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Mondays in Spain

Texas Walker

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Norte (2017-18)
Portugues (2015)
Frances (2014)
Hello, all. I am looking at walking the Via de la Plata next year and considering how the days fall if I leave during Easter week (the week after, not Semana Santa). I am concerned about facilities on Mondays, which are often days with many closed-up places. (Museums, Church visiting, and even in Larrabetzu on the Norte last year all the restaurants and bars in town closed from siesta time until Tuesday.)

It looks like I might be passing through the long stage from Carcaboso on a Monday. Does anyone know if Arco de Caparra has toilets that are accessible even if the visitor center (I am guessing there is a visitor center!) is closed? The map at Gronze has long, long stretches of nothing at all along there. It doesn't even look like there are gas stations.

I'd also welcome other thoughts especially about this area or Monday walking in general.

Thanks for your thoughts!
Texas Walker
 
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Hiya. I walked the VDLP just after Easter. I did not realise this is the busiest time on the Plata, I had a few instances of full albergues in the first week or two (luckily I was equipped for and like sleeping outside).

Cannot remember any problems with Mondays, to be honest I never knew what day it was!

At Caparra the toilets are in the visitors centre, if it is closed then the toilets are locked (I know because I freecamped there one night - security knew I was there). I think the visitors centre is open unless you pass there very early or late. Why not check online the opening times?

Hope that helps
Davey
 
Camino Inglés Walking Holiday - UK
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
It can be Tuesdays, too - twice I was surprised by that this year. But this kind of thing is unavoidable if you are walking less travelled caminos.
 
‘Long, long stretches of nothing’ and ‘absence of toilets’ also pretty much defines the VDLP. I was walking it the week after Easter and didn't have a lot of problems (beyond the normal Spanish Monday closings). The VDLP would be one walk that I would recommend planning and booking ahead. If you do get caught in a busy time, the next town is most likely not walkable (like the Frances). It's beautiful but very lonely in many legs.
 
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Living in Mexico, and also traveling through many Latin American countries the busiest time of the year for anything touristic is during the week before and the week of Easter, Semana Santa. Many people all get some of this time period off work and kids are off school, so families take vacations and people walk Caminos too.
 
The unemployment rate in Spain is high, so Spaniards look for cheap accomodations while they travel during the Easter holidays. They get Official Pilgrim Credencial (Pilgrims Passport) then park their cars a couple of kilometers from the albergues and get 6 euro per night accomodations or 12 euros per night in gites. I walked the Compostelle GR65 and the Norte plus Primitivo during the easter holidays plus what most people do, extend their holiday week end into a week long holiday. Don't do that unless you are prepared to sleep outdoors like I had to or to stay at hotels if you can find one in small towns or villages depending where you are at the end of your day. Make sure you carry enough food for at least 4 meals because just about everything is closed during any holiday and or from Saturday afternoon till Monday mid day. Again, you can only buy supplies when the opportunity presents itself given you don't always arrive at a village or town at the right time of day or during their closed hours.
 
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