Please help me decide which way to go!!!!

[Paulo Arantes]

Hi! I am a first time peregrino planning on doing a way of Santiago on May next year. First I was planning on doing the French way but I am kind of afraid of it being too crowded (I am looking for a more solitary experience). So I started to research and found that the Via de La Plata is a less crowded way and with many people saying it is the most beautiful, but I would not be able to make it on 5 weeks.
So, what do I do. Do I make the french way (may be it is not that crowded and is as beautiful) or do I walk the Via de La Plata shorter, like starting on Merida or start in Sevilla but some stages I do by car?!

Thank you.

 

[C clearly]

Hello Paulo, welcome to the forum.

May will certainly be busy on the Camino Frances, but it might be hot on the Via de la Plata (especially in the southern parts). There are other alternatives, especially if you prefer solitude, as shown on this site. Then search the forum for posts about any of the routes that interest you.

As you learn more about the alternatives, feel free to ask any specific questions that you have.

 

[SYates]

Ok, there is another difference between the two ways (actually several):

The VdlP can be, at least in its southern part, be already very hot in May.
There is far less flexibility on the VdlP when it comes to the length of stages compared to the CF. You have the cloice between very long 30+km and very short <20km stages.
As for having only 5 weeks, start wherever you want, there is no law that you have to start at a certain place to do a 'whole Camino', the only exception being that for qualifying for the Compostela you have to walk, amongst other conditions, at least the last 100km to Santiago.

Buen Camino, SY

 

[Mark Lee]

I think you'd enjoy the French Way very much and 5 weeks is a good amount of time to do it.
Sure, it can be a bit crowded in some spots, but every time I walked it I saw empty beds in albergues quite frequently. The overcrowding issue is often exaggerated on this forum.
Either way, I suppose there is no wrong choice.
cheers

 

[C clearly]

The overcrowding issue is often exaggerated on this forum.

Or maybe the overcrowding issue is very unpredictable and seems to go in waves. Some reliable forum members report crowding and some reliable forum members report that there were empty beds, even at the same time although not on exactly the same segment of the path. I expect that none of them were exaggerating. Either there is an empty bed or there isn't. The overall notion of "too crowded" is very subjective.

 

[Jacobus]

Cheers!

The Camino Del Norte is a little less crowded. It is a little longer but completely do-able in 35 days.

Jim

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I don't know about the first 700 km of the Frances, I was lucky to walk them in 2007 and 2012, but the last 100km on the Frances (May 2016) was mahem. Even 2013, Burgos to Leon was getting a bit loud en route, and you could most often see people ahead and behind you.

The Portuguese is also an option, and from Lisbon could be done in 5. Some guidebooks show it done in 30 stages. Taking a few days off, making some stages shorter, 5 weeks would work.

 

[JohnMcM]

........................
So, what do I do...............................

Thank you.

Hello Paulo Arantes,,,,,,,,,,How I envy your dilemma.

So, what do you do? May I please suggest one of the following.............
(A) Flip a coin
(B) Trust your own judgement
(C) Ask a friend
(D) Blindfold yourself and stick a pin in a list of choices
(E) Contemplate your navel

Whatever you decide,
Buen (best for you choice) Camino

 

[poogeyejr]

The Camino Del Norte is a little less crowded. It is a little longer but completely do-able in 35 days.

Jim

Jim is right! Also, I always take the opportunity to promote the Norte! (It is the only route I have done, but that is because I love it!)
The ocean views, the harbour villages, the hours of solitary walking (no other pilgrim in sight) and the companionship at the hostels!

So much joy!

 

[Mark Lee]

Or maybe the overcrowding issue is very unpredictable and seems to go in waves. Some reliable forum members report crowding and some reliable forum members report that there were empty beds, even at the same time although not on exactly the same segment of the path. I expect that none of them were exaggerating. Either there is an empty bed or there isn't. The overall notion of "too crowded" is very subjective.

Either way, certainly nothing to be afraid of, or cause of any concern. Carpe diem....
Why stress over any aspect of a holiday? Walk without fear.

 

[C clearly]

Either way, certainly nothing to be afraid of, or cause of any concern. Carpe diem....
Why stress over any aspect of a holiday? Walk without fear.

I completely agree. Each of us needs to find the right balance between micro-management and blissful ignorance!

 

[williamlittig]

Don't think of your journey being a "Trip of a lifetime" think of the experience of being part of your lifetime. Don't think you can find all answers before the first step. Go, go where your heart tells you and you will soon find any preconceived notions don't fit. Our experiences and stories will help you but the best advice I can share is GO!.......... Ultreya..... Willy/Utah/USA

 

[Marion-SantiagoInLove]

Billion likes to Willy

 

[rometimed]

Or maybe the overcrowding issue is very unpredictable and seems to go in waves. Some reliable forum members report crowding and some reliable forum members report that there were empty beds, even at the same time although not on exactly the same segment of the path. I expect that none of them were exaggerating. Either there is an empty bed or there isn't. The overall notion of "too crowded" is very subjective.

I walked in late may to late june in 2015 and only ever had accomodation issues in one town.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I would suggest taking the good, bad, and ugly on the Camino Frances for a first camino.

 

[debra]

Paulo

if you are looking for a solitary experience I would go with the Via de la Plata, as it has less people walking it but the number of allburges is more limited.
I walked the whole Plate and from Leon of the french in the summer of 2010. I found the Plata to be a better experience in thinking than the french.

Debra

 

[Paulo Arantes]

Wow!! Thank you ALL for the replies.
I decided to walk the French way this time since it is my first time and "Carpe Diem".
I'll have less concerns about the route and any difficulties I have, I'll look at them as opportunities to learn more about myself.
Again, thank you all.
I'll start my walk on April 13.
Buen Camino!!!

 

[See You Soon]

Walk the Ingles for your solitary time (takes a casual 4-5 days), then do a shorter portion of another route.

All good time in all things . . . . . .

 

[Antonius Vaessen]

Or maybe the overcrowding issue is very unpredictable and seems to go in waves. Some reliable forum members report crowding and some reliable forum members report that there were empty beds, even at the same time although not on exactly the same segment of the path. I expect that none of them were exaggerating. Either there is an empty bed or there isn't. The overall notion of "too crowded" is very subjective.

The mere fact that there are empty beds does not say much about the crowdedness on the CF. There are much more albergues along the CF. I did not walk the CF, but when after walking the Primitivo I reached Melide the crowdedness on the last stages of the CF came as quite a shock to me ( much more than I expected beforehand)

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Walk the Ingles for your solitary time (takes a casual 4-5 days), then do a shorter portion of another route.

All good time in all things . . . . . .

He walked back in April 2017, but it is still a good recommendations for his next camino. He has some photos posted for his walk.