Great Travel Reads: Books about the Camino de Santiago
The Camino de Santiago whispers with a promise of adventure, reflection, and discovery. An ancient pilgrimage path winding through sleepy Spanish villages, rolling vineyards, rugged mountains, and bustling cities, El Camino is as much about inner growth as it is about the walk to reach Santiago. The shared stories of pilgrims over time keep the mystical reputation of this journey alive, and readers can get a taste of “the Way” through books inspired by the Camino.
For years, even as I resisted the call to begin my own pilgrimage, I found myself devouring these stories instead. And once I finally said yes to my own Camino journey, I read everything I could get my hands on! What follows is a selection of books that became favourites for me and my walking companions.
The list will continue to grow and be edited! The following titles focus solely on the Camino Frances route, as that is the route I initially chose to walk.
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Walk, Eat, Repeat: Culinary Adventures on the Camino de Santiago by Lindy Mechefske
Travel Memoir, Solo, Canadian
4.52 ⭐️’s on Goodreads
Plot summary: A fresh take on the Camino, packed with the flavours of northern Spain. In this deeply personal culinary travelogue, food culture writer Lindy Mechefske invites readers to join her in savouring the richness of the Camino. Returning to the most basic human needs — walking, eating, and sleeping — she rediscovers purpose at a time of change and transition.
Walk, Eat, Repeat recounts Mechefske’s arduous, yet fulfilling, pilgrimage on the Camino from the Pyrenees mountains to the ancient pilgrim city of Santiago de Compostela. Inspired by her late father’s words, “soldier on,” she chronicles the highs and lows of the trail, the kindness of her fellow pilgrims, and the tortas, tartas, and tortillas, and other culinary highlights that she savoured along the way. With each chapter accompanied by a recipe from the region, Mechefske has not simply written a story of walking the Camino, but a tale of relishing the emotional intimacies and the epicurean delights of this ancient pilgrimage path.
My thoughts: This book combines two of my favourite things: walking and eating! Mechefske weaves together her pilgrimage journey with the tastes and traditions she discovers along the way. I loved how the focus on food gave me a new lens for seeing this adventure. Meals become part of the story and a way of connecting with culture, history, and fellow pilgrims.
My favourite recipe was the Empanadas de la Reina, which transported me back to Spain. Delicious!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Walk in a Relaxed Manner: Life Lessons from the Camino by Joyce Rupp
Travel Memoir, USA
4.13 ⭐️’s on Goodreads
Plot summary: At age 60, Joyce Rupp didn't know what she was getting into when she began a 47-day pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Joined by her walking friend Tom, a retired pastor, Joyce learned lessons that can help all of us travel on life's up-and-down journey with more grace and lightness.
The twenty-five life lessons include:
Set Out with Hope and Enthusiasm
Travel Lightly
Acknowledge the Kindness of Strangers
Let Yourself Be Humbled by Weakness
Savor Solitude
Return a Positive for a Negative
Look for Unannounced Angels
My thoughts: Unlike many travel books about the Camino de Santiago, this one doesn’t just follow the journey day by day. Instead, the author reflects on lessons learned and blends memories into themes of patience, presence, and compassion. I appreciate how this format distinguishes it from other chronological accounts. It felt more like sitting with a wise friend who shares what truly matters rather than every detail of the walk.
This book reminded me that the Camino teaches in layers, and those lessons often last far longer than the miles themselves. The ending was powerfully thought-provoking, but I’m not going to say why; you’ll have to read it yourself!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Walking to the End of the World: A Thousand Miles on the Camino De Santiago by Beth Jusino
Travel Memoir, USA
4.24 ⭐️’s on Goodreads
Plot summary: In April 2015, Beth and Eric Jusino, laden with backpacks and nerves, walked out of a cathedral in the historic village of Le Puy, France, down a cobblestone street, and turned west. Seventy-nine days, a thousand miles, two countries, two mountain ranges, and three pairs of shoes later, they reached the Atlantic Ocean.
For the Jusinos, it was about taking a break from the relentless pace of modern life and getting away from all their electronic devices. And how hard could it be, Beth reasoned, to walk twelve to fifteen miles a day, especially with the promise of real beds and local wine every night? Simple.
It turned out to be harder than she thought. Beth is not an athlete, not into extreme adventures, and, she insists, not a risk-taker. She didn't speak a word of French when she set out, and her Spanish was atrocious. She evocatively describes the terrain and the route’s history, her fellow pilgrims, the villages passed, and the unexpected challenges and charms of the experience.
My thoughts: Beth Jusino takes on not just the Camino Francés, but also the lesser-walked Le Puy route in France. It was one of the first Camino books I read, and, to be very honest, I didn’t love reading about all her complaints! But after reading many other books, I now appreciate her honest journey and the candid, unvarnished take on the pilgrim experience.
The appendices helped to kick-start my planning with a calendar, maps, and a hiking packing list.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’ll Push You: A Journey of 500 Miles, Two Best Friends, and One Wheelchair by Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck
Travel Memoir, USA, Christian Lit
Also, a documentary! Watch the trailer here. Grab a tissue!
4.27 ⭐️’s on Goodreads
Plot summary: Friendship takes on new meaning in this true story of Justin and Patrick, born less than two days apart in the same hospital. Best friends their whole lives, they grew up together, went to school together, and were best man in each other’s weddings. When Justin was diagnosed with a neuromuscular disease that robbed him of the use of his arms and legs, Patrick was there, helping to feed and care for him in ways he’d never imagined. When Justin heard about the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile trek through Spain, he wondered aloud to Patrick whether the two of them could ever do it. Patrick’s immediate response was: “I’ll push you.”
I’ll Push You is the real-life story of this incredible journey. A travel adventure full of love, humour, and spiritual truth, it exemplifies what every friendship is meant to be and shows what it means to never find yourself alone. You’ll discover how love and faith can push past all limits―and make us the best versions of ourselves.
My thoughts: This is a powerful story of two friends - one in a wheelchair, the other literally pushing and pulling him from France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. It’s both a travel memoir and a testament to perseverance and deep friendship. What struck me most was how openly they shared not just their Camino, but their lives and wider struggles with intimacy and emotion. Their faith is woven throughout, and while I don’t tend to choose Christian literature, I appreciate how their perspective adds depth and meaning to their journey. I finished inspired and a little teary.
Great quote: “Who we are has grown by one more memory. We have grown by one more story, one more shared experience, one more adventure.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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