Via de la Plata 2019.

[david marquez]

Hello all,
I did the Camino del Norte/Primitivo to Fistere in April/May of this year and I am now a hopeless Camino addict. Every morning I remember and smile, and I wish I was still there.
Planning to do the Via de la Plata in 2019, either starting again in April, or more likely a late summer start, end of September.
Looking for any advice, experience and of course opinions about anything VdlP related.
Thanks in advance fellow Peregrinos...buen Camino!
Dave Marquez

 

[Caminata]

Hello all,
I did the Camino del Norte/Primitivo to Fistere in April/May of this year and I am now a hopeless Camino addict. Every morning I remember and smile, and I wish I was still there.
Planning to do the Via de la Plata in 2019, either starting again in April, or more likely a late summer start, end of September.
Looking for any advice, experience and of course opinions about anything VdlP related.
Thanks in advance fellow Peregrinos...buen Camino!
Dave Marquez

Hi Dave.... I have walked a Camino each year since 2012. A happy addiction.
I walked the VDLP starting mid April 2017. I felt it was the perfect time to start. Just a nice number of other walkers. Varied from 15 to 40 people at different towns.
Loved the walk. One of my favourites. Would definitely do again. I had heard prior of the huge distances between towns. I found no problems... but like to do 25 to 30k a day. Albergues were fantastic. A lot of what we called a "2 sheet Albergue".
Just turn up and start as normal. You will love it.
Cheers
Gary

 

[david marquez]

Hi Dave.... I have walked a Camino each year since 2012. A happy addiction.
I walked the VDLP starting mid April 2017. I felt it was the perfect time to start. Just a nice number of other walkers. Varied from 15 to 40 people at different towns.
Loved the walk. One of my favourites. Would definitely do again. I had heard prior of the huge distances between towns. I found no problems... but like to do 25 to 30k a day. Albergues were fantastic. A lot of what we called a "2 sheet Albergue".
Just turn up and start as normal. You will love it.
Cheers
Gary

Gary, muchas gracias! Exactly what I want to hear! I will either do a mid April or a late September start....really looking forward to it! It’s an addictin that I am happily succumbing to!

 

[clivespicer]

Hi Dave, I walked the Via from Seville commencing April 2018. I timed my start for a week after the Easter celebrations had completed. It was a fabulous experience from start to finish. Never too crowded but the Sanabres became a bit of a bed race towards the end. Experienced all four seasons with the weather but the beauty of Spain in the spring was stunning. I'm planning to do the Norte same time next year but I feel so drawn to get back on the Via again soon. Buen Camino

 

[david marquez]

Hi Dave, I walked the Via from Seville commencing April 2018. I timed my start for a week after the Easter celebrations had completed. It was a fabulous experience from start to finish. Never too crowded but the Sanabres became a bit of a bed race towards the end. Experienced all four seasons with the weather but the beauty of Spain in the spring was stunning. I'm planning to do the Norte same time next year but I feel so drawn to get back on the Via again soon. Buen Camino

You must have been walking the Via whilst I was walking the del Norte. I started on April 6th. I am still dumbfounded by the spectacular beauty of Spains North coast. I too found April-May to be wonderful timing. Being from near Seattle the extremely wet spring this year did not put me off. My one thought to offer you on the del norte is to investigate all of the optional or alternative routes that avoid using paved roads and follow the shoreline. There are numerous places, in particular the departure from Santander, where it will be a longer walk, but in my opinion infinitely more rewarding to follow the trails along the shoreline and bluffs overlooking the bay of Biscay!

 

[trecile]

Hello all,
I did the Camino del Norte/Primitivo to Fistere in April/May of this year and I am now a hopeless Camino addict. Every morning I remember and smile, and I wish I was still there.
Planning to do the Via de la Plata in 2019, either starting again in April, or more likely a late summer start, end of September.
Looking for any advice, experience and of course opinions about anything VdlP related.
Thanks in advance fellow Peregrinos...buen Camino!
Dave Marquez

Check the temperatures for southern Spain in September.

 

[JillGat]

Hi David, Am sending you a PM. Jill

 

[wcsjms]

Hello all,
I did the Camino del Norte/Primitivo to Fistere in April/May of this year and I am now a hopeless Camino addict. Every morning I remember and smile, and I wish I was still there.
Planning to do the Via de la Plata in 2019, either starting again in April, or more likely a late summer start, end of September.
Looking for any advice, experience and of course opinions about anything VdlP related.
Thanks in advance fellow Peregrinos...buen Camino!
Dave Marquez

We, wife and I with 2 Frances in 11 months, behind us are planning a end of September 2019 or October 1, 2019 start of the Via de la Plata. We are starting our planning now. Buen Camino

 

[Deleted member 397]

I've done a few VDLP either the whole route or bits. I have walked in months ranging from may to august and never found the heat too oppressive. I generally started around 8 or 9am depending on the distance. A word of caution about starting in September; one year I started in late august and got to Galicia in October and it was FREEZING. I met up with some Swedes and we all bought gloves in Mombuey as it was so cold I was wearing a t shirt,shirt,fleece,scarf and raincoat to keep warm...and sunrise is obviously much later than mid year.

 

[david marquez]

We, wife and I with 2 Frances in 11 months, behind us are planning a end of September 2019 or October 1, 2019 start of the Via de la Plata. We are starting our planning now. Buen Camino

Maybe I will see you! My spring has been booked up with a trans-amerian bicycle ride in May-July. So I will be planning to start the VdlP around October 1st. Still hoping to start in Tarifa.

 

[david marquez]

I am considering a pull behind single wheel trailer, a Monowalker Fatmate....anyone have experience/opinions about pulling a trailer? I saw a few on the main Camino Frances route into Compostela this past spring and they have some advantages that appeal to me....and the Monowalker is pricey but its designed from the ground up for “Adventure walking”

 

[intrepidtraveler]

In April there will most likely be beautiful wildflowers. By late September things are pretty brown if that makes a difference to you. Also, you will likely have more company in April.

 

[Albertagirl]

Maybe I will see you! My spring has been booked up with a trans-amerian bicycle ride in May-July. So I will be planning to start the VdlP around October 1st. Still hoping to start in Tarifa.

@david marquez
I walked the VdlP October/November 2017, beginning in Seville on Oct. 3 and arriving in Santiago on Nov. 21. From Seville to Salamanca (halfway) the daytime highs were in the mid 30s, too hot for me. After that the weather freshened and one or two days there was frost in the early mornings, but comfortably cool daytime walking and very little rain. Whether this weather suits you may depend on your own background and preferences. And of course the weather may be very different next year. Regardless, Buen camino.

 

[clivespicer]

I walked the Via from Seville to SdC in April/May this year. There were numerous areas where pulling a single wheel trailer behind me would have been absolutely impossible.

 

[Via2010]

The earlier the year the more humidity in the ground. When walking the sanabrés in May 2010 there were lots of sections which were flooded or soaking wet. No chance to get through these areas with a trailer. I also learnt from some friends who started in Seville in March/April that there were some hazardous river-crossings. Walking this section in mid September, they were no problem. Though, in mid September it can still be very hot.

 

[SYates]

I am considering a pull behind single wheel trailer, a Monowalker Fatmate....anyone have experience/opinions about pulling a trailer? ...

There are quite a few streams to cross on the Plata, not sure if a trailer would be such a great idea in that case ...

Buen Camino, SY

 

[wcsjms]

Maybe I will see you! My spring has been booked up with a trans-amerian bicycle ride in May-July. So I will be planning to start the VdlP around October 1st. Still hoping to start in Tarifa.

It would great to meet along the VdlP

 

[Donna Sch]

I walked the Via from Seville to SdC in April/May this year. There were numerous areas where pulling a single wheel trailer behind me would have been absolutely impossible.

The first that came to mind was Calvary just before Almaden. That hill is steep enough for a person to lug themselves up and I wondered how bicigrinos do it without bypassing the park altogether.

 

[Kanga]

I am considering a pull behind single wheel trailer, a Monowalker Fatmate....anyone have experience/opinions about pulling a trailer? I saw a few on the main Camino Frances route into Compostela this past spring and they have some advantages that appeal to me....and the Monowalker is pricey but its designed from the ground up for “Adventure walking”

I walked the Vdlp last spring with a couple who were using a pull behind trailer (used with a set of walking poles), and also a single man who had made his own heavy duty trailer and was using it. He had walked all over Europe with it. Both lots were enthusiastic about the benefits.

 

[jpflavin1]

Hello all,
I did the Camino del Norte/Primitivo to Fistere in April/May of this year and I am now a hopeless Camino addict. Every morning I remember and smile, and I wish I was still there.
Planning to do the Via de la Plata in 2019, either starting again in April, or more likely a late summer start, end of September.
Looking for any advice, experience and of course opinions about anything VdlP related.
Thanks in advance fellow Peregrinos...buen Camino!
Dave Marquez

David:

VdlP is on my list as a possibility this year. I would be looking at a late March start around the 25th. I am assuming weather will be similar to the Mozarabe. That said, I have rain gear and do not let weather, other than heat, impact my walking decisions.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[Just Karin]

Planning to walk the vdlp in 2019 with my sister starting early April, hoping to finish somewhere at the end of May

 

[jpflavin1]

I have not locked in dates yet but I am definitely walking the VdlP this Spring starting approximately Mid-March.

Anybody willing to share their stages, information on accommodations or other information is always helpful. I have yet to find any information on stage topography.

Happy New Year to all,
Joe

 

[Crcwalks]

Toying with either the Le Puy to SJPDP or the VDLP this spring. Is early March for VDLP too early? Would hit Galicia beginning of April.
Buen Camino,
Carol

 

[JillGat]

I have not locked in dates yet but I am definitely walking the VdlP this Spring starting approximately Mid-March.

Anybody willing to share their stages, information on accommodations or other information is always helpful. I have yet to find any information on stage topography.

Happy New Year to all,
Joe

Gerald Kelly's book has a lot of that info. There is a 2018 edition

 

[C clearly]

Is early March for VDLP too early?

I started March 18, 2017, and thought that timing was perfect. However, I've heard that 2018 was quite miserable in March for much of southern Spain. Since we can't predict the weather so far ahead, just plan for both chilly mornings and some rainy days.

 

[JillGat]

I am considering a pull behind single wheel trailer, a Monowalker Fatmate....anyone have experience/opinions about pulling a trailer? I saw a few on the main Camino Frances route into Compostela this past spring and they have some advantages that appeal to me....and the Monowalker is pricey but its designed from the ground up for “Adventure walking”

Somebody else posted in this forum about pulling a trailer on VDLP. Of course I don't remember who it was or what the thread was and.... now that I think about it.... my post is starting to sound kind of pointless. Anyway, look around and if I find it again, will forward it to you!

 

[Martyduc]

Somebody else posted in this forum about pulling a trailer on VDLP. Of course I don't remember who it was or what the thread was and.... now that I think about it.... my post is starting to sound kind of pointless. Anyway, look around and if I find it again, will forward it to you!

last spring on the vldp ,,,met 3 pilgrims with 2 wheeled trailers ,,, one gave up on hers after one week ,,but her friend continued on with hers,,,later on the Sanabres a couple with 1 trailer were towards the end taxiing the trailer ahead !!! but maybe a one wheeled is easier,,,,or just lighten your pack !!! Buen camino

 

[geraldkelly]

last spring on the vldp ,,,met 3 pilgrims with 2 wheeled trailers ,,, one gave up on hers after one week ,,but her friend continued on with hers,,,later on the Sanabres a couple with 1 trailer were towards the end taxiing the trailer ahead !!! but maybe a one wheeled is easier,,,,or just lighten your pack !!! Buen camino

Was that the two Flemish ladies? I met them last spring near Castilblanco. Somebody told me they had struggled on some stages because of the terrain.

From various conversations with people who used trailers down the years I got the impression that they had really brought a lot of stuff just because they thought it would be easy to transport, and of course they found they didn't need half of it...

 

[Martyduc]

Was that the two Flemish ladies? I met them last spring near Castilblanco. Somebody told me they had struggled on some stages because of the terrain.

From various conversations with people who used trailers down the years I got the impression that they had really brought a lot of stuff just because they thought it would be easy to transport, and of course they found they didn't need half of it...

Hi ,,,yes it was those two ,,, and much later on was an Italian couple,,, and are you the one we English speakers have to thank for the guide book on the vldp ,,,many thanks !!! Fantastic Camino and must have just missed you !!

 

[wcsjms]

@david marquez
I walked the VdlP October/November 2017, beginning in Seville on Oct. 3 and arriving in Santiago on Nov. 21. From Seville to Salamanca (halfway) the daytime highs were in the mid 30s, too hot for me. After that the weather freshened and one or two days there was frost in the early mornings, but comfortably cool daytime walking and very little rain. Whether this weather suits you may depend on your own background and preferences. And of course the weather may be very different next year. Regardless, Buen camino.

We will be starting the VdlP right around the first of October 2019. Definitely like the cooler weather. We hope it will be cooler in 2019 then in 2018. Did the Frances in the fall...very nice, did the Frances in Aug-Sept, way to HOT !

Buen Caminos ;-)

 

[Crcwalks]

I started March 18, 2017, and thought that timing was perfect. However, I've heard that 2018 was quite miserable in March for much of southern Spain. Since we can't predict the weather so far ahead, just plan for both chilly mornings and some rainy days.

Thanks for information on your walk. Agree, will deal with weather. It’s the Camino! Will start VDLP on March 4. Very excited! Buen Camino!

 

[tangata hikoi]

Thanks for information on your walk. Agree, will deal with weather. It’s the Camino! Will start VDLP on March 4. Very excited! Buen Camino!

Hello CRC
I will be starting on March 2nd. Planning to be VERY slow for the first days so will look forward to meeting you along the way.
Megg

 

[jpflavin1]

My start date is looking more like March 18th or 19th depending when I arrive inn Sevilla.

Joe

 

[Boblow]

Hello all,
I did the Camino del Norte/Primitivo to Fistere in April/May of this year and I am now a hopeless Camino addict. Every morning I remember and smile, and I wish I was still there.
Planning to do the Via de la Plata in 2019, either starting again in April, or more likely a late summer start, end of September.
Looking for any advice, experience and of course opinions about anything VdlP related.
Thanks in advance fellow Peregrinos...buen Camino!
Dave Marquez

 

[Camino Jim]

Hello all,
I did the Camino del Norte/Primitivo to Fistere in April/May of this year and I am now a hopeless Camino addict. Every morning I remember and smile, and I wish I was still there.
Planning to do the Via de la Plata in 2019, either starting again in April, or more likely a late summer start, end of September.
Looking for any advice, experience and of course opinions about anything VdlP related.
Thanks in advance fellow Peregrinos...buen Camino!
Dave Marquez

I too am going to starting the VDLP on April 8th arriving Seville Apr 5 at Hotel Simon

 

[Crcwalks]

We are starting on March 4. Staying at Hotel Simon for a few days before we start. Will post along the route. Planning to do the Sanabres through Ourense.
Buen Camino.

 

[Crcwalks]

I do note that there is further distance between localities along the VDLP. This early in the year, I expect it will be rather quiet.

 

[Donna Sch]

I'm on the Levante at the moment and while last year was blizzards, cold and awful weather, this year, spring has come early. Unseasonably warm. The wildflowers are starting in the warmer spots and there is blossom already. I'm hiking in a tshirt and windbreaker. And lots of buffs with my Paramo pants. If I had known that the weather would be so good I would have taken hiking shoes rather than boots.

 

[Crcwalks]

Donna, the weather sounds lovely. Perhaps you won’t regret the boots vs shoes further north and west.

 

[pilgrimjonas]

I booked my flight to Seville and now am having a hard time not to pack and repack my pack 24/7

I will start my Via de la Plata on March 17th.

@ Donna: I am happy to hear weather feels toasty at at the moment. I remember last spring on the shores of Portugal