numbers on the Frances

[jpflavin1]

I have a friend starting their first Camino in a few days. I was wondering how the numbers of Pilgrims are on that route. Numbers starting in SJPdP?

 

[Pelegrin]

I visited Sarria, Portomarin and Vega de Valcarce last week and I saw many pilgrims in every place. A friend of mine from La Rioja told me yesterday that the situation is similar there.

 

[AnneO]

I am currently in Najera. It hasn’t been crowded while walking each day but almost every place I have stayed has been full (I am staying in private rooms). But I have heard of others who stayed in albergues that were largely empty. I haven’t heard of anyone have any difficulty finding a place to stay, maybe not getting their first choice but still finding beds in the city where they want to be.

 

[buridan]

I walked through sarria today.. there were a few about on rest days, on walking out i was alone and eventually passed by 4. I have pic after pic of no pilgrims, and mostly from astorga i have been alone with an occasional cowalker and passer. Popular albergues get full asnpeople trickle in.. but it is rare to find completo until late.

 

[Gringazolana]

I was in Pamplona 2 days ago and Sarria yesterday, and all the albergues I walked by had “completo” signs out. I have reserved in advance, and that’s what I recommend. Buen camino!

 

[CWBuff]

@Gringazolana
You are now officially my role model in speed walking!

 

[NorthernLight]

On any given day, things could be vastly different. You cannot know where the bubbles are at any given time, although avoiding the popular starting locations (SJPDP, Pamplona, Burgos, Leon, Sarria) on weekends seems like a good strategy.

Yesterday, 682 pilgrims registered at the Santiago pilgrim office by 5pm.
Today, 1,831 registered.
Tomorrow should be busier if the Sarria starters start arriving.

Edited as I was in error. Since 1886 registered yesterday, it’s clearly just as busy as today.

 

[Bradypus]

Yesterday, 692 pilgrims registered at the Santiago pilgrim office.
Today, 1,831 registered.

According to the pilgrim office website 1,886 people were registered yesterday. Where does your 692 figure come from?

 

[NorthernLight]

According to the pilgrim office website 1,886 people were registered yesterday. Where does your 692 figure come from?

Oops, it comes from a screen shot I took at 4:52 pm.

I will edit my post. Thanks.

 

[Pafayac]

I was in Pamplona 2 days ago and Sarria yesterday,

You are walking very quickly !

 

[Lindsay53]

I spoke to some Pilgrims in Santiago this morning who had just arrived via the Frances. They had pre booked and been OK but said they had heard varying stories about accommodation shortages. Some doing OK, and some were missing out.

 

[alexwalker]

I spoke to some Pilgrims in Santiago this morning who had just arrived via the Frances. They had pre booked and been OK but said they had heard varying stories about accommodation shortages. Some doing OK, and some were missing out.

Here is a plausible explanation for the rumors of overpopulation on the CF:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/which-route-to-choose-in-terms-of-asphalt-roads.80925/post-1143203

According to pilgrims stats from the Pilgrim Office, there are 100s less coming to SdC these last days, than when I worked as a volunteer in the Office in June 2019. The CF is IMHO not "full" these days. Last 2-3 days some 1800-1900 arrived. I had days with 1900-2500/day... And nobody complained about the lack of beds back then. Some people need to get more street smart... Some firsttimers who do not know the works are creating unneccesary panic, IMHO.

 

[Gringazolana]

@Gringazolana
You are now officially my role model in speed walking!

Lololol I was visiting my nephew in Pamplona. Started from Sarria today. I am the world’s SLOWEST walker!! But thanks for making my day

 

[Rita Flower]

I was in Pamplona 2 days ago and Sarria yesterday, and all the albergues I walked by had “completo” signs out. I have reserved in advance, and that’s what I recommend. Buen camino!

A note - there are private albergues that are not just for pilgrims, where you can book in advance and they get full. However that is not always true of Municipal Alberques where you can’t book ahead - many have shared that they are not always full.

 

[alexwalker]

A note - there are private albergues that are not just for pilgrims, where you can book in advance and they get full. However that is not always true of Municipal Alberques where you can’t book ahead - many have shared that they are not always full.

Too many know too little...

 

[NorthernLight]

As private albergues are frequently on Bookingdotcom, they are as likely to be filled with holiday-makers, tourists and other travellers. We cannot assume the albergues are full of pilgrims or camino walkers.

But all those folks are extra competition for the cheaper beds.

 

[David Tallan]

As private albergues are frequently on Bookingdotcom, they are as likely to be filled with holiday-makers, tourists and other travellers. We cannot assume the albergues are full of pilgrims or camino walkers.

But all those folks are extra competition for the cheaper beds.

That would depend on the private albergue. Some are "pilgrim-only".

 

[Geoff Shepherd]

You are walking very quickly !

The speed of Taxi!!!

 

[Peregrinopaul]

I’ve just come over the Route Napoleon and am staying in Espinal. Not many pilgrims here.

 

[NorthernLight]

That would depend on the private albergue. Some are "pilgrim-only".

True, some are, but not as many as one might think. On gronze, so many of them say they are oriented to pilgrims but not exclusive to them. And if they allow booking via B.com, there’s no gate keeper to filter out non-pilgrims.

 

[David Tallan]

True, some are, but not as many as one might think. On gronze, so many of them say they are oriented to pilgrims but not exclusive to them. And if they allow booking via B.com, there’s no gate keeper to filter out non-pilgrims.

Sure, a number are not. But I wouldn't tar them all with the same brush. I would hold Casa da Fernanda and Casa Susi up against any municipal, organizational, or parochial albergue. I don't think you will find them filled with holiday-makers and tourists.

 

[NorthernLight]

Sure, a number are not. But I wouldn't tar them all with the same brush. I would hold Casa da Fernanda and Casa Susi up against any municipal, organizational, or parochial albergue. I don't think you will find them filled with holiday-makers and tourists.

Whose lumping them all together? Not I. Of course there are still some pilgrim-exclusive albergues. I am simply pointing out one of the current realities facing pilgrims who seek albergue beds is that there is competition in many of the albergues with non-pilgrims.

Even municipals may not be all exclusive to pilgrims any more; Undúes de Lerda’s muni, for example, is not exclusive and I shared my 4 bed dorm with 3 non-pilgrims.

 

[goebel.travels]

I checked in to Roncesvalles Friday night (May 26) at 19:30 and there were 21 beds remaining between the main (?) place and a second building. But it was the start of a weekend, so perhaps numbers were that much higher, as has been explained in other posts.

Saturday night May 27 in Larrasoaña I would have sworn a guy I was walking with was not going find a bed at Casa San Nicolas (where I stayed with a reservation) but there were at least 2 additional beds available (room of 4 beds I was in) when we checked in at 19:00. Capacity 40 and I saw 16 at dinner.

I’m in Pamplona at Casa Ibarrola but that is easy to fill up (20 beds). I didn’t see a Completo sign earlier (around 15:00) at Plaza Catedral (capacity 38), and nearby Jesus y Maria (capacity 112) was also still admitting people.

Perhaps the above helps someone. As a sampling.

 

[OliviaandD]

I had a similar concern about availability of rooms on Camino Frances due to threads shortly after May 1. We (2) were able to walk into Estella yesterday and Los Arcos today without reservations. We found options of beds in the first albergues in both towns, today at 3:30. Hopefully that helps alleviate some concerns. Buen Camino!