December walk

[Kathleen tracy]

Hi
I am walking the astorga to santiago de compostela with my 19 yr old son starting in early december. Can anyone tell me how long this is likely to take...we are both fit and healthy..including 1 rest day? Any tips will be appreciated.
Kathleen tracy

 

[Bradypus]

I am walking the astorga to santiago de compostela with my 19 yr old son starting in early december. Can anyone tell me how long this is likely to take...we are both fit and healthy..including 1 rest day?

Depends on how far you walk each day - there are no set daily stages and enough accommodation to split the journey in many different ways. It is about 270km from Astorga to Santiago. That would be about 10 days for me but most people would find that too fast. Two weeks would be closer to average. The Godesalco planner is a great tool for finding distances between key points on the route and planning your own stages.

Planificador - Camino de Santiago - Godesalco.com

Perfiles altitudinales, planificación de etapas y archivos GPS para el Camino de Santiago.

godesalco.com

 

[Kathleen tracy]

We are planning for 12 days. Should we maybe add a day? Also would it be wiser to pre book our casa rurales online before we go?

 

[Davey Boyd]

We are planning for 12 days. Should we maybe add a day? Also would it be wiser to pre book our casa rurales online before we go?

Welcome to the forum Kathleen!

I would add as much time as you can. Then you can really enjoy the walk at your own pace, linger and loiter at nice places you come across. Plus it gives you back up for any unforseen injury or bad weather that may slow you down. Plus you can chill out for a few days, see the sights and say a long goodbye to all your new pilgrim friends in Santiago. Plus Astorga itself is worth a day to see the sights.

I would book your first night in Astorga then play it by ear day by day. At most book ahead one or two days in advance. Nothing worse than getting bad blisters and you HAVE to walk that 25km to where you have booked ahead. You don't know what will happen and long term booking ahead can turn into a hindrance. If you find it is really busy then book, but you may find you do not need to once on the ground.

Between Astorga and Santiago I would take a rest day in Villafranca del Bierzo. It is a pretty place.

Buen Camino
Davey

 

[Kathleen tracy]

Welcome to the forum Kathleen!

I would add as much time as you can. Then you can really enjoy the walk at your own pace, linger and loiter at nice places you come across. Plus it gives you back up for any unforseen injury or bad weather that may slow you down. Plus you can chill out for a few days, see the sights and say a long goodbye to all your new pilgrim friends in Santiago. Plus Astorga itself is worth a day to see the sights.

I would book your first night in Astorga then play it by ear day by day. At most book ahead one or two days in advance. Nothing worse than getting bad blisters and you HAVE to walk that 25km to where you have booked ahead. You don't know what will happen and long term booking ahead can turn into a hindrance. If you find it is really busy then book, but you may find you do not need to once on the ground.

Between Astorga and Santiago I would take a rest day in Villafranca del Bierzo. It is a pretty place.

Buen Camino
Davey

 

[Kathleen tracy]

Thank u

Plse can u tell me more or less 1 person needs per day in euros if staying in casa rurales. That would be including breakfast lunch and supper

 

[Davey Boyd]

Thank u

Plse can u tell me more or less 1 person needs per day in euros if staying in casa rurales. That would be including breakfast lunch and supper

Not sure as I am usually on a budget and stay in albergues. Plus I cook myself or with friends if I can. I budget 30 Euro's a day, but I do stop of in bars often! If I would guess I would say 35 - 40 Euro's minimum.

But two people would be not double the cost if you share rooms.

Maybe someone on here who uses Casa Rurales could give you a better idea.

Davey

 

[Former member 91017]

I would give yourself 14 days so that you can really enjoy it. Astorga is really lovely, and worth being more than a 'start point' -- there is a ton to learn there about the ancient history of the roads that have become camino routes; there is the Gaudi museum as well, and some really great food... and the maragato chiming clock in the main square...

And I hear that those who stay in Foncebadon will now find a booming little town instead of the spooky outpost of only a few short years ago.

It's a gorgeous stretch that you have chosen...

 

[Felipe]

Be aware that in December, the heights of O Cebreiro could be covered by snow. That probably willl be for you (if you start in Astorga) the 5th or 6th day. And option is walking after Vega de Valcarce by the main paved road (there is almost no traffic), as the cyclists do. This road takes you to Piedrafita O Cebreiro, and you can reconnect with the traditional Camino in O Cebreiro albergue (just a short walk). If the weather is plainly awful, there is a bus from Piedrafita to O Cebreiro and Triacastela (except Sundays, I believe) very early in the morning.
A winter camino requires good, tried equipment, and a careful planning. A mistake is not serious in Summer, but could be problematic with tough climate. Play safe, don't take unnecesary risks.