Questions about the Camino Invierno for April 2025

[CarlosfromNJ]

[Moderator note: This new thread has been created by moving a few posts from Chrissy's LIVE thread.]

Day 4-
Today was the shortest day I have walked on any Camino. After a great leisurely breakfast that included omelets, we took our time packing up and finally left Sobradelo late morning to walk the 10km we had planned ahead to A Barco. We had a bit of intermittent drizzle, so our umbrellas were up and down a few times, but we had plenty of sunshine, too.

The path followed along the Sil river, with vineyards and pine forests, and mountains on the other side of the river. I happened to think that I've not seen any eucalyptus forests so far. Often we've seen obvious signs of boars rooting around on the sides of these paths. They dig deep for "something", but we don't see them.
I did not take many pictures today, but here are a few.

Chrissy, I'm going to read all your posts about the Invierno. Planning to do this in late April 2025 and right now I'm just going to plan my route as suggested by Gronze. The first 2 stages by Gronze seem like a bit longer than what I prefer. I have a lot of questions which may bore others lol! so if you can reach me at [email removed by moderator; please use private Conversation to exchange contact information], I would very much appreciate it! Buen Camino!

 

[jungleboy]

Chrissy, I'm going to read all your posts about the Invierno. Planning to do this in late April 2025 and right now I'm just going to plan my route as suggested by Gronze. The first 2 stages by Gronze seem like a bit longer than what I prefer. I have a lot of questions which may bore others lol!

Here are some resources to check first:
The Invierno Planning Thread
Invierno Planning Questions 2024

And if you like your planning tips in audio form, our podcast on Invierno planning, which is episode 5.5: Spirit of the Camino Podcast Season 5

Personally, I wouldn't recommend the Gronze stages for the first two days. I'd stay at Villavieja as Chrissy and @Robo also did, which sets you up better for the Las Médulas viewpoint, and then potentially Puente de Domingo Flórez on the second day at Casa Rosa, a recommended albergue (not in Gronze) that everyone loves, especially @trecile (don't get her started on the breakfast!).

 

[C clearly]

I have a lot of questions which may bore others lol!

I cannot imagine what question you might have that would bore others any more or less than the 73,906 threads currently on the forum! I am moving your post to a new thread so you can get ideas from all the Invierno fans on the forum, and help to inform others, without diverting us from Chrissy's journey.

 

[domigee]

[Moderator note: This new thread has been created by moving a few posts from Chrissy's LIVE thread.]


Chrissy, I'm going to read all your posts about the Invierno. Planning to do this in late April 2025 and right now I'm just going to plan my route as suggested by Gronze. The first 2 stages by Gronze seem like a bit longer than what I prefer. I have a lot of questions which may bore others lol! so if you can reach me at [email removed by moderator; please use private Conversation to exchange contact information], I would very much appreciate it! Buen Camino!

Nothing will bore us!
Having just done the Invierno for the 2nd time…
The uphill to Chantada is serious (for me!) I would advise to book Torre Vilariño - a lovely Casa Rural, not cheap (but worth it) - because the next stretch isn‘t easy.
Ask anything you like …

 

[Leemac40]

Here are some resources to check first:
The Invierno Planning Thread
Invierno Planning Questions 2024

And if you like your planning tips in audio form, our podcast on Invierno planning, which is episode 5.5: Spirit of the Camino Podcast Season 5

Personally, I wouldn't recommend the Gronze stages for the first two days. I'd stay at Villavieja as Chrissy and @Robo also did, which sets you up better for the Las Médulas viewpoint, and then potentially Puente de Domingo Flórez on the second day at Casa Rosa, a recommended albergue (not in Gronze) that everyone loves, especially @trecile (don't get her started on the breakfast!).

I've been planning my trip for April on the Invierno so will definitely check out your links, Casa Rosa is unfortunately closed now according to Wise Pilgrim, gutted as I was looking forward to staying there

 

[jungleboy]

Casa Rosa is unfortunately closed now according to Wise Pilgrim, gutted as I was looking forward to staying there

I would check again closer to the time and in any case contact them directly. They asked to be removed from Gronze precisely so as not to have to update when they're open and when they're closed. I would doubt they are permanently closed.

 

[Leemac40]

I would check again closer to the time and in any case contact them directly. They asked to be removed from Gronze precisely so as not to have to update when they're open and when they're closed. I would doubt they are permanently closed.

Aw that's fantastic news, thanks

 

[AchimBerlin]

[Moderator note: This new thread has been created by moving a few posts from Chrissy's LIVE thread.]


Chrissy, I'm going to read all your posts about the Invierno. Planning to do this in late April 2025 and right now I'm just going to plan my route as suggested by Gronze. The first 2 stages by Gronze seem like a bit longer than what I prefer. I have a lot of questions which may bore others lol! so if you can reach me at [email removed by moderator; please use private Conversation to exchange contact information], I would very much appreciate it! Buen Camino!

You could also do the first stage to Borrones where there is an nice family run hotel (only place to stay in town). Then it’s about 5k up to Las Medulas the next morning, which gives you a good opportunity to walk up to the spectacular Mirador de Orellan viewpoint and into the Roman tunnels (another 5k diversion) Then it’s all the way down to Puente.

 

[jungleboy]

Then it’s about 5k up to Las Medulas the next morning, which gives you a good opportunity to walk up to the spectacular Mirador de Orellan viewpoint and into the Roman tunnels (another 5k diversion) Then it’s all the way down to Puente.

You can also take an alternate route directly to the Mirador without going through Las Médulas. This short cut is recommended and discussed in detail in the threads linked above.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I would check again closer to the time and in any case contact them directly. They asked to be removed from Gronze precisely so as not to have to update when they're open and when they're closed. I would doubt they are permanently closed.

Casa Rosa was open when I tried to reserve there in advance about six weeks ago, but she was already fully booked up. I walked past her beautiful exterior a few days ago and it had flowers galore and they did not look wilted. I doubt it is permanently closed.

 

[ArleneLaskey]

Seems like lots of buzz about the Invierno. I am walking it next May - sounds like it might be becoming more popular!

 

[trecile]

Seems like lots of buzz about the Invierno. I am walking it next May - sounds like it might be becoming more popular!

The infrastructure is definitely there for more pilgrims, but I didn't meet many in June this year. Several nights there were just two of us in the albergue.

 

[domigee]

The infrastructure is definitely there for more pilgrims, but I didn't meet many in June this year. Several nights there were just two of us in the albergue.

Same for me in September.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Although I only stayed at one albergue the first night after leaving Ponferrada, where there were ten of us, I have only seen two pilgrims while walking since then in late September so far.

 

[AchimBerlin]

The infrastructure is definitely there for more pilgrims, but I didn't meet many in June this year. Several nights there were just two of us in the albergue.

We walked in May and sometimes met two or four other pilgrims a day. Only near the river Mino-valley there was a group of Spanish cyclists, but that was about it.

 

[caminotim]

I finished the Invierno last week and it was a wonderful experience.

In the early stages I stayed in Villavieja (wonderful albergue but you must bring food), and next night at Orellan which gave me a lot of time to explore Las Médulas area without staying in the town itself.

I walked up to the Mirador before dawn on the full moon eclipse and it was WOW!!

I saw a few pilgrims at Albergues halfway through, but mostly I walked solo and some nights I was alone or with only 1 other pilgrim.

Some of my tips if they’re helpful:
- I couldn’t find consistently up to date information, but I did notice that Wise Pilgrim Invierno app benefits from more recent comments when you dive in. I aggregated information from different sources made my own stages and WP was great for the distances.
- consider a water bottle with filter since not all fountains are labeled. I have a version with an antibacterial and antiviral filter and had no issues.
- I struggled to find a working fountain between Villavieja and Las Médulas. Borrenes didn’t work (the CR didn’t serve non-guests), and in Las Médulas they’d removed all the taps so I filled up at the tourist information centre for free
- learn some basic Spanish for this route if you can-it will help ease your path
- consider when you’ll need to bring a packed lunch and plan the day before or check ahead for tiendas and supermarkets. You may have to go a little off the Camino for these things but the stop is worth it. Plan especially for Sunday and Monday.
- the centro social pontenova in Sobradelo has a good stamp and gave a great tapa on the very warm day I stopped in
- the stamp in Pumares was hidden in the teapot
- in September there were a lot of figs and berries growing wild along the way, and I don’t mean the ones in gardens; but I was offered apples and grapes by farmers who were very kind and generous with their harvest
- consider taking the short walk off the Camino to see Mirador Cabo do Mundo II on the day you leave Monforte de Lemos towards Diomondi - it was wow!
- there’s a free glass of wine for peregrinos at Via Romana Adega (and a stamp) on your way up to Chantada
- Albergues I stayed at tended to have real towels, sheets and pillowcases (included) and I’d only packed a silk liner for the Frances/Invierno
- Some tourist offices have great stamps - like Quiroga. In Lalin you can get a wonderful wax stamp from the Assoc. Peregrinus Dezae (and a certificate for passing there on the Invierno).
- I had a solar umbrella which was super handy for hot days without shade and rainy days as well
- from Lalin you may meet more pilgrims joining from other routes… but more for me was 5-7 in one day
- planning to stop for the night at the wonderful albergue in A Susana, 10km from Santiago gave me a short morning walk in, and a cheaper night than staying the night in Santiago itself
- there were hunters out in the mornings, be prepared to hear them - but this was the same on the Frances too.

 

[VNwalking]

You could also do the first stage to Borrones where there is an nice family run hotel (only place to stay in town). Then it’s about 5k up to Las Medulas the next morning, which gives you a good opportunity to walk up to the spectacular Mirador de Orellan viewpoint and into the Roman tunnels (another 5k diversion) Then it’s all the way down to Puente.

This is similar to what I did, more or less, except that I stayed in Las Médulas.

Borrenes-LM-Sobradelo meant a very short day to LM, giving plenty of time to nose around once I'd dropped my pack where I was staying. It felt like a day off, but totaly worth it. Las Médulas is a fabulous place.