Camino in October

[rob_fullnorth]

Hello,
I'm Rob and I'm a newbie here in a forum. I'm thrilled about my plan to walk this year Camino de Santiago from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela in October of 2019. Anyone can share their experience what typical climate I can expect during that time of season? How crowded the trail can be during that time?
Thanks,
Rob

 

[mspath]

Welcome to the forum!
Check out these earlier forum threads for lots of posts/tips/links re walking in autumn.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camino-frances-in-october.47068/

and

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camino-frances-in-october.41935/

Happy research and Buen camino!

 

[RJM]

After mid-October many of the albergues in the smaller towns begin closing for the season. As you approach November just as expected it gets colder and rainier. Maybe even experience snow in Galicia.
A lot less pilgrims on the Frances the later into October you get. Fair amount at the beginning of the month, but by the end of the month numbers go down quite a bit. A lot of empty beds in albergues.
To me October is like April on the Camino Frances. You can walk in sunny warm and dry weather one week, and the next week it is rainy and cold. Maybe even snow.

 

[tomnorth]

In my opinion, October is the perfect time to walk. The early part of the month can be quite warm. By the end of the month, it can be quite cool, with some mornings hovering around the freezing point. To get a feel for the conditions, you could check my photos from my late Sept/Oct CF in 2015. www.tomnorthenscold.com/camino

 

[Rover]

Hello,
I'm Rob and I'm a newbie here in a forum. I'm thrilled about my plan to walk this year Camino de Santiago from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela in October of 2019. Anyone can share their experience what typical climate I can expect during that time of season? How crowded the trail can be during that time?
Thanks,
Rob

Rob, Two years ago I completed the CF, starting in SJPP to Santiago. I began my trek on September 19th and completed it November 4th. By and large I had good weather, mostly in the 70 F degree range. I did have some rainy days, primarily in the mountains so a light weight wind breaker/rdain jacket is advised. When planning my trip, I heard that the CF was crowded fduring the high season months, which I wanted too avoid. I am happy to report that I did not experienced that, rather, light pilgrim traffic and no problem in securing a bed at any of the alburgues and pensions along the way. As a side note, I did take a very light weight sleeping bag which I would recommend. The counter argument to that is to take

Hello,
I'm Rob and I'm a newbie here in a forum. I'm thrilled about my plan to walk this year Camino de Santiago from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela in October of 2019. Anyone can share their experience what typical climate I can expect during that time of season? How crowded the trail can be during that time?
Thanks,
Rob

Rob, Two years ago I completed the CF, starting in SJPPand ending in Santiago. I began my trek on September 19th and completed it November 4th. By and large I had good weather, mostly in the 70 F degree range. I did have some rainy days, primarily in the mountains so a light weight windbreaker/rain jacket is advised. When planning my trip, I heard that the CF was crowded during the high season months, which I wanted too avoid. I am happy to report that had very light foot traffic and no problem in securing a bed at any of the alburgues and pensions along the way. As a side note, I did take a very light weight sleeping bag which I would recommend. The counter argument to that is to save the weight and take a slip cover; alburgues have blankets if needed. Have a wonderful journey

 

[Former member 69452]

In my opinion, October is the perfect time to walk. The early part of the month can be quite warm. By the end of the month, it can be quite cool, with some mornings hovering around the freezing point. To get a feel for the conditions, you could check my photos from my late Sept/Oct CF in 2015. www.tomnorthenscold.com/camino

Couldn't agree with you more!! Great advice for our newbie!

 

[Former member 69452]

Hello,
I'm Rob and I'm a newbie here in a forum. I'm thrilled about my plan to walk this year Camino de Santiago from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela in October of 2019. Anyone can share their experience what typical climate I can expect during that time of season? How crowded the trail can be during that time?
Thanks,
Rob

Buen Camino!! Hope you have fabulous weather too!!

 

[danielle aird]

Hello,
I'm Rob and I'm a newbie here in a forum. I'm thrilled about my plan to walk this year Camino de Santiago from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela in October of 2019. Anyone can share their experience what typical climate I can expect during that time of season? How crowded the trail can be during that time?
Thanks,
Rob

I was on the Camino from mid-September to mid-October and we were blessed with incredible weather. Not a day of rain except for a few drops once or twice. We started walking at 7 am in about 12 degrees and by 11 am sometimes it started getting a bit hot; 1 pm it could be in the high 20's. Nice and cool at night. But, as we all know, weather is "caprichosa". What I loved was stuffing ourselves with wild blackberries and figs along the trail! Yum Yum! And the sunflower fields were so beautiful! Buen Camino.

 

[Mr.Smirky]

My experience was October was perfect. Weather was warm during the day, cool at night. I had a week of rain but it wasn't so cold as to be a problem. There were pilgrims but not nearly as many as during the earlier months. I liked it so much I'm doing del Norte this October.

 

[Rowena]

I have walked the Camino Frances in April and in October. The weather was certainly changeable, but never too hot or too cold. I did find that I needed gloves early in the morning though, and buying some did pose a challenge. It was not crowded in October, and by time I reached Sarria, that section wasn’t crowded any more either, which wasn’t the case in early May. It rained only three times, all the way from SJPP! And then, of course, it poured in Santiago.

 

[CESAR Ribeiro]

Hi Rob!

Welcome to the Forun.

In 2015 I completed the "Camino de Santiago", starting in Pamplona, like you, to Santiago. I began my trek on September 24th and completed it October 24th (30 days). You can walk in sunny warm and dry weather one week, and the next week it is rainy and cold. I think the opinion Mr RJM is the better!!

Have a nice journey, "Buen Camino"

 

[Jackieduda]

Hello,
I'm Rob and I'm a newbie here in a forum. I'm thrilled about my plan to walk this year Camino de Santiago from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela in October of 2019. Anyone can share their experience what typical climate I can expect during that time of season? How crowded the trail can be during that time?
Thanks,
Rob

I walked the Frances beginning in SJPDP in sept last year. By october, weather was still mild but it was colder in the mornings. (It will also be dark for about the first hour or more of your daily hike.). No problem if you bring a lightweight puffy jacket you can scrunch up in your backpack, gloves, a scarf, and lightweight layers. As the day wears on, you will be removing most of these items under the warm autumn sun. I never needed handwarmers (as i do when hiking here in massachusetts) but the jacket, scarf, lightweight gloves will make a big difference in your comfort level.

Buen Camino to you!
(Jacscamino.wordpress.com)

 

[NanaEL]

I love reading all these posts about the Fall as we are preparing to start on September 11th for the first time.
Thank you all for all your golden tidbits. We are on the slow mode most likely and like hearing what to expect late October ...

In my opinion, October is the perfect time to walk. The early part of the month can be quite warm. By the end of the month, it can be quite cool, with some mornings hovering around the freezing point. To get a feel for the conditions, you could check my photos from my late Sept/Oct CF in 2015. www.tomnorthenscold.com/camino

I love your pictures! Thanks for sharing with us.

 

[Jackieduda]

In my opinion, October is the perfect time to walk. The early part of the month can be quite warm. By the end of the month, it can be quite cool, with some mornings hovering around the freezing point. To get a feel for the conditions, you could check my photos from my late Sept/Oct CF in 2015. www.tomnorthenscold.com/camino

Tom, these are moving, beautfulstupendous photos!

 

[KerrieG]

In my opinion, October is the perfect time to walk...…...To get a feel for the conditions, you could check my photos from my late Sept/Oct CF in 2015. www.tomnorthenscold.com/camino

Brilliant selection of photos Tom! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Mahuri]

Hello,
I'm Rob and I'm a newbie here in a forum. I'm thrilled about my plan to walk this year Camino de Santiago from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela in October of 2019. Anyone can share their experience what typical climate I can expect during that time of season? How crowded the trail can be during that time?
Thanks,
Rob

Rob, - You should be thrilled! - I did it in 2016, SJPP - Santiago - Oct 6th - Nov 4th. Conditions were perfect, - not too hot or cold, but I you'll need everything from shorts & tee shirt to a fleece jacket. Some stragglers I met that ended up a week behind did experience some snow flurries in early November at higher elevations. Crowding is not a problem - it's just out of season, so you'll have plently of "space", and you'll meet some new friends too.
I'll be on the trail again in October this year to initiate my wife, but just a few days starting in Pamplona Oct 13, so we may cross paths.
All the best!
Paul