Camino de Invierno up by 42% over same time last year

[BrianLCrabtree]

According to an article in Exprexo.Info, referenced on the Facebook page for the Invierno, the number of pilgrims on the route has increased by 42% compared to the same time in 2023, a total of 2,767 at the time of publication. I walked it in 2023 and thought it was a wonderful balance of solitude and interaction with a few fellow pilgrims.

 

[Robo]

Better get in quick folks.
The tour groups and luggage transfers are already there, so numbers will only increase.
It will probably start to take some pressure off the final stages of the Frances, which is not a bad thing.

 

[Lindsay53]

I walked last month and saw only 4 others until Rodeiro, where there was an influx of about 6 or so who were using a pack transport service. Still a fairly solitary experience though.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I walked the Invierno last September, and other than the first night out of Ponferrada when there were eight of us at the albergue, I only remember seeing two other walker and two bicyclists the rest of the way until we ended in Monforte.

 

[Levi]

I am just back home after walking from Ponferrada to Montforte de Lemos. I saw no other pilgrims during my six days walking.

 

[Robo]

I am just back home after walking from Ponferrada to Montforte de Lemos. I saw no other pilgrims during my six days walking.

Nice

It will be interesting to see how the numbers are during peak season in 25 and 26.

 

[peregrina2000]

It’s fun to watch these numbers. 2800 for approximately 10 months works out to 280 a month, so it’s not surprising that we continue to walk alone more or less. This year was my first Invierno in which I actually encountered other pilgrims.

There are probably still a few years to get yourself over to this route without feeling any “massification”, but I can’t think of any reason why it will not keep on growing in popularity.

 

[High Endeavours]

It’s a wonderful route! It’s taken a while to attract more pilgrims. In 2016 I didn’t see another walker and the locals were very welcoming.

 

[peregrina2000]

I went back and found my thread from my first Invierno in 2011.

And I think i was able to update my google photos link to the pictures. I was surprised to find that so much is still the same! I noted then how plentiful the signage was, and that was before the Xunta spent millions adding mojones every 10 meters or so.

One funny thing you’ll see if you go back through old Invierno threads is how we were predicting over and over again how the route was going to take off. Well, 13 years later, it looks like it is finally coming to pass!

 

[Joseph Carmona]

According to an article in Exprexo.Info, referenced on the Facebook page for the Invierno, the number of pilgrims on the route has increased by 42% compared to the same time in 2023, a total of 2,767 at the time of publication. I walked it in 2023 and thought it was a wonderful balance of solitude and interaction with a few fellow pilgrims.

I walked it in May this year and was surprised to get to the Albergue in Villavieja & it was almost full, mainly Spaniards & a Dutch couple. When you start with very low numbers percentages don't mean much, there will have to be consistency over many years & the major problem is the lack of facilities. It certainly ticks all the other boxes with magnificent scenery but to get large numbers from the Camino Frances to walk a further 56 kms from Ponferrada is particularly hard.

 

[peregrina2000]

the major problem is the lack of facilities.

I am surprised to hear you say that. Did you have problems finding a place to stay? I’ve never had a problem, and even have been able to mix the stages up a bit with the new albergues open along the route.