What to expect walking in March (weather, closures, Easter)?

[SuetoSantiago]

My sister and I are planning our third camino from Porto to Santiago starting March 18 and ending April 2. Are 'current' plan is to begin on the senda litoral/coastal route then moving to the central route on day 8.

Any feedback on weather, closures during this time and the impact on the camino during the Easter celebrations (Easter is on March 31 this year) would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, in advance!

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

As this is your third camino I suspect you know only too well that weather is completely variable! Good luck . Unless you've only ever walked in summer you also know to layer and ensure that you've got great rainwear.

I walked during Semana Santa this year. As you have undoubtedly read elsewhere Easter or Semana Santa is absolutely huge in Spain. Whilst supermarkets restaurants etc are still open the rest of the country pretty much closes for the week leading up to it. If the weather is even halfway decent you can expect an awful lot of spaniards to hit the trail that week. As some Albergues etc will not yet be open for the season, if you don't want to get involved in a bed Race for the next Xunta or if you wish to stay private you may wish to consider pre-booking at least a day or two out for that week.
And the celebrations / parade's are absolutely amazing!

 

[Joe.Iozzi]

I walked from Porto to Santiago in late March/early April of 2016. It rained every day, often very hard. We had no trouble finding beds in the albergues or food, even on Easter day.

 

[lt56ny]

As this is your third camino I suspect you know only too well that weather is completely variable! Good luck . Unless you've only ever walked in summer you also know to layer and ensure that you've got great rainwear.

I walked during Semana Santa this year. As you have undoubtedly read elsewhere Easter or Semana Santa is absolutely huge in Spain. Whilst supermarkets restaurants etc are still open the rest of the country pretty much closes for the week leading up to it. If the weather is even halfway decent you can expect an awful lot of spaniards to hit the trail that week. As some Albergues etc will not yet be open for the season, if you don't want to get involved in a bed Race for the next Xunta or if you wish to stay private you may wish to consider pre-booking at least a day or two out for that week.
And the celebrations / parade's are absolutely amazing!

I agree. If I knew the weather on the coast of Portugal next March I would be living in Vegas and cleaning up at the Sportsbook in a casino!