Hi, I’m Nancy, a guide and
long-time pilgrim
on the Camino de Santiago in Spain
Thank you for stopping by The Camino Experience!
If you have decided to walk the Camino de Santiago, you have chosen to take on something really, really big. Walking the Camino takes courage. It can be hard and challenging and life-changing. And many days it is beautiful beyond measure.
I would love to be a part of your Camino experience.
See, I have been in your shoes (or boots). The first time I walked the Camino, in 2005, and I had no idea what I was doing. I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
The only thing I had going for me, really, on my first Camino walk, was that I didn’t have tons and tons of information to sort through to try to figure out how to do this thing. Back in 2005 there wasn’t much information available, at least not in English, so I had to just go and work it out as I went.
Which I did, and I survived.
When I first walked the Camino, I was searching intently for something, anything, which would give me direction and show me what I was supposed to be doing with my life. I was looking for clarity, and I really needed the Camino to provide it. As it turned out, the Camino wasn’t a solution in and of itself; instead it was the start of a long journey to learn how to be true to myself. Life is funny that way – no matter what I think I want, I always find what I really need.
And for five years, walking the Camino was exactly what I needed!
For four years (2013-2016) I had the privilege leading small groups on the Camino. Our groups started in Saint Jean Pied de Port in France, and we walked together until Pamplona, the first large city inside Spain. After a day of rest and re-grouping in Pamplona, my pilgrims continued on without me, either with their new pilgrim friends or truly on their own.
That program was called ‘Just Get Me Started’, and that’s exactly what it did: It got pilgrims started on their own unique and personal pilgrimage experiences. For me, it was an opportunity to share my love of the Camino, to encourage and empower people to walk the Camino their way, and to witness their life-changing journeys.
Fast forward a few years, past a global pandemic and some precious time caring for my elderly parents, and I am delighted to be leading groups again starting in October 2022. The new version of my program is called “YOU on the Camino.” It’s similar to the previous program but with a lot more support and goodies included. Want to learn more? Click here.
If you are just getting started on your Camino prep and planning, you may want to check out all the interesting information in the About the Camino section.
Wishing you a beautiful Camino journey!
~ Nancy