Want to do another Camino but which one?

[Mo0904]

Hello,

I'm Mo. I haven't been on this site for a while, the format has changed a bit so not sure if I am posting on the right section!

I walked the Camino Frances from Pamplona in 2013 and it was one of the best experiences, I met some of the best people I have have ever met and made some friends for life. For that reason, I don't know that I want to walk the same route again but I definitely want to walk another Camino. I would have to walk March/April 2019 as that is the easiest time to take off from work. I walked at that time before and the weather was pretty horrific for the entire time but I still loved it!

I just wanted to asked for some recommendations as to which Camino I could take, bearing in mind time of year, whether albergues are open on quieter routes etc. I don't mind it being quiet but don't want to be stuck in the snow on a mountain with nowhere to sleep . Was thinking about the Camino del norte v Portuguese. Can have approx 4-5weeks to complete. ( I would also quite like to include a walk to Finisterre this time also)

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated,

¡Buen Camino!

 

[terryenroute]

How about starting the Via de la Plata in SALAMANCA, and when you get to GRANJA DE MORUELA, take the beautiful sanabres route thru ZAFRA, ZAMORA, ORENSE, etc onto SANTIAGO. This is a beautiful route with great infastructure and sites. Also enough pilgrims to meet. This should leave you with enough time to go to Muxia and/or Finesterra.

 

[Mo0904]

Thanks! That's a good idea and Salamanca is one of my favourite places! Would love to do the entire Via de la Plata but won't ever get the time to do it in one go so this might be a nice compromise.

 

[surya8]

The Portuguese Camino from Lisbon could be done in Mar-Apr. The weather should be warm and pleasant enough to walk but it could rain. This spring is quite unusual all over Europe as it's colder and rainier but other years were much warmer. Miss Portugal so much, it's beautiful nature, great food, warm people! Most of the albergues from Porto, municipal or private would be open, at least on the central route as it's busy and popular. You should check from Lisbon, some could be closed till Apr. Lisbon to Porto usually takes 13 days, Porto to Santiago another 10, of course depending on your level of fitness. Don't walk the coastal route between Lisbon and Porto though, in Mar it could be quite horrendos there in terms of winds, rain and mud, and also loneliness, as there are no albergues there, just hostels and hotels, even campsites are closed, this route is unmarked. Take the central route from Lisbon instead. From Porto you can think of taking the coastal way but check if albergues are open. The Portuguese assossiation has a list of albergues here: http://www.vialusitana.org/caminho-portugues/albergues/ My fav places on the way were Santarem, Golega, Tomar, Coimbra, Agueda, Vila do Conde, Barcelos, Ponte de Lima, Valenca, Arcade, Caldas de Reis. Bom Caminho!

 

[Mo0904]

Thanks for the advice, I would love to walk from Lisbon but it seems like it might be best to start from April onwards but will look into it a bit more. Although I went for a weekend in Porto last year in February, saw quite a few pilgrims around so might be an option.

 

[surya8]

Thanks for the advice, I would love to walk from Lisbon but it seems like it might be best to start from April onwards but will look into it a bit more. Although I went for a weekend in Porto last year in February, saw quite a few pilgrims around so might be an option.

From Porto to Santiago it's always busy, you'll see pilgrims in Porto any time of the year. I walked in late Apr there, central route, loved it.

 

[Rossco]

Hello,

I'm Mo. I haven't been on this site for a while, the format has changed a bit so not sure if I am posting on the right section!

I walked the Camino Frances from Pamplona in 2013 and it was one of the best experiences, I met some of the best people I have have ever met and made some friends for life. For that reason, I don't know that I want to walk the same route again but I definitely want to walk another Camino. I would have to walk March/April 2019 as that is the easiest time to take off from work. I walked at that time before and the weather was pretty horrific for the entire time but I still loved it!

I just wanted to asked for some recommendations as to which Camino I could take, bearing in mind time of year, whether albergues are open on quieter routes etc. I don't mind it being quiet but don't want to be stuck in the snow on a mountain with nowhere to sleep . Was thinking about the Camino del norte v Portuguese. Can have approx 4-5weeks to complete. ( I would also quite like to include a walk to Finisterre this time also)

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated,

¡Buen Camino!

 

[Rossco]

I walked the Frances in 2015 and the Portuguese from Lisbon in October 2017. I didn’t like the Portugues at all. Too much walking beside busy roads and highways, cobblestones hard on the knees and feet and a lot of unattractive industrial areas.

 

[Piero Frustascarpe]

Via Francigena, of course!
A completely different experience.

 

[lt56ny]

Yes start around Santarem or Tomar. Anywhere where previous Pilgrim mentioned. It should also leave you time to walk to Finisterre also.