One week Camino March 2013

[marfaughey]

I hope to walk from Sarria to Santiago during Holy Week next year with two family members.I hope to return in later months and do a full Camino but ithis is a strat and a taster for my Son and Daughter to enjoy!

I know no one has a crystal ball but I have read very different accounts of the Camino during Holy Week. Easter Sat is March 30. Should we expect the route to be very busy, will the albergues be closed or opn; will cafes restaurants be easily available?

My other query is about a sleeping bag? According to the posts/topics I have read we will need to bring clothing for colder weather. any additional advice or previous posts on this would be really appreciated.

Regards to all and really enjoying the forum.

 

[tyrrek]

Hi Marfaughey, and welcome!

Yep, no crystal ball is the way to be thinking. I walked in Holy Week this year arriving in Santiago on Easter Sunday. Just be prepared for any weather - you may be fighting a bitter wind or fighting for the suncream!

Many albergues open at the start of Holy Week, so that should be OK. It will be fairly busy, but we had no significant problems finding accommodation on that stretch. As always the more flexible you are about where you stay the better.

No problem with cafes or food at all. It's Spain.

Take a sleeping bag, preferably one of the compact ones to limit size. Blankets are often but not always available in albergues.

Keep us posted and Buen Camino!

 

[Abbeydore]

We did two weeks this year, during Easter, basically I would never really have known it was Easter, getting to Santiago is probably quite a different matter. I would say you'll have no problem with food either, there will be cafes etc open just like this year. & yes I would always take a lightweight sleeping bag, others here disagree. However if you walk a long day & get very tired(& cold), you need to be warm @ night even if you shed some of it when you get too hot!
Hope you'll have a bit of time for Santiago

 

[viajero]

I walked in March a few years ago. I had a sleeping bag but a friend met me towards the end of the route (in Ponferada) and had only a sleeping sheet/liner. She was fine. All of the albergues had blankets. I think all/most of the albergues were opened and loads of places available to eat.

 

[marfaughey]

Hi everyone
Thanks so much for your posts this is a super forum for information. I have also posted queries on getting to Sarria in march not as simple or straightforward as I thought originally. There are no direct flights frorm Dublin to Santiago in March. Another post suggested Porto now I discover that there are no flights from Dublin to Porto in March either. Any advice on easiest way to get to Santiago for a start in Sarria in March 2013 would be much appreciated. It seems that a flight to Madrid & train to Santiago then bus to Sarria is best? With best wishes marie

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Some of the trains from Madrid toward Santiago go through Sarria! Check the details of the routing. For example:

MADRID-CHAMARTIN 22.30
AVILA 00.00 00.02
MEDINA DEL CAMPO 00.42 00.51
VALLADOLID-CAMPO GRANDE 01.20 01.22
VENTA DE BANOS 01.47 01.48
PALENCIA 01.56 01.58
LEON 02.59 03.09
VEGUELLINA 03.32 03.33
ASTORGA 03.43 03.44
BEMBIBRE 04.25 04.26
PONFERRADA 04.41 04.42
O BARCO DE VALDEORRAS 05.16 05.17
A RUA-PETIN 05.26 05.27
SAN CLODIO-QUIROGA 05.46 05.47
MONFORTE DE LEMOS 06.09 06.24
SARRIA 06.50 06.51
LUGO 07.18 07.20
GUITIRIZ 07.49 07.50
CURTIS 08.06 08.07
BETANZOS-INFESTA 08.31 08.32
BETANZOS-CIDADE 08.39 08.40
PONTEDEUME 08.57 08.58
FERROL 09.20