Camino Leon>Finisterre - if you had 18 days...

[Sarah80]

Hi

I have to be in Barcelona on the 22nd of June for a non camino related event, from the 23rd, I have 18 days straight holiday.

I had planned to get the TrenHotel to Leon from Barcelona and then walk from Leon>Santiago>Finisterre>Muxia and then bus back from Muxia to Santiago (i fly home Sunday 9th July).

I've never done any of the Camino Finisterre, so this seemed like a good plan. But is it?

If you had 18 days, from a Barcelona start point and assured Santiago end point, would you do this, or would you go back to SJPP>Santo Domingo skip to Leon and finish in Santiago? I love the first week and I love the last week, so that also appeals to me...

What would you do?

 

[scruffy1]

Leon-Santiago-Finisterra-Muxia in 18 days works out to around 25 kilometers a day a do-able daily ration of kilcks – provided you do the first 25 kilometers the day you arrive in Leon and don't look around; provided you don't take a rest day along the way; provided you don't enjoy a day in Santiago nor in Fistera nor in Muxia; provided you don't - God Forfend - become ill or suffer from feet issues. You will be cutting things thin, very thin in my opinion.
Another option, Barcelona to SJPP will take you the better part of a day just to get there and while you might make it on to the Orisson albergue, you will need a confirmed reservation well in advance.
I would start in Pamplona and walk as far as you have allowed, enjoying every bit of scenery, art, and architecture, as well as the camaraderie and spirituality which the Camino may offer while disregarding the kilometers, then bus/train back whenever your time ends.
Santiago is perhaps the drive for walking; I find that my underlying motivation and lasting inspiration is the Camino experience itself.
I have offered my opinion concerning what Finisterre has become perhaps too often, walk first to Muxia!

 

[Sarah80]

Thank you scruffy, that's interesting!

It is indeed cutting it fine, no rest days and 25k a day as you say and a bit nervy. If I did get ill from Leon to Santiago in 18 days is super dooper dooable, the problem will be if I got ill post Santiago.

Perhaps you're right in starting at Pamplona, at least because of how easy it is to get to from Barcelona... hmm

 

[vlogan]

Sarah80
Good luck for ever you decide to do. This year, I leave St Jean either Thu 11 or Fri 12 May for Pamplona arrive Sun 14 May, depart that afternoon by train to Leon, stay the night in Hotel Paris, then walk from Leon to Santiago hopefully arriving by 24 July.

 

[trecile]

If you want to go to Finisterre I think that walking from León should be fine. I walked from León to Finisterre in 16 days, and from your picture you look a bit younger then me.
I suppose that it depends on how leisurely you want to walk. But seeing as how you're already in Spain a second, third or fourth Camino should be feasible.