March 2024 - Sarria to Santiago

[Marileep]

Hi All!
We are planning our first Camino for March 2024. Planning to walk from Sarria to Santiago.
Has anyone walked in March before? Any tips? Weather and amount of people?
Thanks so much!
Buen Camino

 

[jcat]

Hi All!
We are planning our first Camino for March 2024. Planning to walk from Sarria to Santiago.
Has anyone walked in March before? Any tips? Weather and amount of people?
Thanks so much!
Buen Camino

I walked the Camino Ingles last March. Had a light rain for about half of the five days of walking, but it was not very cold. Very little people on the Camino Ingles, but Santiago had plenty of pilgrims when I arrived. I imagine a majority of them were on the Frances, so you should have plenty of people around.

 

[Marileep]

Thanks so much!

 

[henrythedog]

Hi All!
We are planning our first Camino for March 2024. Planning to walk from Sarria to Santiago.
Has anyone walked in March before? Any tips? Weather and amount of people?
Thanks so much!
Buen Camino

The last week of March 2024 will be very busy indeed as it’s Easter week. If I were you I would avoid that week like the plague; especially from Sarria to Santiago.

 

[NicP]

Agreed- unless you want to be amongst a tidal wave of people walking from Sarria, maybe avoid Easter week….

 

[Grousedoctor]

We walked the Ingles starting in Ferrol a few years ago during Semana Santa arriving in Santiago the Saturday before Easter. Although we had solid rain for 5 days, it was still a great walk. Because it was Semana Santa, there were a number of Spanish pilgrims heading to SdC, but it was anything but crowded. It’s a more interesting Camino that the end of the Francés from Sarria. And, if it is the Compostela that you’re interested in, it qualifies as you walk more than 100 kms. It’s a good walk and one that I hope to walk again.

 

[dick bird]

Weather

In Galicia in March? Unpredictable. It could get very cold and wet or it might not. Don't let it put you off but you will need a good waterproof jacket/poncho and gloves and beanie.

 

[Marileep]

Thanks everyone! Will have to play around with dates as we have limited time.
And will make sure of packing warm and rain stuff!

 

[wynrich]

We walked the last half of the Camino Frances starting in early March last year. It was quite cold. Not a problem when actually walking but so many hotels and restaurants were not heated we found ourselves shivering a lot. Also we were surprised to find many hotels and albergues were not yet open, even after Sarria. Some said they'd open April 1 and others said they'd open at Easter which was April 17 last year. Those things might not be a problem for you. We were trying to walk short days (only 12 to 15 k per day) so needed more places to be open to make that work. Also last year places were just coming out of covid so that might be why so many places weren't open yet. Next year may be very different.

 

[Marileep]

We walked the last part of the Camino Frances starting in early March last year. It was quite cold. Not a problem when actually walking but so many hotels and restaurants were not heated we found ourselves shivering a lot. Also we were surprised to find many hotels and albergues were not yet open, even after Sarria. Some said they'd open April 1 and others said they'd open at Easter which was April 17 last year. Those things might not be a problem for you. We were trying to walk short days (only 12 to 15 k per day) so needed more places to be open to make that work. Also last year places were just coming out of covid so that might be why so many places weren't open yet. Next year may be very different.

Thanks so much. We actually prefer the cooler weather. Also so far due to school holidays etc we might only be able to go from mid March. So that helps a lot!