April/May '19 - Three weeks - Which route?!?

[nickymd1]

I miss walking the Camino. A lot. So rather than continue my walk through Germany and France to get to Spain in the three weeks I can take off next Easter/start of May, I'm wanting to fly down and spend that time in Iberia. I've walked about 1400km on the Camino so I wouldn't consider myself a newbie, but I'm not wanting to walk the CdN again - it was too wonderful to not do the whole thing.

So I need some advice! Which route would YOU do if you were going at the same time of year and for the same length of time?
And WHY?

Facts:

• I have 21 full, non-travelling days to walk
• +2 days that could - in the case of easy fly ins - be added or be two half/short days
• Current dates are 13.04.19 - 5.05.19 (see next point)
• I'm flying from Germany, so I could potentially do most of my travel on the Friday (12th) and Sunday nights (5th)
• I'm not the biggest fan of walking in the rain...
• I'd like to hit SdC or Muxia/Finisterra; I find that it creates a nice 'rounding off' to the trip which my personality needs
• I'm also not keen to walk completely alone. When I want isolation, I walk in Germany where I'm the only pilgrim for days!
• I'm going over Easter but don't want to have to deal with the bed race every night for weeks - I've been there and done that on my CdN in high summer! I'm expecting that there will be times when I need to set out earlier or book; that being said, I'd like it not to be the whole trip if possible.

Options
- Burgos - SdC
- Leon - SdC - Muxia
- C. Primitivo - SdC - Muxia/Finisterra
- Porto - SdC - Muxia/Finisterra (either route would fit into my schedule I think)
- Other...

Help?

 

[notion900]

Start the Via de la Plata. You will finish up somewhere around Merida, which is a very interesting place and a nice sense of completion, from there you can get the train to Madrid. Why? VDLP has narrow seasonal windows of when the weather is good, for which April - May is ideal. You can then do more of it in coming years (you can tell I like unfinished business). Also you won't be on your own but bed racing is unlikely.

 

[SuperPilgrim]

Burgos onward is the easy answer. Truly amazing. You have a lifetime ahead of you so no worries.

Buen Camino

 

[Marc S.]

If you want to walk part of the Frances, I would start in Burgos. The meseta is not be missed I think.

Just to make the choice more difficult, another option. Why not walk the Salvador from Leon to Oviedo, and then continue to Santiago on the Primitivo ? That's what I did in April some years ago. It was excellent.

 

[Sandra Riordan]

Start the Via de la Plata. You will finish up somewhere around Merida, which is a very interesting place and a nice sense of completion, from there you can get the train to Madrid. Why? VDLP has narrow seasonal windows of when the weather is good, for which April - May is ideal. You can then do more of it in coming years (you can tell I like unfinished business). Also you won't be on your own but bed racing is unlikely.

Agree

 

[holhum]

I also have three weeks, in June 19. I picked Leon to SDC because I am coming from Australia and I want the satisfaction of making it to SDC. I chose there to take the pressure off walking fast as I was concerned I might not make it from Burgos. Also, the idea of the meseta doesn't appeal, as it sounds a lot like our Australian landscapes and I want to see something very different to home.

 

[Davey Boyd]

I'm with Marc S. Walk the Salvador (Leon to Oviedo) then the Primitivo. Two full camino's, ending in Santiago and in my opinion the prettiest in Spain (so far).

Whatever you decide...Buen Camino!
Davey

 

[nickymd1]

I'm with Marc S. Walk the Salvador (Leon to Oviedo) then the Primitivo. Two full camino's, ending in Santiago and in my opinion the prettiest in Spain (so far).

Whatever you decide...Buen Camino!
Davey

Thanks guys, that isn't an option I'd considered. @Davey Boyd and @Marc S. I guess my concern with the Salvador is that it'll be very quiet that time of year - but I know next to nothing about it! I'm not one to want to walk all day without seeing anyone; I've experienced more than enough of that here in Germany and I know it lowers my enjoyment substantially. Are there going to be enough pilgrims out and about on the Salvador at that time of year? (Not worried about the Primitivo, I'm well acquainted with the northern crowd )

I also have three weeks, in June 19. I picked Leon to SDC because I am coming from Australia and I want the satisfaction of making it to SDC. I chose there to take the pressure off walking fast as I was concerned I might not make it from Burgos. Also, the idea of the meseta doesn't appeal, as it sounds a lot like our Australian landscapes and I want to see something very different to home.

@holhum I think you'll find that you'll manage that distance really easily and you'll likely want to keep going to the coast. If you can, I recommend the trek to Finisterra. There's something magical about it that you can't explain. I'm not hugely excited about the meseta either (it sounds like the South African Karoo) but so many people have told me it's unforgettable, hence the consideration. I hope you have a wonderful time! Buen Camino!

 

[Marc S.]

Are there going to be enough pilgrims out and about on the Salvador at that time of year?

When I walked in April there were 5-6 others walking the same pace as me (and we all met in the same albergues at night - there is only a limited number of albergues) & Salvador numbers seem to be on the up a bit. So it is likely to be more crowded than the German camino's (not very hard, I know....) but I can not give guarantees of course.

 

[nickymd1]

When I walked in April there were 5-6 others walking the same pace as me (and we all met in the same albergues at night - there is only a limited number of albergues) & Salvador numbers seem to be on the up a bit. So it is likely to be more crowded than the German camino's (not very hard, I know....) but I can not give guarantees of course.

Thanks Marc! Appreciate that!