Winter camino

[nickymunch]

Hello fellow perigrinos, can the via de la Plata be walked successfully in February to March, regarding weather and availability of albergues? I'm planning to leave Seville on the 31st Jan 2020 and any advice from you all would be very much appreciated.
Thanks
Nicky

 

[LTfit]

It sure can! I walked the Plata first in July 2011 and again starting on February 8, 2014. There were only 5 of us starting out on that day from Sevilla, 1 Spanish from Sevilla, one American from Massachusetts (he stopped in Monasterio), a German, a Uruguayan living in Barcelona and myself. We stayed pretty much together until Zafra then I continued with the Uruguayan till Salamanca where I stopped (finished off the following October). We were alone in most of the albergues and had no problem finding accommodations.

My daughter walked from Sevilla to Zafra a few years back in January and she met no one until her last day at the albergue in Zafra. Who opened the door for her? The American that walked with us a few years before! W
He was starting back up where he left off. Now what is the chance that he would meet my daughter?!? That's the Camino for you

 

[nickymunch]

LTfit, thanks for your reply.....Yep The Camino definitely connects... it’s lovely to hear that many albergues will be open as this did concern me a little, I was planning the Norte originally but the accommodation was very difficult . I’m really happy with what you’ve written and it’s helped to convince me that it’ll be very doable in February. I’m happy to walk solo and not bothered by the isolation that this Camino is known for.
How was the weather at that time of year?

 

[Simon B]

Hello fellow perigrinos, can the via de la Plata be walked successfully in February to March, regarding weather and availability of albergues? I'm planning to leave Seville on the 31st Jan 2020 and any advice from you all would be very much appreciated.
Thanks
Nicky

Nicky - might see you. I walked from Seville to Monestario in March but had to stop due to severe blisters. I plan to step of again from M probably in February - I just hope it will be cool, the temp even in March this year was too much for me!!

 

[nickymunch]

Nicky - might see you. I walked from Seville to Monestario in March but had to stop due to severe blisters. I plan to step of again from M probably in February - I just hope it will be cool, the temp even in March this year was too much for me!!

That’ll be cool Simon B, I’m just hoping it’s not too cold that my water reservoir freezes but from what you write I should be ok!
It’s really not the weather that is my main concern it’s the albergue availability, how’s your research on that going?
Nicky

 

[Deleted member 73526]

Antonio Retamosa's website (and PDF) lists opening dates for albergues. In theory, those with "Abierto todo el año" should be open. In practice, things are less reliable in winter and I would call ahead to verify on some stages where there aren't many options:

GUIA DE ALBERGUES

listado de albergues en la via de la plata

viadelaplataelcamino.blogspot.com

My experience of VDLP and Camino Sanabres was in November and December - Shorter days meant less daylight to cover long distances. There were enough open albergues, but some were cold at night.

 

[nickymunch]

Thanks Raggy for the link and advice, it seems a common thread that it’s more planning required than the CF due to less availability with accommodation but it’ll keep me on my toes.....
Thanks again
Nicky

Antonio Retamosa's website (and PDF) lists opening dates for albergues. In theory, those with "Abierto todo el año" should be open. In practice, things are less reliable in winter and I would call ahead to verify on some stages where there aren't many options:

GUIA DE ALBERGUES

listado de albergues en la via de la plata

viadelaplataelcamino.blogspot.com

My experience of VDLP and Camino Sanabres was in November and December - Shorter days meant less daylight to cover long distances. There were enough open albergues, but some were cold at night.

 

[LTfit]

LTfit, thanks for your reply.....Yep The Camino definitely connects... it’s lovely to hear that many albergues will be open as this did concern me a little, I was planning the Norte originally but the accommodation was very difficult . I’m really happy with what you’ve written and it’s helped to convince me that it’ll be very doable in February. I’m happy to walk solo and not bothered by the isolation that this Camino is known for.
How was the weather at that time of year?

The Vía de la Plata is definately a better choice than the Norte in February. The weather was cool with here and there some rain. I can't remember any albergues with central heating but they did offer some source of heat such as electric radiators on wheels.

We had to cross quite a few arroyos (creeks) due to previous rain but I heard that during the following year in February this was not necessary. The weather is crazy everywhere. Who knows from one year to the next.

 

[wcsjms]

Hello fellow perigrinos, can the via de la Plata be walked successfully in February to March, regarding weather and availability of albergues? I'm planning to leave Seville on the 31st Jan 2020 and any advice from you all would be very much appreciated.
Thanks
Nicky

We will be leaving from Seville in the beginning of January 2020. We trekked the Frances twice in eleven months and are looking forward to the "Camino less traveled". Hopefully, the weather will not be to severe. We have just started our planning ie; distances/albergues, food, etc. We are slow walkers so maybe you will catch up to us along the Way !
Buen Camino !!!!

 

[nickymunch]

That’s great news, I’m leaving Seville on the 31st so probably won’t catch you up but I’ll be looking for updates and tips on the forum if you planned on doing that.
My planning as got as far as Mérida and I’m following the gronze route planner at the moment, I’ve had some confirmation that the albergues on each stage are open but some have not so I’m possibly seeking other options instead of the albergues.
Never a problem on the Frances that I did last April.
Have you any advice with the planning? Accommodation etc.
Thanks
Nicky



M

We will be leaving from Seville in the beginning of January 2020. We trekked the Frances twice in eleven months and are looking forward to the "Camino less traveled". Hopefully, the weather will not be to severe. We have just started our planning ie; distances/albergues, food, etc. We are slow walkers so maybe you will catch up to us along the Way !
Buen Camino !!!!

 

[wcsjms]

That’s great news, I’m leaving Seville on the 31st so probably won’t catch you up but I’ll be looking for updates and tips on the forum if you planned on doing that.
My planning as got as far as Mérida and I’m following the gronze route planner at the moment, I’ve had some confirmation that the albergues on each stage are open but some have not so I’m possibly seeking other options instead of the albergues.
Never a problem on the Frances that I did last April.
Have you any advice with the planning? Accommodation etc.
Thanks
Nicky



M

No planning advice yet, but as we begin to arrive at informed decisions, we will pass it on.

 

[Jay Es]

We are arriving in Seville on the 16th January and making our slow way up the Via de la Plata. Not planning too much, as we like the adventure. Reading around open and closed albergues it seems pretty hit and miss anyway. Though our experience of Camino and Spain is that some thing always turns up. We are taking bivvi bags and good three season sleeping bags with us just incase of no heating and a night outdoors. No doubt you'll catch us up as you go.

 

[Deleted member 73526]

We are taking bivvi bags and good three season sleeping bags with us just incase of no heating and a night outdoors. No doubt you'll catch us up as you go.

Perhaps you’re accustomed to winter camping, in which case have at it. Speaking for myself, I would not carry a bivvi bag for a January Camino - There are places to stay. It gets really cold outside. (For that matter it can get pretty cold inside some of the albergues, so a warm sleeping bag is a must).

 

[Jay Es]

T

Perhaps you’re accustomed to winter camping, in which case have at it. Speaking for myself, I would not carry a bivvi bag for a January Camino - There are places to stay. It gets really cold outside. (For that matter it can get pretty cold inside some of the albergues, so a warm sleeping bag is a must).

Its the "just in case" bit the bivvi is for. emergencies. Id rather be snug in a bivvi bag than not.

 

[Deleted member 73526]

Its the "just in case" bit the bivvi is for. emergencies. Id rather be snug in a bivvi bag than not.

It's your call. For an "emergency" of the "albergue closed" variety, I suggest calling a taxi and getting a ride to the nearest open place. For the "broken leg and no phone signal" or "unexpected weather" kind of emergency, I guess a bivvi could be a lifesaver.

 

[Jay Es]

t's your call. For an "emergency" of the "albergue closed" variety, I suggest calling a taxi and getting a ride to the nearest open place. For the "broken leg and no phone signal" or "unexpected weather" kind of emergency, I guess a bivvi could be a lifesaver.

This is where a bivvi may have been useful. https://www.europapress.es/madrid/n...aba-hacer-camino-santiago-20191122193542.html