South/central Spain in April versus September (aside from weather)

[JustJack]

I'm trying to decide between walking the VdlP in spring or fall. More specifically, I would leave Seville at the beginning of April, or beginning of September, and walk to Santiago via the Sanabres.

Aside from the weather, are there any differences between walking those two months that I might not be aware of?

I'm thinking for example of things like mosquitos or other insects, crowded accommodation due to lots of pilgrims or Spanish holiday, differences in flora and fauna, or really anything I might not be aware of.

From what I've researched so far, it would seem that the spring time is more popular than the fall for walking this camino, but I haven't actually checked any stats so I could be wrong. I like the idea of the spring because the weather will be steadily improving as I walk to Galicia, versus the opposite in the fall. But April could still have its share of cold rainy days, and September might have more reliable weather (albeit possibly hot, but I prefer the heat to the cold). I'll come to a decision regarding my weather preference, but wondering if there are other factors I haven't considered.

 

[J Willhaus]

More places will be open and opening up in the Spring. In the Fall, more places will be closing down in mid- October although Xunta albergues are open all year once you reach Galicia.

 

[trecile]

It makes more sense to me to start in the Spring before it gets too hot in the south. As you walk north the weather should be temperate all the way to Santiago. In the autumn it could get colder and rainier the farther north you go.

 

[J Willhaus]

I would rather go in the fall. Fewer people, cooler weather. In fact I would start in October...

 

[JustJack]

I just noticed that Easter 2024 falls on March 31. Would the festivities around this time cause you to ensure you aren’t walking over this period due to the difficulties getting accommodation? This might be a reason to delay it until fall.

 

[alexwalker]

I have done the VdlP in 2 different years. I would go in early April. I had nice weather. Early Sept. can be very hot. It's through the province of Extremadura (= meaning "very/extremely hard", in English), and many long days of little/no shade...

The VdlP is also known as "The hard Camino" (El Camino duro)...

 

[alexwalker]

I just noticed that Easter 2024 falls on March 31. Would the festivities around this time cause you to ensure you aren’t walking over this period due to the difficulties getting accommodation? This might be a reason to delay it until fall.

Start after Easter in 2024, IMHO.

 

[trecile]

I would rather go in the fall. Fewer people, cooler weather. In fact I would start in October...

But October in Sevilla can be pretty warm.

 

[Kev&Kath]

If starting around Semana Santa be sure of your accommodation options. My wife and I started from Cadiz in April this year, on Good Friday, and I was very happy I had pre-booked accommodation - particularly for the first week. It is very much a time when Spanish folk are 'on holiday' with beds a premium. That aside...getting to experience Samana Santa festivities was a clear highlight of our pilgrimage.

 

[alexwalker]

If starting around Semana Santa be sure of your accommodation options. My wife and I started from Cadiz in April this year, on Good Friday, and I was very happy I had pre-booked accommodation - particularly for the first week. It is very much a time when Spanish folk are 'on holiday' with beds a premium. That aside...getting to experience Samana Santa festivities was a clear highlight of our pilgrimage.

Easter is BIG in Spain. If you can, reserve a hotel room in Sevilla well before Easter and enjoy the gigantic Easter parades, and walk out of there when Easter is over.

 

[alexwalker]

The hoods are not Ku Klux Klan, but a stolen European/Spanish tradition...

Capirote - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Robo]

I started in the last week of March this year and the weather was perfect.
I wanted to be clear of Seville before Semana Santa.
But managed to see a lot of the parades in smaller towns to the North.
Not one day of rain..........

 

[linkster]

@JustJack here is a list of Spanish holidays for your review that indicate their region Andalusia, Extremadura, etc.

Holidays and Observances in Spain in 2024

Overview of holidays and many observances in Spain during the year 2024

www.timeanddate.com

I know the title includes "(aside from weather)", but here is link I created for average temps on the Caminos (including Mozarabe, VLDP) based on Gronze stages.

Camino Average Temperatures

 

[trecile]

@JustJack here is a list of Spanish holidays for your review that indicate their region Andalusia, Extremadura, etc.

Holidays and Observances in Spain in 2024

Overview of holidays and many observances in Spain during the year 2024

www.timeanddate.com

I know the title includes "(aside from weather)", but here is link I created for average temps on the Caminos (including Mozarabe, VLDP) based on Gronze stages.

Camino Average Temperatures

That's a great resource! You should add it to the Resource section.

 

[peregrina2000]

Southern Spain in the spring is wildflower heaven (at least if the drought is lessened). In October that ground will be dry and brown.

The other natural feature that comes to life in the spring is the dehesa. The English translation is “grassland”, but that’s not a very good description. Wikipedia explains it better. In Extremadura, the dehesa is strewn with huge boulders and is a marshy green area dotted with white flowers on the ground, little streams, and the Jara bushes everywhere.

I think everything will be open after Easter. There will definitely be more people walking in the spring, then in the late fall, and you may have a very occasional bed crunch, but for the most part, the numbers of pilgrims rarely exceed the number of beds available in any place.

I agree with those who vote for springtime!

 

[Robo]

Southern Spain in the spring is wildflower heaven (at least if the drought is lessened). In October that ground will be dry and brown.

The other natural feature that comes to life in the spring is the dehesa. The English translation is “grassland”, but that’s not a very good description. Wikipedia explains it better. In Extremadura, the dehesa is strewn with huge boulders and is a marshy green area dotted with white flowers on the ground, little streams, and the Jara bushes everywhere.

I think everything will be open after Easter. There will definitely be more people walking in the spring, then in the late fall, and you may have a very occasional bed crunch, but for the most part, the numbers of pilgrims rarely exceed the number of beds available in any place.

I agree with those who vote for springtime!

The landscape is amazing. I think this is what is called Dehesa?

 

[peregrina2000]

For me, the second picture captures it best. I remember an early morning leaving Aljucén and coming upon a peregrino who was sitting on one of those big boulders, actually crying at the beauty of the morning, with the early sun falling gently on those rocks and making a mosaic of sun and shadow. Gorgeous!

 

[Robo]

For me, the second picture captures it best. I remember an early morning leaving Aljucén and coming upon a peregrino who was sitting on one of those big boulders, actually crying at the beauty of the morning, with the early sun falling gently on those rocks and making a mosaic of sun and shadow. Gorgeous!

That would be an interesting Poll Question.

"Have you ever just sat and cried at the Beauty of the Camino"? Yes.

 

[Rita Flower]

I think Spring is considered more beautiful - in a traditional sense - and probably an ‘easier’ walk - more pilgrims - challenges might be flooding or a few accommodation hot spots. And I mean a few.

Autumn (when I went) is less traditionally beautiful- dry and brown through Andalusia and Extremadura - seemingly a ‘harder’ walk in the early weeks. But an amazing experience.
I wouldn’t start until late September or early October because of the heat.
Accomodations were easy to get except for a few places that had nothing to do with seasonality - just fiesta or not available any more. Less pilgrims and more solitary. A timeless meditation for me.

I think the Via is worth walking twice if possible - once in each season. Whatever you choose you can’t go wrong.

 

[Sydney Peregrinos]

I'm trying to decide between walking the VdlP in spring or fall. More specifically, I would leave Seville at the beginning of April, or beginning of September, and walk to Santiago via the Sanabres.

Aside from the weather, are there any differences between walking those two months that I might not be aware of?

I'm thinking for example of things like mosquitos or other insects, crowded accommodation due to lots of pilgrims or Spanish holiday, differences in flora and fauna, or really anything I might not be aware of.

From what I've researched so far, it would seem that the spring time is more popular than the fall for walking this camino, but I haven't actually checked any stats so I could be wrong. I like the idea of the spring because the weather will be steadily improving as I walk to Galicia, versus the opposite in the fall. But April could still have its share of cold rainy days, and September might have more reliable weather (albeit possibly hot, but I prefer the heat to the cold). I'll come to a decision regarding my weather preference, but wondering if there are other factors I haven't considered.

We started walking from Sevilla at the end of March this year. Great weather, luckily we were ahead of the heatwave that started in mid April. We only had 1 day of rain which was our last day before SDC. We mainly stayed in albergues and had no trouble getting a bed. The week before Easter Sunday there were processions through most of the small towns which were great to see. Very few pilgrims walking, but enough to make it interesting.
I would recommend starting early and carrying lots of water and some food as some stages are long with no intermediate villages.