My friends and I (in that 'mature' age category) started our Camino Frances in September, thinking there would be fewer pilgrims than the summer. But no. But it was beautiful and after the first three stages it thinned out and became much easier to find beds (most of the time). The biggest "shock" was Sarria - as you say, the pilgrim population exploded. And the morning we left Sarria, bus loads of school children unloaded - sounding like a rushing river - and it was like salmon trying to swim upriver together. But all those schoolchildren were very pleasant to walk with and they switched to English to ask us questions and learn about us, and then they were quickly by us at a speed we couldn't match. This was another fantastic video with excellent humor, information and insights. Looking to start my Le Puy Camino September '25, hopefully lava tree free.
In 2023 there were actually around 600,000 peregrinos walked the various routes. There were just over 446,000 people who claimed their compostelas from the pilgrim office in Santiago. There are many who complete the Camino without bothering with a compostela. On August 20th I will be starting walking the Frances from SJPDP. I Have walked eleven full Caminos at different times of year. I never book ahead and I never have a problem getting a bed.
Thank you, I am looking to do a Camino Frances in early spring/ late winter 2025 and thi is very helpful. About laundry in cold times: fill two PET-bottles with very hot water (close them) and put your socks on the bottle. It will dry in minutes.
I’ve hiked three times during different seasons and my favourite time to hike is June. Sunny and warm, flowers and fresh fruit, festivals and a social environment. I also hiked late Sept to end of October and loved it. Not too busy, beautiful fall colours, warm and even hot days and we lucked out and only had rain 2 days on the entire journey. I agree with your advice-book your auberges from SJPDP to Pamplona and see how busy it is, then decide if you need to continue making reservations.
I am really considering june for my start next year. Would you recommend early june or even late may so I am on the way during june, or better to start later in june and arrive in july?
I started walking Tuesday 14th May at SJPDP and ended 20th June at Fisterre. Perfect weather, perfect time to go. Not massively busy no issues with albergues. We were told because we started mid month its quieter than starting at the start of the month.
@@musingwithreba9667 yeah had 2 days off. One in Leon and one in Santiago. Most days just did the usual 25km, did one 40km day on the Meseta. May have taken days off but would have lost my Camino family.
Thank you for all this information, it'svery helpful! I'm planning to do the Primitivo and then the Frances in Fall after I retire. (2027) I was supposed to do the Primitivo a few years ago with a friend but then I couldn’t go, so he went alone. I'm a couple of months older than him, so I'm going to do the Primitivo up to where it meets the Frances, then go up to meet him in Saint Jean, after he retires, and we'll do the Frances together all the way to Santiago. And then I'll head back to North America (we're Canadian) to hike the Appalachian Trail in 2028 😁 And after that, perhaps retire to Spain for a few years to hike all the trails I can in Europe. Tour du Mont Blanc is definitely on the list! And all the other Caminos, of course.
You guys are cute and funny, thank you for those very helpful Camino tips on what to expect during different times of the year. I just retired a few weeks ago and so now I'm doing my due diligence on this topic which my wife expressed interest in doing and which seems pretty interesting. My wife will be retiring in 2025 and then we will likely do the Frances later in 2025 or 2026.
I walked the Portuguese route twice. Once in March/April and once in September. March was MUCH quieter but more rainy. Walking the Baztan then the French way this September so who knows what it will be like then. Thanks again for the info.
I’ve walked 2 Caminos during the winter, on the Camino Portuguese. Got some rain, but it wasn’t too bad. I chose to go during that time, because of life’s circumstances. It was still good, but you are right, not many people. Just finished the Invierno about a month ago. Interesting route. I walked with my oldest daughter (19) and some friends. Didn’t see many pilgrims. Taking the 14 year old on the Portuguese in about 10 days. I’ve already booked all of our rooms ahead of time.
Decisions decisions, last year I walked in early August and it was fine. I am currently in Australia and was planning to find and book flights this weekend to return mid August and finish the journey but from Sarria sounds crazier than I ever seen it in Spring before. I did bypass one year by jumping up from Sarria to Lugo by buss and walk from there into Melide which was OK but like so many of the alternates trails there is way too much road walking
Hi guys. Great video and information. I'll be starting the Frances, again, on 4th March next year. There doesn't seem to be a lack of Albergues open then, but what about cafe's and shops? Did you have a problem getting supplies in the smaller towns and villages? It does seem that everything starts to reopen after 15th March or so. Cheers guys.
I just walked in May from Sarria. The crowds weren’t bad, only a couple times I felt like it was crowded. It rained EVERY DAY. I’m from the Pacific Northwest of the USA, so I was used to walking in the rain, but there were some downpours. Anytime it did downpour, I took it as a sign to take a break and have an Aquarius. It was challenging to get motivated to walk out the door when it was raining in the morning, but it’s not like you have a choice. I actually think that experience did change me and my relationship with rain. I would say the bigger challenge was getting my clothes dry each night. I prioritized staying places with washers and dryers. Starting the day with wet socks was not fun… Despite all of the rain in Galicia, I’m already planning a return trip in spring ‘25 to start walking the whole Camino Frances in stages (over many years). Thanks for your videos, I watched all of your Camino Francis videos before my trip and loved them.
this is a crucial piece of information, thank you very much for sharing! a buddy of mine walked the Camino in 2013 and RAVED about it which inspired me to look into it! thanks!! : )
When I started the Portuguese this past April after Easter, there gad been a DELUGE just about every day the previous week. It only really rained one day I was there, and it was a rest say for me. As the saying goes, your mileage may vary.
This is helpful. I am making my reservations ib August 16, 2024 for my birthday. I want to avoid the Sirria people traffic. I have 2 weeks. Where else can I start to avoid the Sirria people traffic.
You can walk from Porto or Oviedo if you want to take alternative routes. Otherwise, you can walk 2 weeks of the Camino Frances that are in the beginning or middle of the route.
Thank you for another great video with tons of specific helpful information for everyone to make their own decision. While many people discourage walking the Frances in the summer months, you make good arguments. First Question: The heat is dry and therefore much more bearable than humid heat, even if that humid heat has a lower temperature (as at US East Coast etc), right? Your sunglasses with side protection seem to help against strong sunlight. Umbrellas seem to be popular as well against heat, glaring light and UV rays. Second Question: Are the municipal albergues more likely to provide extra accommodation if the regular space fills up at lunch time in summer months? (On the Portuguese Camino in March many years ago, in one city they opened a gym for pilgrims to meet extra demand. In another they send everyone to less affordable hotels. After that stage, I noticed that many pilgrims started their day earlier and aimed to arrive in the albergues by lunch time. That was even before the beginning of the last 100 km. Such stress hurts the camino expereience a bit IMHO.) Or is it fine to just keep walking because the days are long: If one albergue at 4 PM is full, then walk another three hours to the next one in the hope that they have space and are still open at 7 PM?
Thank you! The heat is dry except in Galicia and the first day going over the Pyrenees from SJPP. Municipal albergues sometimes provide extra space, but it depends on if the town has that or not. This is definitely more of an option on the Camino Frances but we wouldn't count on it all the time. If we're afraid of something being full, we call and ask how many beds are left. A little information goes a long way. :)
Very helpful and informative. Working on a schedule to take my fiancee on the Camino Frances starting September 27th. Tambien el español de los dos, es muy bueno. This video made the choice of the time to go much easier.
My friends and I (in that 'mature' age category) started our Camino Frances in September, thinking there would be fewer pilgrims than the summer. But no. But it was beautiful and after the first three stages it thinned out and became much easier to find beds (most of the time). The biggest "shock" was Sarria - as you say, the pilgrim population exploded. And the morning we left Sarria, bus loads of school children unloaded - sounding like a rushing river - and it was like salmon trying to swim upriver together. But all those schoolchildren were very pleasant to walk with and they switched to English to ask us questions and learn about us, and then they were quickly by us at a speed we couldn't match. This was another fantastic video with excellent humor, information and insights. Looking to start my Le Puy Camino September '25, hopefully lava tree free.
Thanks for sharing your experiences! 😍 Bon Chemin!
In 2023 there were actually around 600,000 peregrinos walked the various routes.
There were just over 446,000 people who claimed their compostelas from the pilgrim office in Santiago.
There are many who complete the Camino without bothering with a compostela.
On August 20th I will be starting walking the Frances from SJPDP.
I Have walked eleven full Caminos at different times of year.
I never book ahead and I never have a problem getting a bed.
Absolutely. Thanks for the specifics.
Thank you, I am looking to do a Camino Frances in early spring/ late winter 2025 and thi is very helpful.
About laundry in cold times: fill two PET-bottles with very hot water (close them) and put your socks on the bottle. It will dry in minutes.
Woah!! That’s a great tip! Thanks.
I’ve hiked three times during different seasons and my favourite time to hike is June. Sunny and warm, flowers and fresh fruit, festivals and a social environment. I also hiked late Sept to end of October and loved it. Not too busy, beautiful fall colours, warm and even hot days and we lucked out and only had rain 2 days on the entire journey. I agree with your advice-book your auberges from SJPDP to Pamplona and see how busy it is, then decide if you need to continue making reservations.
June is an awesome time. Glad you had wonderful experiences!
I am really considering june for my start next year. Would you recommend early june or even late may so I am on the way during june, or better to start later in june and arrive in july?
I started walking Tuesday 14th May at SJPDP and ended 20th June at Fisterre. Perfect weather, perfect time to go. Not massively busy no issues with albergues. We were told because we started mid month its quieter than starting at the start of the month.
@steveclayton4249 wow, you made good time all the way to Finesterre!
@@musingwithreba9667 yeah had 2 days off. One in Leon and one in Santiago. Most days just did the usual 25km, did one 40km day on the Meseta. May have taken days off but would have lost my Camino family.
Glad to hear you had a wonderful experience!
Thank you for all this information, it'svery helpful!
I'm planning to do the Primitivo and then the Frances in Fall after I retire. (2027)
I was supposed to do the Primitivo a few years ago with a friend but then I couldn’t go, so he went alone.
I'm a couple of months older than him, so I'm going to do the Primitivo up to where it meets the Frances, then go up to meet him in Saint Jean, after he retires, and we'll do the Frances together all the way to Santiago.
And then I'll head back to North America (we're Canadian) to hike the Appalachian Trail in 2028 😁
And after that, perhaps retire to Spain for a few years to hike all the trails I can in Europe. Tour du Mont Blanc is definitely on the list! And all the other Caminos, of course.
Wow! These are awesome plans. 🥰
@@DaysWeSpend thanks 😊
Thank you for this video. I am planning a walk in 2025 or 26. This information was great! Gracias!
Glad it was helpful. Buen Camino!
You guys are cute and funny, thank you for those very helpful Camino tips on what to expect during different times of the year. I just retired a few weeks ago and so now I'm doing my due diligence on this topic which my wife expressed interest in doing and which seems pretty interesting. My wife will be retiring in 2025 and then we will likely do the Frances later in 2025 or 2026.
Thank you! We’re glad we could help. Buen Camino!
I dance in Los Angeles enough. NO July or August. I would rather just walk in quietness. I will reserve for September 2025
Buen Camino!
I walked the Portuguese route twice. Once in March/April and once in September. March was MUCH quieter but more rainy. Walking the Baztan then the French way this September so who knows what it will be like then. Thanks again for the info.
Thanks for sharing your Portuguese experience. We don’t have any first hand knowledge of that one. Buen camino!
I’ve walked 2 Caminos during the winter, on the Camino Portuguese. Got some rain, but it wasn’t too bad. I chose to go during that time, because of life’s circumstances. It was still good, but you are right, not many people.
Just finished the Invierno about a month ago. Interesting route. I walked with my oldest daughter (19) and some friends. Didn’t see many pilgrims.
Taking the 14 year old on the Portuguese in about 10 days. I’ve already booked all of our rooms ahead of time.
Wow! You have so many great camino memories. Enjoy the Portuguese. Buen Camino!
Decisions decisions, last year I walked in early August and it was fine. I am currently in Australia and was planning to find and book flights this weekend to return mid August and finish the journey but from Sarria sounds crazier than I ever seen it in Spring before. I did bypass one year by jumping up from Sarria to Lugo by buss and walk from there into Melide which was OK but like so many of the alternates trails there is way too much road walking
Agree. So many decisions. The Sarria crowds are not as bad if you sleep off stage. That’s how we deal with them.
Super helpful, and fun too. You guys are great!
Thanks so much!
You make me want go soon!,, great advice!
Yay! Glad we could help out.
Hi guys. Great video and information. I'll be starting the Frances, again, on 4th March next year. There doesn't seem to be a lack of Albergues open then, but what about cafe's and shops? Did you have a problem getting supplies in the smaller towns and villages? It does seem that everything starts to reopen after 15th March or so. Cheers guys.
Most places will reopen around Semana Santa (Easter). You may need to plan ahead in some of the smaller villages. Larger town will have plenty open.
I just walked in May from Sarria. The crowds weren’t bad, only a couple times I felt like it was crowded. It rained EVERY DAY. I’m from the Pacific Northwest of the USA, so I was used to walking in the rain, but there were some downpours. Anytime it did downpour, I took it as a sign to take a break and have an Aquarius. It was challenging to get motivated to walk out the door when it was raining in the morning, but it’s not like you have a choice. I actually think that experience did change me and my relationship with rain. I would say the bigger challenge was getting my clothes dry each night. I prioritized staying places with washers and dryers. Starting the day with wet socks was not fun…
Despite all of the rain in Galicia, I’m already planning a return trip in spring ‘25 to start walking the whole Camino Frances in stages (over many years).
Thanks for your videos, I watched all of your Camino Francis videos before my trip and loved them.
We had a super rainy May this year. It's not always this wet, but Galicia just got dumped on this Spring.
We're glad you had a wonderful experience!
this is a crucial piece of information, thank you very much for sharing! a buddy of mine walked the Camino in 2013 and RAVED about it which inspired me to look into it! thanks!! : )
Thanks for watching. The Camino has changed a lot since 2013, so make sure to keep researching your trip. :)
When I started the Portuguese this past April after Easter, there gad been a DELUGE just about every day the previous week. It only really rained one day I was there, and it was a rest say for me.
As the saying goes, your mileage may vary.
Wow! You got lucky!
Hi you cool couple!! How's mid September in general on the Primitivo or Portugal?
Probably a great time for either of them. 😄
Thanks for sharing this info, my wife and I would like to walk Portuguese route towards the end of September.
Buen Camino!
This is helpful. I am making my reservations ib August 16, 2024 for my birthday. I want to avoid the Sirria people traffic. I have 2 weeks. Where else can I start to avoid the Sirria people traffic.
You can walk from Porto or Oviedo if you want to take alternative routes. Otherwise, you can walk 2 weeks of the Camino Frances that are in the beginning or middle of the route.
@@DaysWeSpend Thank you for helpful information.
For me discovering Camino was like discovering fire. Jarra! Jarra! 🥃🥃
That’s awesome!
Most useful thanks
Thank you for another great video with tons of specific helpful information for everyone to make their own decision.
While many people discourage walking the Frances in the summer months, you make good arguments.
First Question: The heat is dry and therefore much more bearable than humid heat, even if that humid heat has a lower temperature (as at US East Coast etc), right?
Your sunglasses with side protection seem to help against strong sunlight. Umbrellas seem to be popular as well against heat, glaring light and UV rays.
Second Question: Are the municipal albergues more likely to provide extra accommodation if the regular space fills up at lunch time in summer months?
(On the Portuguese Camino in March many years ago, in one city they opened a gym for pilgrims to meet extra demand. In another they send everyone to less affordable hotels. After that stage, I noticed that many pilgrims started their day earlier and aimed to arrive in the albergues by lunch time. That was even before the beginning of the last 100 km. Such stress hurts the camino expereience a bit IMHO.)
Or is it fine to just keep walking because the days are long: If one albergue at 4 PM is full, then walk another three hours to the next one in the hope that they have space and are still open at 7 PM?
Thank you!
The heat is dry except in Galicia and the first day going over the Pyrenees from SJPP.
Municipal albergues sometimes provide extra space, but it depends on if the town has that or not. This is definitely more of an option on the Camino Frances but we wouldn't count on it all the time.
If we're afraid of something being full, we call and ask how many beds are left. A little information goes a long way. :)
@@DaysWeSpend Thanks. I appreciate the advice.
Love your videos. Thank you for all the work you put into them.
Thank you so much. We try! And thanks so much for watching. We’re glad they’re helpful. 😁
Very helpful and informative. Working on a schedule to take my fiancee on the Camino Frances starting September 27th. Tambien el español de los dos, es muy bueno. This video made the choice of the time to go much easier.
Glad it was helpful! Buen Camino!
@@DaysWeSpend 🍻
Nicely organized.
Thank you!
very interesting notes
Thanks!
Thank you!
You’re welcome! Thanks for watching.
Well done,
Thank you!
...too much talk
It is people like yourselves that make this event too crowded. Once is enough. It isn't Disney Land.
Oh man. Once you pop you can’t stop! One Camino is never enough!