Walking the camino Frances at Christmas and New Year

[Richard M]

Hello everyone,

I'm planning to walk the last part of the camino Frances around Christmas time and I was wondering if anyone knows what the situation is regarding accomodation and getting fed. I plan to start in Astorga on 23rd December. Is it just a case of asking phoning ahead each day? Can I get an up to date list of the albergues which will be open anywhere?

Richard

 

[Leanan-sidhe]

Hi Richard,

I'll be leaving Astorga on the 20th so I might meet you along the way or in Santiago (depends on how far you walk each day). I have several lists, websites and books about christmas / new year opening times but each one states different opening times and according to what I read on the forum even the ones that are supposed to be open sometimes close for a day or 2 to enjoy the fesivities with family and friends ... and who can blame them!
As my spanish isn't that hot I shall just pester the hospitaleiro and/or fellow pilgrims to find information from day to day about open albergues. And if pushed "Albergue abierto, por favor?" in combination with helpless expression will hopefully do

I'm definitely taking emergency food supplies as I don't expect I'll find a warm meal or even a supermarket every day ... a few cupa soup, nuts/dried fruit, instant noodles ... if you are cold and hungry anything tastes good in anycase.


Andrea

 

[Richard M]

Hi Andrea,

Thanks for the reply. I was also thinking of taking some emergency supplies with me too but I'm really hoping that I can have one square meal a day. As for the accomodation, as you said, I suppose it's just a case of planning where to stay each day based on what the hospitaleros suggest. I'll see if I can get some information at the municipal albergue in Astorga before I head off. I plan to arrive in Santiago around 2nd January. I'd be grateful if you could let me know what albergues you find open on your travels.

Buen camino

Richard

 

[whariwharangi]

Eroski consumer site has a list of albergues.
http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/albergues/#camino-frances

I would suggest that people in Spain take their holidays seriously so don't expect to find services in remote places Christmas, New Years, Dia de los Reyes Magos, and others.

I would not count on anything being open between Astorga and Ponferrada on those days ... so phone ahead. Further, I would consider this section one of the more dangerous in terms of exposure to bad weather. Cruz de Ferro is the highest point on the camino. The whole section is quite remote. So REALLY make sure that you have good information.

I travelled late October to early December last year. A lot of albergues were closed for the season. I had a list from the pilgrims office in SJPdP which included dates; the information was good but not 100% reliable. Usually the best plan was to stay in the municipal albergues in the larger centers even if that meant stopping early.

 

[LTfit]

I checked out the Eroski website a few days ago for the stages between Sarria and Santiago and all the Xunta de Galicia municipal albergues are open all year round. I will be starting out on Dec 27th.

I normally stay in little towns in between and rarely plan but given this is my first time in winter I will probably follow the standard 5 day stages.

A group of Spanish hospitaleros I know will be walking from O Cebreiro around the time you all will be walking, they have done this the last couple of years without a problem.

Keep safe and warm!

 

[Richard M]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I will definitely try to plan ahead.

 

[benrie]

Hi Guys!
Will be starting in Nájera on 20th and walk on to Leon by 28th, and then off to Sarria on 29th to finish in Santiago on 2nd.
Hope to see you guys.....

Regards Richie

 

[piogaw]

Hello ltfit, andrea, richard & richie,

I wish you all a buen camino. Keep warm and have enough provision until santiago. As mentioned previously, practically all the xunta de galicia albergues will be opened.

Things will not be backed to normal until after the 6th which is the feast of the epiphany. This is where the childrens will receive their presents on that morning. It is considered one of the biggest holiday in spain.

 

[Magnara]

Hello everyone,

I'm planning to walk the last part of the camino Frances around Christmas time and I was wondering if anyone knows what the situation is regarding accomodation and getting fed. I plan to start in Astorga on 23rd December. Is it just a case of asking phoning ahead each day? Can I get an up to date list of the albergues which will be open anywhere?

Richard

Hi
We walked SJPP to Santiago starting on 27 December and finishing at the end of January. Almost everything was closed until 7 January, and very few albergues were open at all.We used the John Brierley guide to find places to stay, or just stopped at a bar or cafe in the town we decided to stop at for the night and asked about pension-type rooms. We never booked ahead, always found something and never had to walk on to another town.
Maggie Ramsay
The Italian Camino (Amazon)

 

[Leanan-sidhe]

Hello everyone,

I'm planning to walk the last part of the camino Frances around Christmas time and I was wondering if anyone knows what the situation is regarding accomodation and getting fed. I plan to start in Astorga on 23rd December. Is it just a case of asking phoning ahead each day? Can I get an up to date list of the albergues which will be open anywhere?

Richard

Hi Richard just started in Astorga last Friday and so far I can confirm that the Albergues in Astorga, Foncebadon and Ponferrada will stay open over Christmas, there is no Albergues open between Foncebadon and Ponferrada but there might be options of CR or Hotel in Molinaseca ... not sure. The best option to find out more is to ask the hospitalero what Albegues are open ahead this works quite well but makes route planning more difficult as you might end up walking further than intended or you have to stay in a more expensive place.

Buen Camino