Easiest Physically Camino Route

[Nana6]

For those of you veterans on this forum, What would you consider the physically easiest of the Camino Routes?
I listened to a podcast by a Camino tour company that said The Portuguese and Ingleses was the easiest but require 30km a day. ???? Doesn't sound that way to me.
What do you think?

 

[Robo]

How far do you want to walk?

 

[Nana6]

How far do you want to walk?

Minimum of the requirement for the Compostela. Initially, the whole route to Santiago but I might have to do an easier route and wait for the whole CF

 

[RumAndChupacabras]

Ask yourself, how many miles a day do you think you're able to walk? Don't walk the Camino in the exact stages that the guides or 'other's' do it...break it up how YOU need to. The minimum for a Compostela is 'the last 100km' of any route. If you can only walk 10km a day (a little under 6.5 miles) then do that. If you can run 35km a day...WOW! Know what I mean? There are very likely going to be challenges no matter what any person plans/trains for. What are you most concerned with? Let us know so, we can better help.

 

[Nana6]

@Nana6, your friends didn't succeed in scaring you off regarding 'sankes', did they?

Almost, lol. But No!
I would like to walk this Fall instead if next year. And perhaps come back next year for the CF
I have been training to get in shape but 30km a day is not doable for me right now.
Hoping by September to hit 15-18 km but if not will wait till I can.

 

[Nana6]

Almost, lol. But No!
I would like to walk this Fall instead if next year. And perhaps come back next year for the CF
I have been training to get in shape but 30km a day is not doable for me right now.
Hoping by September to hit 15-18 km but if not will wait till I can.

Sorry, meant 15 miles

 

[RumAndChupacabras]

Almost, lol. But No!

Darn it...you caught that before my edit!

 

[RumAndChupacabras]

...I have been training to get in shape but 30km a day is not doable for me right now. Hoping by September to hit 15-18 km but if not will wait till I can.

Maybe you'll get to that goal. If not...Look, I'm in PDG (pretty darn good) physical shape. I walked my first Camino at 59 with no training which...I don't recommend. However, I KNEW that there was no way I wanted...WANTED, to do more than an average of 15km a day (I'm too social, like to take pix and smell the roses...with a nice glass of wine ). Learn and remember that Camino is not a race. Take time to figure out what you can do WITH a loaded backpack on. BTW, do you live in flat-as-kansas Texas or, do you have some hills?

 

[Nana6]

Maybe you'll get to that goal. If not...Look, I'm in PDG (pretty darn good) physical shape. I walked my first Camino at 59 with no training which...I don't recommend. However, I KNEW that there was no way I wanted...WANTED, to do more than an average of 15km a day (I'm too social, like to take pix and smell the roses...with a nice glass of wine ). Learn and remember that Camino is not a race. Take time to figure out what you can do WITH a loaded backpack on. BTW, do you live in flat-as-kansas Texas or, do you have some hills?

Flat! I live in Spring, Texas ( Houston area) Gulf Coast Region
About an 1.5 hour drive there are hills. Mtns 6-8 hours away.
I am social too but sometimes quiet Would not like to walk totally alone but would enjoy the scenery and history. I am planning on researching which cities or villages I want to see or take side trips and plan accordingly.
I have the time but not unlimited finances.

 

[RumAndChupacabras]

I was just in Houston (Sugarland) for Easter Holy Week...freakin' FLAT! I'm used to the Southwest where, we have Mountains!

Look, do lots and lots of research. This Forum is a sometimes overwhelming plethora of information and always, AWESOME! It's YOUR life, YOUR dinero$, YOUR choice. You feel free to message me if you like. Apart from that, there is SO MUCH to learn and (honest to God) I can't think of a better place to learn than in this forum.

Finally I'll tell you this and, it's going to be deep so get ready! We know we only have one life and each day we awaken is another chance! Don't hesitate the opportunity to do a Camino...life is too short

 

[Nana6]

I was just in Houston (Sugarland) for Easter Holy Week...freakin' FLAT! I'm used to the Southwest where, we have Mountains!

Look, do lots and lots of research. This Forum is a sometimes overwhelming plethora of information and always, AWESOME! It's YOUR life, YOUR dinero$, YOUR choice. You feel free to message me if you like. Apart from that, there is SO MUCH to learn and (honest to God) I can't think of a better place to learn than in this forum.

Finally I'll tell you this and, it's going to be deep so get ready! We know we only have one life and each day we awaken is another chance! Don't hesitate the opportunity to do a Camino...life is too short

True. Thanks for the advice

 

[Anamiri]

For those of you veterans on this forum, What would you consider the physically easiest of the Camino Routes?
I listened to a podcast by a Camino tour company that said The Portuguese and Ingleses was the easiest but require 30km a day. ???? Doesn't sound that way to me.
What do you think?

It depends a bit on what you mean by easy.
I live in a hilly place so I'm fine with hills. However I dont do well on hard surfaces for extended periods so I try to walk on gravel and dirt rather than concrete. (6 hours on concrete and my feet are screeching at me, 6 hours on gravel and my feet are fine )
For me hard is cobbles, concrete and tarmac, for others hard is hills. I also find heat hard, I can walk much easier in cool weather.

 

[Bradypus]

The last 100km of the Camino Frances, the Primitivo from Lugo, the Camino Ingles, the Portugues from Tui, or the route from Fisterra to Santiago are all fairly straightforward without any big physical challenges. Nothing within that last 100km to compare with crossing the Pyrenees or the big up-and-down from Rabanal to Molinaseca on the Camino Frances. And you certainly do not need to walk 30km stages on the Camino Ingles if you are happy to use private rooms rather than albergues. Walking the Primitivo from Lugo has one advantage or disadvantage depending on your viewpoint: you spend the first half of your walk in the relative quiet of the Primitivo but after Melide you are mixed in with the teeming masses of the Camino Frances and have access to its huge infrastructure of bars and albergues. Not my thing personally these days but perhaps you might want to experience it at least once for yourself?

 

[Nana6]

It depends a bit on what you mean by easy.
I live in a hilly place so I'm fine with hills. However I dont do well on hard surfaces for extended periods so I try to walk on gravel and dirt rather than concrete. (6 hours on concrete and my feet are screeching at me, 6 hours on gravel and my feet are fine )
For me hard is cobbles, concrete and tarmac, for others hard is hills. I also find heat hard, I can walk much easier in cool weather.

I prefer cool weather but 70-80 F is ok
Concrete is hard. Haven't been in cobblestones. Regular trails are ok
Hills , not sure. Flat where I am or semi flat
The Portuguese, I was told is a lot of road unless you take the coastal. I haven't learned much about the coastal route and facilities along the path
The shorter routes of the CF like from Sarria or Leon are fine but I miss some of the history I want to see
Just thinking and asking opinions

 

[Nana6]

The last 100km of the Camino Frances, the Primitivo from Lugo, the Camino Ingles, the Portugues from Tui, or the route from Fisterra to Santiago are all fairly straightforward without any big physical challenges. Nothing within that last 100km to compare with crossing the Pyrenees or the big up-and-down from Rabanal to Molinaseca on the Camino Frances. And you certainly do not need to walk 30km stages on the Camino Ingles if you are happy to use private rooms rather than albergues. Walking the Primitivo from Lugo has one advantage or disadvantage depending on your viewpoint: you spend the first half of your walk in the relative quiet of the Primitivo but after Melide you are mixed in with the teeming masses of the Camino Frances and have access to its huge infrastructure of bars and albergues. Not my thing personally these days but perhaps you might want to experience it at least once for yourself?

Thank you so much

 

[KinkyOne]

In 2016 I busted my little toe (in flip flops of course...) bumping into the curb in SdC so I couldn't walk long stages and that's why I stayed in every available albergue on the Ingles. These were my stages:

1. Ferrol to Xubia (Albergue de Neda): 15,6km
2. to Pontedeume: 16,1
3. to Mino: 11,1
4. to Betanzos: 11,9
5. to Presedo: 14,1
6. to Hospital de Bruma: 16,3
7. to Sigueiro: 24,8 (a bit longer but pretty flat all the way)
8. to SdC: 17,3
(measured by Wikiloc from start in old port of Ferrol then from albergue to albergue and finally to Cathedral)

The tour operator is clearly making up those 30k stages you mentioned. Also if you're not on a budget and could afford private accommodation they can be even shorter.

Buen Camino!

 

[Nana6]

In 2016 I busted my little toe (in flip flops of course...) bumping into the curb in SdC so I couldn't walk long stages and that's why I stayed in every available albergue on the Ingles. These were my stages:

1. Ferroll to Xubia (Albergue de Neda): 15,6km
2. to Pontedeume: 16,1
3. to Mino: 11,1
4. to Betanzos: 11,9
5. to Presedo: 14,1
6. to Hospital de Bruma: 16,3
7. to Sigueiro: 24,8 (a bit longer but pretty flat all the way)
8. to SdC: 17,3
(measured by Wikiloc from start in old port of Ferrol then from albergue to albergue and finally to Cathedral)

The tour operator is clearly making up those 30k stages you mentioned. Also if you're not on a budget and could afford private accommodation they can be even shorter.

Buen Camino!

Thank you for clarifying

 

[Sidekick]

I live in Kingwood so I’m close. Last year I walked almost every day to help prepare me for the CF. I went to the gym and got on the treadmill and racked it up to help build strength for the climbs I never were coming. I’m not young but pretty decent shape since I bike like crazy. Anyway I did the whole CF. No problem. I’m now on the central Portugués. It has a lot of hard surface with a mix of soft but not hills - not yet anyway - there a few coming up. It’s a short Camino (roughly 14 days). The country is gorgeous. Enough people to keep it interesting. So like other comments it depends on your criteria. Since we live in the same area I understand where you have to train. I think any choice you make will be a good one. Why don’t you join the Gulf coast Camino group in Houston? Everyone will help you. Good luck fellow Texan.

 

[Nana6]

I live in Kingwood so I’m close. Last year I walked almost every day to help prepare me for the CF. I went to the gym and got on the treadmill and racked it up to help build strength for the climbs I never were coming. I’m not young but pretty decent shape since I bike like crazy. Anyway I did the whole CF. No problem. I’m now on the central Portugués. It has a lot of hard surface with a mix of soft but not hills - not yet anyway - there a few coming up. It’s a short Camino (roughly 14 days). The country is gorgeous. Enough people to keep it interesting. So like other comments it depends on your criteria. Since we live in the same area I understand where you have to train. I think any choice you make will be a good one. Why don’t you join the Gulf coast Camino group in Houston? Everyone will help you. Good luck fellow Texan.

Thanks I didn't know there was a group. Thank very much. Buen Camino

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

Lots of variables to consider. Find your answers, adjust your training to fit the course and go enjoy your Camino..

Buen camino

 

[Nana6]

Lots of variables to consider. Find your answers, adjust your training to fit the course and go enjoy your Camino..

Buan camino

Thank you.

 

[JillGat]

In my experience, the tarmac and cobblestones on the Portugues did not outweigh the beauty of that walk. I've had foot problems in the past, but had none on that route. It's a fairly easy walk, too.