Is Via de la Plata viable late fall early winter

[whariwharangi]

Is Via de la Plata and Camino Sanabres viable in November/December?

 

[MileHighPair]

According to the Pilgrim Office Website, there were 89 arrivals from the VdlP last December (15 all the way from Seville). In January it was a total of 45 on this route, 8 from Seville. Maybe one of these folks will chime in on how it was and what exact route was taken.

 

[LTfit]

Although I walked the Plata and Sanabrés in July, October/November and February and not when you mention, I would say definitely - as long as you are prepared for some rain and a dip in temps from Salamanca on.

I started out being a summer Camino walker and although I still enjoy walking solitary Caminos in the summer, other seasons have their merrits. I walked the Levante from Toledo-Zamora in early April (2 degrees C leaving Ávila) and am just back from a week on the Norte.

Do it. The Plata is my favorite so far.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I bet it would be lovely in late Fall.

 

[Kialoa3]

Is Via de la Plata and Camino Sanabres viable in November/December?

I'll let you know. My wife, Robin, and I leave for Seville on November 2nd.

 

[alansykes]

I bet it would be lovely in late Fall.

It is.

I've done Seville-Santiago twice then , arriving at the tomb on November 30 and December 23. Both were great. All the albergues I needed were open (except Alcántara, which I gather is a regular problem; one year I went direct from Cáceres to Cañaveral, the other from Casar de C to Grimaldo). The autumn colours were glorious, the people friendly, the cities fascinating, the food fabulous and one year I had no rain between Seville and Santa Croya de Tera. You get the picture, I enjoyed myself - in fact, last week in Barcelona station, as I was on my way to Tortosa to start the Camino del Ebro, I heard the train announced for Sevilla Santa Justa and seriously thought about ditching all my plans and just doing another autumn VdlP,

 

[Harington]

Is Via de la Plata and Camino Sanabres viable in November/December?

Well, even in October (2013) it was very cold around Salamanca and Zamora, temps almost to freezing in the early morning. And I guess in the mountains getting into Galicia around A Gudiña and Laza there could be some snow.

 

[whariwharangi]

I guess the main concern is whether the albergues are open. I guess I'm wondering too if others would be walking. I can do solitary but would prefer to have someone to talk to at least in the evenings. I walked the Frances in the same time frame 2012 ... so its not the weather that's the issue.

I guess I need to decide soon ... the last minute is approaching if I'm going this year.

 

[alansykes]

I guess the main concern is whether the albergues are open. I guess I'm wondering too if others would be walking. I can do solitary but would prefer to have someone to talk to at least in the evenings.

The albergues are open, with almost no exceptions, but you will probably generally be alone in them. The people in the bars and restaurants will be more than happy to chat, provided you speak Spanish. I've never met a native English speaking pilgrim on the VdlP, but that may be unusual - I've met monoglot French and Spanish, an Italian whose English was better than my Italian, some French speaking Germans and several Québécois who preferred chatting in French, but presumably also could speak English.

 

[Noey]

I guess the main concern is whether the albergues are open. I guess I'm wondering too if others would be walking. I can do solitary but would prefer to have someone to talk to at least in the evenings. I walked the Frances in the same time frame 2012 ... so its not the weather that's the issue.

I guess I need to decide soon ... the last minute is approaching if I'm going this year.

Hi I will begin a section in VDLP Ourense to Santiago, in a couple of days. Your post and it's threads have been helpful in helping me know I will be okay. Thanks.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Hola - I've walked this route in winter and autumn. These were "all season" caminos when I needed sunscreen in the south and a base layer in Galicia. For the views and the changing colours the route is memorable. I had solitary times on this route but two January's ago I was in a bubble of 8 other pilgrims for a lot of the time.

Buen camino

John