Start Aug. 15 or Sept. 1?

wells.kim.p · Jul 11, 2022

We are planning to walk Camino del Norte this year, 2022, from Irun. We are trying to decide whether to start Aug. 15 or the beginning of Sept. Any thoughts, considerations, or suggestions to help us decide? Many thanks!

J Willhaus · Jul 11, 2022

Many Europeans are on vacation in August. September will bring more pilgrims, but maybe you won't pay "high season" prices everywhere. We are in Bilbao now and were in San Sabastian yesterday as tourists and it's crowded and busy with tourists from around the globe.

lt56ny · Jul 11, 2022

Without a doubt the later you start the better. Less vacationers and with this summer's heat the later you start the better. If you can go even September 15th that would be great. I walked starting in mid October. Never had bad heat and problems with albergues. Things got colder as I turned southwest but never really bad. But who knows about weather. If my memory serves me correctly the early weeks have a great deal of open area to walk without shade, especially if you check out all the great variants you can walk to keep you on the coast.

JerryStroebele · Jul 11, 2022

I recommend early September. That has worked well for me twice. August could be too hot for that tough first day out of Irun. Buen Camino.

trecile · Jul 11, 2022

For the Norte, I would start in September because of the large numbers of tourists in the area during August.
If you were asking about the Camino Francés from SJPdP, I'd say August 15th, because of the large numbers of pilgrims who wait until September to start.

Suzanne S. · Jul 11, 2022

I started on 2019 on the last day of August. Tourist activity was waning.

wells.kim.p · Jul 12, 2022

J Willhaus said:
Many Europeans are on vacation in August. September will bring more pilgrims, but maybe you won't pay "high season" prices everywhere. We are in Bilbao now and were in San Sabastian yesterday as tourists and it's crowded and busy with tourists from around the globe.

Thank you for the information!

wells.kim.p · Jul 12, 2022

Suzanne S. said:
I started on 2019 on the last day of August. Tourist activity was waning.

Thank you!

wells.kim.p · Jul 12, 2022

lt56ny said:
Without a doubt the later you start the better. Less vacationers and with this summer's heat the later you start the better. If you can go even September 15th that would be great. I walked starting in mid October. Never had bad heat and problems with albergues. Things got colder as I turned southwest but never really bad. But who knows about weather. If my memory serves me correctly the early weeks have a great deal of open area to walk without shade, especially if you check out all the great variants you can walk to keep you on the coast.

Many thanks!

wells.kim.p · Jul 12, 2022

Suzanne S. said:
I started on 2019 on the last day of August. Tourist activity was waning.

Good to know!

wells.kim.p · Jul 12, 2022

trecile said:
For the Norte, I would start in September because of the large numbers of tourists in the area during August.
If you were asking about the Camino Francés from SJPdP, I'd say August 15th, because of the large numbers of pilgrims who wait until September to start.

That's helpful. Thank you!

wells.kim.p · Jul 12, 2022

JerryStroebele said:
I recommend early September. That has worked well for me twice. August could be too hot for that tough first day out of Irun. Buen Camino.

Thank you!

lt56ny · Jul 12, 2022

wells.kim.p said:
Many thanks!

Buen Camino and as others have said tourism wanes as families have to go home because vacations end, work and school begins.

Suz2022 · Jul 14, 2022

Thanks for asking this question, as I've been getting a bit more concerned about the heat. The other responses reinforce my need to be especially prepared for that first week. I arranged to start on Aug 30; it felt like the earliest possible date given heat, tourists and pilgrims.

Buen camino - and perhaps we'll run into each other!

wells.kim.p · Jul 14, 2022

Suz2022 said:
Thanks for asking this question, as I've been getting a bit more concerned about the heat. The other responses reinforce my need to be especially prepared for that first week. I arranged to start on Aug 30; it felt like the earliest possible date given heat, tourists and pilgrims.

Buen camino - and perhaps we'll run into each other!

Wonderful! So many considerations. Thank you for your response.

Canche · Jul 17, 2022

I did the Norte in September and it was great. August is too busy when Europeans take their vacations. Buen Camino. I loved the Norte.

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Start Aug. 15 or Sept. 1?

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