Please I need advice!

[Pamela Jimenez]

I waked El Camino Frances early May 2013, Great experience but I really want to go back, but this time I want to do Via De La Plata. Iam thinking in early May next year 2014 Is that a good month?

 

[Saint Mike II]

I waked El Camino Frances early May 2013, Great experience but I really want to go back, but this time I want to do Via De La Plata. Iam thinking in early May next year 2014 Is that a good month?

Hola Pamela - welcome to the forum!!
May is probably the best month to start the Silver Camino. It's usually not too hot; the Easter crowds have gone; most of the alberges are open and the Spring wild flowers paint a great canvas. The VdlP does have one drawback - it does have some long days/stages. Plan on an average of around 25 km each day. The most up-to-date guide books are available from Gerald Kelly (do an Amazon search - there reasonably inexpensive) or if you are starting in Sevilla then get a copy of the Amigos del Camino de Santiago guide to the VDLP - this one is aound E10-12, its spiral bound. Sorry its not available other than from the Amigos or Tirana Backpackers (occasionally). Alison Raju is in the process of completing her revised guidebook but there is not clear positive date for its publication. A search of these pages will also provide some good recent experiences.
If your schedule allows plan on a couple of rest days - say in Merida (to see the Roman ruins) and Salamanca - the great university city of Spain. In fact by Salamanca you will definitely be ready for a day off - its Stage 20 of the Amigos book - and just over 520 km from Sevilla - but I would not try to stick to their schedule - adjust to your own. For me their Amigos 37 stages does not allow for bad weather (to hot; too much rain etc).
Buen Camino

 

[Pamela Jimenez]

Thank you so much for the advice!!!

 

[camino-david]

I started on April 7 this year and it was busy, and as I am used to a warm climate I did not notice the heat. But many other peregrinos were complaining about the heat - about 25 to 30 degrees in the middle of the day in April. If you like warm weather, certainly start in May as the April rush by Europeans will be over. Its a beautiful Camino and very different to the Frances - less touristy

 

[jaws101]

We biked the VdlP at the end of May beginning of June this year. We expected heat in Seville and colder in the north, but we got the opposite. Overall the weather was perfect with only 20 minutes of rain in 17 riding days. The flowers in my avatar are a taster of the flowers you will see in Spring.

I would suggest that spring is the perfect time.

 

[piogaw]

Hello pamela,

The best time is at the beginning of may. As mentioned by saint mike as to all the plus points i do not need to repeat. I assume you speak spanish, this is even an extra advantage as many of the pueblos inhabitants do not speak much english.

I did the via de la plata this past february from sevilla. And obviously it is not the same as doing it in the spring time.

Anyway, good luck on your planning and buen camino. Que tengas un buen dia.

 

[ranthr]

I waked El Camino Frances early May 2013, Great experience but I really want to go back, but this time I want to do Via De La Plata. Iam thinking in early May next year 2014 Is that a good month?

May is a good month for Via de la Plata. It is not so hot. Be prepared for some water in the arroyos, if it has been raining you might have to wade some of them. When I walked there in May 2011, it was a bit busy with up to 50 people on the road. Perhaps it was a rush of people who stayed out of the holy year rush in 2010. Buen camino,

 

[piogaw]

Pam,

Just be very careful crossing the arroyos. If it rains, you might encountered many more temporary streams (???) as some of the paths will be inundated with water. Be very careful when crossing the arroyos (some of the water in the arroyos were as high as 3 feet while i was doing the vdlp in february). I fell down and hit my head on the large rock in one of them. No serious damage except my vanity.

Do not tried to attempt to cross on the large, large uneven rocks. They are very slippery and very easy to lost your balance. Take off your boot to cross the arroyos-water will be fast flowing and icy, the botton surface with the small pebbles will also be slippery. Use 2 walking poles or find some sturdy walking sticks for balance and support. You will not find many concrete block as in cf for crossing the streams.

Buen camino.

 

[Espero]

Take off your boot to cross the arroyos-water will be fast flowing and icy, the botton surface with the small pebbles will also be slippery.

Also, undo your backpack straps so it can be quickly removed if you go down.