Primitivo or Frances?

[jarlath]

Hi
I am in the process of organising my first Camino. I will be travelling alone but want to meet lots of fellow pilgrims. I cannot decide whether to start at Sarria on the Camino Frances or Lugo on Camino Primitivo. Can anyone provide pros and cons for each route? Thankyou

 

[Gillean]

There will definitely be more people on the Camino Frances. Hard to predict which would be the better experience for you. If you were to walk from Lugo you could consider taking the variant route which forks left on the to join the Camino Frances at Palas de Rei rather than the more popular route which joins in Melide. That would give you almost an extra day on the Camino Frances. If you are interested in that option let me know and I will see if I can dig up some information on where exactly the branch is. Hope you have a great camino.

 

[jarlath]

There will definitely be more people on the Camino Frances. Hard to predict which would be the better experience for you. If you were to walk from Lugo you could consider taking the variant route which forks left on the to join the Camino Frances at Palas de Rei rather than the more popular route which joins in Melide. That would give you almost an extra day on the Camino Frances. If you are interested in that option let me know and I will see if I can dig up some information on where exactly the branch is. Hope you have a great camino.

Thanks Gillean. Palas de Rei sounds like a good option I will take a look at that thanks

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Frances if the social aspect is important to you. While the Primitivo is getting more popular, you would likely still walk alone all day only socialising after arriving to your daily destination.

 

[micamino73]

I walked the primitivo and found a great group of 7 people all solo walkers.. Any camino you do you will find people.

Sarria Is very commercial, if you have the time and want to meet people then start a little further say leon or oviedo, porto etc..

it takes a day or two to get to know people

 

[SYates]

... I will be travelling alone but want to meet lots of fellow pilgrims. ...

You answered your own question here, nothing beats the CF from Sarria for meeting lots of fellow pilgrims!
Buen Camino, SY

 

[Tia Valeria]

The best of both maybe?? Walk from Lugo on the Primitivo which joins with the Frances at Melide. You can also, by taking the road, walk from Ferreira to Palas de Rei, so having an extra day (?) on the Frances.