Planning question for experienced pilgrims

[TomKrisz]

Hello ,
I’m looking for planning advice for my first Camino from seasoned pilgrims. I’ve been told ‘Leapfrogging’ is not a good idea and would like to minimize walking along highways and crowds . We will be in Pampalona Sept 3 and need to be in Santiago Sept 15th . Considering Pampalona to Fromista vs Astorva to Santiago vs CP .. Porto to Santiago . Grateful for any comments and suggestions.
Tom

 

[markie6]

Walking ? Biking ? Carrying your pack ? all this info gives us a better idea of how far or how fast you can go / get to

Crowds ... will often be crowds as you get near Santiago. September is a busy month too

The Frances has a lot of places where you are near the roads, can't speak for the CP


Is getting a compestella a priority ?

 

[lovelyshell]

On the CP there is very little road walking. I did the CP in 13 days but some people do it in 11-12.

 

[good_old_shoes]

The Francés has lots of road walking or walking close to roads as well as walks through towns, cities and villages. It is what it is. If you skip certain sections you might not get the experience you're hoping for, since it's all part of it. It's not a scenic hike through wilderness, so if that's what you prefer, expect to not get it on the Francés. There will be people and there will be roads, no matter which section you walk. Some have less of it though.

There's still beauty to be found in the "ugly" / "boring" or "crowded" sections, even if it may not be considered beautiful in the traditional sense.

If you have limited time, maybe consider walking from Ponferrada that time of the year. If you're fast you could still add the way to Finisterre and finish at the 0,00km milestone at the atlantic ocean . With a september start, it might be more quiet on that section than from St Jean/ Roncesvalles / Pamplona (september is high season for starting from St Jean and crowds to be expected, while the Galician part has its high season in july/august and might be a little more quiet in early september). So you would be between the waves with a little luck.

Or simply start walking from St Jean / Roncesvalles/ Pamplona and see how far you get, without focussing on crowds, beautiful trails/landscapes ect. and just take the Camino as it is, and make the best of it.

Anyway, happy planning and buen Camino!

 

[J Willhaus]

Why not just start neared to Santiago and walk the whole way? Part of it is making friends and sharing experiences. If its just a vacation you want, then why do any walking at all?

 

[OzAnnie]

I’m looking for planning advice for my first Camino

Hi Tom
Based on your criteria and because it’s your first camino / I’d go with either Porto to Santiago on CP. or
On CF : Astorga to Santiago.
Buen camino … whatever you choose, it will be just right.

 

[Grousedoctor]

With your limited time, I’d recommend that you walk the CP from Porto. You actually have two choices: the Coastal or the Central routes. Having walked them both, I can tell you that they’re both good choices although my preference thinking that this is your first Camino would be the Central Route. One of the great moments of a pilgrimage is the arrival in Santiago. Although I’ve done this now a number of times, I still get goosebumps upon my first sight of the cathedral after days along The Way. Beginning in Porto, you’ll really have the sense of completing a full Camino which I don’t think you’ll get from jumping onto the Francés in Astorga. Your criteria of less road walking and smaller to no crowds will also be realized on the Portugués. Buen Camino!

 

[thejoker]

The above advice is spot on, though if you are in Pamplona to start and then have 12 days, this is a bit of a challenge. Can you get from Pamplona to Villafranca del Bierzo? It would take possibly 2 days to get there (from Pamplona), but then you'd have an amazing 9/10 days of walking on the Frances.