Camino de Santiago via Camino Frances in December

[AlixIsa]

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!!!!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

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?

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.

 

[AlixIsa]

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?

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Do you think 2 weeks would be enough?

It will be enough to walk two weeks!

 

[trecile]

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?

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.

 

[mspath]

Check out the helpful posts/links re walking in winter in this recent earlier thread.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camino-winter-advice.51183/

 

[chinacat]

It will be enough to walk two weeks!

 

[t2andreo]

Leon to Santiago in 2 weeks is doable...

 

[LTfit]

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!!!!

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.

 

[Timoteo]

Are you still planning your walk? I may go Sarria to SDC between 23 and 31 Dec.

 

[AlixIsa]

Check out the helpful posts/links re walking in winter in this recent earlier thread.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/camino-winter-advice.51183/

Thank you!!