Anyone planning a Christmas Camino this year?

[krosemc]

Hi everybody! I was thinking about a camino in December 2021, and wondering if there were any others considering this? I was thinking the Primitivo, because I've walked this way before in December and know what to expect. But, the Northern route, and the Invierno are possibilities. While walking the primitivo in 12/2019 I met only a handful of pilgrims, and am curious to know if there's a more populated camino during christmas!

Thank you! Buen camino,

Kathleen

 

[gns]

This is the last real point of comparison available but the numbers are likely to be much less this year. I am looking at January and expect it to be very solitary on the Sanabres.

Statistics | Pilgrim's welcome office

oficinadelperegrino.com

Buen Camino

 

[alexwalker]

No.

 

[PilgrimPillar]

Hi everybody! I was thinking about a camino in December 2021, and wondering if there were any others considering this? I was thinking the Primitivo, because I've walked this way before in December and know what to expect. But, the Northern route, and the Invierno are possibilities. While walking the primitivo in 12/2019 I met only a handful of pilgrims, and am curious to know if there's a more populated camino during christmas!

Thank you! Buen camino,

Kathleen

In my experience numbers drop off week before Christmas …I’m looking forward to it again….remember sixth of January is huge…day of three kings

 

[debigetsout]

Hi everybody! I was thinking about a camino in December 2021, and wondering if there were any others considering this? I was thinking the Primitivo, because I've walked this way before in December and know what to expect. But, the Northern route, and the Invierno are possibilities. While walking the primitivo in 12/2019 I met only a handful of pilgrims, and am curious to know if there's a more populated camino during christmas!

Thank you! Buen camino,

Kathleen

My partner and I intend to walk for a few weeks in December, but have not begun planning. We will wait until closer to our departure time to plan so that we have the most recent COVID numbers for various regions, as well as a better idea of the weather that we can expect along the way. Watching this thread to see what suggestions pop up. Thanks.

 

[traveler]

Yes we are planning on a Christmas Camino. We’ve done 3 Christmas Caminos in the past 5 years We enjoy the quieter and less crowded walking as well as the Christmas celebrations and mass. It is our favorite time of the year to walk.

This year we will be walking the Portuguese with our son and daughter-in-law and grandson before the new year and then plan walk a bit of Frances by ourselves after the new year, probably starting in Leon. We have found that a deep winter Camino does require a bit more planning and some flexibility. That is, there may be shorter and longer days and in the past we have had to walk through knee deep snow a couple of times.

 

[WestKirsty]

I am starting to plan a week or so of walking on the Frances from Pamplona to Santo Domingo de la Calzada and then joining the Vasco to get to Haro. I will likely start after Christmas Day and try to finish up before the 5/6th. I'm hoping some albergues will be open on this route that time of year. Would be lovely to meet others on the way

 

[traveler]

We’re probably out phase just slightly. We’ll probably start on January 1 or 2 and spend 2 weeks on the Frances. Not sure about where we’ll start and finish maybe start Léon finish Santiago alternately start Ponferada and end in Muxia.

 

[dbarlow]

Hi everybody! I was thinking about a camino in December 2021, and wondering if there were any others considering this? I was thinking the Primitivo, because I've walked this way before in December and know what to expect. But, the Northern route, and the Invierno are possibilities. While walking the primitivo in 12/2019 I met only a handful of pilgrims, and am curious to know if there's a more populated camino during christmas!

Thank you! Buen camino,

Kathleen

I’m walking the Camino Frances starting December 17th and hopefully finishing up around January 20th

 

[Marbe2]

Hi everybody! I was thinking about a camino in December 2021, and wondering if there were any others considering this? I was thinking the Primitivo, because I've walked this way before in December and know what to expect. But, the Northern route, and the Invierno are possibilities. While walking the primitivo in 12/2019 I met only a handful of pilgrims, and am curious to know if there's a more populated camino during christmas!

Thank you! Buen camino,

Kathleen

Would like to hear from theChristmas Caminoists live! Do post as you walk! Thanks you.

 

[africanguru]

Hi guys,
What's the plan on packing for the weather, what to expect.
Jacob

 

[krosemc]

My Christmas camino plans have had to be postponed. Very sad about this, but these things happen. My next target is March/April 2022...

The weather looks really wet and snowy this year! Very pretty. I've been watching a bit of the weather reports, and I think it's too cold though even for me. I'd pack merino wool layers, fleece (the lightweight activewear kind), gloves, hat, warm & waterproof jacket...waterproof pants...waterproof boots...poncho. I'd love to try this umbrella from gossamer gear. Walked in a bit of ice rain once, and this would've been GREAT! Good for the sun too. Looks extremely light and attaches to your bag so you don't have to hold it. I'm considering it...

Lightrek Hiking (Chrome) Umbrella

The world’s lightest full-size trekking umbrella now even lighter!Bring it along instead of rain gear. Just 6.3 it ounces keeps you out of the rain or the sun. The original Chrome Dome Umbrella. Thru hiker tested and approved it lowers the feel of the sun up to 15 degrees.

www.gossamergear.com

I'd also love to see live photos from the trail at Christmas!
Buen Camino!

Kathleen

 

[Sha]

Hi All,

I walked from SJPP to Burgos for 2 weeks over xmas 2017. Most days there were fewer than 20 pilgrims in the albergues. Apart from a bigger city/town like Pamplona, I don't recall having choices for Albergues. It was difficult to obtain reliable understanding of which Albergue's were open along the way. However most albergues seem to have reliable information on which albergue along next was open. Similarly, we were lucky to find open cafe's along the way. So during the day you were pretty much left with what you carried in the backpack when you set off in the morning.

Unsurprisingly perhaps for xmas period it was quite cold. There was one day where the highest temperature was freezing (0 degrees Celsius) over 24 hours period. As somone who gets cold easily, having good cold-weather gear was really helpful (love merino!). I also recall one day of icy conditions for a few sections. Nothing insurmountable or even overly tricky, all part of the challenge, right?

Xmas and boxing days were very quiet on the camino, barely a person in sight.

If all goes well I hope to recommence from Burgos on 19th dec. A few queries:
1. Is there a way to know which alburges are expected to be open?
2. What covid restrictions are typically in place?
3. It will also be good to hear if pilgrims are indeed allowed on the camino with the new strain doing the rounds.
4. Is there a thread of live reports from Camino?

Thank you,

Sha

 

[Marbe2]

Hi All,

I walked from SJPP to Burgos for 2 weeks over xmas 2017. Most days there were fewer than 20 pilgrims in the albergues. Apart from a bigger city/town like Pamplona, I don't recall having choices for Albergues. It was difficult to obtain reliable understanding of which Albergue's were open along the way. However most albergues seem to have reliable information on which albergue along next was open. Similarly, we were lucky to find open cafe's along the way. So during the day you were pretty much left with what you carried in the backpack when you set off in the morning.

Unsurprisingly perhaps for xmas period it was quite cold. There was one day where the highest temperature was freezing (0 degrees Celsius) over 24 hours period. As somone who gets cold easily, having good cold-weather gear was really helpful (love merino!). I also recall one day of icy conditions for a few sections. Nothing insurmountable or even overly tricky, all part of the challenge, right?

Xmas and boxing days were very quiet on the camino, barely a person in sight.

If all goes well I hope to recommence from Burgos on 19th dec. A few queries:
1. Is there a way to know which alburges are expected to be open?
2. What covid restrictions are typically in place?
3. It will also be good to hear if pilgrims are indeed allowed on the camino with the new strain doing the rounds.
4. Is there a thread of live reports from Camino?

Thank you,

Sha

There is a winter camino list of Albergues indicating which facilities are purportedly open during the winter months. Call the day before to verify they are open…

Pagina nueva 1

Regarding posting live on the camino

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/search-forums/%F0%9F%9A%B6pilgrims-walking-now.307/

Not sure if any different regarding safety protocols… as we walked till the middle of October ‘21 so things may be different. But I felt much safer then, in Spain, then I did at home. Everyone wore masks indoors where I was. Most everyone wore masks inthe smaller towns outdoors. Others will let you know what is currently happening.

Have a great camino and looking forward to your postings!

 

[WestKirsty]

Just a note for those planning on being on the Camino Frances over the Christmas break. I contact an Albergue in Estella (Curtidores) that was on the open Albergue list (very helpful!) to confirm if it would still be open after the terrible weather in the area. They will indeed be open but are fully booked 26 Dec -30 Dec!

So it seems like it might be busy and probably best to book/call ahead!

 

[mspath]

In Spanish, Christmas Eve is La Noche Buena/The Good Night. In Spain it is celebrated with a large family feast eaten late in the evening and lasting several hours. Some families attend midnight mass before or after dinner. The special Christmas Eve midnight mass is called Misa del Gallo or Rooster's Mass, because a rooster is said to have crowed the night that Jesus was born.

It would be a wonderful experience for any pilgrim to attend such a service on such a special night. To help with your planning here is a Google Map of Parishes/Churches along the camino where you might attend.

Buen camino and Feliz Navidad!