Have the summer crowds started to diminish?

[GerFol]

Hi all,
I'm due to begin my Camino from SJPP in two weeks. Just wondering if the numbers starting have now reduced and if there is less pressure on finding space in the albergues?
Regards,
Gerard.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Last year the pilgrim numbers did not taper off at the end of August. August 24 had the most pilgrims of the year. September 1 saw a sudden drop. Weekends had the most arrivals (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), implying a burst leaving Sarria each weekend.

For departures from SJPdP the crowds probably are over by the end of September each year, which is the second busiest departure month for SJPdP.

 

[lydlod]

I only found out at the airport that there is a certificate celebrating the 800 year anniversary for St Francis walking the camino. I walked from stJPDP to santiago finishing in July, is there any way to obtain one from the uk?

 

[Al the optimist]

I think that the Spanish as a whole, not just those walking, head back home in the first week of September. Maybe some of us who live in Spain can confirm this.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Adding the reported daily figures from the Pilgrim Office for the last seven days, 13,329 compostelas have been issued (1,904 per day average). That is about 2 1/2 compostelas per minute.

Reports of difficulty finding a bed are supported by the reported number of pilgrims.

 

[rsvp125]

The summer crowds are fine, especially in the first half of the Camino Francis. Relax and go with the flow, Buon Camino!

 

[tyrrek]

According to my 'modelled' estimates we're just about to start the second annual peak in pilgrims leaving SJPP (the first peak is in spring before a lull during the heat of summer). The good news is that by the time you get towards the end there won't be so many pilgrims doing short Caminos from places like Sarria.

My modelled figures are available here: http://www.caminodesantiago.me/comm...e-the-busy-periods-on-the-camino-frances.114/ They look like daily figures but they're just based on the 2013 monthly published figures with a bit of statistical jiggery-pokery applied, so don't take them too literally on a day-to-day basis.

Buen Camino!

 

[NicoZ]

I think that the Spanish as a whole, not just those walking, head back home in the first week of September. Maybe some of us who live in Spain can confirm this.

Start of the school year. Anybody needing to send the kids back has to go back also .

Often you'll see airfare and hotel rates that vary by the school holiday schedule. The discount airlines do this. So it pays to check the holiday schedules.