If you could walk anywhere in December...

[insightful-ear]

If you had three weeks to walk in December, which route would you pick and where would you start? Just curious

Me, I am considering starting the Mozarbe in Malaga ( a route I have never walked and south enough for warmer weather )

 

[OzAnnie]

Hi @insightful-ear
I haven’t got any input but wanted to wish you the best - spending some of December in spain.
Have you checked weather apps? Do you plan to spend Christmas in spain too?
Buen camino
Annie

 

[islandwalker]

If you had three weeks to walk in December, which route would you pick and where would you start? Just curious
Me, I am considering starting the Mozarbe in Malaga ( a route I have never walked and south enough for warmer weather )

Hi @insightful-ear,
We frequently walk in Spain during the winter. As you say, the Camino Mozarabe could be a great choice.

If you don't mind whether you are on a trail or a camino, other possibilities in southern Spain include:

• the GR 7 (especially nice in the Alpujarra on sunny winter days)
• the Coast-to-Coast walk (mostly sunny for us in Dec. & Jan.)
• the Genal Valley south of Ronda
• Wikiloc also shows thousands of trails in southern Spain

Here's a link to all the GR's (long-distance trails) in Spain. Click on any province in the red map and you will get an overview of the GR's in that province.

Almeria is Spain's driest province in December. Weatherspark is great for comparing historical weather data on temperatures and precipitation.

Wishing you a great walk, whatever you decide.

 

[surya8]

If you had three weeks to walk in December, which route would you pick and where would you start? Just curious

I walked the Portuguese between Lisbon and Porto in late Oct and the coastal from Porto to Santiago in Jan. The weather in Dec could be similar to Jan, maybe slightly milder. We had some warm days there in Jan, up to 14C, some rains as well but not so much. If you want to walk the Portuguese then it could be possible to do it in 3 weeks, it took me 10 days from Santarem to Porto and also 9 days Porto to Santiago on the Central route. Some albergues between Lisbon and Porto could be closed for winter but there are enough other options on the route. In Jan we met people who walked from Lisbon, so the route is a bit solitary there but gets busier after Porto. Bom Caminho!

 

[Isca-camigo]

When do you intend to start and finish in December, that part would would maybe sway my suggestion, some quieter routes won't have options to stay on the 23/24/25 December, the Mozarabe depending where you are on it might have that problem.

 

[peregrina2000]

The Mozárabe, Lana, Levante, or any other southern route will be even more deserted in January than during the rest of the year. Because the Mozárabe from Almería has association-run albergues for the entire Almería to Granada stretch, those may be open all year. Private hostales and pensiones may be open, but may not be, so if you are relying on them, I would have a good list and a telephone while walking.

You can contact the Almería Association directly to find out about their albergues in December. Their website lists three email addresses!
caminomozarabedealmeria@gmail.com
almeriajacobea@gmail.com
mozarabeacci@gmail.com

The association also has a guide, updated very frequently, linked on their website. http://www.almeriajacobea.es/ It’s really all you need to walk.

I haven’t walked from Málaga, but the route from Almería is great.

 

[Donna Sch]

Mozarabe onto the Torres onto the Portugues.

 

[efdoucette]

Not a Camino trail but the Rota Vicentina Fisherman's Trail in SW Portugal, outstanding.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Not a Camino trail but the Rota Vicentina Fisherman's Trail in SW Portugal, outstanding.

I walked the Fisherman'sTrail in mid April this year and it is a beautiful route. That said, it does not have a "Camino feel" to it, but is lovely.

 

[Roland49]

I would like to hike between Avignon and Nizza in the Provence / Côte d'Azure.
That's not quite a camino, but a historical and cultural very interesting hike.
It's 320km, perfect for a 14days trip. In December you got temps from 10-20°C.


Buen Camino!
Roland

 

[laineylainey]

Mozárabe.

 

[insightful-ear]

Thank you all for your ideas and insights. Whatever I choose I feel it will be an informed one. Muchas gracias

 

[Annalisa]

Not a Camino trail but the Rota Vicentina Fisherman's Trail in SW Portugal, outstanding.

Thank you for sharing this. I want to go