• For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here.
    (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)

Search 69,459 Camino Questions

Advanced search…

Search results for query: *

  1. WayWalker

    Just how difficult is the Camino Norte ?

    I did the Camino del Norte in 2018 at 59 years of age. It certainly was the most picturesque as well as challenging Camino so far although I will be embarking on the Podiensis in a few days time. The thing to know about the Norte is, it being on the northern coast, the towns and villages are...
  2. WayWalker

    LIVE from the Camino Fourth time a charm?

    You can do it!!!
  3. WayWalker

    Report: "mountain" route from Soto de Luina

    And I'm sure the overgrown trail was also seasonal. Makes sense for that time of year.
  4. WayWalker

    Report: "mountain" route from Soto de Luina

    We walked this variation on October 5 in 2018. The owner of the albergue was reputed to have had a hand in creating the coastal route known as the Ballota route in order to direct pilgrim traffic to more commercial ends. The official route over the mountains was supposed to be way more scenic so...
  5. WayWalker

    What to look forward to?

    Yes the deviation on the GR65 to the Bufones was lovely even though the tide was such that there was no water shooting through the holes. Good mention.
  6. WayWalker

    5 “Unproven” Facts About Norte

    If you think of the high cliffs of northern coast of Spain it makes sense that most towns and villages are down where rivers and streams run into the Atlantic. Then you have to hike up and over the steep headlands and back down. For me the most spectacular Camino to date!
  7. WayWalker

    terrain of Camino del Norte

    Didn't walk the Primitivo but did walk the Camino del Norte from Irun. It is many steep inclines and declines. Being on the rugged northern coast of Spain most towns are on inlets and where rivers and tributaries dump into the ocean. So descending into and climbing up out of every town, city...
  8. WayWalker

    Is the Camino del Norte feasible in February? Are shelters open?

    When we walked at the beginning of September 2018 they were already beginning to shut albergues because I have been told the Northern coast is largely a summer tourist destination. I would venture to say a winter Camino would require some planning.
  9. WayWalker

    Walking the northern coast of Spain

    The alternative route from Castro Uridales to Laredo over the headlands is spectacular but not for the faint of heart. Also you should be very fit before attempting it..
  10. WayWalker

    JUNE 2023 northern : San Sebastián to Bilbao

    We walked the Norte in 2018 so keep in mind. Yes it is physically demanding but if you are in reasonable shape you will be fine. We walked 24k from San Sebastian to Zaragoza and there were plenty of other pilgrims in early September. We stayed that night in an agroturismo for 60€. Next night...
  11. WayWalker

    Camino de Norte - many Albergues seem to be closed in September

    We found this to be true on the Norte in September of 2018 also. We actually had to taxi forward out of Gernika to the next albergue. The Norte towns and cities caters to summer tourists and lots of albergues are not pilgrim only. It seemed to level out as we went forward. Good luck!
  12. WayWalker

    Making the first day of Norte a bit easier

    You will be fine! Take the lower road out of Irun. Use your guidebook to find places open. You shouldn't have to do long kms.
  13. WayWalker

    Making the first day of Norte a bit easier

    We took the high route in September 2018 and we were late 50s but trained in our hometown in Colorado so we were ready for the "muy duro" very difficult according to Pablo who we met in Irun. At the Santuario de Guadeloupe up the trail we met him again at a mass going on and tried to get us to...
  14. WayWalker

    How physically demanding is first week of Camino Del Norte?

    It is physically demanding but with training you should be fine. Imagine the Norte for what it is. Along the northern obstacles of Spain where you walk over headlands and typically down into a town, village or city where a river meets the ocean and then back up over the headland and down to the...
  15. WayWalker

    Favorite stops on the Norte?

    Yes, Casa Carmina was awesome. I will never forget the dessert we had with our dinner there queso de vaca, cheese from the cow, was a yogurt type dessert with honey drizzled on top that was so fresh it tasted like all the cow lined paths we had walked this far. Hard to descend delicious! My...
  16. WayWalker

    Favorite stops on the Norte?

    One vote for Castro Uridales! Didn't see it mentioned. Beautiful seaside town on the headlands.
  17. WayWalker

    What's going on? Camino del Norte hard?

    Is it "hard" is subjective. What kind of fitness level do you have? How old are you? How many Caminos do you have under your belt? What kind of training have you done? I have done the Frances, Portugese Coastal from Lisbon and lastly the Norte from Irun last fall. I was 59. I live in Colorado...
  18. WayWalker

    Municipal Albergue or Pension? (on first night)

    We stayed in a pension but visited the municipal to get our credentials and scallop shells.
  19. WayWalker

    Scared of heights

    Stay off the alternative route out of Castro Uridales and into Laredo. Not for the faint of heart. If you are in good physical condition and don't mind heights with sheer cliffside drop offs, it's absolutely gorgeous.
  20. WayWalker

    Official new alternative route from Boimorto to Lavacolla

    In hindsight I wish we would have taken that route. The pilgrim throng that met us at Arzùa was shocking for our loose band of Norte walkers.

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Latest posts

This site is run by Ivar at

in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon
Official Camino Passport (Credential) | 2024 Camino Guides
Back
Top