Lucho
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2018 Frances
2024 Frances w/ Primitivo
Hi. I'm doing my second Camino this spring. I plan to walk the Frances (SJPdP) with a Primitivo detour, starting April 1. But my schedule is flexible so I'm tapping the forum for experienced insight into when would be best to start.
Two considerations:
1) My prior Camino was 2018 (Frances) and I started one week into April, so nearly the same time. Back then it was the right amount of people and the right weather/time of year for me. I never really had to worry about finding a bed until that last 100km from Sarria, and I like the number of piligrims I met during my 800km walk. Obviously, numbers of peregrinos have increased in the last six years, so I wonder if a similar start this year will be drastically different from 2018.
I did see Ivar's video about his expectation that 2024 will continue pilgrim growth and I also read the recent thread on annual / monthly numbers. If I read that right, it actually appears that though the annual numbers are creeping up most of the rise can be attributed to big jumps in April and May, with only slight increases in other months. Anyway, I wonder if pushing my start forward a week-or-so would be advisable, given my flexible schedule. Of course, that would put me into pre-April weather and some albergues not being open, right?
2) Then there is the Semana Santa issue. I imagine starting during that week may be a mess. Am I wrong? Anyone with experience on this?
Anyway, thoughts on an early April / late March start would be appreciated. I don't mind crowds so long as I am not in a rat race for beds. I would prefer warmer weather, so slightly hesitant to start too early in March.
Thanks in advance, all!
Two considerations:
1) My prior Camino was 2018 (Frances) and I started one week into April, so nearly the same time. Back then it was the right amount of people and the right weather/time of year for me. I never really had to worry about finding a bed until that last 100km from Sarria, and I like the number of piligrims I met during my 800km walk. Obviously, numbers of peregrinos have increased in the last six years, so I wonder if a similar start this year will be drastically different from 2018.
I did see Ivar's video about his expectation that 2024 will continue pilgrim growth and I also read the recent thread on annual / monthly numbers. If I read that right, it actually appears that though the annual numbers are creeping up most of the rise can be attributed to big jumps in April and May, with only slight increases in other months. Anyway, I wonder if pushing my start forward a week-or-so would be advisable, given my flexible schedule. Of course, that would put me into pre-April weather and some albergues not being open, right?
2) Then there is the Semana Santa issue. I imagine starting during that week may be a mess. Am I wrong? Anyone with experience on this?
Anyway, thoughts on an early April / late March start would be appreciated. I don't mind crowds so long as I am not in a rat race for beds. I would prefer warmer weather, so slightly hesitant to start too early in March.
Thanks in advance, all!