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Mid Sept?

sebastienbrideau

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Frances (2021)
I read the thread "a tale of two caminos". My understanding is that Saint Jean in September is busy. I've gathered that this might just be for the first couple of weeks of September? People who did it in late September 2023, how crowded was it?
Also, I'm curious, why would the first 2 weeks of September be so busy?
 
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I read the thread "a tale of two caminos". My understanding is that Saint Jean in September is busy. I've gathered that this might just be for the first couple of weeks of September? People who did it in late September 2023, how crowded was it?
Also, I'm curious, why would the first 2 weeks of September be so busy?
My opinion, but everyone thinks that the summer holidays are done and mistakenly thinks Sept won't be busy. Kids are back in school, etc. In the US, it is when many retirees visit National Parks as they are less busy in the shoulder season.

Although it can be hot in Spain in September, it gets progressively cooler and that is also a relief. July and August are generally very hot.
 
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I started in SJPDP on Sept 27th 2023. In general it didnt seem too busy other tahn a few days here and there for whatever reason the trail seemed busier. No problem finding a place to sleep at any time. It seemed to get quieter as I walked west.
 
Also, I'm curious, why would the first 2 weeks of September be so busy?
As @J Willhaus says - school and university vacations are largely over and the grown-ups are free to amuse themselves. And the most intense heat and sun of summer are past (in theory anyway). When I walked my first Camino the busiest month was July and under-25s were the largest demographic. As the average age of pilgrims has increased the peak seasons have shifted to May and September. Not sure what that correlation signifies but it is very noticeable! :cool:
 
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I left SJPP on Sep 13; our gite host there said 500 a day were leaving SJPP (the town does not have that many beds, they had to open the fire hall), and everyone was fully booked through the end of the month.
You prompted me to look back at a post I made here on 20 September 2016. The train from Bayonne to SJPDP was so overcrowded that day that 15 of us were taken off before departure and sent by taxi at SNCF's expense. I was told the following morning that every albergue bed in SJPDP and most hotel rooms were full that night.
 
I read the thread "a tale of two caminos". My understanding is that Saint Jean in September is busy. I've gathered that this might just be for the first couple of weeks of September? People who did it in late September 2023, how crowded was it?
Also, I'm curious, why would the first 2 weeks of September be so busy?
There is no ideal time. Don't find excuses to not go.
 
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I left SJPP on Sep 13; our gite host there said 500 a day were leaving SJPP (the town does not have that many beds, they had to open the fire hall), and everyone was fully booked through the end of the month.
We left the same day in 2023! While the town was booked solid I expected a drove of pilgrims setting out in the morning but that was not the case at all. Helpful to remember the days get shorter. It was a bit surprising to start at 8am in the dark.
 
I read the thread "a tale of two caminos". My understanding is that Saint Jean in September is busy. I've gathered that this might just be for the first couple of weeks of September? People who did it in late September 2023, how crowded was it?
Also, I'm curious, why would the first 2 weeks of September be so busy?
I started from SJPDP on September 1, 2023 and it was not too crowded, The weather was warm for the first half of September on my Camino but got chilly going into October. If you start in mid-September bring some warm clothes.
 
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Arriving in SJPdP on Sept 2, 2013 after our train in Bayonne was delayed having to add an extra car for the overcrowding of pilgrims. SJPdP at 20:00 hrs appeared full so the Pilgrims office found beds for us who needed one. Mine was in an attic of an albergue that was completo. I shared the space with an Irishman. (Separate beds of course) 😉Funny thing is, it didn’t seem weird or scary, it was just the way of the Camino and what a great start it dealt me. It was my first Camino, I was as green as they come, on a budget, no cell phone. I recall somewhat of a race for a bed but somehow by the magic that is Camino, I always got one. Perhaps the last one in the albergue, but a bed nonetheless. The weather was a nice mix. Warm days turned into cool evenings and chilly mornings as we headed west. Not much rain. The time of my life!! 😎👣🌻 Buen Camino!

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