Camino Question

[Owen Bubbers]

Realistically, how many days does it take to walk between Oviedo and Santiago if one is walking consistently each day? I have a 12 day window - is this hopelessly ambitious?

Many thanks

 

[kevinoconnor2000]

Hi Owen,
I'm doing it in 12 days, starting Sunday. No problem, start slow and build it up...
Kev

 

[koilife]

Realistically, how many days does it take to walk between Oviedo and Santiago if one is walking consistently each day? I have a 12 day window - is this hopelessly ambitious?

Many thanks

If reasonably fit, 12 full days for walking should be doable. The distance is 315 or so KM, which is ~26 KM per day. If your 12 days also includes travel days to Oviedo or from Santiago, plus a day in Santiago for the pilgrim's Mass, you'll quickly start to put real pressure on yourself with unrealistic daily distances.

 

[peregrina2000]

I have walked the Primitivo twice, once in 12 days, once in 11 days (my stages here: http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/my-stages-on-the-camino-primitivo.4841/#post-212690 and
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/back-from-the-primitivo-june-2012.14728/

I never felt rushed or like I was going too fast. If you want to walk the Hospitales route alternative (which has a long stretch across a ridge with wide open views), it's hard to figure out an 11 day way to do this, given where the albergues and towns are, though maybe it can be done by someone with better logistical talent than I.

So, long story short, either 11 or 12 days walking is probably the norm -- super walkers can do it in fewer days, I'm sure.

Buen camino, Laurie

 

[laurap]

I'd echo what others have said. Last year I walked the route in a pretty reasonable 11 days (though with a big push at the end):

Oviedo-San Juan de Villapañada (29.5)
San Juan de Villapañada-Bodenaya (24.3k)
Bodeneya-Borres (27.5k)
Borres-La Mesa (28.5k) (Hospitales Route-which is really beautiful and worth it)
La Mesa-Grandas de Salime (16k)
Grandas de Salime-Padrón (27k)
Padrón-Castroverde (31.5)
Castroverde-Lugo (21.5)
Lugo-As Seixas (31)
As Seixas- Salceda (40)
Salceda-Santiago (28)

 

[Owen Bubbers]

If reasonably fit, 12 full days for walking should be doable. The distance is 315 or so KM, which is ~26 KM per day. If your 12 days also includes travel days to Oviedo or from Santiago, plus a day in Santiago for the pilgrim's Mass, you'll quickly start to put real pressure on yourself with unrealistic daily distances.

Many thanks! What are the key highlights to take in in Santiago? You're absolutely right re not putting myself under too much pressure to hit the distances at the expense of savouring the experience.

Thanks again.

 

[koilife]

Many thanks! What are the key highlights to take in in Santiago? You're absolutely right re not putting myself under too much pressure to hit the distances at the expense of savouring the experience.

Foremost is the cathedral itself --- the museum, the roofs, the crypts, etc. The noon Mass is typically the Pilgrim's Mass, where the counts of the prior day's pilgrims are read out by nationality. Get your Compostella at the Pilgrim's Office. Visit the tourist information center just further down the street from the pilgrim's office.

Hang out around the plaza and surrounding cafes to other pilgrims you've met in the previous two weeks. If you're looking to take back any souvenirs or gifts, this is the place to do it. There is the Route of Routes guide put together by Johnnie Walker of the Pilgrim's Office (and active member of this forum) ---- http://www.caminodesantiago.me/comm...of-routes-in-santiago-de-compostela-guide.16/

A quick search on the forum is likely to turn up a number of things. You might also look here: http://www.mydestination.com/galici...86/20-things-to-do-in-santiago-de-compostela# (also written by Johnnie Walker).