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Does anyone have any experience with walking in April? And any key things worth considering walking early in the season in preparation.
Afternoon All
I will be walking the Portuguese Camino this April for the first time. I have a few questions for anybody that has done it.
Aim is to start with the Senda Litoral route from Porto to Caminha and then walk to the main Portuguese Central route via Valenca.
I hope to complete it in 9 days..Is 9 days too aggressive for the walk?
Also whats the story with accommodation along the way. Do i have to book in advance on websites like booking.com or can i reach each town and look for these camino albergue's? Whats the story with these albergue's? Just arrive each day and look for a bunk bed? What would the availability be like in April just rocking up to these albergue's without booking in advance does anybody know?
Thanks
Welcome to the Forum. You (and Anthony!) have posted your question about the Portugal route in the wrong place, as this is for questions about the northern route. Try posting your question over there, and you should get lots of help.Afternoon All
I will be walking the Portuguese Camino this April for the first time. I have a few questions for anybody that has done it.
Aim is to start with the Senda Litoral route from Porto to Caminha and then walk to the main Portuguese Central route via Valenca.
I hope to complete it in 9 days..Is 9 days too aggressive for the walk?
Also whats the story with accommodation along the way. Do i have to book in advance on websites like booking.com or can i reach each town and look for these camino albergue's? Whats the story with these albergue's? Just arrive each day and look for a bunk bed? What would the availability be like in April just rocking up to these albergue's without booking in advance does anybody know?
Thanks
Hello Annie,Hi everyone,
I am new to this forum and to the concept, but I am planning to walk my first Camino this April and planning to walk the northern way.
Does anyone have any experience with walking in April? And any key things worth considering walking early in the season in preparation.
Thought I would start here broadly and then see where it gets me before going into the details.
Thanks so much for any messages in advance.
Annie
Hi everyone,
I am new to this forum and to the concept, but I am planning to walk my first Camino this April and planning to walk the northern way.
Does anyone have any experience with walking in April? And any key things worth considering walking early in the season in preparation.
Thought I would start here broadly and then see where it gets me before going into the details.
Thanks so much for any messages in advance.
Annie
Annie, it is also a good idea to avoid San Sebastián the+last week end in April. It is some sort of festival and at least in 2017 practically everywhere was full.Hello Annie,
Welcome to the forum. When planning a Camino starting in April, be sure to pay attention to the week leading up to Easter. It is a very busy travel time for most Spaniards both on and off the Camino. Should your Camino extend over this period, it is strongly advised that you make reservations for accommodations during that week, or at very least for the days just before Easter (12 April 2020). You will be able to find many suggestions regarding accommodations on the del Norte route on this forum as well as on gronze.com. Happy planning!
I left Irun the second week of April last year. This is the beginning of Pilgrim season, and nearly everything is open starting over the Easter week. Make sure you have a rain solution that you have confidence in, because you will get rained on at some point. As you may have learned by now, the first week or ten days is very hilly, and will be challenging to those who are not physically ready for a steady diet of up hill followed by down hill, every day. If you are not pretty fit already, start training with your shoes and your pack now. There are loads of suggestions on the forum about this, but take it slow at first, and build up your distance and pack weight over the next few months. Yes, this means walking through a park in London, in the rain, wearing a backpack and poncho. See if you can find some hills as well.
We only met a few fellow pilgrims that time of year, so crowding is just not an issue. The tourists have not arrived yet, so the string of beach towns are not yet filled with holiday makers. Unlike the more popular Frances route, the locals on the Norte are mostly oblivious to pilgrims. This means there are not a lot of pilgrim oriented facilities and accommodations beyond the albergues. That said, this is a region that makes its living from tourists, so the tourism facilities are world class.
Buen Camino!
I wish I could offer some help, but we only got as far as Santander, where we caught the train to Fromista and finished up on the Frances. I found it toooo quiet from a fellow pilgrim viewpoint, and my wife was begging for the flatter ground and better daily bail-out options of the meseta since she had hurt her knee. Consequently, I have never been on the last leg of the Norte. Lots of other veterans out there I'm sure will have some pointers for you.Hi Rick, I will be starting part of Camino del Norte, from Luarca. Any recommendations for that part ? I walked Camino Frances last year, from Roncesvalles to Santiago. I have not stopped walking since I got back. If there is any information I should have, would be very thankful.
Buen Camino
There's a recently updated thread on favorite Caminos on the NorteHi Rick, I will be starting part of Camino del Norte, from Luarca. Any recommendations for that part ? I walked Camino Frances last year, from Roncesvalles to Santiago. I have not stopped walking since I got back. If there is any information I should have, would be very thankful.
Buen Camino
Hi everyone,
I am new to this forum and to the concept, but I am planning to walk my first Camino this April and planning to walk the northern way.
Does anyone have any experience with walking in April? And any key things worth considering walking early in the season in preparation.
Thought I would start here broadly and then see where it gets me before going into the details.
Thanks so much for any messages in advance.
Annie
I start early June. Based on previous caminos I'd say an umbrella unlikely to be worth the weight. But I have been lucky not many days of rain and no wind. You can always toss it on the wayI’m starting from Irun on 21st March and there looks to be enough aulberge accommodation open then. As others suggest a good waterproof is essential. I’m taking a brolly too but I know only for days when winds are not prohibitive,
Hope we see each other, I will also start on the 24th of April from Irun. Am super excited to start my first camino.Hi Annie, I am starting the Norte from Irun on April 24th. Hoping I get lucky with the weather, but i'm not afraid of some rain. I am currently doing some long weekend walks in preparation, as this is all I really have time to do, but I guess i'll be as ready as I can be.
When are you planning on starting?
Great! My first also. I'll be arriving at the albergue in Irun on the 24th, technically I start walking on the 25th. I've been planning this for a long time, and it's getting close!Hope we see each other, I will also start on the 24th of April from Irun. Am super excited to start my first camino.
Martin that’s awesome for you! I didn’t know about that & ive been on & off here for several years. Thanks for the info!Hey Annie.....welcome ! I’m planning to do the Norte next year but am repeating the Camino Frances this year having had such an amazing journey last year on the CF. I was just interviewed on the latest episode of the ’Camino de Santiago - Pilgrim‘s Podcast’.....you’ll find it either on the podcast section on this forum or by googling the above......lots of general tips, tricks, advice and recos......enjoy and Buen Camino !
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