- Time of past OR future Camino
- September, 2023; walking 13 days total.
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Hi, my husband and I are planning to walk the El Camino in May or September of 2021. It will be our first time and we also plan to visit Fatima and Porto in Portugal and after seeing Santiago, visiting Grenada and Valencia (we've only been to Sevilla and Barcelona and never Portugal). We really can't be gone more than 2.5 weeks and want to end the walk in Santiago. I've been told if we can only do 5 days and we want do to a pilgrimage ending in Santiago to get our Compostela, most people start in either Tui (on the Portugués) or in Sarria (following the Francés). I've heard these are both flat and not as picturesque as other routes (we love the mountains) but popular routes. I'm trying to decide so I can get the right guide books and start studying. I'm wondering if we are missing out on the best parts of the walk and should just settle for attending mass in the Cathedral and choosing a different more picturesque route, or if starting at either of these locations and ending in Santiago is the way to go? I'm new to this forum so also posting this in the Camino Portugués which may not be necessary but I don't know who will see this post!
Hi, my husband and I are planning to walk the El Camino in May or September of 2021. It will be our first time and we also plan to visit Fatima and Porto in Portugal and after seeing Santiago, visiting Grenada and Valencia (we've only been to Sevilla and Barcelona and never Portugal). We really can't be gone more than 2.5 weeks and want to end the walk in Santiago. I've been told if we can only do 5 days and we want do to a pilgrimage ending in Santiago to get our Compostela, most people start in either Tui (on the Portugués) or in Sarria (following the Francés). I've heard these are both flat and not as picturesque as other routes (we love the mountains) but popular routes. I'm trying to decide so I can get the right guide books and start studying. I'm wondering if we are missing out on the best parts of the walk and should just settle for attending mass in the Cathedral and choosing a different more picturesque route, or if starting at either of these locations and ending in Santiago is the way to go? I'm new to this forum so also posting this in the Camino Portugués which may not be necessary but I don't know who will see this post!
Oh my goodness, thank you so much!! That's very helpful!! I did not know that about how often to get stamped and those are great ideas for how to collect my thoughts and intentions! I so appreciate your help!Hello, robindysard , and a warm welcome to the Forum.
Here is a link which also may be of help as you begin: American Pilgrims on Camino's FAQs about a camino pilgrimage
The good news is, you are in a forum with a wonderful group of people. Most are here to help people like you to achieve their pilgrimage goals. We can offer you encouragement, knowledge, and point you in the direction that will help you help yourself.
My suggestion to start is this:
- Take a deep breath. Write down in large letters the reasons why you want to go on Camino. Place that piece of paper where you can see it every day. That way, if anxieties and fears threaten to overwhelm you as you plan, you can just breath, read what you have written, and focus on those reasons until the negative stuff fades.
- Make a list of questions and concerns that you have.
- Go to the Search Engine at the top of the Forum pages.
- Enter the words or phrase that you want more information about. You will get a huge amount of information to explore.
- If you find that you need help with anything, post a new thread so that your question or concern can be readily seen. If you post a question within someone else's thread, you won't receive as big of a response.
- Remember that perfect timing as it relates to how you feel, scheduling, and day to day life issues, seldom align themselves perfectly. If one waits for such to occur, doing something like a pilgrimage will always be in danger of taking a back seat while you wait for that perfect alignment to happen.
Here is what the Pilgrim Office in Santiago de Compostela states about the Compostela:
To get the “Compostela” you must:
You can do the Way in stages, provided they are in chronological and geographical order. However, if you only do the minimum required distance (last 100 or 200 km), you must always get your Credencial stamped at the start and end of each stage, including the corresponding date, to show that the pilgrim has resumed the Way in the same place where they last stopped (i.e. you should always get the stamp at the starting point even though you have already stamped the card in the same place at the end of the previous stage).
- Make the pilgrimage for religious or spiritual reasons, or at least an attitude of search.
- Do the last 100 km on foot or horseback, or the last 200 km by bicycle. It is understood that the pilgrimage starts at one point and from there you come to visit the Tomb of St. James.
- You must collect the stamps on the “Credencial del Peregrino” from the places you pass through to certify that you have been there. Stamps from churches, hostels, monasteries, cathedrals and all places related to the Way are preferred, but if not they can also be stamped in other institutions: town halls, cafés, etc. You have to stamp the Credencial twice a day at least on the last 100 km (for pilgrims on foot or on horseback) or on the last 200 km (for cyclists pilgrims).
The Compostela: accreditation of the pilgrimage to Santiago
The “Compostela“, the accreditation of the pilgrimage to the Tomb of St. James.oficinadelperegrino.com
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Wonderful! That's good to know, thank you so much!I suppose it depends on your motivation. If you want to walk, finishing in Santiago, and getting a Compostella, then the Ingles could work for you. Not mountains, but in my opinion a lot nicer than Sarria to Santiago, with enough accommodation and easy to get to. If you simply go to Santiago and attend Mass then you are still a pilgrim, just not a walking one. You can then choose a walk on any section of the Camino you fancy. Personally I suggest the Aubrac in France. Whatever you do, enjoy!
Oh my goodness, thank you so much!! That's very helpful!! I did not know that about how often to get stamped and those are great ideas for how to collect my thoughts and intentions! I so appreciate your help!
Robin
My wife and I waited 4 hours for our Compostella in September 2019. I enjoyed the wait as much as the walk. Take the time and value every part and every hour. It’ll never come back in the same way.
Oh, now this is all appearing on one page, awesome! Ok, we will hope to arrive early...I need to get mass times!Maybe a kind moderator will merge for you... The day in Santiago to get the Compostella is maybe a wee exaggeration. The queue can get a bit long in high season. The trick is to arrive at the start of the day, if you want the paperwork. It's better now the office is in a larger and more organized building.
Yes, I'm sad about that too but we work full time and have a Giant Schnoodle dog who needs a live in babysitter...gets expensive! I do hope to get back to finish!! Even if it takes us two more trips!A great pity you’re days for it are limited Robyn. I would do the last 100k of the Frances. I guarantee you’ll enjoy it and go back to do the lot.
Thank you for the map! Is that a 100 km journey? And what do you like about it?I would suggest starting in Orense, and walking the Sanabres.
Thank you! I will savor every moment! In this world today, we never know when anything will come our way again!My wife and I waited 4 hours for our Compostella in September 2019. I enjoyed the wait as much as the walk. Take the time and value every part and every hour. It’ll never come back in the same way.
Very nice surprise!!Jill and I were prepared to wait for quite a while last October, but it turned out to only be 30 minutes. That was a happy surprise.
Yes it is 105 km's. I liked it because it was;Thank you for the map! Is that a 100 km journey? And what do you like about it?
Oh my gosh, that sounds perfect!! Thank you so much!!Yes it is 105 km's. I liked it because it was;
a) - not too crowded, but enough company
b) - Nice and green!
c) - Interesting villages and albergues along the way.
d) - Hilly region with nice views.
Start off in Orense by going to the hot springs!
No. The best parts are the parts that you walk.I'm wondering if we are missing out on the best parts of the walk
This is an unavoidable conundrum. You will miss everything else in the world. The walk from Sarria to Santiago is very picturesque, as are any of the walks in Galicia.I'm exploring, to see what we may or may not be missing if we do the last 100 km to Santiago vs another 5 day route that would not have us ending in Santiago.
I agree with this. If you have only 2.5 weeks, and you want to visit Fatima, Porto, Santiago, Valencia and Grenada, and spend 5 days walking, you don't have time to be cherry-picking scenic sections on various other routes. I suggest that you keep things simple and walk from Tui or from Sarria.I think I would look at the logistics and work out where is easy to travel to
Ok, thank you so much!! This is very helpful! Yes, we just looked and we'd have to fly from Porto to Sarria. I do want to see Northern Spain so we may be able to work it out! One of my challenges will be figuring out my transportation within Spain...I want to see Santander as my daughter lived there. We backpacked Europe once for a month and ended up hiring a travel agent to book the trains as we never could figure out how to book it online!Hello, and welcome to the forum!
No. The best parts are the parts that you walk.
This is an unavoidable conundrum. You will miss everything else in the world. The walk from Sarria to Santiago is very picturesque, as are any of the walks in Galicia.
I agree with this. If you have only 2.5 weeks, and you want to visit Fatima, Porto, Santiago, Valencia and Grenada, and spend 5 days walking, you don't have time to be cherry-picking scenic sections on various other routes. I suggest that you keep things simple and walk from Tui or from Sarria.
That's good to know we can do it in less than 5 days! Yes, we are fit and walk up and down steep hills in NC every day walking our dog and hike in the mountains often. Can you tell me what these initials are abbreviating? "SJPDP to Roncesvalles is a special trip IMHO" Thank you!Fatima, Porto, Santiago, Grenada and Valencia + a five day walk in 2.5 weeks is quite a whirlwind tour, so much fun!
I think I would look at the logistics and work out where is easy to travel to, especially if a connection doesn’t work out as planned. Depending on where you fly into one of the routes might make a lot more sense. Lisbon, Fatima, Porto, Tui is probably a lot easier than Lisbon, Fatima, Porto, Sarria for example.
I don’t think you’ll have time I bet you could plan a fun trip driving and walking sections of the camino (with taxi journeys back to the car). SJPDP to Roncesvalles is a special trip IMHO, not because of the mountains ( but they are nice) but because of the people walking, the sense of excitement and the history. The cities along the way are interesting but if all you do is drop into a couple of cathedrals you’ll have done more than many pilgrims. I suspect Cruz de Ferro is an emotional stop even if you’ve driven there. You can walk Sarria (or Tui) to Santiago in a lot less than 5 days if you’re fit and used to walking. As others have said you need to think about why you are walking and if the express options make sense for you.
Ok, thank you! Yes, you're probably right! I should not be planning this trip, lol!! We once backpacked 13 cities in 9 countries in 30 days and that was too much so it should be a red flag to me that I overplan!! I will cut out SantanderSJPDP or SJPP is San Jean Pied de Port, a popular starting point on the French side of the Pyrennees. IMHO is "in my humble opinion.".
I'm not sure what "a lot less than 5 days" would mean. Surely not less than 4 days for most pilgrims.
Now you are adding another city to your tour - Santander. It all sounds too hectic to me!Just a reminder - you don't need to "do it all."
El Camino in May or September of 2021. It will be our first time and we also plan to visit Fatima and Porto in Portugal and after seeing Santiago, visiting Grenada and Valencia (we've only been to Sevilla and Barcelona and never Portugal). We really can't be gone more than 2.5 weeks and want to end the walk in Santiago.
Prior to coronavirus (last year) the numbers arriving in Santiago were creating a huge queue and a system was put in place whereby you received a number at the pilgrims office and you could return closer to your number to save a wait. - however in the earlier stages of this system., there was a limit to how many Compostelas could be processed by the staff and volunteers there and some people had numbers which meant they had to come back next day - if they wanted a Compostela. This may change and since the virus a process of drop off and have certificate mailed happened too. So not sure you’d miss out ... depends how far down the number line you are.Why do you say we need another day in Santiago to get our Compostela
I think this is a good idea as it’s closer by public transport to Porto. But not as ‘pilgrim’ populated - if you like lots of people. Btw Sarria to SdC has a lot of beauty and is not all flat !!I would suggest starting in Orense, and walking the Sanabres
I read in this quote from your msg that you may come back ! I’d add Granada and Valencia onto one of the less travelled caminos. Even if you only have time for a section. Just to see the difference.. that is fit in the places you mention that is still on your bucket list to visit on your next trip to spain.I do hope to get back to finish!! Even if it takes us two more trips!
Yes .. the wish list grows for all of us because Spain has so many great destinations. All worth visiting.Now you are adding another city to your tour - Santander. It all sounds too hectic to me!Just a reminder - you don't need to "do it all."
Yes! I love this.The best parts are the parts that you walk.
Or from Monforte on the Invierno. It is a bit more arduous and quiet than the other options, but it is an amazing walk. Like Ourense, there is a direct train connection to Santiago, so you can fly in there.You might also consider the Sanabre from Ourense part of the VDLA. It is easy to get to, one hour by train. Beautiful, historic and scenic. Great accommodations . This will not be a slow saunter for five days but with your travel schedule you sound energetic.
Sounds great! What guidebook do you recommend?My vote would be Camino Portuguese, from Pontevedra to Santiago, via Variante Espiritual.
That's good to know we can do it in less than 5 days! Yes, we are fit and walk up and down steep hills in NC every day walking our dog and hike in the mountains often. Can you tell me what these initials are abbreviating? "SJPDP to Roncesvalles is a special trip IMHO" Thank you!
Hey, I just used John Brierley's guidebook - his newer one includes the VESounds great! What guidebook do you recommend?
Hi there. I have done both and the Portugues starting in Tui is by far the more pleasant (Loved Tui). It can be done in 5 days but this involves doing the Tui - O Porino - Redondela stages (33km in total) in one go. Our group found it eminently doable with just a fierce 5km stretch between points 25 and 30 km. The added bonus is that you do not have to stay in O Porino which is industrial and without any charm whatsoever as compared to Redondela which is gorgeous. Thereafter the route - Pontevedra - Caldas de Reis - Padron - Santiago - is very forgiving and all of the stopping places have charming places to visit and eat/drink in. Amusingly enough the last stage is very badly signposted. Buen Camino.Hi, my husband and I are planning to walk the El Camino in May or September of 2021. It will be our first time and we also plan to visit Fatima and Porto in Portugal and after seeing Santiago, visiting Grenada and Valencia (we've only been to Sevilla and Barcelona and never Portugal). We really can't be gone more than 2.5 weeks and want to end the walk in Santiago. I've been told if we can only do 5 days and we want do to a pilgrimage ending in Santiago to get our Compostela, most people start in either Tui (on the Portugués) or in Sarria (following the Francés). I've heard these are both flat and not as picturesque as other routes (we love the mountains) but popular routes. I'm trying to decide so I can get the right guide books and start studying. I'm wondering if we are missing out on the best parts of the walk and should just settle for attending mass in the Cathedral and choosing a different more picturesque route, or if starting at either of these locations and ending in Santiago is the way to go? I'm new to this forum so also posting this in the Camino Portugués which may not be necessary but I don't know who will see this post!
This my opinion. Start in St. Jean and walk for 5 days. You will be walking with other people who are just starting, the excitement, the people, the newness of the pilgrim meals, the albergues, etc. We have done three Caminos (Francis, Portugal and Via Francigena in Italy), and I remember the start of each the most. When we did the Francis route, we walk for five days and our first rest day was in Estella. When we started walking again, we looked for all the people who we started with but they were gone, and we were looking at all these new faces - it felt strange for a couple hours. The people we still keep in touch with seem to be people we met the first or second day. That’s my opinion.Fatima, Porto, Santiago, Grenada and Valencia + a five day walk in 2.5 weeks is quite a whirlwind tour, so much fun!
I think I would look at the logistics and work out where is easy to travel to, especially if a connection doesn’t work out as planned. Depending on where you fly into one of the routes might make a lot more sense. Lisbon, Fatima, Porto, Tui is probably a lot easier than Lisbon, Fatima, Porto, Sarria for example.
I don’t think you’ll have time I bet you could plan a fun trip driving and walking sections of the camino (with taxi journeys back to the car). SJPDP to Roncesvalles is a special trip IMHO, not because of the mountains ( but they are nice) but because of the people walking, the sense of excitement and the history. The cities along the way are interesting but if all you do is drop into a couple of cathedrals you’ll have done more than many pilgrims. I suspect Cruz de Ferro is an emotional stop even if you’ve driven there. You can walk Sarria (or Tui) to Santiago in a lot less than 5 days if you’re fit and used to walking. As others have said you need to think about why you are walking and if the express options make sense for you.
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