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Salvador + Primitivo or Frances

Michalcz

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
2018
Ahoj,
im on camino frances, just few days before Leon. I think abou from Leon continue on camino del salvador to Oviedo and camino Primitivo. But more days mean more money for albergues and food. So i have question, how much is it different unlike frances? Is it better, specially mean society? Is it more adventure? Im little bored here, it started be routine.

Thank you!
 
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Ahoj,
im on camino frances, just few days before Leon. I think abou from Leon continue on camino del salvador to Oviedo and camino Primitivo. But more days mean more money for albergues and food. So i have question, how much is it different unlike frances? Is it better, specially mean society? Is it more adventure? Im little bored here, it started be routine.

Thank you!
I did the Frances to León, then the Salvador to Oviedo and then connected to the Norte at Avilés.
The Salvador is more difficult and solitary than the Frances. I did it in 5 days, with the third day being very long and tough.
Forum member @Elle Bieling has an excellent guide to the Salvador.


I used the Wisely app for GPS.
 
Well in fact, i feel on frances very anonym and alone. I meet some people with we was talking sometimes in albergue when we meet again, but from society, thats all.
 
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Well in fact, i feel on frances very anonym and alone. I meet some people with we was talking sometimes in albergue when we meet again, but from society, thats all.
I know from the Salvador that you will not meet too many pilgrims. You will have wonderful countryside. If you need people, stick with the Frances, and try to reach out to others. Maybe they need you!
 
Well in fact, i feel on frances very anonym and alone. I meet some people with we was talking sometimes in albergue when we meet again, but from society, thats all.
I did the primitive in 2017 and loved it. If I would do it again, I would start in Leon. This September I am doing the Salvador after walking the Argonne from Lesser. Asturias and Galicia have Seattle weather,so be prepared for cool weather and take a sleeping bag. Bueno Camino.
 
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The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
I have found the Primitivo to be a very friendly Camino with enough pilgrims to get to know and have, both times ,made great friends with whom I'm still in contact. Although I prefer to walk alone during the day.
 
I love the combination Frances + Salvador + Primitivo.

You will be surprised by the decrease in the number of pilgrims! Anyway, in this season, there will be a very reasonable number of pilgrims.

The spirit in those two ways is much better than in the Camino Frances.

Just in case you do not know, you can buy the credential for "El Salvador" at the albergue Las Carbajalas in León and in Oviedo you will receive a special "Compostela" for the Camino del Salvador ("La Salvadorana").

Buen Camino & Ultreia
 
I love the combination Frances + Salvador + Primitivo.

You will be surprised by the decrease in the number of pilgrims! Anyway, in this season, there will be a very reasonable number of pilgrims.

The spirit in those two ways is much better than in the Camino Frances.

Just in case you do not know, you can buy the credential for "El Salvador" at the albergue Las Carbajalas in León and in Oviedo you will receive a special "Compostela" for the Camino del Salvador ("La Salvadorana").

Buen Camino & Ultreia
This “hybrid route” of Frances/Salvador/Primitivo is the route I am planning to walk with my brother and friends in 2021. Just not sure on time of year yet. Weather is a factor. Thanks for the review. 👍
 
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This “hybrid route” of Frances/Salvador/Primitivo is the route I am planning to walk with my brother and friends in 2021. Just not sure on time of year yet. Weather is a factor. Thanks for the review. 👍
I started on the Salvador on June 6th - just as a mini heatwave hit the Frances. Going up into the mountains kept me cooler than my Camino friends who continued on the Frances.
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Im in Olivedo now, just finished San Salvador. Tomorrow I continue on Primitivo.
San Salvador is very beautiful its more challenging and much less people than Frances. I loved it!! Be careful to inform yourself about where there are suplies... A lot of villages have nothing...
 
I love the combination Frances + Salvador + Primitivo.

You will be surprised by the decrease in the number of pilgrims! Anyway, in this season, there will be a very reasonable number of pilgrims.

The spirit in those two ways is much better than in the Camino Frances.

Just in case you do not know, you can buy the credential for "El Salvador" at the albergue Las Carbajalas in León and in Oviedo you will receive a special "Compostela" for the Camino del Salvador ("La Salvadorana").

Buen Camino & Ultreia
You can also get your Salvador compostella from the public albergue in Oviedo
 
Ahoj,
im on camino frances, just few days before Leon. I think abou from Leon continue on camino del salvador to Oviedo and camino Primitivo. But more days mean more money for albergues and food. So i have question, how much is it different unlike frances? Is it better, specially mean society? Is it more adventure? Im little bored here, it started be routine.

Thank you!
I'm just back from the San Salvador and Primitivo. The Primitivo was busier than I expected but still able to walk alone or with others as I wanted, good albergues and some spectacular views. There were a few sections that were harder than Frances but the views always compensated for the pain!
I had a few days up my sleeve as I drove with a friend to Finesterre from Santiago, too busy with walkers to enjoy, so I decided i'd catch the train to Leon and walk some of the San Salvador. I caught the bus to Villamanin then walked into Poladura de la Tercia to pick up the camino. Totally alone, absolutely tranquil, beautiful sunny day and the best views. I'd hate to have an accident though as only my wife in UK knew where I was headed.
Also only had a very basic map and no GPS .
Up to the Mirador de Pajares the signage was great but then definitely need to have good map or GPS. I took a wrong turn and ended up in Pajares exhausted around 7pm. That did me in and I opted for a bus to Oviedo. However I intend to drag my brother in law over both caminos next year but I will be more prepared. In Leon the Camino association apparently has excellent information regarding San Salvador
Good Luck
 
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Ender’s Spanish guide is translated into English and available on the internet.

It is also a forum resource and can be downloaded directlyl from here.

There has been no update since 2016, mainly since nothing seems to have changed! No new albergues, no route changes that I know of. IF anyone has different info, let me know.

Up to the Mirador de Pajares the signage was great but then definitely need to have good map or GPS. I took a wrong turn and ended up in Pajares exhausted around 7pm.

Solitaire, wondering if you remember what happened, so maybe we can help others avoid getting lost!

From the Mirador (do you mean the old parador hotel with a bar now open?) of Pajares, you would have to go back and behind the bar on the other side of the highway to take the official route. It takes you up and then back down, right to the spot where you cross the highway. Those who stay on the highway from the mirador take that same turn-off, so the main difference is whether you want to walk along the shoulder-less highway with a lot of truck traffic or take the up and down that avoids the highway. There is also a third route that leaves from right in front of the mirador, which was fine way back when I first walked the Salvador, but it seems to have deteriorated a lot and is no longer advisable.

We had many entertaining exchanges here on the forum years ago and thought we had finally gotten it sorted out.


What did other recent peregrinos do at the Puerto de Pajares?
 
I'm just back from the San Salvador and Primitivo. The Primitivo was busier than I expected but still able to walk alone or with others as I wanted, good albergues and some spectacular views. There were a few sections that were harder than Frances but the views always compensated for the pain!
I had a few days up my sleeve as I drove with a friend to Finesterre from Santiago, too busy with walkers to enjoy, so I decided i'd catch the train to Leon and walk some of the San Salvador. I caught the bus to Villamanin then walked into Poladura de la Tercia to pick up the camino. Totally alone, absolutely tranquil, beautiful sunny day and the best views. I'd hate to have an accident though as only my wife in UK knew where I was headed.
Also only had a very basic map and no GPS .
Up to the Mirador de Pajares the signage was great but then definitely need to have good map or GPS. I took a wrong turn and ended up in Pajares exhausted around 7pm. That did me in and I opted for a bus to Oviedo. However I intend to drag my brother in law over both caminos next year but I will be more prepared. In Leon the Camino association apparently has excellent information regarding San Salvador
Good Luck
Ender’s Spanish guide is translated into English and available on the internet.

It is also a forum resource and can be downloaded directlyl from here.

There has been no update since 2016, mainly since nothing seems to have changed! No new albergues, no route changes that I know of. IF anyone has different info, let me know.



Solitaire, wondering if you remember what happened, so maybe we can help others avoid getting lost!

From the Mirador (do you mean the old parador hotel with a bar now open?) of Pajares, you would have to go back and behind the bar on the other side of the highway to take the official route. It takes you up and then back down, right to the spot where you cross the highway. Those who stay on the highway from the mirador take that same turn-off, so the main difference is whether you want to walk along the shoulder-less highway with a lot of truck traffic or take the up and down that avoids the highway. There is also a third route that leaves from right in front of the mirador, which was fine way back when I first walked the Salvador, but it seems to have deteriorated a lot and is no longer advisable.

We had many entertaining exchanges here on the forum years ago and thought we had finally gotten it sorted out.


What did other recent peregrinos do at the Puerto de Pajares?
From the Mirador (Hotel) I went back, across road and up over the hill. It then heads down next to power lines and I initially missed where it crossed the road. Eventually found it and head down the track until I reached a stone Camino cairn at a junction. It was not clear , left or right but I could see a Red & White plus a yellow arrow on the left hand trail so headed off downhill. And went down, down, down until I reached San Miguel de Rio at which point I realised I had to head up the hill to get to Pajares and the albergue, which I had all to myself. I compounded my long day my stopping at a couple of spots, dropping my pack and either scrambling up and along an escarpment for a better view or up a side track to play in a patch of snow! Good fun but added to my overall walk. In hindsight even with the diversions I would have coped if I knew where I was going. The pull up from San Miguel was harder, purely because of my disappointment that I wasn't kicking back in a bar or the delightful stream! I read some blogs later descibing alternatives for the next section which included heading over fences and paddocks instead of strictly following the route. I'm looking forward to doing it again with correct info and time to enjoy!
I have noticed other people on the Primitivo being startled by the numbers on the Camino Frances from Melide onwards. After a great pulpo meal at Melide I had to reassess my mental state at all the people and recognise how good it was to see so many people out walking and enjoying themselves. Note, up to Melide I had beautiful weather and from Melide to Santiago it was wet!!
 
Salvador + Primitivo sounds wonderful. Which is best time of year to start and how many days to complete?
 
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Anytime you like as as long as you need ;)

Bits of the Salvador and the Primitivo are best avoided or bypassed in deep winter. 5 days Salvador, some do it in 4 or 6. 10 days Primitivo, some less, more 12. Some research here and on www.gronze.com will help you make the necessary decisions
 
just want to avoid too much muddy tracks and I can go anytime next year.
 
just want to avoid too much muddy tracks and I can go anytime next year.
You will encounter mud, dust, rock, wet grass and hard-top road everyday. You cannot avoid what the camino presents. Snow and the worst of the rains are avoidable by walking in Summer and Autumn but the variations in geography, geology and elevation mean that you will encounter every likely walking environment at some point. The weather variations between near sea-level and near 9000 feet above in a continental-maritime climate zone offer every possibility of daily weather and conditions under-foot that Northern Spain can provide. You will be fine. Reasonable quality walking shoes / boots and some waterproofs for if you catch the wet end of the possibles will get you over both routes with a grin on your face and a song in your heart.

If you want to make pilgrimage to Santiago....
 
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So right my friend. My Keen hiking boots were great and lasted 3 full Caminos or about 3000km. Bought the same ones for my 2020. Have walked only in May previously and intend to do the same this time around so can’t get rid of poncho, rain pants and gatters this time either.
 

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