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With the increase will the Camino simply become another tourist attraction - not a pilgrimage of 1000 years ago. The sheer volume has to dilute the experience . Is there a road less traveled - for solitude and self reflection?The number of pilgrims in June 2016 was 3,155 more than last year, and 5,322 more than the Holy Year in 2010. If the two-day average for July holds, July will be about 5,000 more than last year and about 7,000 more than the Holy Year.
I suggest adjusting bed-finding strategies accordingly!
With the increase will the Camino simply become another tourist attraction - not a pilgrimage of 1000 years ago. The sheer volume has to dilute the experience . Is there a road less traveled - for solitude and self reflection?
Is there a road less traveled - for solitude and self reflection?
How does the Portuguese camino compare I wonder?
Since 2004 the number of pilgrims on the Camino Portugues has increased five fold. I am not sure the infrastructure has grown accordingly. It only has 1/4th the number of pilgrims as the Camino Frances, but 6,908 in June is over 200 per day, far exceeding the capacity of the albergues.How does the Portuguese camino compare I wonder?
200 per day?! So glad I wentin May as I do not want to imagine tne bed race.Since 2004 the number of pilgrims on the Camino Portugues has increased five fold. I am not sure the infrastructure has grown accordingly. It only has 1/4th the number of pilgrims as the Camino Frances, but 6,908 in June is over 200 per day, far exceeding the capacity of the albergues.
I'm going to have a look at The Via Francigena - next spring I hope. Less infrastructure = more solitude. I walked the C Frances in April for the first time. It was wonderful, but more crowded than I expected, lots of bicycles, I wondered what it would be like in July.
I should have clarified - I'm (hopefully) only walking from Miniato (near Florence) to Rome. 400kms. I've never been to Italy. The full Camino Frances this year was way long enough for me for a while and yes, I'm concerned about the costs in Italy. I'm getting a quote from Sloways which sounds good so far, and would stay Airbnb in Rome for a week. Stayed Airbnb in Madrid and Paris this year - I'm not impressed with their philosophy and impact on local economies, but I might try them one more time.Make sure you remortgage your house for the accommodation costta in France, Switzerland & Italy !
Thanks Mspath, Looks very nice and cheaper than the Airbnb apartment I'd found. I've just emailed them.Mike Trebert,
For affordable and very pleasant accommodation in Rome check out The Beehive.
Happy planning!
Thanks Mspath, Looks very nice and cheaper than the Airbnb apartment I'd found. I've just emailed them.
Mike
My wife and I stayed at the Beehive during New Years - great location and good prices for RomeMike Trebert,
For affordable and very pleasant accommodation in Rome check out The Beehive.
Happy planning!
I was on the Frances in May and June. Even after Sarria when the pilgrims walking just the last 100K arrived, there were still plenty of times when I was walking completely alone. Not a single other pilgrim in sight. There was more than enough time for solitude and reflection. Don't let the increase discourage you!With the increase will the Camino simply become another tourist attraction - not a pilgrimage of 1000 years ago. The sheer volume has to dilute the experience . Is there a road less traveled - for solitude and self reflection?
With the increase will the Camino simply become another tourist attraction - not a pilgrimage of 1000 years ago. The sheer volume has to dilute the experience . Is there a road less traveled - for solitude and self reflection?
Zamora is on the Via de la Plata, a very hot walk in July/August. We were in Zamora the last week in April, with a very full albergue. It is good information that there are so few folks in the summer, if someone is OK with high temps of 95F and wants to avoid the crowds, the Via de la Plata in the summer would be an option!I'm volunteering in Zamora right now, last night we had ... 3 pilgrims! Some pilgrims were walking for weeks, not meeting anyone else.
Only a 1.6% increase for the month of July, that seems like a smaller increase that would be expected.July 2016 edged out the previous record July 2015 by about 20 pilgrims per day, a monthly total of 734 to set a new record July of 45,483. The August record is still the 2010 Holy Year with 61,543 Compostelas issued. Last August was 54,796, over 9,000 more than the just completed July 2016. Plan accordingly.
Fraluchi hits the nail on the head - the key figure caminoheads look for is the overall growth rate - it has held steady at around 12% per annum in recent years. Will it slow down?
I'm in Astorga right now and ditto! But ssshhhhh, let's keep it that wayI just walked part of the Camino Frances from St Jean to Belorado (260k) 16th - 29th July and found it to be the most stress free experience of my life. Not overly busy, you can walk for hours without seeing a soul. No bed race, Albergue beds available in every town and village even on St James day, 25th July. No bedbug encounters. Public transport to and from airports was exceptional and simple to use. Amazingly friendly and helpful locals. A small selection of blisters and a handful of new friends for life. One piece of advice : invest in the best earplugs you can get, some of the snoring was incredible!
Overall, 10,212 more pilgrims walked the Camino Frances in 2015 than 2014, so there was still plenty of growth on it. Repeat pilgrims may be trying other routes to avoid crowding.so maybe there is a pilgrim movement from the Francés to other Caminos at least in summer.
Wise words S Yates...as usualActually, and by percentage of the overall population, 1000 years ago there were by far more pilgrims on the road than today ;-) Pilgrimage roads less traveled? Rome, Assisi, Jerusalem, Trier - plenty, but with less infrastructure also ... Buen Camino, SY
August 2016 will beat August 2015 by about 1,000 pilgrims, but it will not even come close to the Holy Year in 2010. Checking reservation availability in September for the major stops in the last 100 km, and most private accommodations are fully booked. Albergue drop-ins may be available, but it looks busy!
Maybe, unless the people avoiding August decide to walk in September and October!! Booking.com has no hotel vacancies in the last 100 km for most of September. That is not a good omen.the change might be a decline for this year as compared to last year ?
Maybe, unless the people avoiding August decide to walk in September and October!! Booking.com has no hotel vacancies in the last 100 km for most of September. That is not a good omen.
The issue with booking.com is that people book with it and then later cancel. Therefore places can appear to be booked out in the future ( ie September), but nearer to the date, the vacancy level jumps.
I am hoping!!the vacancy level jumps.
The last days of August have fallen short of the daily average, so 2016 is not likely to beat 2015.
So far.Year to date 2016 as compared to 2015 is still positive ?
Unless you are an existing operator or accommodation developer .Maybe, unless the people avoiding August decide to walk in September and October!! Booking.com has no hotel vacancies in the last 100 km for most of September. That is not a good omen.
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