Choosing between Primitivo and Sanabrés for my upcoming Camino trip

[Jan Jones]

I’ve just spent the last three months planning to walk the Salvador and then the Primitivo in May . Having read endless divergent discussions about the relative difficulties I have been fairly comfortable with doing this. I will use private room accommodation and so can plan shorter days etc. I walked the Norte in 2019 and loved it. I will be 70 this year and I am pretty fit with no joint issues. However, a couple of blogs I’ve read recently have challenged my confidence.
For me a beautiful walk is fairly solitary, woodland, countryside, birds, views etc . - doesn’t have to be in the mountains because I’ve been lucky to do that in other places in the past, but they are special.
I’ve been looking at the Sanabrés on Gronze and wondering if it might be a gentler alternative. For those who have done both any comments?

 

[camino07]

They are both wonderful Caminos, you can hopefully walk the other in a future year .
I would say Salvador/Primitivo is slightly more challenging and maybe do it first while you are younger.
I was 71 and managed well in 2019.
I walked the Sanabrese in 2022 after my VDLP with no problems at 75
I love both of these Caminos and hope to repeat them for the third time before I am 80.
Your confidence will appear the day you start

 

[André Walker]

I’m 59. Walked the Sanabres in 2018, Salvador + Primitivo (+ Invierno) in 2022.
I totally agree with the previous post by Camino07.

So that makes two. But the other way round seems doable too.

 

[Anna Sar]

Hi Jan, I ve'been wondering whether I should answer or not, but here I am. I walked both of them. Or even all three of them. Primitivo, San Salvador, and Sanabres.
In my personal difficulty scale, they are comparable. Every time I read opinions about a specific stage or camino here, on the forum, I get an impression that it is much more difficult than I find in reality. So it is better to search for the elevation profiles and required distances, and try to fit it to your capabilities.
As for the rest. All of them are fantastic and have some specific beautiful moments. Hospitales with wild horses on Primitivo for example. The main drawback of Primitivo are the last 3 days, when Frances connects with Primitivo and it is a real shock.

But for me, Sanabres wins.

You have everything there. Long, flat stretches with an infinite horizon, green mountains, flowers, animals, beautiful old towns, gorgeous little villages, some history. And you can easily feel part of the nature, of the experience. Either alone or with someone. There are no crowds, but just enough people to become friends. No problem with accommodation whatsoever. This was my 10th camino, or so, and I found it the best as an overall experience. You can look up my daily videos on YouTube, so that might give you the taste of what to expect. Whether that camino talks to you. I always choose the next one by my gut feeling. Buen Camino.
(Not sure if it allowed to put the link to YT here, but you can easily find it searching for my name on YT.)

 

[Antonius Vaessen]

I walked all three, it is difficult for me to compare. Intuitively I would go for the combination of the Salvador and the Primitive. My judgement is perhaps influencedby the fact that two times I had to break off my Camino Sanabres in A Hudson's. I walked the whole route but only in stages. I liked it.
Like Ana Dat said the last days of the Primitive are a shock. If I wereto do it again, I would catch a bus in Melide

 

[Antonius Vaessen]

A Hudson's is ofcause A Gudina

 

[André Walker]

I will be 70 this year.

This doesn’t mean you’re getting older. You’ll just be adding a year to your youth.

 

[Jan Jones]

Thanks everyone for such thoughtful replies. Just to add , if I do go with plan A ( San Salvador and Primitivo) I am planning to stop at Lugo bus to Santiago and then walk to Finisterre- I have 2 Compostelas and don’t want to walk that last busy stretch of the Francés again.

 

[Jan Jones]

They are both wonderful Caminos, you can hopefully walk the other in a future year .
I would say Salvador/Primitivo is slightly more challenging and maybe do it first while you are younger.
I was 71 and managed well in 2019.
I walked the Sanabrese in 2022 after my VDLP with no problems at 75
I love both of these Caminos and hope to repeat them for the third time before I am 80.
Your confidence will appear the day you start

Hello Camino 07 , I’m in Perth too.

 

[Richard-Huvo]

That’s exactly what I will be doing this year. Seville, Astorga, Leon, Orvieto and Santiago. I am 67 in pretty good shape. Made 750 km last year. Start on March 31st. Can’t wait. Buen Camino

 

[Jan Jones]

(Not sure if it allowed to put the link to YT here, but you can easily find it searching for my name on YT.)

Thank you Anna, I’m glad you chose to answer. I watched them all this evening- it does look lovely and like a very happy walk. I’m thinking perhaps I’ll stick with the original plan for 2023 and plan for an earlier start on the Sanabrés next year.

 

[Raithby]

I have walked the southern Sanabre...starting in Chaves Portugal as it was easy to get to from Porto. (there is a northern and southern route that connect before Ourense)Super quiet the first five days...didn't see another pilgrim. Beautiful route. Some accommodation challenges as there are no albergue along the whole route but other options are available. Merges with the Invierno for the last couple of days. I am doing the Invierno this coming spring. The Salvador/Primitivo is for 2024 and I like your idea of busing from at Lugo.

 

[camino07]

Hello Camino 07 , I’m in Perth too.

Come to our Camino chat in Freo on 29th.
PM me if you like

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Come to our Camino chat in Freo on 29th.
PM me if you like

If only! I so enjoyed the camaraderie when I just happened to be in Perth to coincide with a Freo meet-up. Don’t miss it @Jan Jones.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I like your idea of busing from at Lugo.

I had walked a large portion of the Norte before turning on to the Primitivo at Oviedo, so for me stopping in Lugo was perfect. We stayed an extra day, walking the lovely walls around the historical area, etc. I'd read that after Lugo the terrain became flatter, so we chose to bus on to Santiago for two days, then spent two days each in Muxia and Finesterre, walking between them. It was the perfect combination before heading home.