Holy Week

[Camino Chris]

I am new to this forum, but have been following it for a long time and have appreciated all the information and advice I've been able to benefit from. I will be starting my 3rd Camino with 3 other family members during Holy Week. I am concerned about finding lodging during that time and wonder if anyone knows statistics for the potential busyness of the Camino during this time. We start from SJPP on April 12th. Thank you.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Welcome to the Forum,

I doubt anyone will give you stats about Holy Week, but if you are nervous about finding a bed why not book ahead for those days?

 

[kelleymac]

We walked during Holy Week in 2015, we had no problems finding open albergues with plenty of beds. Some were closed until after Easter, but most were open. (Easter was about April 10th that year, if I remember correctly.) There were quite a few Spanish families walking too, and teachers! One difficulty was that a number of shops were closed. Also, on Good Friday, we couldn't find an open church in Galacia. Maybe everyone had gone to a big city or my timing was off. We decided to say a "Glory Be" prayer every time we saw a cross.

You know, there are lot of crosses in Spain, especially on Good Friday. It ended up being a great day of prayerful meditation.

Beun Camino,

Kate

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

I am new to this forum, but have been following it for a long time and have appreciated all the information and advice I've been able to benefit from. I will be starting my 3rd Camino with 3 other family members during Holy Week. I am concerned about finding lodging during that time and wonder if anyone knows statistics for the potential busyness of the Camino during this time. We start from SJPP on April 12th. Thank you.

easter week is a popular time for spaniards to walk as many businesses get the week off, so expect a spike in domestic pilgrims. as you are a party of 4, i'd book ahead if you are a doing the last section, which is where the spaniards will head.

Buen Camino

 

[Deleted member 36903]

Hi Camino Chris, welcome to the forum. I walked during Holy week in 2015 - started the week before from SJJP. I experienced no difficulty getting accommodation in Pamplona, but after then it became tricky. As others have said the weekend of holy week is when lots of Spanish people walk the Camino, or sections of it. Accommodation at Zubiri was hard to find but we arrived around teatime, the albergue at Uterga (after the Alto Perdon) was full, but I had reserved a bed by booking ahead. The Refugio PP Repardores at Puente La Reina had lots of beds but you needed to arrive no later than around 2pm to secure one - it's a great place to be for Holy week having three magnificent churches all open to the public and with Semana Santa processions. The Los Arcos albergues were full that weekend, but there was private accommodation available - book ahead for peace of mind - and the street processions and tableaux were wonderful. I don't know how far you intend to walk each day, but if planning to cross the Pyrenees via the Napoleon route and stop at Orrison you will definitely need to book to secure beds there. If you walk via Valcarlos, there is a small albergue but I don't think they take reservations but there is other accommodation in the village. I stayed at a good private place in Espinal called Haizea, where myself and a fellow peregrina were the only pilgrims there. As others have suggested, book ahead where possible to ensure beds for the four of you and then enjoy the holiday. Buen camino!

 

[Camino Chris]

Welcome to the Forum,

I doubt anyone will give you stats about Holy Week, but if you are nervous about finding a bed why not book ahead for those days?

I have booked most of our accomodations ahead as you suggested, although I noticed many were filling up. We will be in Pamplona Easter Sunday and from there we hope to mostly "wing it" as we go.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I have booked most of our accomodations ahead as you suggested, although I noticed many were filling up. We will be in Pamplona Easter Sunday and from there we hope to mostly "wing it" as we go.

Good for you. Glad you will leave with more peace of mind.

 

[Camino Chris]

Hi Camino Chris, welcome to the forum. I walked during Holy week in 2015 - started the week before from SJJP. I experienced no difficulty getting accommodation in Pamplona, but after then it became tricky. As others have said the weekend of holy week is when lots of Spanish people walk the Camino, or sections of it. Accommodation at Zubiri was hard to find but we arrived around teatime, the albergue at Uterga (after the Alto Perdon) was full, but I had reserved a bed by booking ahead. The Refugio PP Repardores at Puente La Reina had lots of beds but you needed to arrive no later than around 2pm to secure one - it's a great place to be for Holy week having three magnificent churches all open to the public and with Semana Santa processions. The Los Arcos albergues were full that weekend, but there was private accommodation available - book ahead for peace of mind - and the street processions and tableaux were wonderful. I don't know how far you intend to walk each day, but if planning to cross the Pyrenees via the Napoleon route and stop at Orrison you will definitely need to book to secure beds there. If you walk via Valcarlos, there is a small albergue but I don't think they take reservations but there is other accommodation in the village. I stayed at a good private place in Espinal called Haizea, where myself and a fellow peregrina were the only pilgrims there. As others have suggested, book ahead where possible to ensure beds for the four of you and then enjoy the holiday. Buen camino!

Thank you for all the detailed information on your personal experiences. I plan to stay in Valcarlos at the muni like I did in mid April 2015 as I loved that route. After arriving in Roncevalles, the pilgrims who had walked the Napoleon route came stumbling in with rain and mud all over there shoes and pants. I heard the winds were so strong that it "went in one ear and out the other" and the fog near the top they couldn't enjoy the views. I experienced none of those things, just a peaceful, beautiful walk through a variety of landscapes!

 

[Camino Chris]

Thank you for all the detailed information on your personal experiences. I plan to stay in Valcarlos at the muni like I did in mid April 2015 as I loved that route. After arriving in Roncevalles, the pilgrims who had walked the Napoleon route came stumbling in with rain and mud all over there shoes and pants. I heard the winds were so strong that it "went in one ear and out the other" and the fog near the top they couldn't enjoy the views. I experienced none of those things, just a peaceful, beautiful walk through a variety of landscapes!

I have now booked accomodations until Easter night in Pamplona, then plan to let each day unfold as it comes.

 

[J F Gregory]

I am new to this forum, but have been following it for a long time and have appreciated all the information and advice I've been able to benefit from. I will be starting my 3rd Camino with 3 other family members during Holy Week. I am concerned about finding lodging during that time and wonder if anyone knows statistics for the potential busyness of the Camino during this time. We start from SJPP on April 12th. Thank you.

My wife and I walked during Holy week last year and never had any issues finding beds in albergues. Many Spanish families walk with their children, they seemed to used hotels, pensions, and family members to sleep at night.

 

[SYates]

Holy Week is busy on the Camino, but really, really busy only on the last 100km. 2016 6000 pilgrims arrived, yes only in Holy Week, in Santiago, most of them had walked from Sarria. Further away from the end point things tend to be less dramatic. Buen Camino, SY