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In SJPP, are you sure ?in late April, not usually considered a busy time for the CF.
I agree with @Pafayac - late April is the lead up to one of the busiest times in SJPdP, which is the beginning of May. Last year April was the 3rd busiest months after May and September.in late April, not usually considered a busy time for the CF
Yes. That came straight from the Pilgrim’s Office.In SJPP, are you sure ?
Sure, Semana Santa and the Easter weekend, both variable. But did you volunteer work, walk or work AND walk at the end of April every year since 2018 between SJPP and Pamplona, and especially in the Roncesvalles albergueI’ve volunteered worked, walked, or worked AND walked in April every year since 2018 (except Covid) and am quite aware of the usual April crowd issues.
The Holy Years had very little effect on pilgrim numbers in Navarra, i.e. Roncesvalles in Spain and SJPP in France. Numbers of travellers are continuously on the increase to many popular destinations - and that includes the "slow travel" trend. Due to lots of leisure time that can be used for travelling and related activities and lots of disposable income.Honestly, with the holy year being over and easter being a month ago, i did not expect the same business this time as we seen in the last (two) years. I can only speculate what has lead to this.
The Holy Years had very little effect on pilgrim numbers in Navarra, i.e. Roncesvalles in Spain and SJPP in France. Numbers of travellers are continuously on the increase to many popular destinations. Lots of leisure time and lots of disposable income.
Honestly, with the holy year being over and easter being a month ago, i did not expect the same business this time as we seen in the last (two) years.
I can only speculate what has lead to this.
Above is the graph for the number of pilgrims by year as counted in Santiago, especially from 1996 to 2023 and showing the peak in numbers in the Holy Years 1999, 2004 and 2010.
It's good to have statistics, but you should give the source. ThanksAbove is the graph for the number of pilgrims by year as counted in Santiago, especially from 1996 to 2023 and showing the peak in numbers in the Holy Years 1999, 2004 and 2010.
Below is the corresponding graph for the number of pilgrims by year as counted in SJPP. No peaks during Holy Years and in fact a flattening of the graph during the last decade.
View attachment 168637
@Monasp, yes, you are right and please accept my apologies. I had meant to write that the graph is taken from a pdf file and with the mention: "Responsable statistiques : Monique Aspirot".It's good to have statistics, but you should give the source. Thanks
Please provide the source of the statisticsI agree with @Pafayac - late April is the lead up to one of the busiest times in SJPdP, which is the beginning of May. Last year April was the 3rd busiest months after May and September.
View attachment 168625
Why not stay between guide book stages?I’m having to reserve a few days ahead if I want to go with the main stages. So much for spontaneity.
Are you saying that you have two reservations in Santiago and that you have no idea whether you will use them?I’m in Los Arcos right now, everything is full. I’m having to reserve a few days ahead if I want to go with the main stages. So much for spontaneity. Santiago is also booked up over a month out unless you want to spend over 200 euros a night, I have no idea when I’ll get there so I have two reservations.
This was the same last year. Same time all the the places were full on the full length of the Camino See all my posts . It seems that the Camino Frances becomes more and more famous. Last yearl it was a daily bed race …. Eventually I booked all the my place in advance . Buen CaminoJust an FYI that all available beds are taken in SJPDP tonight - fully, truly COMPLETO! There’s an indication of how busy this year may be since it’s just a Wednesday in late April, not usually considered a busy time for the CF. Cold weather over the Route Napoleon may be backing up some pilgrims, too. Over two dozen pilgrims have been given mats and a floor to sleep on in a municipal building, so the statement, “No pilgrim sleeps on the street in St Jean” remains true, but a hard floor is not so great either.
Yes. I was also walking this time last year, and saw the very same conditions you are describing. I hope some of the armchair folk who repeatedly dismissed me (and the individual who repeatedly gaslit my reports and called me a catastrophist and a liar) are more open to the on the ground reports this season.This was the same last year. Same time all the the places were full on the full length of the Camino See all my posts . It seems that the Camino Frances becomes more and more famous. Last yearl it was a daily bed race …. Eventually I booked all the my place in advance . Buen Camino
Just an FYI that all available beds are taken in SJPDP tonight - fully, truly COMPLETO! There’s an indication of how busy this year may be since it’s just a Wednesday in late April, not usually considered a busy time for the CF. Cold weather over the Route Napoleon may be backing up some pilgrims, too. Over two dozen pilgrims have been given mats and a floor to sleep on in a municipal building, so the statement, “No pilgrim sleeps on the street in St Jean” remains true, but a hard floor is not so great either.
Just an FYI that all available beds are taken in SJPDP tonight - fully, truly COMPLETO! There’s an indication of how busy this year may be since it’s just a Wednesday in late April, not usually considered a busy time for the CF. Cold weather over the Route Napoleon may be backing up some pilgrims, too. Over two dozen pilgrims have been given mats and a floor to sleep on in a municipal building, so the statement, “No pilgrim sleeps on the street in St Jean” remains true, but a hard floor is not so great either.
Over two dozen pilgrims have been given mats and a floor to sleep on in a municipal building
That and because they are avoiding the heat of the high summer and the cold/wet of late fall, winter, and early spring.Late April to early May, and September generally, are pretty much the busiest periods in SJPP.
Because *everyone* is "avoiding the crowds" ...
I think it was SJPP that was reported as "booked out", rather than SdC.Perhaps, if a few hundred others have done the same the fact that Santiago is “booked out” is explained
Just an FYI that all available beds are taken in SJPDP tonight - fully, truly COMPLETO! There’s an indication of how busy this year may be since it’s just a Wednesday in late April, not usually considered a busy time for the CF. Cold weather over the Route Napoleon may be backing up some pilgrims, too. Over two dozen pilgrims have been given mats and a floor to sleep on in a municipal building, so the statement, “No pilgrim sleeps on the street in St Jean” remains true, but a hard floor is not so great either.
Los Arcos is always full. I've been there four times in different seasons and it's filled up every time.I’m in Los Arcos right now, everything is full. I’m having to reserve a few days ahead if I want to go with the main stages. So much for spontaneity. Santiago is also booked up over a month out unless you want to spend over 200 euros a night, I have no idea when I’ll get there so I have two reservations.
no problem due to the thefts and crowds doing a much better rout. Have fun.Just an FYI that all available beds are taken in SJPDP tonight - fully, truly COMPLETO! There’s an indication of how busy this year may be since it’s just a Wednesday in late April, not usually considered a busy time for the CF. Cold weather over the Route Napoleon may be backing up some pilgrims, too. Over two dozen pilgrims have been given mats and a floor to sleep on in a municipal building, so the statement, “No pilgrim sleeps on the street in St Jean” remains true, but a hard floor is not so great either.
The data in the table in post #3 and the data in the graph and list in post #11 reflect the number of pilgrims who visited and were counted by the Pilgrim Welcome Office in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.I'm a data newbie , are these numbers for the Camino Frances? Or all the different routes combined?
Grrrrr...especlly about the last bit.. Tour groups, ability to reserve, forwarding bags , internet ! etc have an accumulative effect… without these convenient capabilities the amount of pilgrims would be much less..
is hard to walk 15 miles with full backpack and be denied a bed ,,, standing amongst 15 people with day packs , just stepping off the bus.
Yes, and I think that we like to downplay this.You are forgetting one important factor, @Cliff175: the advertising we are doing about the Camino.
True. And many first-timers (and some old hands too) have outdated ideas about the Caminos. Especially the idea that the Camino Frances and "the Camino" are more or less interchangeable and that "the Camino" starts in SJPDP. In reality only about 10% of those who receive a Compostela these days have walked from SJPDP, Roncesvalles or Pamplona. The Frances east of Sarria is no longer "the Camino" - it is now just one of an ever-expanding number of routes. Which include the shorter walk from Sarria. The Portugues and the Portugues Costa are rapidly growing in popularity and may overtake the Frances as the most popular option in a few years time. On the day I arrived in Santiago after walking the Primitivo a young man who had just walked from SJPDP asked if I had any plans to walk "the real Camino" anytime...I guess one big problem is people look at the Santiago arrival statistics, but don't understand that those numbers have little do do with the departure numbers from St. Jean
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