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  1. A

    LIVE from the Camino Primitivo or Finishing el Norte

    Hospitales is very beautiful (if it isn't raining) with amazing views and I highly recommend it, but it is a long day of walking without any villages between your start and finish. I'd recommend booking ahead pretty much everywhere on the Primitivo, because it is very crowded compared to...
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    Recommendations for Camino del Norte Guidebook

    The Cicerone website publishes annual updates on the webpage for the book, and the author Dave Whitson also posts updates in a spreadsheet on this site. But I second what @dougfitz wrote. I have found the most up-to-date information to be on the gronze.com website. I used the Cicerone guide...
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    Packing for the Norte vs Frances

    For what it's worth, I never had any problem finding a place to get something to eat or drink at some point in the day. (Unlike the Primitivo, where the Hospitales day is all in the wilderness.)
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    Packing for the Norte vs Frances

    Your shoes should be fine. If it has rained, portions of the Camino will be muddy, but if you have a pole or two, it's sufficient stability (I just used a walking stick). As I mentioned above, I'd recommend an umbrella that covers you and your pack, because you can unfurl it in a second and...
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    Packing for the Norte vs Frances

    Most hostels have blankets. Given the possibility of bedbugs, whether or not you want to use them is a question.
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    Packing for the Norte vs Frances

    I did the Norte in June 2021. There was a lot of rain, particularly in the Basque Country. I would highly recommend a lightweight umbrella (like the Euroschirm ones that Ivar sells), because you can pull it out and unfurl it in a second, and a poncho for you and your pack, because at some...
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    Best part of Del Norte Scenery and walk.?

    I walked a good bit of the Norte last year with a guy who did it with his dog. He was camping outside of albergues, and never had a problem. Eventually the dog got tired of walking so far every day, so he had his parents come pick up the dog (he lived in Pamplona). On the other hand, I met a...
  8. A

    First time on Camino del Norte

    Irun to Bilbao is a little more difficult than Bilbao to Santander, but it is also much more beautiful and has much better food (food in the Basque Country is leagues above the standard Spanish fare in Cantabria). Gronze has 7 stages for this part, but you can easily do it in 6 days. I would...
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    Advice needed with Camino del Norte route

    I would also recommend starting in Irun or Hondarribia, for me the views from Mt. Jaizkabel were probably the best of the whole camino, though it was also the hardest day for me as I was out of shape and carrying too much stuff (much of which I mailed from San Sebastian to Santiago). As...
  10. A

    Shortened version of Camino del Norte

    But the most beautiful (and delicious) part of the del Norte is the first week from Irun to Bilbao. Even with counting a day each to fly in to San Sebastian (or wherever you are flying) and out, and a day after and before each flight to accomodate the time change and rest, you should have time...
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    Camino Del Norte

    The most beautiful part of the del Norte is from Irun to Bilbao, which takes about 7 days. (It is also the most strenuous, but I was pretty out of shape when I started and it did not kill me.) The food is also much better in the Basque Country than elsewhere on the del Norte. If you only have...
  12. A

    Norte in March 2022

    I would check gronze.com to see which albergues are open - last summer it was the most up-to-date source. Also, it was advisable to book a day or two in advance last summer, but that was with Covid restrictions in full force and the coastal towns full of student groups booking up private...
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    Norte in March 2022

    Huh. I flew from the US to San Sebastian last year on American/Iberia via Madrid - it was only a little bit more than flying to Madrid.
  14. A

    Norte in March 2022

    I don't know why people don't fly into San Sebastian - the airport is literally just outside of Irun (about a 30 min drive to San Sebastian), just a couple of km from Mt. Jaizkabel.
  15. A

    May/June vs Sept/Oct?

    I walked the del Norte in June/July last year. It rained a lot the first week in the Basque Country, less so later, but the weather is very changeable and there can be short showers during the day. (The smartest thing I took with me was a lightweight umbrella made by EuroSchirm - two seconds to...
  16. A

    Camino del Norte

    The del Norte, like the other caminos, is designed to be walked the whole way, but obviously you can take a bus or train if you want to shorten your journey.
  17. A

    Camino del Norte

    I did the del Norte/Primitivo in June and July last year. The most beautiful stretch was from Irun to Bilbao. This is also the most physically strenuous, but I wasn't in particularly good shape when I started, and it was fine. There is a lot of up and down mountains and hills, but the views...
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    Recommendations for Camino del Norte Guidebook

    I used Cicerone's Guide to the Camino del Norte and Primitivo by Dave Whitson, and found it particularly helpful for variant routes that might be more interesting and for which sites (manmade or natural) to see, whether on or near the camino or in a town. I also bought the Village to Village...
  19. A

    A necessary skip along the Norte, seeking recomendations

    It's just a few hours layover in the airport. Whatever you decide, do whatever's most comfortable for you. You will get your share of suffering on the Camino, no need to worry about it now.
  20. A

    A necessary skip along the Norte, seeking recomendations

    I flew from Madrid to San Sebastián - the airport is just outside of Irun - and it was only about $100 last year, I don’t know if the train is cheaper. If you want, you could literally start your Camino from the airport, as it’s just a few km to Mt. Jaizkabel (which has maybe the best views of...

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