Arriving SdC for the opening of the holy year (12/31/2020)

[Lirsy]

The opening of the 120th Holy Year will be on 12/31/2020. I plan to start in SJPdP on 11/25 or 11/24 in order to arrive to SdC on 12/30 and still count with a couple of days to rest somewhere if needed.

This ceremony doesn´t happen every year (latest one was on 2010 and the next one will be on 2027). A Holy Year is when the festivity of Santiago (25 July) is Sunday, 2020 is a Holy Year and the opening ceremony takes place on the evening of the 31 December of the previos year. The ceremony starts with the demolition of the brick wall that closes the Holly Door.

This will be my first time at SJPdP, I have always started the Camino Frances in Roncesvalles and, even if Napoleon's route is closed on those dates, I really want to walk that stage!

As the latest possible arrival date to SdC is mandatory (30 Dec) and taking into consideration that it will be a winter Camino, counting with some few extra days, looks like a good idea.

 

[Bad Pilgrim]

The opening of the Holy Year will be on 12/31/2020. I plan to start in SJPdP on 11/25 in order to arrive to SdC on 12/30 and still count with a couple of days to rest somewhere if needed.

I would love to walk in December as well! But I don't know if things will be back to normal even by then.

By the way, the Pope can change the Holy year, back and forth and inside out and whatnot. That's his privilege I guess. So who knows if there will even be an opening of the Holy Year…!

 

[Lirsy]

I would love to walk in December as well! But I don't know if things will be back to normal even by then.

By the way, the Pope can change the Holy year, back and forth and inside out and whatnot. That's his privilege I guess. So who knows if there will even be an opening of the Holy Year…!

With the plan that the goverment presented yesterday, I think that we can be very optistic about the opening of the Camino. In theory, if everything goes well, everything will return to "normality" by the end of June. "Normality" meaning some extra safety measures, etc.

Yeah, it is a possibility that the Pope decides to modify the dates. If he does so ... I will modify my shedule
Anyhow, if the forecast given by the goverment becomes real, I don´t think that the postposition of the Holy Year would be probable. We will know that in just 2 or 3 weeks.

Only .... Please Pope, don´t fix the starting of the Holy Year in February!!! Latest time it was minus 12 degrees when I when out of the albergue in Leon!!

 

[psheehan]

I’m also planning on walking from SJPdP to Santiago for the full month of December arriving in Santiago in time for the Holy Year ceremony. I’m being optimistic that the Camino will be open by then.

 

[Isca-camigo]

Hopefully I will be, I am probably starting from Burgos around the 10 th. I arrived in Santiago last year for the 31st and in 2015 as well. It's a long way to go until then and lots of things could happen, but here's to wishing for it.

Buen Camino

 

[Ernesto.IT]

With the plan that the goverment presented yesterday, I think that we can be very optistic about the opening of the Camino. In theory, if everything goes well, everything will return to "normality" by the end of June. "Normality" meaning some extra safety measures, etc.

Yeah, it is a possibility that the Pope decides to modify the dates. If he does so ... I will modify my shedule
Anyhow, if the forecast given by the goverment becomes real, I don´t think that the postposition of the Holy Year would be probable. We will know that in just 2 or 3 weeks.

Only .... Please Pope, don´t fix the starting of the Holy Year in February!!! Latest time it was minus 12 degrees when I when out of the albergue in Leon!!

I don't think any government can assure anything against the Corona, if we don't keep every body on lock down at the same time until very few people are contagious then we will be back at the beginning.
I personally wan't muove until 2022.

 

[Bad Pilgrim]

Sören el Vikingo,

According to pre-apocalypse statistics, December & January are the least busy months on the Camino. Post-apocalypse, who knows. I believe some accommodation close during Winter!

Quote

 

[Søren Olsen]

The opening of the 120th Holy Year will be on 12/31/2020. I plan to start in SJPdP on 11/25 or 11/24 in order to arrive to SdC on 12/30 and still count with a couple of days to rest somewhere if needed.

This ceremony doesn´t happen every year (latest one was on 2010 and the next one will be on 2027). A Holy Year is when the festivity of Santiago (25 July) is Sunday, 2020 is a Holy Year and the opening ceremony takes place on the evening of the 31 December of the previos year. The ceremony starts with the demolition of the brick wall that closes the Holly Door.

This will be my first time at SJPdP, I have always started the Camino Frances in Roncesvalles and, even if Napoleon's route is closed on those dates, I really want to walk that stage!

As the latest possible arrival date to SdC is mandatory (30 Dec) and taking into consideration that it will be a winter Camino, counting with some few extra days, looks like a good idea.
View attachment 74096

Inspiring plan you have, to walk in dec this year - how many people are on the track during winter time and how are the poss for accommodations along the way?

 

[Isca-camigo]

At the moment we can't guarantee anything. There might be restrictions on foreign national coming into Spain, once in then moving between regions could be problematic due to further restrictions, some areas might be closed while others are open. Then accommodation will be a challenge due to natural concerns of locals about outsiders like me coming into their villages and towns, and I can see other issues arising out of situations like that. So even if we are able to do it it will be unlike any other previous Camino's.

 

[Lirsy]

I don't think any government can assure anything against the Corona

That is clear. Whatever plan the goverment prepared may change. I think that in one month we will have a clearer image of the situation, in two we will have an almost final image.... And always is the possibility that the corona returns!! So far, every plan is just a declaration of intentions.

According to pre-apocalypse statistics, December & January are the least busy months on the Camino. Post-apocalypse, who knows. I believe some accommodation close during Winter!

Inspiring plan you have, to walk in dec this year - how many people are on the track during winter time and how are the poss for accommodations along the way?

I walked in February from Roncesvalles. There were many closed albergues, but I had no problem finding one every night. The only precaution I took was to call every day the potential albergues for the following night (I don't like to make reservations) to confirm which albergues were open. To give you an idea ... we were 7 pilgrims in Roncesvalles and the number increased progressively when we got closer to SdC (more in Pamplona, more in Logroño, more ...)

I loved and really enjoyed that Camino!!!

Then accommodation will be a challenge due to natural concerns of locals about outsiders like me coming into their villages and towns

I don't think the locals will express any concerns. I think they will be very happy to see that the Camino returns to normal. You should bear in mind that, assuming everything goes well, the situation will return to normal at the end of June ... we would be 5 months within "normality". A different problem would be if the corona returns! In that case ... we will have to just forget about the Camino.

So even if we are able to do it it will be unlike any other previous Camino's.

YEAH!!! This will be an UNIQUE Camino!!

 

[Anniesantiago]

Is there an opening date I don't know about???

 

[Albertagirl]

Is there an opening date I don't know about???

@Anniesantiago
Consult this thread:
Spain’s prime minister announces coronavirus deescalation measures
posted by @ivar yesterday.

 

[Tom Quinn]

With the plan that the goverment presented yesterday, I think that we can be very optistic about the opening of the Camino. In theory, if everything goes well, everything will return to "normality" by the end of June. "Normality" meaning some extra safety measures, etc.

Yeah, it is a possibility that the Pope decides to modify the dates. If he does so ... I will modify my shedule
Anyhow, if the forecast given by the goverment becomes real, I don´t think that the postposition of the Holy Year would be probable. We will know that in just 2 or 3 weeks.

Only .... Please Pope, don´t fix the starting of the Holy Year in February!!! Latest time it was minus 12 degrees when I when out of the albergue in Leon!!

12° YIKES!!!

 

[jcat]

I'm glad I found this thread. I just booked a flight for December and plan on doing a week on the Camino. Not sure which part yet, but sounds like plenty of others will be out there. I know things may not be back to normal, but keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[Ernesto.IT]

Inspiring plan you have, to walk in dec this year - how many people are on the track during winter time and how are the poss for accommodations along the way?

( Vacuna) NO vaccino NO camino