First timer!!! Celebrating my graduation w/father (some questions)

[Isabella Sinocort]

Next month, my dad and I are doing a short version of El Camino for 8 days to celebrate the end of my masters degree. It is also a very special occasion because the first time we are a both traveling together!!! Since we have limited time and want to get the most juice out of the lemons. I have several questions the expert pilgrims can answer: 1) which route do you recommend the most as first timer considering the amount of days? 2) would you choose bike over walking to travel longer distances, 3) is it safe/ recommendable to go by bike? Are streets in good conditions or bikes in very good shape!!? THANK YOU for any hint in advance

 

[C clearly]

Hi, and welcome to the forum! I will toss a bunch of questions back at you ... Is traveling longer distances important? Is it important to arrive in Santiago at the end? Are you hoping to spend time being introspective and/or talking to each other and other people? (Walking seems more likely to encourage that quiet bonding.) Or, are you experienced cyclists who want to share the athletic experience?

I don't cycle, so I can't answer questions about that. However, I expect that it is generally as safe as cycling anywhere, the roads are in good condition, and rental bikes are in good condition too.

 

[Mike Savage]

Welcome Isabella and congratulations on earning your Masters degree. I am not a biker so that may influence my answer. I think it would be easier for you to talk and interact together if you were walking compared to being on bikes and that could be an important part of your journey.

 

[williamlittig]

Eight days walking? I like the Sanabre the last part of the Via de la Plata. Beautiful, nice albergues, 20Km days are standard with fewer pilgrims, easily accessible from Santiago by train......... Ultreya..... Willy/Utah/USA

 

[Mike Savage]

I agree with Willy, the Sanabres would be a great choice and I should be there in a month or so.

 

[Kanga]

I'm weighing in with a different perspective.

I recently took a couple of people to walk on the Sanabrés - one to whom the Camino was completely new, the other having walked parts of the CF before (but not the last bit).

We started walking the Sanabrés but it was lacking in infrastructure and interaction with others. So, after a couple of weeks and on my suggestion, we abandoned it and went to Sarria and they walked from there to SDC. I still want to walk the Sanabres in its entirely, but for them, the Camino Frances was so much better. Pretty countryside, beautiful soft walking, lots of places to stop, they met and bonded with other pilgrims, got to Santiago, got their Compostela, and it was everything we wanted it to be (putting aside the nasty fall on the last day....)

It is the total experience that counts. For that reason for first timers I suggest Sarria to SDC over the Sanabrés or other less known routes. I think sometimes we forget that people looking for the camino "experience" are not looking for a beautiful solitary walk. That can be done in many, many places in the world, and probably better. They are looking for something unique, and to me, that means the Camino Francés. The daddy of them all.

Lots of old timers here will steer you away from the last 100km, because they perceive Sarria to SDC on the Camino Francés as too crowded, too popular, too whatever, and they compare it unfavourably to quieter sections. My view is that if you have not walked a Camino before, then you have no comparison and it will not disappoint you.

I've never come across someone who walked their first camino from Sarria, and subsequently wished they'd walked a different camino instead.

If you do have time, then my suggestion is to start from further back. Longer is always better! If your time is limited then do not waste it on buses skipping sections - start somewhere and keep walking until it is time to go home.

Whatever you decide - I hope you have a Buen Camino!

 

[nycwalking]

I am with Kanga, go CF. Infrastructure and tons of others to meet. Congrats on Masters. Buen camino.

 

[Mike Savage]

You bring up a good point Kanga, and I do like the Francés including the portion from Sarria to Santiago. Have you walked from Orense to Santiago?

 

[Isabella Sinocort]

Thank you so much for your comments!! Maybe I can start somewhere further away from Sarria to complete the 7 days of walking. Any additional suggestions? Thank you again!!

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Let's star with where you are from and where you are thinking of arriving in Spain. Also, how fit are you both? And what are you seeking? History, scenary, arriving to Santiago?

 

[notion900]

@Kanga is basically always right, in my book! Has she got time to walk from Sarria to Santiago and go to Finisterre, Muxia and back by bike?

 

[Isabella Sinocort]

Let's star with where you are from and where you are thinking of arriving in Spain. Also, how fit are you both? And what are you seeking? History, scenary, arriving to Santiago?

I am departing from Madrid to the starting point so I am quite flexible. We are quite fit and do sports regularly but my dad has an elbow that is a bit stiff and I have some knee constraint. We want to reach santiago and give priority to scenary!

 

[Isabella Sinocort]

That

@Kanga is basically always right, in my book! Has she got time to walk from Sarria to Santiago and go to Finisterre, Muxia and back by bike?

that sounds like a great plan too because we want to do a part by bike

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I am departing from Madrid to the starting point so I am quite flexible. We are quite fit and do sports regularly but my dad has an elbow that is a bit stiff and I have some knee constraint. We want to reach santiago and give priority to scenary!

Hmmm.... stiff knee but scenary...

Sarria onwards is mostly flat, but nothing to look at and a circus (yes, I am one of those who now hate it due to the rowdy crowds).

Tui onwards also very flat, social enough without being party party, and if you take the Variante Espiritual you do get some nice stretches, plus a boat trip.

From Lugo allows you to visit Lugo, flat walking, and only two days on the Frances. And fairly quiet.

Ourense onwards would be quite hilly I believe.

Perhaps others have advise on the Ingles and the Sanbres from Ourense?

 

[HedaP]

This just a suggestion, but what about starting at O'Cebreiro? I think it's about 150 kms to Santiago from there. 21.5 kms a day for seven days. If the weather gods smile you will most definitely get views.
Edited to correct distance. It's just over 150 km not 140 km.

 

[Kanga]

O'Cebreiro to Santiago is lovely but it is quite hard to get to O'Cebreiro easily - at least last time I looked. It may be a taxi trip from Villafranca. Someone on the forum will no doubt correct me with a bus timetable!

With only 8 days you don't want to lose too much time travelling to your start point and getting home. Where are you travelling from @Isabella Sinocort ? Knowing that helps with suggestions.

 

[williamlittig]

A taxi from Sarria to O'Cebreiro might be simpler. watch your knees going into Portomarin...... Ultreya.... Willy/Utah?USA

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

Unless i am mistaken, ALSA buses connect madrid and sdc, some of them stop at Puedrafita do Cebreiro, which is a short taxi ride up the hill to O Cebreiro

 

[Deleted member 67338]

If you start from Las Herrerias take the horses up to the top of O Cebreria and have your packs transported to tristicalla you can walk from O Cebreria to a small Cafe about 5 km up a hard uphill track to a small cafeteria and hire a bike, it is all down hill all the way to Tristicala and it is simply the best day of the Camino I had, I did it due to a herniated disc for a rest. Stay at Albergue A Horta de Abel and next day refreshed walk to Barbadelo where there is another terrific Albergue and you don't get caught in the zoo of Sarria 3.4 km is well worth it but you must book both places. From there just pace yourself but if you can stay at Lavacolla the night before it's only a few hours the the Santiago de Compostela and you will have time to join the church service there is a terrific Albergue for a single room opposite the archway into the plaza for 23 euros. And the bonus you can get a Compostela to mark your graduation walk and also the fact you did all three modes of transport in the Camino. Buen Camino