New to the Camino! Questions...

[loridovi]

Hi Fellow Travelers,

I want to walk the Camino or part of it in April/May. I am solo. What trails are the easiest, fewer people, rural and will have the best weather?! I have 2 weeks. I walk in The Aude of France so Im not a complete newbie to hiking, but I have decided to only walk 11km a day and enjoy my time, not in any rush with a destination.

I am thinking of Santiago to Fisterra/Muxia AND OR Vigo to Santiago...


Any insights greatly appreciated,
Lori

 

[Antonius Vaessen]

It would ( in general) be easier to answer questions if the poster would tell more about herself and her preferences regarding for instance landscape; weather, rural or urban and so on

 

[HeidiL]

Is it important for you to get to Santiago de Compostela, or do you just want to walk? Do you speak Spanish? How far would you like to walk every day? Would you like to sleep in cheap albergues, or go from hotel to hotel?

In general, I recommend the last stretch of Camino Francés, from Sarría to Santiago, for first time walkers. There are plenty of accommodation options, services in English, lots of pilgrims to make friends with, and it's fairly flat. It is also long enough for you to get the Compostela (piece of paper that grants you absolution), if that is of interest.

 

[Walkalong]

Hi Lori:

Welcome to the forum. I'd suggest starting with why you are walking, and then start as far away from Santiago as possible.

The first 5-6 days of the Portuguese Coastal are quite flat, and there are no significant hills on the remaining 5-6 days. I think the spiritual variant has a good hill.

El Camino Mozárabe should have reliably clear weather, as will the VLDP. I've not walked the, yet, but it looks like most of the elevation gains from Seville and from Almeria are fairly gradual.

Weatherspark enables comparing weather (climate) in various locations.

Hope this helps.

Buen Camino

 

[Vacajoe]

The more specific your questions and more thorough your limitations (time, money, physical ability), the more likely the fine folks of this fantastic forum will be able to help you.

 

[MARSKA]

Welcome Lori! How many days do you have available to walk?
Buen Camino!

 

[loridovi]

It would ( in general) be easier to answer questions if the poster would tell more about herself and her preferences regarding for instance landscape; weather, rural or urban and so on

Thank you Antonius,

I am looking for a route that has less rainfall less people, is more rural and more easy. I am thinking of the route from Santiago to Fisterra and Muxia AND/OR Vigo to Santiago. I have 2 weeks.

Your insights greatly appreciated,
Lori

 

[loridovi]

Hi Lori:

Welcome to the forum. I'd suggest starting with why you are walking, and then start as far away from Santiago as possible.

The first 5-6 days of the Portuguese Coastal are quite flat, and there are no significant hills on the remaining 5-6 days. I think the spiritual variant has a good hill.

El Camino Mozárabe should have reliably clear weather, as will the VLDP. I've not walked the, yet, but it looks like most of the elevation gains from Seville and from Almeria are fairly gradual.

Weatherspark enables comparing weather (climate) in various locations.

Hope this helps.

Buen Camino

Thank you for this idea. I walk for quietness of nature and contemplation. I was thinking the Portugal Coastal but it seems more paved from what Ive read or part of it anyways. Have you done Vigo to Santiago? Or Santiago to Fisterra/Muxia?

 

[Antonius Vaessen]

Perhaps the combination Camino Ingles with finistere muxia is an option. Both would take about a week (I did not walk the ingles the walk to Finistere and Muxia is very nice)

 

[Pafayac]

If you want short steps, Vigo to Fisterra/Muxia via Santiago seems the best idea. I did not yet walk on the Portugues but you will have the opportunity to visit Iria Flavia (now known as Padrón) which is famous for 2 reasons:
- this is the location were the boat with the body of Santiago would have landed...
- the marvellous pimientos !
After that my advice is to begin by Muxia and to end your journey at the end of the land, the lighthouse of Fisterra. It is magic, especially if you eat some zamburiñas there !

 

[HeidiL]

I am looking for a route that has less rainfall less people, is more rural and more easy. I am thinking of the route from Santiago to Fisterra and Muxia AND/OR Vigo to Santiago. I have 2 weeks.

Camino de Madrid to Sahagun! Lovely terrain, less rain that Galicia, nice albergues, very few pilgrims.

 

[David Tallan]

Hi Fellow Travelers,

I want to walk the Camino or part of it in April/May. I am solo. What trails are the easiest, fewer people, rural and will have the best weather?! I have 2 weeks. I walk in The Aude of France so Im not a complete newbie to hiking, but I have decided to only walk 11km a day and enjoy my time, not in any rush with a destination.

I am thinking of Santiago to Fisterra/Muxia AND OR Vigo to Santiago...


Any insights greatly appreciated,
Lori

The challenge is that some of your criteria work against each other. You've decided to only walk 11km/day and you want a route with fewer people. In general, there is more infrastructure and more choices of where to stop each day when there are more people. The routes with the fewest people have the fewest options for places to stop and stay the night. Or you want the least rainfall, but both of the places you are thinking of are in Galicia (where Santiago de Compostela is), which is the rainiest part of Spain. My Fair Lady notwithstanding, the rain in Spain doesn't fall mainly in the plains, it falls mainly in Galicia.

So, a few questions:
Which criteria are most important? For example, Heidi's suggestion above works well - for some criteria. In general, there is less rainfall. Certainly there are fewer people. If you start in Segovia instead of Madrid, it is quite flat. It is said to have the least road walking (I haven't walked all the routes to say for sure). But you aren't going to find albergues every 11km.

How important is it to get to Santiago and/or receive a Compostela on this trip? If it is important, it will remove all of the options that don't centre on Galicia.

Another option you could consider is the route from Ourense. I haven't walked it myself, but I've heard very good things about it.