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33 days to walk

Stellaluna

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Frances -2016
Portuguese -2019
Le Puy - July 2022
Hi all,
I'm about to buy my plane ticket and am having last minute jitters about my timing . I will start walking on July 5 and need to be in Santiago for August 7. that gives me 33 days to walk. My sense is that that is quite a reasonable length of time to take. I am fairly confident about my fitness level but just don't want to feel rushed. I also have to be back in Ottawa by the 10th so I can't really take any longer.
Any input?
Thanks,
Jennifer
 
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By no means am I saying it's the only way to walk it, but the Brierley guidebook is designed to do it in 33 days. I have another guidebook by a guy named Sergi Ramis where the CF is done in 30 days. So, yeah it's plenty doable in that time frame if you are in reasonable physical condition.
 
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you should be fine, averaging anywhere between 20-25 km a day. that gives you so nice afternoons to siesta or explore.

buen Camino!
 
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Hi Jennifer, all being well you should have no problem. For what it's worth, I walked it both times in 32 days, could have done it in 31 but chose to stay in Monte Gozo. No days off though but then definitely no rushing either
Buen camino!
 
You didn't say where you planned to start from. I'll assume you are thinking SJPdP. Do-able? Certainly.

However, do you want to put yourself under the gun from your first step? Personally, I'd build a bit more time into my schedule so I have some leeway. With 33 days I'd start in Pamplona. But for me it was more important to walk from wherever I started than to start in a particular place, so I padded my schedule instead of starting in Bordeaux (I really wanted to start on Ile d'Oleron).

I spent 35 days walking and took one full rest day to get to SdC, but a guy I walked with the first couple days made it to Muxia in the same amount of time. We met up again in SdC and both felt we walked at a comfortable pace and had deep experiences. So just consider your personal limits.
 
Hi Jennifer, I only use a gide book to see where the albergue's are and what the distance is between the towns and villages. You will be fine with the 33 days you have.
Wish you a wonderful journey and a Buen Camino, Peter.
 
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My advice would be to wait until you have more time. There is a lot to see and do and the longer it takes you, the more you will enjoy it. Remember this may be the only Camino you will ever do.
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Thanks everone. I actually just bought my plane ticket!

My advice would be to wait until you have more time. There is a lot to see and do and the longer it takes you, the more you will enjoy it. Remember this may be the only Camino you will ever do.

I really see this as being the first of many!

But you may never do it if you don't go now!

Definitely! I want to seize the day so to speak while I am mobile and strong regardless of the fact that my schedule is slightly limiting.
 
The first edition came out in 2003 and has become the go-to-guide for many pilgrims over the years. It is shipping with a Pilgrim Passport (Credential) from the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
3rd Edition. More content, training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc
I walked from St. Jean Pied de Port to Santiago in 33 days last year. There were some long days and some shorter days but no rest days, though I found I didn't want to stop. I did take a 20 km bus ride from Astorga to Rabinal to give myself a bit more room in the schedule as I found 30km+ days where not comfortable, although certainly doable. I'm glad you are just going ahead and doing it. Give yourself permission to experience whatever happens and not to "have to" do anything and then you'll be great. There will be pain, tiredness, laughter, frustration, questioning, relationships, good days and not as good days. All of it! Go for it!
 
Thanks for this!
 
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Thanks for this!
Walked the camino frances in 2012 using the Brierley guide book,took 31 days to Santiago pushed ahead some days and slowed down on others ,starting on June 26 this year and built in a few more days to hopefully reach finisterre ,enjoy every day and soak the experience up like a sponge Buen Camino.
 
We made it in 31 days from Pamplona with a 30 pound, 14 month old baby and a woman over 60. We do walk every day at home, but still, I think that should be a good sign that 33 should be enough for most people from SJPDP
 
I also did it in 33 days. Although there were a couple of long days, most of them were pretty doable and I never felt rushed.
 
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