To book ahead or go with the flow on the Invierno…

[D74]

Hi,

I wondered if I could pick your collective minds as I know there’s a lot of love on this forum for the Camino Invierno.

I’ve started researching the route and I’ve seen folk talking about phoning or emailing ahead for rooms and getting keys for albergues. Is this something you’d recommend or can you get into town at a decent hour and turn up for a bed? Keen to try a more laissez-faire approach, unless of course that leads to a night sleeping in a bush, then I’m all about the phone calls.

Thinking of going mid/late June this year.

Thanks in advance.

 

[peregrina2000]

I’ve started researching the route and I’ve seen folk talking about phoning or emailing ahead for rooms and getting keys for albergues. Is this something you’d recommend or can you get into town at a decent hour and turn up for a bed?

Hi, @D74,

You’ve picked a great time to walk the Invierno. The accommodation options have been increasing a lot, which gives you a lot more flexibility in picking your stages than you would have had ten years ago. If you compare the forum guide (in the Resources section) with WisePilgrim’s app, you can see there are at least 5 or 6 more albergues. But there are not so many options that I would always just show up and see what’s available. Sending a WhatsApp message a day or two before (or a phone call if they don’t use it) is the method that I’m most comfortable with.

Some of the places, like the Albergue in Villavieja, specifically ask for advance notice. This place is run by the local government, so if you just show up on a weekend or late in the day after they are closed, you may not be able to get through to anyone. Other places, like Torre Vilariño, are popular with tourists so weekends might be tough to just walk in.

In the bigger places, like Monforte, Chantada, Lalín, maybe Quiroga, you are likely to be able to walk around till you find a place since there are multiple options.

I see you’ve walked the Francés several times, so if that is your baseline, you should be prepared for something totally different — zero to few pilgrims and a few choices for sleeping. Peaceful, beautiful, rural Spain without the hoards, it is wonderful. Buen camino, Laurie

 

[D74]

Hi, @D74,

You’ve picked a great time to walk the Invierno. The accommodation options have been increasing a lot, which gives you a lot more flexibility in picking your stages than you would have had ten years ago. If you compare the forum guide (in the Resources section) with WisePilgrim’s app, you can see there are at least 5 or 6 more albergues. But there are not so many options that I would always just show up and see what’s available. Sending a WhatsApp message a day or two before (or a phone call if they don’t use it) is the method that I’m most comfortable with.

Some of the places, like the Albergue in Villavieja, specifically ask for advance notice. This place is run by the local government, so if you just show up on a weekend or late in the day after they are closed, you may not be able to get through to anyone. Other places, like Torre Vilariño, are popular with tourists so weekends might be tough to just walk in.

In the bigger places, like Monforte, Chantada, Lalín, maybe Quiroga, you are likely to be able to walk around till you find a place since there are multiple options.

I see you’ve walked the Francés several times, so if that is your baseline, you should be prepared for something totally different — zero to few pilgrims and a few choices for sleeping. Peaceful, beautiful, rural Spain without the hoards, it is wonderful. Buen camino, Laurie

This is so helpful, thank you.

After getting a frances top up I fancy trying a route less traveled and more remote.

 

[VNwalking]

Cherry season!
In 2019 at the same time of year I only booked ahead once; the rest of the time I just showed up with no problem at all. But times have changed. There may be more pilgrim traffic, given there's a Brierley guide now. There certainly feels like ghere's more buzz about it here. So...what Laurie said
It is a glorious camino!

 

[peregrina2000]

In 2019 at the same time of year I only booked ahead once

Wow, I didn’t know that. I think that if it was no problem in 2019, it’s probably not going to be a problem in 2022. Except for the albergue in Villavieja perhaps.

Thinking back over the several times I have walked the Invierno, I have walked without reservations into Médulas, Barco, A Rúa, Quiroga, Chantada, Pobra de Brollón, and Monforte. Just not all on the same camino, so I guess I should have thought more carefully before posting.

Where was the one place you reserved, @VN?

 

[VNwalking]

Where was the one place you reserved, @VN

Torre Vilariño.
There may be more albergues, but that was when there was Casa Soccoro in Las Medulas, and Pension Pacita in Barxa. It's the tiny places like that where there may be bottlenecks.

 

[Theatregal]

I decided to book ahead before I began the Invierno (June 2019) just because I felt like this was a camino that I'd like the security of knowing there was a bed waiting and where it was at the end of the day. That being said... it did seem like every place I stayed (except Complejo Agoga in Las Medulas) wasn't full. As mentioned though, the Brierley guide could be a game changer. You'll be walking at a great time @D74 ! As @peregrina2000 said "Peaceful, beautiful, rural Spain without the hoards, it is wonderful." and @VNwalking "Cherry season!"

 

[D74]

Thanks for getting back to me regarding booking or not. Think maybe a bit of both will probably be a good option. You’ve certainly got me enthused about the route.

What are some of your fav bits of the Invierno? I’m guessing the cherries might be one