How busy is Baiona to Santiago.

[Teresa McQuaid]

Next year I plan to walk Baiona to Santiago. I did Sarria to Santiago in May this year and I enjoyed it having many others walking at the same time. I do the Portuguese route from Baiona am I likely to be on my own.

 

[Doogman]

My experience in July 2016 was that there were not many people on the route from Baiona to Redondela (2 days for me). At Redondela the coastal route merges with the central route and there were many more people from that point on to Santiago. So it may be quiet for the first couple of days, but it seems to me that there are more and more people walking the Portuguese routes each year.

 

[Teresa McQuaid]

My experience in July 2016 was that there were not many people on the route from Baiona to Redondela (2 days for me). At Redondela the coastal route merges with the central route and there were many more people from that point on to Santiago. So it may be quiet for the first couple of days, but it seems to me that there are more and more people walking the Portuguese routes each year.

Thank you

 

[jsalt]

I do the Portuguese route from Baiona am I likely to be on my own.

Hi Teresa, yes, maybe, for a while at least, from Baiona. There are others walking, but lots of couples, and they are usually joined at the hip, so you feel like you are invading their space if you try and walk with them (you probably aren’t, but you still feel like you are). You may find a few walkers in the cafes to chat with if not on the path.

As you get into the Vigo suburbs the pilgrims disappear amongst the joggers and dog walkers. So, yes, expect to be alone at least to Redondela. You then hit the main Central route, and you’ll meet LOTS of people.

If you take the Variante Espiritual, after Pontevedra, it gets quiet again, but the only albergues to stay at are in Armenteira and Vila Nova de Arousa, so it can become very social, depending on who else is walking at the same time as you.

The first time I stayed at Armenteira we were ALL females, 16 of us, all individuals, and we had a ball. It was one of my best nights ever. We used both male and female ablutions, had a great evening in the bar/restaurant in the village, and we could strip in the dorm with gay abandon!
Jill

 

[Teresa McQuaid]

Hi Teresa, yes, maybe, for a while at least, from Baiona. There are others walking, but lots of couples, and they are usually joined at the hip, so you feel like you are invading their space if you try and walk with them (you probably aren’t, but you still feel like you are). You may find a few walkers in the cafes to chat with if not on the path.

As you get into the Vigo suburbs the pilgrims disappear amongst the joggers and dog walkers. So, yes, expect to be alone at least to Redondela. You then hit the main Central route, and you’ll meet LOTS of people.

If you take the Variante Espiritual, after Pontevedra, it gets quiet again, but the only albergues to stay at are in Armenteira and Vila Nova de Arousa, so it can become very social, depending on who else is walking at the same time as you.

The first time I stayed at Armenteira we were ALL females, 16 of us, all individuals, and we had a ball. It was one of my best nights ever. We used both male and female ablutions, had a great evening in the bar/restaurant in the village, and we could strip in the dorm with gay abandon!
Jill

Thank you so much for this information. I can cope with couple days of walking on my own knowing that the route them fills out with others.