- Time of past OR future Camino
- April 2023 Camino Frances
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Great month, but it can be cold at time in the meseta, I got snow mid April in Burgos. ALSO beware it will be Easter between 14th and 21st, so you might have problems with accommodation in large cities or in tourist places, be careful! I would choose to start right after Easter, if you can wait that long!Hi All,
My last day at work is this Friday. I wish that I could start the Camino next week but will wait at least a couple of months to wait for the weather to warm up and for many of the Albergues and restaurants to open back up. In the meanwhile, I plan to get my activity level up a bit to try to prepare myself at least a little bit for the Camino. I've been a desk jockey for years and woefully out of shape.
I am wanting to start my Camino in April to beat the crowds and because I don't want to be out of work for too long. I'm a little worried though that it still might be a little early (ie some Albergues/restaurants might still be closed, still a little cool where clothes may not dry over-night, etc). Has anyone who walked in April care to share their experience wrt support services, weather and crowds? Thanks...
Hi Arlene. We meet the two of you on the CF several times. We called you the “twins”. We started our St Jean/Santiago/Finisterre/Muxia trip on 14 Apr as well and completed on 28 May in Muxia. We were the three old amigos Frank/Rick/Pete. I agree with all the comments—layering is the key, but watch the weight. Nice to see your post.I too walked in April of 2018, my profile photo is from April 14, our first day leaving St Jean. The Napoleon route was just newly opened after snowfall, so check in with the pilgrim office. Mostly good weather, we actually got snow at O Cebreiro in early May. Everyone's remarks and suggestions are right on track. Dress in layers is my best tip for weather - we usually started with jackets and gloves, and removed after we warmed up. I just echo the wonderful experience of watching spring bring everything to life as you walk. We did book ahead sometimes, mostly for weekends if we would be in a larger centre, and for the last bit after Sarria as it did get busier. Buen Camino!
Has anyone who walked in April care to share their experience wrt support services, weather and crowds? Thanks...
That is so nice to hear from you! I loved being called a "twin". Thanks!Hi Arlene. We meet the two of you on the CF several times. We called you the “twins”. We started our St Jean/Santiago/Finisterre/Muxia trip on 14 Apr as well and completed on 28 May in Muxia. We were the three old amigos Frank/Rick/Pete. I agree with all the comments—layering is the key, but watch the weight. Nice to see your post.
Caminoagogo: I'm still looking for you...I'll get that beer yet!
Hah! My wife literally just said she wanted to do the Portuguese in 2020!!!!!!!!
Sarria to Santiago has plenty of walkers year-round and multiple options of places to stay. Consult any of the guides for what is specifically open (Brierly, Gronze, Wisely, etc)
Great, thank you, that is good information. I'm trying to line up my days and I may only have four full days I can devote to this route- is there a suggested stop after Sarria wherein I could complete the remainder in 4 days without pushing it over the 22 km per day mark? I know I won't have enough distance to be "official" but would really like to be able to do as much as possible in the time that I do have. Thanks!+1. I think if you stick to the bigger cities, you should be fine. They're actually the recommended destinations for the daily stages from Sarria to Santiago so it works out perfectly. Coincidence? I think not...
It's usually the smaller and/or more remote albergues/restaurants that close down due to lack of traffic. I remember seeing an outdoor beer garden with all the empty bottles lining the fence and adorning the trees. It looked like many a people stopped there for a beer or two and I would have gladly done the same but alas, it wasn't open. Womp womp...
Thank you. It would be four full walking days, as day zero (so to speak) would be travel from Madrid to the starting point (still debating on whether to do a flight to Santiago, then bus, or just bus from Madrid as I would like to store my suitcase somewhere near Santiago for my outbound flight and only carry my backpack), and day five would be travel on to Milan from Santiago. I am volunteering in Spain before and another area after, and unfortunately just don't have any more than four full days, with the first day of walking being March 1. Is this tight of a schedule less worthwhile than when I could come back and do a longer period? I'd love to fit it in, though I do understand there are a lot of variables with the time of year and length of time I have to actually devote to the walk. Thanks again for your help!So four days is your actual camino time? Getting to Sarria or another starting point is about a 1/2 day or longer on its own depending on your bus. I believe Sarria - PortoMarin was the first stage. If you start from here, you should reach Santiago by the mid-end of the fourth day assuming an average fitness level.
You can do a search for 'Sarria Santiago stages' and you'll get a bunch of hits that break it down. I happened to click on this link: https://www.penguintravel.com/Offer...nchWay-Part8SarriatoSantiagodeCompostela.html
You can see that they actually reserve a whole day for getting to Sarria. I was on the first flight from Barcelona to Santiago and then two busses to get to Sarria. I arrived in the early afternoon so I was able to start walking right away and got ~18 km in that first day. A guy I met and started walking with was trying to make it to Portomarin that night which was probably doable but I wanted to pace myself. I was fortunate to stop at a nice small albergue right on the path in the middle of nowhere but those are the types of albergues which I can foresee would close up in the off-season.
I should add, that I am a distance runner, currently training for a half marathon, so I'd like to think that would help, fitness wise. However, definitely don't want to overdo it.Thank you. It would be four full walking days, as day zero (so to speak) would be travel from Madrid to the starting point (still debating on whether to do a flight to Santiago, then bus, or just bus from Madrid as I would like to store my suitcase somewhere near Santiago for my outbound flight and only carry my backpack), and day five would be travel on to Milan from Santiago. I am volunteering in Spain before and another area after, and unfortunately just don't have any more than four full days, with the first day of walking being March 1. Is this tight of a schedule less worthwhile than when I could come back and do a longer period? I'd love to fit it in, though I do understand there are a lot of variables with the time of year and length of time I have to actually devote to the walk. Thanks again for your help!
Walked part of the Camino last year ended in Lograno and took the train back to Barcelona. Well I am religious, but Barcelona actually open Good Friday stores til noon. Holy Saturday 9-5, Closed Easter Sunday and Holy Monday. Just a little fun fact in case your a shopper.Great month, but it can be cold at time in the meseta, I got snow mid April in Burgos. ALSO beware it will be Easter between 14th and 21st, so you might have problems with accommodation in large cities or in tourist places, be careful! I would choose to start right after Easter, if you can wait that long!
Hi All,
My last day at work is this Friday. I wish that I could start the Camino next week but will wait at least a couple of months to wait for the weather to warm up and for many of the Albergues and restaurants to open back up. In the meanwhile, I plan to get my activity level up a bit to try to prepare myself at least a little bit for the Camino. I've been a desk jockey for years and woefully out of shape.
I am wanting to start my Camino in April to beat the crowds and because I don't want to be out of work for too long. I'm a little worried though that it still might be a little early (ie some Albergues/restaurants might still be closed, still a little cool where clothes may not dry over-night, etc). Has anyone who walked in April care to share their experience wrt support services, weather and crowds? Thanks...
I started the CF mid April last year. Bits of it were very busy. It was cold in the mornings.Walked part of the Camino last year ended in Lograno and took the train back to Barcelona. Well I am religious, but Barcelona actually open Good Friday stores til noon. Holy Saturday 9-5, Closed Easter Sunday and Holy Monday. Just a little fun fact in case your a shopper.
Hi All,
My last day at work is this Friday. I wish that I could start the Camino next week but will wait at least a couple of months to wait for the weather to warm up and for many of the Albergues and restaurants to open back up. In the meanwhile, I plan to get my activity level up a bit to try to prepare myself at least a little bit for the Camino. I've been a desk jockey for years and woefully out of shape.
I am wanting to start my Camino in April to beat the crowds and because I don't want to be out of work for too long. I'm a little worried though that it still might be a little early (ie some Albergues/restaurants might still be closed, still a little cool where clothes may not dry over-night, etc). Has anyone who walked in April care to share their experience wrt support services, weather and crowds? Thanks...
Hi All,
My last day at work is this Friday. I wish that I could start the Camino next week but will wait at least a couple of months to wait for the weather to warm up and for many of the Albergues and restaurants to open back up. In the meanwhile, I plan to get my activity level up a bit to try to prepare myself at least a little bit for the Camino. I've been a desk jockey for years and woefully out of shape.
I am wanting to start my Camino in April to beat the crowds and because I don't want to be out of work for too long. I'm a little worried though that it still might be a little early (ie some Albergues/restaurants might still be closed, still a little cool where clothes may not dry over-night, etc). Has anyone who walked in April care to share their experience wrt support services, weather and crowds? Thanks...
I'm planning to start out from St Jean on Sunday 28th April and stay at Orisson the first night just to take care of my feet and break up what people say is the most challenging stage. I'm listening to all the advice I can about weather, foot care, kit, bed bugs and layers - also about reducing weight carried which if I adhere to the 10% rule should be 6kgs...! Having done self supported long distance cycling trips by listing (on a spreadsheet) all kit, weigh each item, add up - I'm hoping the same principal may be useful....a little OCD I know.
Advice please?
Has anyone used small bin liners on their feet when wading through mud?
Would a bin liner be good to bag my rucksack at night in the hostels to avoid bed bugs?
Has anyone used a PAYGo Free SIM card from France successfully in Spain?
Thank you for all the encouraging advice thus far.
I wore waterproof socks with my sandals.Advice please?
Has anyone used small bin liners on their feet when wading through mud?
Would a bin liner be good to bag my rucksack at night in the hostels to avoid bed bugs?
Has anyone used a PAYGo Free SIM card from France successfully in Spain?
Thank you for all the encouraging advice thus far.
I expect to leave J. Jean on April 15. Maybe I will see you there. I'll be the one with the way to heavy pack.Thank you, I plan on starting from St. Jean the second week of April, 2019. Very helpful information. Can't wait to get started.
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