Frances-Salvador-Primitivo

[Celi Anatrella]

I'm new to this forum and still a bit lost, so I hope I'm posting in the right place...

I'm so excited!!! I got tickets to Paris late in May and my return, early July from Santiago. Now... I'm ready to plan my route! I have 36 days to walk after three nights in Paris and Lourdes. I'm considering starting in SJPdP to Leon, then take the Camino Salvador to Oviedo and the Primitivo to Santiago. Am I crazy? I don't want to walk more than 28 kms/day and it seems to be doable according to the little reading I've done...? Any words of wisdom and do you mind sharing your favorite albergues and routes. This will be my second Camino. First one was Leon to Santiago last summer. THANKS!

 

[Former member 49149]

Welcome to the forum, and well done on your camino of last year!
Your plan sounds great. I loved the Salvador, although it killed my knees, but it is a breathtaking walk. The photo on my avatar is from there. Wishing you a muy Buen Camino... Wisdom? Not so sure I have words to offer in that category, but depending on your style, walking poles are useful.

 

[Felice]

If you walk the Salvador, you either have to walk about 15km a day between accommodation or over 30. Also, the best bit of that camino is the middle section and I see no point in rushing it.

 

[Celi Anatrella]

Welcome to the forum, and well done on your camino of last year!
Your plan sounds great. I loved the Salvador, although it killed my knees, but it is a breathtaking walk. The photo on my avatar is from there. Wishing you a muy Buen Camino... Wisdom? Not so sure I have words to offer in that category, but depending on your style, walking poles are useful.

Thanks, Kirkie! I'm allowing 5 days for El Salvador. Does it sound good?

 

[Celi Anatrella]

If you walk the Salvador, you either have to walk about 15km a day between accommodation or over 30. Also, the best bit of that camino is the middle section and I see no point in rushing it.

Thanks, Felice. 5 days is what I'm allowing for El Salvador. It seems (according to gronze and another one... caminodesantiago.consumer.es if I remember correctly) there are some options. Hoping to make the last day not a 30k so I can spend some time in Oviedo.

 

[peregrina2000]

I'm not @kirkie, but 5 days is very do-able. Have you seen Ender´s guide? It is all you need, and it gives lots of options with staging.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/enders-salvador-guide-in-english.40078/

 

[Oravasaari]

I walked Logrono-Leon-Oviedo-SdC March/April 2017. Take a look at my photos by checking my profile.

 

[peregrina2000]

Just to add -- Ender´s guide shows the two most obvious 5 day routes. Either one will have one day over 30.

Both have the same days 1 and 2 -- León to La Robla (27) and then to Poladura (24)

Two possible day 3
Either to Bendueños (30) or Pajares (15) (In most opinions the stretch from Buiza, which is before Poladura, to Pajares is the crown jewel in the Salvador, so slowing down here might be more your cup of tea. The kms from Poladura to the Puerto de Arbás are simply stunning.)

That gives you differences in days 4 and 5

Bendueños to Mieres (23) to Oviedo (19)

Pajares to Pola de Gordón (25) to Oviedo (34)

So if you want time in Oviedo, the alternative with a stop in Bendueños is preferable, though Poladura to Bendueños might be a killer for some. Do a little searching on the albergue in Bendueños, though, and you will see that it is well worth the effort!!!

 

[Celi Anatrella]

I'm not @kirkie, but 5 days is very do-able. Have you seen Ender´s guide? It is all you need, and it gives lots of options with staging.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/enders-salvador-guide-in-english.40078/

.
Awesome document! Very informative and complete. Thank you very much for sharing it. I need one like this for the Primitivo! . Do you have one? . Any apps or websites you recommend that list the albergues in all the towns that have them (including the Frances)? I'd rather stay in the smaller towns and not where everybody stays if I can help it. Thanks again for your help!

 

[Celi Anatrella]

Just to add -- Ender´s guide shows the two most obvious 5 day routes. Either one will have one day over 30.

Both have the same days 1 and 2 -- León to La Robla (27) and then to Poladura (24)

Two possible day 3
Either to Bendueños (30) or Pajares (15) (In most opinions the stretch from Buiza, which is before Poladura, to Pajares is the crown jewel in the Salvador, so slowing down here might be more your cup of tea. The kms from Poladura to the Puerto de Arbás are simply stunning.)

That gives you differences in days 4 and 5

Bendueños to Mieres (23) to Oviedo (19)

Pajares to Pola de Gordón (25) to Oviedo (34)

So if you want time in Oviedo, the alternative with a stop in Bendueños is preferable, though Poladura to Bendueños might be a killer for some. Do a little searching on the albergue in Bendueños, though, and you will see that it is well worth the effort!!!

Thanks, Peregrina!2000. I see you have walked al least twice this route. Quite the experience! Great for you! Any albergues you prefer or you like more than others in these routes, please? I just copied all the info provided and put it in my research pile... BTW, will the Primitivo be doable in 13 days? I don't want to walk more than 28 kms. I allowed 19 days in the Frances so I can spend the first night in Orisson... I don't want to kill myself, but I'm eager!

 

[Celi Anatrella]

I walked Logrono-Leon-Oviedo-SdC March/April 2017. Take a look at my photos by checking my profile.

HI Oravasaari! What profile are you talking about so I can see your photos, please? I'm a bit lost... new to this forum... So I cannot find any profile here...?

 

[Oravasaari]

HI Oravasaari! What profile are you talking about so I can see your photos, please? I'm a bit lost... new to this forum... So I cannot find any profile here...?

Click on my user name, then media, the photos are in reverse order Leon-Oviedo-SdC.

 

[Celi Anatrella]

Click on my user name, then media, the photos are in reverse order Leon-Oviedo-SdC.

WOW! Breathtaking. I def want to walk there! Worst case scenario... I can take a bus in the Messeta or the like... but allow 5 days for Salvador, 13 for Primiitivo and 19 for SJPdP to Leon. The 2 walking days we had that were over 28 kms in our first camino were killers and I want to avoid that... Do you think that's possible or should I allow more days at the end just in case? Also... I'm traveling solo... are there others that take these routes. I read somewhere that I should not walk alone in some entry of the Salvador... Thanks for your input. Very helpful! Thanks for the pictures. Love it!

 

[Former member 49149]

WOW! Breathtaking. I def want to walk there! Worst case scenario... I can take a bus in the Messeta or the like... but allow 5 days for Salvador, 13 for Primiitivo and 19 for SJPdP to Leon. The 2 walking days we had that were over 28 kms in our first camino were killers and I want to avoid that... Do you think that's possible or should I allow more days at the end just in case? Also... I'm traveling solo... are there others that take these routes. I read somewhere that I should not walk alone in some entry of the Salvador... Thanks for your input. Very helpful! Thanks for the pictures. Love it!

Where did you read that about the Salvador? Although I was not alone, I doubt there would be a problem. Except if you are nervous about being alone.

 

[trecile]

WOW! Breathtaking. I def want to walk there! Worst case scenario... I can take a bus in the Messeta or the like... but allow 5 days for Salvador, 13 for Primiitivo and 19 for SJPdP to Leon. The 2 walking days we had that were over 28 kms in our first camino were killers and I want to avoid that... Do you think that's possible or should I allow more days at the end just in case? Also... I'm traveling solo... are there others that take these routes. I read somewhere that I should not walk alone in some entry of the Salvador... Thanks for your input. Very helpful! Thanks for the pictures. Love it!

I would always allow extra days "just in case". There are plenty of lovely places to visit in Spain if you have extra time.

I'm planning a similar walk this year, but will connect to the Norte after Oviedo because I didn't get to finish it last time.
I'm giving myself 20 days for SJPDP to León, because that's what I did on my first Camino, which included stopping in Orisson. Then 6 days on the Salvador (I can probably do it in 5, but planning an extra day just in case) 14 days from Oviedo to Santiago, and 4 more days for Santiago - Finisterre - Muxia, for a total of 44 walking days. I will also give myself a "cushion" of 3 - 4 more days.

 

[Celi Anatrella]

Where did you read that about the Salvador? Although I was not alone, I doubt there would be a problem. Except if you are nervous about being alone.

Maybe Gronze or Caminodesantiago.consumer or the like. I've been researching a bit to see if I should go ahead and reserve at Lourdes, SJPdP and Orisson...

 

[Celi Anatrella]

I would always allow extra days "just in case". There are plenty of lovely places to visit in Spain if you have extra time.

I'm planning a similar walk this year, but will connect to the Norte after Oviedo because I didn't get to finish it last time.
I'm giving myself 20 days for SJPDP to León, because that's what I did on my first Camino, which included stopping in Orisson. Then 6 days on the Salvador (I can probably do it in 5, but planning an extra day just in case) 14 days from Oviedo to Santiago, and 4 more days for Santiago - Finisterre - Muxia, for a total of 44 walking days. I will also give myself a "cushion" of 3 - 4 more days.

Thanks for your input, Trecile. I just don't have the days, though, this year. I would love to do the last two (Salvador and Primitivo) but I also want to start at SJPdP... I don't think I might ever have the chance to get this long of a break to walk and if I do, it will be with my daughter (she's 5 right now and I'll be older then)... I guess I could take a bus or the like... I'm stubborn, as you can tell! But considering your experiences too. Thanks again!

 

[trecile]

I don't think I might ever have the chance to get this long of a break to walk and if I do, it will be with my daughter (she's 5 right now and I'll be older then).

Your 5 or 6 year old daughter will be walking with you? 28 km a day?
Did she walk with you on your previous Camino?

 

[Celi Anatrella]

Your 5 or 6 year old daughter will be walking with you? 28 km a day?
Did she walk with you on your previous Camino?

No, no, this time I'm going solo. If I go again (hubby wants to go for about 12 days next year for the first time and my 5-year-old would like to go sometime too... so if I ever go again... no, no, let's rephrase it... when I go again in the future, it'll be probably with them...

 

[jpflavin1]

I'm new to this forum and still a bit lost, so I hope I'm posting in the right place...

I'm so excited!!! I got tickets to Paris late in May and my return, early July from Santiago. Now... I'm ready to plan my route! I have 36 days to walk after three nights in Paris and Lourdes. I'm considering starting in SJPdP to Leon, then take the Camino Salvador to Oviedo and the Primitivo to Santiago. Am I crazy? I don't want to walk more than 28 kms/day and it seems to be doable according to the little reading I've done...? Any words of wisdom and do you mind sharing your favorite albergues and routes. This will be my second Camino. First one was Leon to Santiago last summer. THANKS!

Celi:

Sounds like a great plan to me.

The Salvador is a beautiful walk, sparsely traveled, and 5 days is plenty of time.

If you are worried about not having enough time, why don't you start in Pamplona?

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[trecile]

No, no, this time I'm going solo. If I go again (hubby wants to go for about 12 days next year for the first time and my 5-year-old would like to go sometime too... so if I ever go again... no, no, let's rephrase it... when I go again in the future, it'll be probably with them...

Whew! I was worried.

 

[camino07]

I took 6 days on the Salvador, stopped a night in Mieres. walked mainly on my own.

 

[Celi Anatrella]

Celi:

Sounds like a great plan to me.

The Salvador is a beautiful walk, sparsely traveled, and 5 days is plenty of time.

If you are worried about not having enough time, why don't you start in Pamplona?

Ultreya,
Joe

I sort of want to do the Pyrenees! I'm gonna go for it (plan, I mean, then decide when there!)

 

[Celi Anatrella]

Whew! I was worried.

Thanks. I'm adventurous, but

Whew! I was worried.

Thanks. I'm adventurous and ambition but not that crazy. . I hope...