Arrive in Sarria in AM, start camino same day?

[StaceyBees]

I am going to be a new pilgrim this August on the Camino! I am trying to plan my trip. My question: I am to arrive in Sarria to start my pilgrimage in the morning and plan to start walking that day; is it wise to start my pilgrimage on the route to Portomarin? Or should we wait another day? Is it easy to get a credential and start in Sarria?

Thank you!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The municipal albergue in Sarria has credentials. Portomarin is a full day of walking, but there are good places to stop that will shorten your day. Ferreiros, Mercadoiro, and Vilacha are very nice places. There is a new, state of the art albergue in Ferreiros.

 

[tyrrek]

I am going to be a new pilgrim this August on the Camino! I am trying to plan my trip. My question: I am to arrive in Sarria to start my pilgrimage in the morning and plan to start walking that day; is it wise to start my pilgrimage on the route to Portomarin? Or should we wait another day? Is it easy to get a credential and start in Sarria?

Thank you!

Hi StaceyBees!

It depends what time you arrive and how you feel at the time. If you've had a long journey it might be a good idea just to relax when you arrive in Sarria and start fresh the next day. The walk to Portomarin would probably take 5-6 hours, but in August daylight won't be a problem. The only issue might be that albergues are full, if that's where you plan to stay.

You can ask for a credencial to be sent to you in advance via the link at the bottom of this page. That will save you a bit of time if you do want to start walking on the same day. There are intermediate stops as well.

Buen Camino!

 

[KiwiNomad06]

It depends how hot it is as well when you arrive in Sarria. If it is a very hot day, it will seem like an awfully long way if you are starting later in the morning when the sun is already shining brightly.
Margaret

 

[scruffy1]

The municipal albergue will be shut tight when you arrive typically only open from 1600 or later. Do try and get your credential before arriving in Sarria, it is possible from this forum or from the UK Confraternity after a hefty fee if you join or from the American Friends with a request for a donation here:
http://www.americanpilgrims.com/camino/credential_req.html

To walk on? As Margaret says depends on the weather and how you feel. The monastery in Samos is a short lovely walk and with luck you can make the afternoon tour. The albergue in the monastery is cool approaching freezing most of the year perhaps a plus in August and they wake you with lovely music.
S

 

[KiwiNomad06]

But Scruffy- Samos is en route from Triacastela- it is 'backwards' from Sarria.... What a good idea if you were arriving somewhere like Triacastela in the morning though!
Margaret

 

[scruffy1]

Maragaret, my mistake should have given the direction, simply I don't like Portomarin even if there is water in the reservoir and I like Sarria even less, Samos will give one a marvelous begining for the Camino and is a great detour.

 

[supersullivan]

Margaret

I can recommend the albergue in Vilache, 19 kms from Sarria so at about 4.5 kms an hour 4 hours walk from Sarria plus any stops at cafe/bars you feel like making, it also means that the tiring descent into Portomarin will be done on fresh legs after a good nights sleep rather than at the end of a day when legs are tiring. Your host, Gordon Bell is an experienced peregrino and will make you feel truly welcome, only opened in April 2012 so in lovely condition. One dormitory with 5 bunk beds, lovely shower and nice gardens to sit out in during the evening and plenty of drying lines for your laundry. Wifi freely available if that suits.

Buen camino

Seamus