Pilgrim numbers on the Via are down slightly

[DoughnutANZ]

There are statistics in a graph format below, showing numbers and trends by month of Compostelas issued for Pilgrims on the Camino Via de la Plata (as defined by the Pilgrim Office).

Keep in mind that the data is by month of arrival in Santiago de Compostela.

The number of Pilgrims vary up and down by month and are down slightly overall. This is in contrast with most other Caminos which have generally shown an increase in numbers this year compared with 2019.

 

[Kev&Kath]

There are statistics in a graph format below, showing numbers and trends by month of Compostelas issued for Pilgrims on the Camino Via de la Plata (as defined by the Pilgrim Office).

Keep in mind that the data is by month of arrival in Santiago de Compostela.

The number of Pilgrims vary up and down by month and are down slightly overall. This is in contrast with most other Caminos which have generally shown an increase in numbers this year compared with 2019.

View attachment 130775

Thanks for posting! I’m actually quite amazed at the summer numbers...thinking there would be very few walking during Jun/Jul/Aug.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Thanks for posting! I’m actually quite amazed at the summer numbers...thinking there would be very few walking during Jun/Jul/Aug.

Yes, but keep in mind that the months shown are the month that they arrived in Santiago. They would have started some time before that, depending on their starting point.

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Thanks for posting! I’m actually quite amazed at the summer numbers...thinking there would be very few walking during Jun/Jul/Aug.

Quite popular with cyclists during the summer.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Quite popular with cyclists during the summer.

Yes, one of the issues with the Pilgrim Office data is that I can't get the raw underlying data and so while they do an overall breakdown of walkers vs cyclists vs horse riders vs wheelchairs vs boats it is not possible to do this breakdown on a per Camino basis, just overall.

However, some data is better than no data and so "Thank you" to the Pilgrim Office for their data.

 

[Molly Cassidy]

Yes, one of the issues with the Pilgrim Office data is that I can't get the raw underlying data and so while they do an overall breakdown of walkers vs cyclists vs horse riders vs wheelchairs vs boats it is not possible to do this breakdown on a per Camino basis, just overall.

However, some data is better than no data and so "Thank you" to the Pilgrim Office for their data.

Can you do it a boat?

All the way?

 

[Kev&Kath]

Yes, but keep in mind that the months shown are the month that they arrived in Santiago. They would have started some time before that, depending on their starting point.

Very true…but finishing in Aug means you're in the midst of it in Jun/Jul.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Can you do it a boat?

All the way?

I have seen (from memory - I will get to this data later) up to 25 people in a month get a Compostela based on "Vela". I initially thought that this meant Candle but it turns out it also means boat.

There were some Irish mariner Pilgrims a couple of years back.

Recent years there is a regular trickle, normally some each Summer month.

 

[Molly Cassidy]

I have seen (from memory - I will get to this data later) up to 25 people in a month get a Compostela based on "Vela". I initially thought that this meant Candle but it turns out it also means boat.

There were some Irish mariner Pilgrims a couple of years back.

Recent years there is a regular trickle, normally some each Summer month.

I would love to do that!

 

[C clearly]

I’m actually quite amazed at the summer numbers...thinking there would be very few walking during Jun/Jul/Aug.

the months shown are the month that they arrived in Santiago.

Very true…but finishing in Aug means your in the midst of it in Jun/Jul.

I think (can anyone confirm?) that the statistics include all the people who start at any point along the Sanabrés. The number of people who walk from Seville or elsewhere in the south is likely only a small fraction of the reported numbers, especially during the hot months. Ourense is a more popular starting point.

 

[Kev&Kath]

I think (can anyone confirm?) that the statistics include all the people who start at any point along the Sanabrés. The number of people who walk from Seville or elsewhere in the south is likely only a small fraction of the reported numbers, especially during the hot months. Ourense is a more popular starting point.

C Clearly...good point!

 

[Blister Bill]

Was just going to ask can it be broken down by start point to figure how many are vdp or Mozarab/vdp vs Sanabres ??

 

[Rita Flower]

I think (can anyone confirm?) that the statistics include all the people who start at any point along the Sanabrés. The number of people who walk from Seville or elsewhere in the south is likely only a small fraction of the reported numbers, especially during the hot months. Ourense is a more popular starting point.

Thanks for the clarification @C clearly - ah your name is true!
Starting from Sevilla in September I guess I can expect a few fellow pilgrims, but as with other routes, more as I get closer to Santiago. Of course that is obvious but wasn't in front of mind till now.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Was just going to ask can it be broken down by start point to figure how many are vdp or Mozarab/vdp vs Sanabres ??

It certainly can but I haven't done that bit yet. The graph shows data as collected and defined by the Pilgrims Office. They don't publish their definitions anywhere that I can see.

If you want to know what their definition of a particular Camino is then someone should ask them.

Knowing the start city by month will help a little but won't answer the question about how many people walked vs riding a bike.

The other issue with the data is that there are so many possible starting cities/villages that the Pilgrim Office only reports on ones that have large numbers. This means that the number starting in Seville or south of that rarely get separately reported.

It would be nice to have access to the raw data but that isn't currently possible.

 

[Blister Bill]

It certainly can but I haven't done that bit yet. The graph shows data as collected and defined by the Pilgrims Office. They don't publish their definitions anywhere that I can see.

If you want to know what their definition of a particular Camino is then someone should ask them.

Knowing the start city by month will help a little but won't answer the question about how many people walked vs riding a bike.

The other issue with the data is that there are so many possible starting cities/villages that the Pilgrim Office only reports on ones that have large numbers. This means that the number starting in Seville or south of that rarely get separately reported.

It would be nice to have access to the raw data but that isn't currently possible.

Thanks Mate, Wasn't interested in the cyclist thing just given length whether the delineation between the VDP/Mozarab and the Sanabres was discernable. I'll go and have a gander at the pilgrim office. Cheers

 

[lesmac]

Hi
I completed the VdlP at end of April and had walked quite a lot with a younger German woman who had completed the Mozárabe. She was disappointed to find that the person who issued her Compostela did not recognize the Mozárabe as an option. She started her walk in Granada. Is this a mistake?
Thanks

 

[dougfitz]

Hi
I completed the VdlP at end of April and had walked quite a lot with a younger German woman who had completed the Mozárabe. She was disappointed to find that the person who issued her Compostela did not recognize the Mozárabe as an option. She started her walk in Granada. Is this a mistake?
Thanks

Unlikely. In the first instance, it won't be on the Compostela, but you might be referring to the distance certificate which does list one's start point and the route one took.

It seems to me looking at the maps on the credential that the routes from the south of Spain are all under a general heading of Via de la Plata. That said, the Pilgrim Office web site does list the official route as:

• Vía de la Plata o Camino Mozárabe

You will see that this covers a multiplicity of different options that might all have different names in our day to day use, such as the Camino Sanabres, which does not rate a separate mention.

 

[MassNative]

There are statistics in a graph format below, showing numbers and trends by month of Compostelas issued for Pilgrims on the Camino Via de la Plata (as defined by the Pilgrim Office).

Keep in mind that the data is by month of arrival in Santiago de Compostela.

The number of Pilgrims vary up and down by month and are down slightly overall. This is in contrast with most other Caminos which have generally shown an increase in numbers this year compared with 2019.

View attachment 130775

Why are there no 2022 monthly numbers for August through December?

 

[DoughnutANZ]

Why are there no 2022 monthly numbers for August through December?

Hi

Nice to see someone looking at an old thread.

The simple answer is that the graph was posted in early August 2022 and so at that stage no one had arrived in Santiago de Compostela during August through December.

If you want more up to date figures then I recommend you take a look at this site:

Daily pilgrim arrivals since 2020 | Solvitur Ambulando

Here you have the data of the daily pilgrim arrivals to Santiago de Compostela offered by the Pilgrim's Office.

solviturambulando.es

The numbers shown on the above website are taken from the Pilgrim Office in Santiago de Compostela but are, in my opinion, presented in a more useful format.

 

[MassNative]

Hi

Nice to see someone looking at an old thread.

The simple answer is that the graph was posted in early August 2022 and so at that stage no one had arrived in Santiago de Compostela during August through December.

If you want more up to date figures then I recommend you take a look at this site:

Daily pilgrim arrivals since 2020 | Solvitur Ambulando

Here you have the data of the daily pilgrim arrivals to Santiago de Compostela offered by the Pilgrim's Office.

solviturambulando.es

The numbers shown on the above website are taken from the Pilgrim Office in Santiago de Compostela but are, in my opinion, presented in a more useful format.

LOL, I missed that the thread was old! Thanks!

 

[MajorBozo]

There are statistics in a graph format below, showing numbers and trends by month of Compostelas issued for Pilgrims on the Camino Via de la Plata (as defined by the Pilgrim Office).

Keep in mind that the data is by month of arrival in Santiago de Compostela.

The number of Pilgrims vary up and down by month and are down slightly overall. This is in contrast with most other Caminos which have generally shown an increase in numbers this year compared with 2019.

View attachment 130775

I say they will rise. Just started the route. Am at Castilblanco de Los Arroyos. The Albergues are full each night. See multiple pilgrims en route. Somewhat disappointing for me. However spread out not crowded en route.

 

[Rita Flower]

I say they will rise. Just started the route. Am at Castilblanco de Los Arroyos. The Albergues are full each night. See multiple pilgrims en route. Somewhat disappointing for me. However spread out not crowded en route.

Maybe encourage people you meet to get a Compostela - that's how the track numbers and if it's a third or fourth Camino people stop getting the completion docs. There are probably more on the Via that official numbers indicate.

 

[Rita Flower]

I say they will rise. Just started the route. Am at Castilblanco de Los Arroyos. The Albergues are full each night. See multiple pilgrims en route. Somewhat disappointing for me. However spread out not crowded en route.

I think Spring is a peak time for the Via - I walked out of Sevilla in late September and there were days when I met no-one and was a solo pilgrim in the Albergue.

 

[Lindsay53]

I think Spring is a peak time for the Via - I walked out of Sevilla in late September and there were days when I met no-one and was a solo pilgrim in the Albergue.

Looking at the Via Facebook page, there seems to be fairly large numbers at the moment and even some bed anxiety.