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Thanks for the tip. I was thinking about that! Any idea if there are enough open albergues along the way?You can walk the Camino del Salvador from León to Oviedo, which is a beautiful but more difficult route than the Francés. It should take 5 - 6 days.
These are hard questions to answer. I loved the Frances, and also loved the Primitivo, but they are entirely different experiences in my view. I saw far less pilgrims on the Primitivo during the day, and there were fewer outside dining experiences as less bars along the way to take a mid-day break; lodging where we stayed was usually filled up at night. We never booked ahead, but stayed with the lodging choices listed in Dave Whitson's Cicerone guidebook and it worked out for us in 2016, so quite awhile ago. Yes, it was a bit more expensive, even back then.Now, can anyone tell me a bit more about the primitivo? For example, how it is different from the CF and for whom would it be a suitable camino, is it crowded at the moment, are reservations for albergues necessary, is it doable to find places to sleep, is it more expensive, do I miss a lot of I do not finish with the frances?
August is historically the busiest month on the Primitivo. The figures for June and July show strong growth on the numbers from 2019 (last full year without Covid disruptions). See this post for a graphical view of the numbers: Thread 'Primitivo Pilgrim numbers are up on 2019' https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/primitivo-pilgrim-numbers-are-up-on-2019.76254/i am pretty sure the Primitivo is unusually busy at the moment, I've watched a few videos of people walking end of July and folks have been saying the municipal albergues were full up but private accommodation should be okay, but listen to other information
I'm sorry that you are finding it difficult going forward on the Frances, but what will change for you by taking the Salvador (yes a beautiful way!) or taking the bus to Oviedo to start the primitivo? If these anxieties persist you might end up regretting the decision to change routes.
You have plenty of time to get to Santiago
Perhaps spending a couple of days in Leon and taking a breather to come to terms with your feelings will help and you will be in a different wave of pilgrims when you move on. Just a thought, and Leon is a beautiful city. Try not to overthink things. Hope it works for you whatever you decide..
It is a nice sense of completion to finish on your original path.Thanks everyone for the replies. I made up my mind and will finish with the Frances. Primitivo perhaps for another day.
I just got back. It was “busy” but in a manageable way that made it fun as it was quite social. I had a great time with other pilgrims and met many.i am pretty sure the Primitivo is unusually busy at the moment, I've watched a few videos of people walking end of July and folks have been saying the municipal albergues were full up but private accommodation should be okay, but listen to other information
Wise decision! Finish the Frances! You are almost there and you never know where you will meet someone important--I had started at SJPDP and I met the woman who is now my wife a couple hours after leaving Santiago for Finisterre!Thanks everyone for the replies. I made up my mind and will finish with the Frances. Primitivo perhaps for another day.
The Primitivo is a very beautiful but physically much more demanding route. I cannot speak to the post-Covid world but in 2019 there was no problem with albergues and while there were fewer peregrinos than the Frances there were still enough not to be lonely....it seemed to be very popular with your fellow countrymen and women.Hi everyone,
Juli 23th I started the camino Frances from SJPDP, and currently I am in Leon. The camino has been a wonderful but also very painful experience so far, i am still trying to find my way. I enjoy the walking but the social aspect is currently a bit difficult for me due to anxieties, hence i haven't made any deep connections or 'camino friends'. That's why I think about walking or 'bussing' to Oviedo tomorrow to start the primitivo, for a more solitary way. The 31th of august i need to be in Santiago for my travel back to the Netherlands (and before thar I would like to finish with the camino finesterra).
Now, can anyone tell me a bit more about the primitivo? For example, how it is different from the CF and for whom would it be a suitable camino, is it crowded at the moment, are reservations for albergues necessary, is it doable to find places to sleep, is it more expensive, do I miss a lot of I do not finish with the frances?
Any information, wise words, or advise is very welcome!!
Hi Antonius. Exactely, I can relate to your perception of "atomised crowds". No group feeling, only formation of some smaller groups. Gives a lonely feeling.I started the Camino Frances in april, I changed over to the Via Sanabresin Burgos I did not like the crowds, very much. I felt that the community of people I met on the. Frances were ,"atomised,," ,(in Dutch "hingen als los zand aan elkaar")I met so many people, new faces everyday in the many albergues, restaurants and so on. Walking on the Sanabres made a big change for me. A group feeling developed easily not so much in intensity of contact but in recognition of each other.
I walked the Primitivo and Salvador, both are beautiful mountainous routes. I walked the Primitivo in april/ may 2016 though . I cannot give an opinion about how crowded it will be in August.
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