Camino Primitivo to Santiago in 6/7 days

[Marcel234]

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for a route in november of this year. I only have a week. Can anybody give me an overview of the distances on this Camino. I would love to do the whole route in 6/7 days. If I train 40 km a day would be doable. But I know the route is longer. Can you tell me how hard this route is.

Thx!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

This gets you to Palas de Rei, then you continue on the Camino Frances:

http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/los-caminos-de-santiago/primitivo/

 

[Tia Valeria]

I do not think that this route is possible in that number of days at any time of year. By November you could even have snow on the high passes too, water and mud slowing you down . A better route for the number of days and time of year would be the Camino Inglés.
Buen Camino

 

[Marcel234]

Thanks Falcon! That's what I needed!
@ Tia Valeria
Isn't the Ingles route way shorter? An another alternative would be The Frances from Leon to Santiago. I did the Frances before so I know that it is possible.

I'm looking for a challenge, but it's hard for me to estimate the hardness of the primitivo.

Btw I'm an 'expert' on the Frances. In 2 weeks Ill be there for the 5th time, It will be with my father so distances will be low and we head back after a week.

 

[Tia Valeria]

The Camino Inglés is shorter, yes. However as I said the weather conditions over the Primitivo in November could be difficult.
Try looking at the Gronze site as well as Eroski. We think its elevations are more accurate.
Note that if you need transport there is none between Grandas de Salime and Fonsagrada (26kms) apart from hiring a taxi.

Do post and let us know if you do walk the route and how you get on.
Buen Camino

 

[TerryB]

It would seem that you are up for a challenge! If you are determined on walking the Primitivo in your 6 / 7 days I would suggest that you need to do your homework very carefully. If you use the Gronze site you will see the distances as well as the possible time needed. e.g Pola de Allende to La Mesa (no food available) is given as 21.6 kilometers and the time as 6 hours 15 minutes, difficulty 3 / 3 and that is only half the distance you are setting yourself! Some albergues may be closed in November - phone ahead to check, especially if there is no other accomodation. You will need to take into account the short days and the fact that some of your walking will be on rocky narrow trails with few habitations if things do go wrong. The trail is well marked in daylight, however there are not as many markers as the Francés and it will be easy to miss the trail using a headlight.
I love the Primitivo but I have great respect for the mountains and would suggest that you take great care in your preparation.

Blessings on your walking and planning
Tio Tel

 

[fraluchi]

[ I'm an 'expert' on the Frances. In 2 weeks Ill be there for the 5th time, It will be with my father so distances will be low and we head back after a week]. You may find the "primitivo" most interesting and probably comparable to a succession of Rabanal del Camino-El Acebo experiences on the "francés". I believe to be a fairly good mountain walker myself, but I cannot consider walking the "primitivo" as an enjoyable journey through beautiful countryside under time pressure.

 

[Marcel234]

[ I'm an 'expert' on the Frances. In 2 weeks Ill be there for the 5th time, It will be with my father so distances will be low and we head back after a week]. You may find the "primitivo" most interesting and probably comparable to a succession of Rabanal del Camino-El Acebo experiences on the "francés". I believe to be a fairly good mountain walker myself, but I cannot consider walking the "primitivo" as an enjoyable journey through beautiful countryside under time pressure.

Thank you all! As I'm reading your advices I realize that having respect for the environment is most important. I will read some more and I have time before I have to make a descision. On the Via the la plata I'm now at Merida, so I can also do a couple of hundred on that way.

@ Fraluchi: Time pressure is killing. The most beautiful thing of a camino is losing track of time. Getting free of the fast-pased world I'm used to. I realize that doing the Primitivo in 7 days wouldnt give me that. On the other side. Fysical pain can give you freedom too. I know it sounds weird and creepy. But do you remember your hardest day on the camino? Remember that day and realize how intense the feeling of living 'in the now' was.

 

[Tia Valeria]

The hardest day on the Primitivo was between La Mesa and El Salto, just before Grandas. There is a 900mt drop in 1km so the path takes long zig-zags down the hillside with a steep drop off to the side. It took two and a half hours to walk it safely, in daylight. The short uphill stretch was a kindness to the legs.

http://camino-primitivo-2012.blogsp...ucedo-to-el-salto-sunday-29th-april_7307.html

This is not a route to under-estimate and days will be short in November

 

[fraluchi]

Thank you Tia Valeria for this info. Last year we descended from San Juan de la Peña (Camino Aragonés - near Jaca), a 500 mt. drop in 4 kms. and found it quite difficult and hard on the knees. But then, our knees are over 70 years old and perhaps a bit rusty? So we'll be prepared

 

[Tia Valeria]

The day we walked this we had stayed at Casa Antigua, private habitacion, in Berducedo (breakfast included). We had booked this the previous night to make sure of a bed without walking further than we wanted. At Berducedo we booked into the Hotel Grandas at El Salto, to save us the last 6kms into Grandas after what we expected to be a long walking day (for us). It worked really well. At El Salto we were sent straight into the dining room 10 minutes before it closed to ensure we had a hot meal - it was Sunday - then there were bocadillos available in the bar in the evening. We chose to stop over again in Grandas to see the museum, but could have walked the distance through to Castro (booking advisable here as they take in youth groups). If you need to play 'catch up' time wise then check out our taxi ride outside Fonsagrada and bus ride near Lastre, through the blog link above.

If you would like any phone numbers feel free to PM us, we have most of them.

Buen Camino