Walking the Primitivo: average temperature in June / July

[sugargypsy]

Hi,

I'm thinking about doing the Primitivo 2025 in June. I'd actually prefer May as I'd like to walk in late spring, when it's no as hot as during summer, but unfortunately that's not possible due to work.

What are your experiences regarding the temperatures at this time of year? Yes, I know there are no guarantees and every year is different, but I would be particularly interested to know whether the temperatures easily exceed 28 to 30 °C. I get exhausted much faster when walking at higher temperatures ...

 

[davejsy]

I was meant to walk the Primitivo this year in late June early July due to school holidays, and was worried about what the temperatures might be like. In the end it got postponed until next year. But, I would suggest that on the whole the temperature will be ok, but you could hit a heatwave - it's difficult to tell. June in a normal year would be the tail end of Spring in the mountains. This year has been very different to last year in the mountains of NW Spain, so it's difficult to draw comparisons.

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

As you rightly say who knows, but as you ask for our experience:
July '23 (15-28) I think it hit 30 once or twice but it was predominantly in the 22 to 25 degree range. A few rain showers along the way but nothing of consequence until literally walking into Santiago - when it absolutely poured down!
I had Misty starts probably 75% of the time, a couple of them were very cool initially (I think around 4 or 5 degrees ?)

We always talk about layers, the Primitivo is definitely a camino that requires them. On the Hospitales the mist rolled in and the temperature dropped by 10 - 12 degrees in as many minutes.

I actually had exactly the same packing list as I did for my spring Camino Inglès earlier late March last year, including buff, beanie and lightweight puffer jacket - at some point or another everything got used.

 

[trecile]

The CaminoWeather.com website is a good resource

Camino Primitivo - forecast and historical weather

Get a personal daily weather forecast for the Camino Primitivo for the exact dates you're planning to go. Or browse to pick the best time of year.

caminoweather.com

 

[sugargypsy]

@trecile
Very useful website! Seems even July could be o.k. for me to walk. Thanks.

 

[Telelama]

We walked the Primitivo in late May into June in '23 and '24.

In '23, we left Oviedo on May 19th. It was cool and rainy every day for the first week. By cool I mean 15c to 17c. The last week it was very hot and sunny. It was around 30c most days and the sun was unrelenting. We're thankful for our umbrellas to shield us from the sun and umbrella holder so we could still use our walking poles.

In '24, we left Oviedo on May 28th. It was around 15c or less most mornings and rarely got hotter than 24c. We had wonderful overcast days, sometimes mist, a few times light rain. When it was sunny in the afternoons, it never got very hot. We did have a single day were it was at least 30c. The last days in early June were quite cool and the down vest I brought, which I didn't think I as going to need, became quite valuable.

As you noted, the weather can vary greatly.

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

@trecile
Very useful website! Seems even July could be o.k. for me to walk. Thanks.

It's an interesting site but I'm not sure how truly useful it is because it only gives the averages. I just did a forecast starting tomorrow, it showed an average of 24, and yet the real temperatures for the next week in Lugo for example are between 27 and 36 ! The true averages for several places that I've looked at (Oviedo, Lugo, Salas) are 4° higher than the site suggests, the actual expected highs are 10 degrees above (34 - 36!)
I just looked at the Frances for comparison, it says an average of 27 degrees - whereas Leon, Pamplona etc are currently experiencing 38.

Still, at the end of the day I guess it's as good as (if not better than) us throwing in our two cents worth.

 

[David Tallan]

Hi,

I'm thinking about doing the Primitivo 2025 in June. I'd actually prefer May as I'd like to walk in late spring, when it's no as hot as during summer, but unfortunately that's not possible due to work.

What are your experiences regarding the temperatures at this time of year? Yes, I know there are no guarantees and every year is different, but I would be particularly interested to know whether the temperatures easily exceed 28 to 30 °C. I get exhausted much faster when walking at higher temperatures ...

I walked the Primitivo in the first half of July last year (when there was a heat wave on the Frances) and the temperatures didn't get above 25° (if that high), as I remember it. It is cooler in the mountains, and last year's heat wave didn't hit Galicia as hard as the rest of the country, where we were when we came down out of the mountains.