Start Aug. 15 or Sept. 1?

[wells.kim.p]

We are planning to walk Camino del Norte this year, 2022, from Irun. We are trying to decide whether to start Aug. 15 or the beginning of Sept. Any thoughts, considerations, or suggestions to help us decide? Many thanks!

 

[J Willhaus]

Many Europeans are on vacation in August. September will bring more pilgrims, but maybe you won't pay "high season" prices everywhere. We are in Bilbao now and were in San Sabastian yesterday as tourists and it's crowded and busy with tourists from around the globe.

 

[lt56ny]

Without a doubt the later you start the better. Less vacationers and with this summer's heat the later you start the better. If you can go even September 15th that would be great. I walked starting in mid October. Never had bad heat and problems with albergues. Things got colder as I turned southwest but never really bad. But who knows about weather. If my memory serves me correctly the early weeks have a great deal of open area to walk without shade, especially if you check out all the great variants you can walk to keep you on the coast.

 

[JerryStroebele]

I recommend early September. That has worked well for me twice. August could be too hot for that tough first day out of Irun. Buen Camino.

 

[trecile]

For the Norte, I would start in September because of the large numbers of tourists in the area during August.
If you were asking about the Camino Francés from SJPdP, I'd say August 15th, because of the large numbers of pilgrims who wait until September to start.

 

[Suzanne S.]

I started on 2019 on the last day of August. Tourist activity was waning.

 

[wells.kim.p]

Many Europeans are on vacation in August. September will bring more pilgrims, but maybe you won't pay "high season" prices everywhere. We are in Bilbao now and were in San Sabastian yesterday as tourists and it's crowded and busy with tourists from around the globe.

Thank you for the information!

 

[wells.kim.p]

I started on 2019 on the last day of August. Tourist activity was waning.

Thank you!

 

[wells.kim.p]

Without a doubt the later you start the better. Less vacationers and with this summer's heat the later you start the better. If you can go even September 15th that would be great. I walked starting in mid October. Never had bad heat and problems with albergues. Things got colder as I turned southwest but never really bad. But who knows about weather. If my memory serves me correctly the early weeks have a great deal of open area to walk without shade, especially if you check out all the great variants you can walk to keep you on the coast.

Many thanks!

 

[wells.kim.p]

I started on 2019 on the last day of August. Tourist activity was waning.

Good to know!

 

[wells.kim.p]

For the Norte, I would start in September because of the large numbers of tourists in the area during August.
If you were asking about the Camino Francés from SJPdP, I'd say August 15th, because of the large numbers of pilgrims who wait until September to start.

That's helpful. Thank you!

 

[wells.kim.p]

I recommend early September. That has worked well for me twice. August could be too hot for that tough first day out of Irun. Buen Camino.

Thank you!

 

[lt56ny]

Many thanks!

Buen Camino and as others have said tourism wanes as families have to go home because vacations end, work and school begins.

 

[Suz2022]

Thanks for asking this question, as I've been getting a bit more concerned about the heat. The other responses reinforce my need to be especially prepared for that first week. I arranged to start on Aug 30; it felt like the earliest possible date given heat, tourists and pilgrims.

Buen camino - and perhaps we'll run into each other!

 

[wells.kim.p]

Thanks for asking this question, as I've been getting a bit more concerned about the heat. The other responses reinforce my need to be especially prepared for that first week. I arranged to start on Aug 30; it felt like the earliest possible date given heat, tourists and pilgrims.

Buen camino - and perhaps we'll run into each other!

Wonderful! So many considerations. Thank you for your response.

 

[Canche]

I did the Norte in September and it was great. August is too busy when Europeans take their vacations. Buen Camino. I loved the Norte.