me the sense that I was traveling not just physically, but also inwardly.

Step by Step Back to Balance

For me, this was one of many journeys, but definitely one of the best. It brought me back to peace, back to my roots, to the place where I feel most at home. During the walk, I was able to gain insights, let go, and grow, and I encountered life-changing connections with inspiring people.

This journey gave me so much, both emotionally and spiritually. It is an experience I definitely want to relive in the future.