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Hello All,
I am planning to walk the Camino Frances starting in June and finishing up in August before I have to return to work (I'm a teacher). I am in pretty good shape and have done a bit of hiking, so I expect to get in the groove of walking easily (I hope). I will be doing the journey alone, and while I am looking forward to whatever the path holds for me, I do want to get the most out of it this first time around.
In my searching, I have found a lot of great information about routes and experiences. Since I am walking and travelling alone, I feel like the Camino Frances will be the easiest route. I also feel like the experience will be really special with all of the other pilgrims. I also recognize that because of the timing, this route will be very crowded. The more I search, the more I feel drawn to the Primitivo. Has anyone walked the Frances from SJPDP to Leon and then headed north to Oviedo to walk to Santiago via the Primitivo? If so, how much extra time did this take? Would you say this route would cut out important or particularly lovely sections of the Frances? Would I need a tent to do the Primitivo? Should I (can I) walk from Leon to Oviedo or should I travel by automobile?
I'd greatly appreciate any advice from anyone who has done this route or plans to. Thanks in advance for the help!
Katie
Hello KatieZ! To answer your question I will say that there are plenty of places to stay in the Primitivo (don't know about Salvador, sorry!); however, I believe you'll be doing it in late July or early August, and that is the busiest time of all, when in some parts of the Primitivo it might be a bit difficult to find a place to stay, so I believe you have three choices: start walking really early every day and literally run to the next albergue if you want to stay in public albergues; OR reserve your place at private albergues by calling one or two days ahead; OR take your tent and use it in the cases when you are unlucky and can't find a place to stay (which will not be too often anyway).Wow! Thank You all so much! ............. should I bring a tent in case I need to camp (either along the busy Camino Frances or the less traveled Salvador/Primitivo) or are there plenty of places to sleep along the way?
Last summer's reports (maybe from Al? or was it Mike? I know it was someone on the forum) were that things were really filling up. There aren't many choices in terms of where to stay, but when the Salvador "fills up" it's nothing like when the Frances "fills up."
You will love it, Katie, buen camino, Laurie
I'm planning on walking the Salvador/Primitivo starting mid June from Leon! I hope that puts me ahead of the crowds on the Primitivo.
Getting pretty excited - thanks to all who have posted about these caminos.
buen camino
Hi Katie,
I walked a combined Salvador/Primitivo alone in July/August. I did not bring a tent and I always found a place to sleep. Sometimes, on the Primitivo, it was close, but...
I walked in hiking shoes/not boots and didn't pack any differently than I did for the Frances (except to be more careful at times to have more food and water in my bag on the El Salvador.)
I loved both; the El Salvador especially was a beautiful adventure that brought me, I think, farther off the tourist track than any other route I have walked.
My only advice is to learn the ways of cattle and make peace with them before you go, if possible. I was caught off guard by a fear I didn't know I had
Feel free to PM me about the route if you like.
Kelly
This is great advice! I think I will do as advised; starting at SJPDP, CF to Leon, then San Salvador to Oviedo, rendezvous with my friends starting there and follow the Primitivo to Santiago. Thanks!Great choice!
you will be missing the beautiful area of Bierzo, but the walk to oviedo (5 days) and then the Primitivo (13 days) will only be an increase of 5 or 6 days when compared to the francés. I cannot praise enough the sheer beauty and wild loneliness of Camino del Salvador, the most beautiful of all caminos I have done!
Still, keep your eyes open and do not make a decision before you make it to Leon, once in Leon, follow your heart!This is great advice! I think I will do as advised; starting at SJPDP, CF to Leon, then San Salvador to Oviedo, rendezvous with my friends starting there and follow the Primitivo to Santiago. Thanks!
Thanks for your perspective. I walked the Portugues last year and loved it. I’m really drawn to the Primitivo for it’s supposed less traveled way, but kind of feel drawn to the CF for its camaraderie and just starting in SJPP. I like your suggestion of starting the Norte, though. Kind of like Frost’s “Road not Taken”.May I suggest a different option. Skip the CF all together and do the CdN -> CP in stead. Last year I had the the same consideration, and while I ended up doing the whole of CF (because in Leon it just felt more natural to finish the route I started) If I had the opportunity to go back and change my trip I Believe the CdN/CP would have been the better choice.
I believe most people who are drawn to the CP as part of their first would not really enjoy the overcrowdness, turism and “attitude” on the CF. While many argue that CF is the best for first time/solo travellers I dont think that is the case anymore, after reading many travelaccounts. You will not be alone on the CdN but it will be a more solitude experience and maybe even a more pure pilgrim experience for those that seek this. Im not saying the CF is bad or the wrong choice for all, however I someone feels drawn the the CP then the CF is a strong contrast and the CdN might be a better choice.
Another thing - If you leave the CF after Leon you will miss the beauty of the camino from Astorga, which IMO was the second most beautiful part of the CF after the pyrenees. In the end, Listen to your heart
It was April 2017 last time I walked the El Salvador Laurie. Just two of us all the way.I agree with all the positive responses. This is a wonderful choice, and by all means, walk from Oviedo to Leon. It will add a few days to your total, but it is well worth it. There's a ton of information here on the forum about stages, guides, etc, but fire away with specific questions because as Liz says, there's a good sized group of Salvador/Primitivo veterans on the forum. Though Joe is right that the Salvador has been quite the lonely camino (I have walked it twice and never saw another pilgrim, slept alone in albergues, etc.), I think that is changing. Last summer's reports (maybe from Al? or was it Mike? I know it was someone on the forum) were that things were really filling up. There aren't many choices in terms of where to stay, but when the Salvador "fills up" it's nothing like when the Frances "fills up."
You will love it, Katie, buen camino, Laurie
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