How busy will the camino be this year?

[rhmocha]

Hi everyone,

We are brand new to the Camino, having recently watched the movie The Way. We've begun planning our own pilgrimage for this September/October (French way, starting from St Jean-Pied-de-Port) but are wondering if this will be a "peak" year for pilgrims as a result of the increased notoriety from the film.

Can any of you veterans offer predictions about this? We would prefer our own pilgrimage experience to be not too crowded.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Hola - who can say? The early figures for this year are up on last year but every year there is an increase. Holy Years are the busiest and pilgrims say they are very special because of this! Make you plans and come to Spain - your pilgrimage will be all you expect and then some!

 

[fraluchi]

We've begun planning our own pilgrimage for this September/October (French way, starting from St Jean-Pied-de-Port) but are wondering if this will be a "peak" year for pilgrims as a result of the increased notoriety from the film.

My wife and I are planning a pilgrimage during the same period, this time the Aragonés from Jaca onwards, and are not particularly worried. Having walked the Camino Francés several times during the past years, we never encountered "problems" during either spring or autumn. Except perhaps that some albergues close from October onwards. You should check availability once you have established your route. Note that 12th October is "la fiesta de El Pilar" in Spain, which falls on a Friday and makes a long week-end: ideal for Spanish walkers to "do" their odd 100 km. to Santiago and fill many albergue beds.

 

[glennb]

Like you perhaps, I assumed that the Camino would be mobbed this year due to the release of The Way. (After all, if it inspired me won't it inspire everyone?)

But that seems not to be the case. The movie was only modestly successful as an offbeat film. And not that many people have the time or ability to walk 500 miles anyway.

I'm leaving in a week, and have heard no reports of undue crowds.

 

[dazzamac]

While 'The Way' will inspire a certain number of pilgrims to undertake the Camino, not all who've seen will be inspired to walk. And as glennb points out, the film was only a modest success worldwide.

While it has huge and obvious appeal for members of this forum, I think a small movie like 'The Way' is bound to get lost on the shelves of video stores where it competes with the likes of 'The Avengers' and 'Transformers'.

That said, I met one girl last year who told me that she was walking because she discovered the Camino through the film. On the other hand, I also spoke to a local man that loved the film but has absolutely no interest in walking the Camino himself.

I expect that there will be a modest increase of people walking because of the film but I think the rising popularity of the Camino means that many of those would have discovered the Camino anyway. Given that there was a delayed release of 'The Way' worldwide, with different releases in different countries over the course of at least a year, I'd expect that the numbers of walkers inspired by the film would be spread out over time.

Few people can undertake the Camino on the spur of the moment, so I would expect that many of those inspired by the film are still in the planning stages or have put the Camino on the long finger, an aspiration for the future but not an immediate goal.

So in answer to your question, I doubt very much that the paths will be thronged this year by fans of 'The Way' eager to capture something of the Camino for themselves. Come to Spain and experience the Camino for yourself. I have no doubt that you will enjoy it as so many have before you.

 

[cojudake]

We too are walking from St Jean PDP in late Aug after being inspired by the movie 'The Way'. We expect to arrive in Santiago by early October. My husband and I are also 'first timers' and after making the big decision to walk it ourselves, our 20 year old daughter decided to accompany us. We are very much looking forward to it. Our journey begins in Melbourne!

 

[stratophile]

Hey Cojudake - that sounds great! Alas, in my case my 15 year old daughter (good-naturedly) rolled her eyes at the very thought that she might accompany me on a crazy walk across northern Spain... kids - no imagination! LOL

I should be on the Camino about the same time as you - perhaps our paths will cross. Have a great walk!

Stratophile

 

[ouroboros]

My husband and I will be walking our first Camino late September through all of October and extrapolating from the pilgrim departure dates I have observed on this forum, it looks like there is a decided down-turn in the numbers of those departing later in September, which bears up to the yearly statistics of a drop-off in late September as people return to work and school and the weather turns cooler.
We chose this time of year to embark because we prefer cooler temperatures and a little less traffic.
Fraluchi, thanks for the warning about the October 12th feast day!

 

[cojudake]

Hey Cojudake - that sounds great! Alas, in my case my 15 year old daughter (good-naturedly) rolled her eyes at the very thought that she might accompany me on a crazy walk across northern Spain... kids - no imagination! LOL

I should be on the Camino about the same time as you - perhaps our paths will cross. Have a great walk!

Stratophile

I received the same crazy look from my son and he's 23! He is however planning to meet us in Santiago at the end (by bus of course) and couldn't even be persuaded to walk the final 100 kms with us!

 

[RochelleArellano]

Hi Everyone:
I too am new to the Camino. I was thinking of doing it some time back, shelved the idea, then it reasserted itself when I watched the movie. I knew it, the moment I saw it, this was the time and this was the place. I am practicing with my backpack and walking on average 23 miles per week, probably not enough, but I believe I will be alright after about a week or so. I'm thrilled to be going and my daughters are thrilled for me, though neither of them would probably care to walk it with me.
Hope my paths cross with folks from Northern California, Bay Area SFO-Monterey.

Buen Camino, All. Am excited that this is nearly here!

 

[RochelleArellano]

all I have read leads me to think this is a good time to be going. Oct-Nov. Hope this is so, but I am going no matter what. Time waits for no one. That train is Camino bound!

Rochelle

 

[RochelleArellano]

all I have read leads me to think this is a good time to be going. Oct-Nov. Hope this is so, but I am going no matter what. Time waits for no one. That train is Camino bound!
I'm sure it's been quoted before:
{The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say. ]

 

[grayland]

Your adventure begins...you will not regret it.
Enjoy both the preparation and the actual Pilgrimage.
Buen Camino

 

[candacecarnahan]

When are you beginning, Rochelle - I am walking in OCt/Nov as well!

all I have read leads me to think this is a good time to be going. Oct-Nov. Hope this is so, but I am going no matter what. Time waits for no one. That train is Camino bound!

Rochelle