- Time of past OR future Camino
- CF 2023 from Bayonne.
Camino Podiensis & CF 2026
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PS Will be taking bus back to Santiago from Finnistere.Hello everyone
I am planning to buy my plane ticket from Canada to Paris (and then trains to get to St-Jean) and need to gauge number of days to allocate to walk to Santiago (allowing for 2-3 days rest) then from Santiago to Muxia-Finnestere-Santiago. Then travel back to Paris for return flight. Knowing this is fully subjective with regards to potential setbacks (blisters, sprain or strains) and pace, I value this forum's experience and knowledge base. Perhaps giving myself 32 days to Santiago and then 6 days-7 days to walk and visit Muxia and Finnistere...does this sound about right? Your valuable input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance to all who respond!!
That is about right..does this sound about right?
Sounds good. Depending, of course, on age, physical ability, etc. I am 65 and think your estimate sounds reasonable. Enjoy!Hello everyone
I am planning to buy my plane ticket from Canada to Paris (and then trains to get to St-Jean) and need to gauge number of days to allocate to walk to Santiago (allowing for 2-3 days rest) then from Santiago to Muxia-Finnestere-Santiago. Then travel back to Paris for return flight. Knowing this is fully subjective with regards to potential setbacks (blisters, sprain or strains) and pace, I value this forum's experience and knowledge base. Perhaps giving myself 32 days to Santiago and then 6 days-7 days to walk and visit Muxia and Finnistere...does this sound about right? Your valuable input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance to all who respond!!
I’ll be a few months shy of 64 and in good shapeSounds good. Depending, of course, on age, physical ability, etc. I am 65 and think your estimate sounds reasonable. Enjoy!
Buen Camino!
I am in good physical condition and plan to train specifically with my pack and different duration and terrain walks as well as weight training. Even in our harsh winter conditions. Thanks for respondingIt depends on lots of things, but particularly your fitness level. We met a lady in her late seventies from Kansas on the Francés. She told us that she had a 90 day visitor’s visa and her flight was booked for day 90. She was walking about 10k a day and that was as much as she could manage, but I’m sure she made it to Santiago.
I did it in 2014 when I was 60 and your time frame looks fine, even with a few "hicupps." Buen Camino!I’ll be a few months shy of 64 and in good shape. Thanks for responding.
Thank you for taking the time to add this info.Instead of a return ticket, search for a multiple destinations ticket.
1) Toronto or Calgary or wherever to Paris
2) Porto (OPO) to Toronto or Montreal
Porto is a three hour bus ride from Santiago.
Likewise, look at flights from Santiago ... Veuling goes to London Gatwick where you could switch to a flight to your home/nearby airport.
Hello everyone
I am planning to buy my plane ticket from Canada to Paris (and then trains to get to St-Jean) and need to gauge number of days to allocate to walk to Santiago (allowing for 2-3 days rest) then from Santiago to Muxia-Finnestere-Santiago. Then travel back to Paris for return flight. Knowing this is fully subjective with regards to potential setbacks (blisters, sprain or strains) and pace, I value this forum's experience and knowledge base. Perhaps giving myself 32 days to Santiago and then 6 days-7 days to walk and visit Muxia and Finnistere...does this sound about right? Your valuable input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance to all who respond!!
Thank you LesR. Your all caps were heard in the best of ways. You’ve given me valuable food for thought. I am self employed and run my own practice in the field of manual therapy, taking April and May off. I do need to factor in time to reconnect with family and the reality of starting a more routine life once I get back home. Your words as well as the other valued comments from other forum members have shed some excellent and new thoughts about this important time in my life. Reflection and visualization in full swing. ☺Depends on a number of factors....
32+6 could be a tolerable minimum for a reasonably fit person with no averse events along the way AND NO WISH TO STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES!
My humble view is work out how much time you can spare, subtract a week for contingencies and sight-seeing, and adjust your ground speed over the 900 km to fill the time available...
If your objective is simply to walk the 900km without regard to the social, religious, cultural, spiritual, historic and landscape context of the camino and you are fit, 32+6 is doable, but....
Opportunity missed on my view.
I always suggest padding the number of days to allow adjusting to a slower walk in the beginning. SJPDP to Santiago, I would recommend 35-45 days depending on how much of this type of activity you are used to. Walking long distances day after day is VERY different from an occasional weekend hike. Your fitness level and stamina is a big determining factor. Plus, we always suggest that you go at your own pace and savor the beauty you will encounter. Yes, people do it faster, but if you don't have to, we suggest that you allow for rest and enjoying the journey. The Camino Francés has many more places to stop with shorter distances between, so you will be able to tailor it for yourself. The Santiago-Muxia-Fisterre-Santiago doesn't have as many options. By then you will be in great shape, and will be in better shape to do this. Wishing you all the best, Buen Camino!Hello everyone
I am planning to buy my plane ticket from Canada to Paris (and then trains to get to St-Jean) and need to gauge number of days to allocate to walk to Santiago (allowing for 2-3 days rest) then from Santiago to Muxia-Finnestere-Santiago. Then travel back to Paris for return flight. Knowing this is fully subjective with regards to potential setbacks (blisters, sprain or strains) and pace, I value this forum's experience and knowledge base. Perhaps giving myself 32 days to Santiago and then 6 days-7 days to walk and visit Muxia and Finnistere...does this sound about right? Your valuable input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance to all who respond!!
We took a long time on our first camino Frances, but the second time we did it we took just on 30 days. So 32 sounds good to me - especially if you are used to long-distance walking. The Munia part is right too - but both Munia and Finistere are really pretty - though Finistere is quite touristy these days. You might want to spend an extra day in one of those two. Have fun.Hello everyone
I am planning to buy my plane ticket from Canada to Paris (and then trains to get to St-Jean) and need to gauge number of days to allocate to walk to Santiago (allowing for 2-3 days rest) then from Santiago to Muxia-Finnestere-Santiago. Then travel back to Paris for return flight. Knowing this is fully subjective with regards to potential setbacks (blisters, sprain or strains) and pace, I value this forum's experience and knowledge base. Perhaps giving myself 32 days to Santiago and then 6 days-7 days to walk and visit Muxia and Finnistere...does this sound about right? Your valuable input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance to all who respond!!
I will be 77 a few days in to my proposed CF from the end of September. I have allowed 43 days so an average of 18.5 Km per day. In my training I have yet to manage as much as that, but my traing schedule should get me to 22Km. As I have never before been fit it's very daunting, but with occasional pack forwarding I should make it. In any case it's a challenge I look forward to.It depends on lots of things, but particularly your fitness level. We met a lady in her late seventies from Kansas on the Francés. She told us that she had a 90 day visitor’s visa and her flight was booked for day 90. She was walking about 10k a day and that was as much as she could manage, but I’m sure she made it to Santiago.
My advice on getting physically prepared for the Camino would be this. You will need to get yourself to the point where you can walk more or less continuously for close to three hours, perhaps with a few short breaks for water or to catch your breath after climbing up a steep hill. To me this three-hour walk represents the morning portion of your walk on the Camino. While I was walking about three miles per hour on paved roads in Maine during my training (about 5 km per hour), my pace on the Camino was slower, more like 4 km per hour. Understand that on the Camino, in addition to carrying a 20-pound backpack, the terrain is sometimes steep and sometimes rocky. When walking the Camino, you stop a lot…you stop to take photos, to put on or take off rain gear, to reference your map, to relieve yourself, to talk with other pilgrims, to fill up your water bottle, to get out the chocolate bar for some instant energy, to take more photos.
The morning three-hour walk would cover about 12 km on the Camino, given the 4-km-per-hour pace. Walking two hours after lunch would add an additional 8 km for the day, so a 20-km day was what I began to plan for on the long journey I was about to begin.
Most of the Camino de Santiago guidebooks, including the foremost one, John Brierley’s A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Camino de Santiago: The Way of St. James, allow 33 days to complete the journey. Divide the total distance of 776.2 km by this number of days, and one would need to average 23.5 km per day. One leg, from Molinaseca to Villafranca, the Brierley guidebook puts at a grueling 30.6 km. No, I do not think I will follow the pace suggested by the guidebook. I am going to do a Slow Camino.
From "Slow Camino - My Adventure on the Camino de Santiago" by Terence Callery
Great advice Terry. Thank you.My advice on getting physically prepared for the Camino would be this. You will need to get yourself to the point where you can walk more or less continuously for close to three hours, perhaps with a few short breaks for water or to catch your breath after climbing up a steep hill. To me this three-hour walk represents the morning portion of your walk on the Camino. While I was walking about three miles per hour on paved roads in Maine during my training (about 5 km per hour), my pace on the Camino was slower, more like 4 km per hour. Understand that on the Camino, in addition to carrying a 20-pound backpack, the terrain is sometimes steep and sometimes rocky. When walking the Camino, you stop a lot…you stop to take photos, to put on or take off rain gear, to reference your map, to relieve yourself, to talk with other pilgrims, to fill up your water bottle, to get out the chocolate bar for some instant energy, to take more photos.
The morning three-hour walk would cover about 12 km on the Camino, given the 4-km-per-hour pace. Walking two hours after lunch would add an additional 8 km for the day, so a 20-km day was what I began to plan for on the long journey I was about to begin.
Most of the Camino de Santiago guidebooks, including the foremost one, John Brierley’s A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Camino de Santiago: The Way of St. James, allow 33 days to complete the journey. Divide the total distance of 776.2 km by this number of days, and one would need to average 23.5 km per day. One leg, from Molinaseca to Villafranca, the Brierley guidebook puts at a grueling 30.6 km. No, I do not think I will follow the pace suggested by the guidebook. I am going to do a Slow Camino.
From "Slow Camino - My Adventure on the Camino de Santiago" by Terence Callery
Up until a few weeks ago I had never heard of Iberia airlines.Having done this a couple of times:
I suggest the open jaw airplane ticket as more efficient. Fly into Paris and take the trains to SJPDP. From Santiago, fly, bus or train to Madrid, and fly home from Madrid.
2. I recommend 42 days total. That is two days on the front to get positioned, rested, and provisioned at SJPdP, two days AFTER Santiago on the back, and 38 days to complete the Camino and see Santiago.
The 38 days are based roughly around the 33 days in Mr. Brierley’s Guide. I would add one night to stay at Orisson the first night, shortly after leaving SJPdP. Once you do it you will understand why.
The remaining four (4) days are for a rest day (one each) at Burgos, Leon and maybe Astorga. This allows one extra day at Santiago. It means you would have to arrive the day after you arrive.
Personally, I would manage the 42 days to allow more time at Santiago and none at Madrid. For example, you can arrive by air at Paris, as discussed above. Afterwards you can fly from Santiago to Madrid and make a connection to your home country that day. That is how I am returning to Florida on 16 August.
I use Iberia, American Airlines, or a combination of both to ensure my connections at Madrid are in the same terminal. This saves a lot of time, drama, and stress.
Hope this helps.
Thank you t2andreo. I was reluctant to try then thinking they may be a substandard airline as their pricing is so much cheaper in certain flights.They are the national airline of Spain, and a One World codeshare partner with American Airlines, British Airways, and host of others. I found over decades of global travel that using codeshare relationships can result in more convenient connections and more flight combinations to more places.
I did it when I was 64 and took 28 days which seemed to be be very comfortable.I’ll be a few months shy of 64 and in good shape. Thanks for responding.
It most certainly does. Thanks so muchNope, they have been in business for many, many decades. They fly a mostly Airbus fleet.
I find Iberia planes well maintained. I also assess their cabin service and meal service as vastly superior to American flag carriers (American, Delta, United). Personally I have zero reservations flying on Iberia.
Hope this helps.
As many have said, it depends on a lot of things: fitness level, whether you come down with an injury requiring a few days rest, etc. When I (early 50s) walked with my son (15/16 - his birthday was on the Camino) we took 37 days to get from Roncesvalles to Santiago and another 4 to Finisterre. It would have taken us one more to Muxia. But we hadn't trained at all. We found that when we walked day after day for over 25 km, he got terrible blisters. When we kept it under 25 they stayed at bay.Hello everyone
I am planning to buy my plane ticket from Canada to Paris (and then trains to get to St-Jean) and need to gauge number of days to allocate to walk to Santiago (allowing for 2-3 days rest) then from Santiago to Muxia-Finnestere-Santiago. Then travel back to Paris for return flight. Knowing this is fully subjective with regards to potential setbacks (blisters, sprain or strains) and pace, I value this forum's experience and knowledge base. Perhaps giving myself 32 days to Santiago and then 6 days-7 days to walk and visit Muxia and Finnistere...does this sound about right? Your valuable input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance to all who respond!!
Very much agreeAll the comments are valid, but I'd like to add the recommendation that, if possible, you take longer to walk than you calculate. You may never get the opportunity to do this again and the area that you are going to walk through is rich in history, culture, food, and new friends. It's not just about the walk and how far you go per day, it's what you do with your other time - so make sure you have other time. Schedule more days of rest in interesting cities or areas. You will have regrets about not spending more time once you reflect after getting back home, so spend more time than you might if you were just walking. Buen Camino.
I walked from St JPdP in May / June 2016. I trained from Paris to Bordeaux, and then bused to ST JPdP. With two rest days it was 36 days to Santiago. Enjoyed Santiago for 2 or three days, then continued on to Finisterrre.Hello everyone
I am planning to buy my plane ticket from Canada to Paris (and then trains to get to St-Jean) and need to gauge number of days to allocate to walk to Santiago (allowing for 2-3 days rest) then from Santiago to Muxia-Finnestere-Santiago. Then travel back to Paris for return flight. Knowing this is fully subjective with regards to potential setbacks (blisters, sprain or strains) and pace, I value this forum's experience and knowledge base. Perhaps giving myself 32 days to Santiago and then 6 days-7 days to walk and visit Muxia and Finnistere...does this sound about right? Your valuable input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance to all who respond!!
Personally, after 7 Camino’s (4 Franes) I think you are cutting it tight. Yes, there are plenty of people who walk it in 32 days, but it doesn’t allow for issues that might arrive... blisters, tendonitious, weather or just wanting to walk with a Camino family. I always have taken between 38-40 days including rest days. I arrived in Santiago within a day (either side) of most people that I started with in SJPdP. So yes it’s possible but unless you’re used to walking 15+ miles a day, up and down hill, carrying a pack in any type of weather I would add a few days.I’ll be a few months shy of 64 and in good shape. Thanks for responding.
My wife and I were 67 when we walked in 2017. We took 41 days all up that included 2days in Burgos and 2 days in LeonHello everyone
I am planning to buy my plane ticket from Canada to Paris (and then trains to get to St-Jean) and need to gauge number of days to allocate to walk to Santiago (allowing for 2-3 days rest) then from Santiago to Muxia-Finnestere-Santiago. Then travel back to Paris for return flight. Knowing this is fully subjective with regards to potential setbacks (blisters, sprain or strains) and pace, I value this forum's experience and knowledge base. Perhaps giving myself 32 days to Santiago and then 6 days-7 days to walk and visit Muxia and Finnistere...does this sound about right? Your valuable input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance to all who respond!!
Thanks to all who have responded. I knew your experience and advice would help me in my decision and planning. With the time I am able to set aside, excluding travel time to and from, I can spend 46 days on the Camino.
Very grateful for your help! Merci, thank you, gracias
My husband and I (68 and 72, good condition but not athletic!) are starting the CF in September and have only booked our flight there. When we get a better picture of our pace, etc, we will plan our flight home. Burn CsminoOpen jaws flight?? Porto to home?
Sounds like a good plan. Buen Camino.My husband and I (68 and 72, good condition but not athletic!) are starting the CF in September and have only booked our flight there. When we get a better picture of our pace, etc, we will plan our flight home. Burn Csmino
I have given myself 45 days (49 including flight time from Australia).I am flying in and out of Barcelona. Any extra days will be spent sightseeing in Barcelona before I go home.Hello everyone
I am planning to buy my plane ticket from Canada to Paris (and then trains to get to St-Jean) and need to gauge number of days to allocate to walk to Santiago (allowing for 2-3 days rest) then from Santiago to Muxia-Finnestere-Santiago. Then travel back to Paris for return flight. Knowing this is fully subjective with regards to potential setbacks (blisters, sprain or strains) and pace, I value this forum's experience and knowledge base. Perhaps giving myself 32 days to Santiago and then 6 days-7 days to walk and visit Muxia and Finnistere...does this sound about right? Your valuable input is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance to all who respond!!
Very nice.I have given myself 45 days (49 including flight time from Australia).I am flying in and out of Barcelona. Any extra days will be spent sightseeing in Barcelona before I go home.
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