When to go, when not to go...

[Marion-SantiagoInLove]

... that's often the question!

Here's the number per month of all the pilgrims who went to the pilgrims's office in SJPdP in 2015.
(stats form the pilgrim's office)

It means the pilgrims who started there as well as the ones who arrived there. The real numbers may be a little higher, because not everyone stops by the pilgrim's office...
In any case, as one can see, May and September were quite busy...
The number given by SJPdP's pilgrim's office is 54 646 for the whole year. By comparison, the pilgrim's office in Santiago counted 31058 pilgrims who registered there and started in SJPdP.

The stats for 2016 are not out yet (patience, patience...), but the whole chart will show a rise: it's been a record year!
Other slight change (observation from local volunteers, hospitalieros and workers), the high season is expending. For instance, October seems to become quite a big month for starting pilgrims...

So, when will you start in 2017 (or later!)?
Buen Camino!

 

[whariwharangi]

When will I start? When I am ready to go.

 

[KinkyOne]

I'm ready to go anytime, but my wallet is complaining all the time

 

[Bradypus]

I'm ready to go anytime, but my vallet is complaining all the time

Not quite sure whether you meant 'wallet' or 'valet'. For a really comfortable upmarket Camino I'd take both

 

[nidarosa]

Looks like we will be having the hills to ourselves again in March - and that I will have a quiet one in October too! September seems to have become the new August and it could be time to start considering July ... but am I the only one who thinks the stats are looking more and more like the cathedral??

 

[Bradypus]

September seems to have become the new August and it could be time to start considering July ...

Certainly matches my experience in mid-September this year. 15 of us were removed from an overcrowded train at Bayonne station and sent by taxi to St Jean at SNCF's expense. The following morning at the pilgrim office I was told that every albergue bed in St Jean had been taken that night and late arrivals had to find private rooms. The idea of "low season" does need to be reconsidered these days.

 

[KinkyOne]

Y

Not quite sure whether you meant 'wallet' or 'valet'. For a really comfortable upmarket Camino I'd take both

It's wallet. Sorry - fingers too fast and brain on holidays

 

[VNwalking]

September seems to have become the new August

Certainly matches my experience in mid-September this year.

Early March last year I was chatting with the person in the SJPP Pilgrims Office after he had stamped my credencial, and he said that October and May were 'usually' the busiest months for them (whatever usually means--I didn't ask), so this may not be such a new phenomenon.
Bottom line is that the Frances will always be busier than other caminos--so if you want space as opposed to company at these times of year, the word to the wise is to find another way. Fortunately there is no shortage.

 

[willydp]

"Unfortunately" I can only start in May, probably arriving 2 May 2017 in SJPDP en leaving there 3 May to Orisson.

 

[trecile]

I walked late August through September this year and plan to walk late June through July next year. I had though that July would be busier than September, so it's nice to know that the opposite is true.

 

[owms2323]

"Unfortunately" I can only start in May, probably arriving 2 May 2017 in SJPDP en leaving there 3 May to Orisson.

It's beautiful time to go, flowers, rushing rivers,sigh....

 

[MaisyQ]

Anxiously waiting for September 2018....

 

[Tracie]

Late August 2017!! Just got my passport in the mail today, so excited: )

 

[willydp]

@ MaisyQ & Tracie
Wait until you booked your airplane ticket

 

[kdespot]

If I were to complain about any aspect of a simply perfect Camino it would be about just a few more pilgrims than I would have preferred. I left SJPdP on Sept 17 of this year and arrived in Santiago on October 20. A friend of mine met me there and we returned to Molinaseca for a night. In the space of two weeks the pilgrim population there had changed completely. There was no one there! Made me wish I had started a week or two later.

 

[Tracie]

@ MaisyQ & Tracie
Wait until you booked your airplane ticket

Have booked my hotel in Paris for the "adjustment time" and got major butterflies. My husband said I'm like a 5 year old standing in a bathroom Que lol

 

[Karen C.]

Tickets bought to arrive Paris May 10th and train straight to Bayonne. On to SJPP May 11th and begin our Camino on the 12th. It will be what it will be!