• Get your Camino Frances Guidebook here.
  • For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here.
    (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)
  • ⚠️ Emergency contact in Spain - Dial 112 and AlertCops app. More on this here.
This is a mobile optimized page that loads fast, if you want to load the real page, click this text.

Camino de Santiago via Camino Frances in December

A

AlixIsa

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances in December
Hello!!
I'm planning on walking the Camino during the two last weeks of december in order to arrive for the new year in Santiago de Compostela, this year. I will be starting from San Sebastian and was thinking about taking the Camino Frances seeing as the majority of the people recommend this during the winter rather than the northern route!

My main questions are:
1. Will it be hard for me to find accommodation during the holiday season?
2. Is the camino Frances the best way to go?
3. Will the weather/cold be surmountable?

I'm going to take my time during this Camino and not bother too much about how many hours/km I have done in total! I know that if I walk the correct distances I can be in Santiago de Compostela within 6 days - however this is not my objective!

I would be happy to hear any suggestions beyong my three main questions!! Any information about this entire experience would be very welcome and appreciated!!

Thank you in advance!!!!
 
Camino Preparation Guide
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
AlixIsa said:
1. Will it be hard for me to find accommodation during the holiday season?
2. Is the camino Frances the best way to go?
3. Will the weather/cold be surmountable?
Click to expand...
Albergues in small villages will be closed. Accommodations that are open will not be busy. Call ahead; hospitaleros do not sit around waiting, and may take spontaneous vacations and trips.

The Camino Frances has the best infrastructure. The other caminos will only have municipal albergues and hostales. Pensiones will be a mix of open and closed.

The weather will be unpredictable. It can rain, snow, be warm in places, or arctic. Albergues are reluctant to turn on the heat, so expect to sleep in cold conditions.

Getting from San Sebastian to the Camino Frances may be difficult if you are walking. It can snow a lot in the mountains.
 

Thank you for that!!
I was thinking about taking a bus to pamplona and start from there!
Do you think 2 weeks would be enough?
 
Promote your Camino Project on the forum
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
AlixIsa said:
Thank you for that!!
I was thinking about taking a bus to pamplona and start from there!
Do you think 2 weeks would be enough?
Click to expand...
Two weeks will not be enough if you want to walk to Santiago. I suggest you use this site https://www.google.com/url?q=https:...FjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw0qCKYmjj5om9X1uFq6oGIv to plan your stages to start at a place that will allow you to reach Santiago in the time that you have. Be sure to build in a couple of days for rest, illness, injury or bad weather. Astorga would be a possibility.
 
Walking Tours of the Camino!
Join our full-service guided tour and let us convert you into a Pampered Pilgrim!
EXPRESS BOURRICOT - Transport
Transport luggage-passengers.
From airports to SJPP
Luggage from SJPP to Roncevalles

1. Will it be hard for me to find accommodation during the holiday season?

No problem if you use the following webpage: www.aprinca.com

I walked from Burgos to Sarria this past December 26 - January 8 believe. We were lucky with the weather only having snow the morning leaving O Cebreiro. We even had 14c in Astorga.
2. Is the camino Frances the best way to go?

I would say so unless you want to be alone then suggest the Vía de la Plata from Sevilla.

3. Will the weather/cold be surmountable?

No one knows from one year to the next. The weeks after I walked there was lots of snow.

Walking year end is very special. I arrived in Santiago one year on the 31st. The Pilgrim's Office was already closed so we were invited into the Sacristía of the Cathedral where we were given our Compostela. There were fireworks on New Years in front of the Cathedral, something quite special.
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Are you still planning your walk? I may go Sarria to SDC between 23 and 31 Dec.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Camino Photo

Most read last week in this forum

Similar threads

B
  • Tags money/banking/budget
    • 2024 Camino Frances to Santiago de Compostela cost
    Replies
    23
    Views
    1K
    David Tallan
    F
  • Tags statistics
    • December starting Frances statistics
    Replies
    8
    Views
    1K
    ferdechile
    F
    Alternative finish to Camino Frances via Camino Invierno and Sanabres?
    Replies
    18
    Views
    2K
    arfajajc
    Menu
    Log in
    Register