Ana Guanabaa
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- considering (2018)
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
I believe you can make reservations 100 km out. Also, check out booking.com. We are faux pilgrims. We pay a little more and stay in some really nice hostels. For me, I have to be able to sleep, and this is not always possible in an albergue. However, I realize we miss becoming part of the Camino family by doing so.Hello
I am strongly considering walking the last 100 km of the Camino to Santiago de Compostela with my 7 year old at the end of July (unfortunate timing perhaps, but can't be helped). He is a good walker, hiker, and backpacker, and we both feel excited about the adventure.
I've bee reading about the different caminos, and while they all sound appealing in their own way, I am tempted to go with the camino frances from Sarria. Not the one I would choose if doing it on my own or with other adults perhaps, but it seems the one where we would most easily find a place to stay if we walk fewer kilometers than planned, or under other unexpected circumstances.
I would welcome hearing any insights from seasoned walkers though. If any of you have done this with children, or have interesting and relevant information about the different caminos (or other caminos), please share
Thank you!
I think you can't go wrong with the CF. If you are ok with staying in private accomodations, you wont have to compete or rush with other pilgrims, and meeting people on the route can be interesting for the kid.
Go for it, and if you enjoy, return some other time for more adventure
If you DO mind lots of people, though, maybe the Portuguese route from Tui can be a nice option. It is a bit harder than the last 100km of the CF though, with less options of accomodation, but not that much less.
EDIT: yes, it will probably be very, VERY hot. Remember to drink lots of water and refill your botle on the plenty of water fountains you find on the way.
edit 2: asking because of your name: do you and your son speak Portuguese or Spanish? That may help decide as well, as it can enhance the interaction with people along the way.
I believe you can make reservations 100 km out
Thanks for that Walking Lover!
I believe you can make reservations 100 km out. Also, check out booking.com. We are faux pilgrims.
In the Portuguese route, I believe the longest distance between two albergues is around 12km, before Ponte de Lima. Besides that, there was always an albergue or at least some sort of simple accomodation within a 5-10km range. if you don't mind staying in inns and pensions as well, even shorter.
In the Frances there are more options, and I can't remember any looong stretches without albergues. If you ever have to taxi, it will be for very short distances.
One of the advantages of this route is that it is generally shady, and the end of July is likely to be hot, hot, hot.
While I agree, a road stretch on the route from Tui is one of only two times I have feared for my life on a Camino. I was in the extreme vigilance mode of walking, stepping as far as I could from the road, stopping, and turning my pack away from traffic until it passed. It was only for a few minutes, but it was very tense.But I love both. Maybe you can do some research on the main cities along the way and see if there is something that catches your heart?
Thank you so much Aurigny. I only saw this today, so apologies for not responding sooner, it was kind of you to share that. And I'm so happy for your experience with your daughter.When my little girl was nine, we did SJPP to Los Arcos (135 km) in eight days. She loved it. Never turned a hair.
But given my druthers, if I were to do a c. 100 km leg with her again, I'd start at Valença and head north from there. One could stage it as follows:-
1. Valença-O Porrino (16 km)
2. Porrino-Redondela (15 km)
3. Redondela-south Pontevedra (18 km)
4. South Pontevedra-Briallos (18 km)
5. Briallos-Valga (15 km)
6. Valga-A Esclavitude (16 km)
7. Esclavitude-SdC (18 km)
Along that entire route, the longest section that doesn't have an albergue is Tui-Porrino, at about 13 km. Everywhere else has at least one within 10 km, and usually less than that. It's also quite flat, tranquil and, in my view, a lot more attractive (the part around Porrino aside) than the Sarria-SdC route, the second half of which I walked last month and which I found to be a graffiti-and-litter-bestrewn mess.
Thanks for all your insights Anamya, I think I'm most captured by the Portuguese way (for the first go at leastYup, Tui is 102km from Santiago and qualifies you for a Compostela
I'm a big fan of the Portuguese Camino, but even I have to admit that for only the last 100km, the Camino Frances is super cute. I kinda remember more things to see on the lask 100km of CF than CP, to be honest.
But I love both. Maybe you can do some research on the main cities along the way and see if there is something that catches your heart?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?