Low Cost Camino Norte Please Help

[lt56ny]

I hope I can walk the Norte this September (it may be 2019 also but I am hoping) I have walked 3 other camino so I have experience. I try to stay in monasteries, donativos., and municipal albergues whenever possible. Whenever possible I will shop the night before to make sandwiches and have fruit and snacks for the day. I will usually have 3 or 4 coffees and some sweets for energy and because I like them too!!!! If their is not a communal dinner or people I meet that want (if the monasteries, donativos or albergues have kitchens) I will often eat there. But I will be 64 this time around and I know there will be more days I will just want to go to a restaurant for dinner. Every 7 to 10 days I will take a rest day and usually may sleep in a hostel. I hope this is not too long but is the cost about the same as the Frances? I have not walked this one in about 4 years. Last walk was from Lisbon. Any help will be appreciated. I usually walk on the early part of the camino 20-23k a day if I can. Later on after a few weeks I can take it up to 25-27 a day. Thats of course if there are places to sleep at about those points. I don't worry too much about the stages in the books. Been Camino to all and hope I can meet everyone as there are so many amazing perigrinos to share moments of joy with!

 

[Pong]

I walked the first half of the Norte last April with a friend I met on the Frances the year before that. We stayed in some albergues, but often in pensions as the cost of sharing a room was about the same or only a bit more than two bunks in an albergue. Therefore, I can't really comment accurately about costs for lodging. As for food...it was fabulous and we ate very well for the price paid. We never ate pilgrim meals but rather chose from the Menu del Dia or when possible, we feasted on Pinxos. Especially in the early part of the trip we were able to fill up on Pinxos with a glass of wine for no more than 10 euro each on many nights. Pinxos in small bars with locals of all ages from babies to grandparents - wow, what a wonderful experience. We did that whenever possible. Norte=GREAT FOOD and friendly people. I hope you can do it.

 

[Kanga]

My impression is that some things are slightly more expensive than the Camino Francés, especially at the beginning. I think that is because it is a tourist area and it seemed to get cheaper the further along we went (perhaps further from France?) Some things were better value; for example we usually got a free house tapas when we paid for a drink, and a free biscuit or sweet with coffee. That no longer seems to happen in restaurants or cafes popular with pilgrims on the Francés.

We also found that the very cheap "pilgrim menu" served early in the evening was few and far between but the menu del dia served about 2pm was usually delicious, with much better food.

 

[DeansFamily]

We are planning on an April Norte if things go to plan. You bring up some really important ideas about preparation for lunch and snacks, and access to cooking facilities for an evening meal, as we get really hungry after a long day of walking (others couldn't believe how much food we could eat at night). Also, as you are talking about relative costs along the Norte, as there are 3 of us does anyone know what the comparison price wise is between Albuquerque and pensions. Buen Camino for September

 

[DragonShadow]

We are planning on an April Norte if things go to plan. You bring up some really important ideas about preparation for lunch and snacks, and access to cooking facilities for an evening meal, as we get really hungry after a long day of walking (others couldn't believe how much food we could eat at night). Also, as you are talking about relative costs along the Norte, as there are 3 of us does anyone know what the comparison price wise is between Albuquerque and pensions. Buen Camino for September

I walked the Norte with two friends in 2016. We found that often we could get a pension, hotel room, or even a small apartment for about the same price as three bunks in an albergue. Booking.com was a big help. We walked in Sep/Oct therefore we were not competing with tourist.

 

[Northern Laurie]

I walked the Norte last year and stayed at albergues for about 75% if the time. There are different systems in each province so I found a lot of variability in cost and services along the way.

In Basque region, many of the donativos were temporary facilities in schools and other community buildings empty in the summer. I was there in August, so I don’t know when they close But likely the very end of August. This was not the case in Cantabria, Asturias, and Galicia where there were far more purpose built albergues but fewer donativos. Cost ranged from €5 to €10 depending on if it was private or public.

I had a daily budget of €30 a day for all expenses and was fine. Could have done it with less if needed.

Menu del dia were generally around $10euro.

 

[Peakseeker]

hey Laurie, this is very settling to read, as I've been quite worried about expenses on the Norte. I'm hoping to get by on 20-30 euros a day, which most people would say is incredibly unrealistic but I am the type of person who can be content with a can of grocery store beans for dinner.
I'm vegetarian so I'm questioning how often I'll even be able to eat the albergue meals.
Thanks for your post, peace

 

[Northern Laurie]

hey Laurie, this is very settling to read, as I've been quite worried about expenses on the Norte. I'm hoping to get by on 20-30 euros a day, which most people would say is incredibly unrealistic but I am the type of person who can be content with a can of grocery store beans for dinner.
I'm vegetarian so I'm questioning how often I'll even be able to eat the albergue meals.
Thanks for your post, peace

I should warn you that not many albergues I stayed at included meals. Others may have had a different experience. The albergues that did have meals almost always had a vegetarian option: vegetarian options in restaurants were more challenging but still doable.

The biggest challenge I had was findIng food when I wanted it-I was never in sync with the world around me. I did often buy lunchables the night before in a grocery store when possible