Camino San Salvador

[KathrynW]

Started in Leon 4 days ago. This walk is stunning. Very beautiful with quiet Albergues/pensions. Last day tomorrow. Big climbs and many steep paths. If you are fed up with the battle for beds on the Frances - I would recommend this.

 

[Davey Boyd]

I totally agree Kathryn, my favorite Camino so far! Hope to walk it again this year.

Davey

 

[norelle]

I enjoyed my camino San Salvador last year and will walk it again one day!

It was peaceful and beautiful.

buen camino

 

[KathrynW]

Just 5 of "us" walking each day. Good times.

 

[peregrina2000]

Started in Leon 4 days ago. This walk is stunning. Very beautiful with quiet Albergues/pensions. Last day tomorrow. Big climbs and many steep paths. If you are fed up with the battle for beds on the Frances - I would recommend this.

Hi, Kathryn, it's one of my favorites too. Just wondering how crowded it is now, when I was there a few weeks ago there were usually about six of us. You say quiet albergues and pensiones, can you give us an idea of the numbers?

 

[peregrina2000]

Oops, I see you answered my question before I asked it . What stages did you do? By any chance did you get to the wonderful new albergue in Bendueños?

 

[KathrynW]

5

Hi, Kathryn, it's one of my favorites too. Just wondering how crowded it is now, when I was there a few weeks ago there were usually about six of us. You say quiet albergues and pensiones, can you give us an idea of the numbers?

 

[KathrynW]

5

5 of us. (2 Spanish, 1 Irish, 2 UK)

 

[KathrynW]

5

Oops, I see you answered my question before I asked it . What stages did you do? By any chance did you get to the wonderful new albergue in Bendueños?

5 days (La Robla, Poladura de la Tercia, Pajares, Pola de Lena, Oviedo).

 

[Bad Pilgrim]

Started in Leon 4 days ago. This walk is stunning. Very beautiful with quiet Albergues/pensions. Last day tomorrow. Big climbs and many steep paths. If you are fed up with the battle for beds on the Frances - I would recommend this.

Uhm yes, the views are stunning... I just thought it was Really. Really. Hard. I promised myself, in Oviedo, that I would never do it again. Then again, I did it in 4 stages, so perhaps I was pushing myself too hard. The thing is that other pilgrims I met also did it in four or five stages and they were like "Ok it's a bit hard..." and then they would shrug their shoulders. Am I really the only one who actually suffered?

/BP

 

[Davey Boyd]

Uhm yes, the views are stunning... I just thought it was Really. Really. Hard. I promised myself, in Oviedo, that I would never do it again. Then again, I did it in 4 stages, so perhaps I was pushing myself too hard. The thing is that other pilgrims I met also did it in four or five stages and they were like "Ok it's a bit hard..." and then they would shrug their shoulders. Am I really the only one who actually suffered?

/BP

I didn't find it too hard, but then I had walked from Geneva so I was totally fit by then, plus I did it in six days - La Robla, Buiza, Pajares, Pola de Lena, Mieres, Oviedo. 4 days would of been very tough I think! What surprised me was a Spanish family walking it with children aged 8 and 10, the parents were as tired at the end of the day as the rest of us, but the kids breezed it! They were still running around in the evenings!

Davey

 

[KathrynW]

Uhm yes, the views are stunning... I just thought it was Really. Really. Hard. I promised myself, in Oviedo, that I would never do it again. Then again, I did it in 4 stages, so perhaps I was pushing myself too hard. The thing is that other pilgrims I met also did it in four or five stages and they were like "Ok it's a bit hard..." and then they would shrug their shoulders. Am I really the only one who actually suffered?

/BP

It is tough at times but the views make it worthwhile. The hardest part is the overgrown green lanes/paths. They always lead to amazing vista's though...and Oviedo is beautiful.

 

[OzAnnie]

Uhm yes, the views are stunning... I just thought it was Really. Really. Hard. I promised myself, in Oviedo, that I would never do it again. Then again, I did it in 4 stages, so perhaps I was pushing myself too hard. The thing is that other pilgrims I met also did it in four or five stages and they were like "Ok it's a bit hard..." and then they would shrug their shoulders. Am I really the only one who actually suffered?

/BP

Hi BP
Your take on the Salvador is really surprising me as I've read quite a few of your posts and know you're very capable. You were either not feeling well that time, or took a detour ?, or possibly walked in hotter weather ?
Truly just trying to explain how it was for me, setting out alone but running into around 4 others over the few days - I found it hard only in places but nothing too hard. The glorious views I think shut out any memories of difficulties -
I had the same 4 overnight stops as Kathryn between Leon and Oviedo , making it a 5 day walk. The last day did seem to go on and on tho.
I'd do it again and I'm an old girl.
Buen Camino
Annie

 

[Texasguy]

Planning to start the Salvador from Leon on August 13. Should I try to book accommodations ahead? I never walked in the summer, and knowing is is Spain's vacation time, I am starting to get worry. I have decided to go for a couple of days since the rumors are Spain will be closed again this Winter. I am missing My Camino fix!!

Texasguy

 

[Canche]

I am starting the San Salvador Sept. 2 I had hoped to start Sept 3rd but the albergue in Cabanillas didn't have space on the 3rd. La Robla is too far for us. Now online I see that the algergues in La Robla and Buiza are closed. Is that the case? If not where can we stay and what is the situation on the rest o San Salvador. We do not want to walk long days.

 

[Canche]

Started in Leon 4 days ago. This walk is stunning. Very beautiful with quiet Albergues/pensions. Last day tomorrow. Big climbs and many steep paths. If you are fed up with the battle for beds on the Frances - I would recommend this.

Are albergues open in La Robla and Buiza. Website says closed.

 

[trecile]

Pilgrims walking the Salvador this summer have been staying in pensiones and hostales in towns where the albergues are closed.
Here are a couple of recent threads.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/accommodation-problems-on-the-salvador.70830/

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/la-robla-help-friday-august-13.71027/

 

[peregrina2000]

Are albergues open in La Robla and Buiza. Website says closed.

Yes, they are closed. There are two pensiones in La Robla, but I would definitely recommend contacting them to see about a bed. I have not had any direct contact with them because the people I called for wanted to walk on to Pola de Gordón.

In Pola de Gordón (about 7.5 km beyond La Robla), there are also two pensiones. There had been workers staying in both of those pensiones during the week. Pilgrims were able to sleep there on weekends, but it was dicey during weekdays. The Pensión 15 de mayo uses WhatsApp and the Mesón de Miguel does not, but I have spoken to them on the phone.

In Buiza, you are left with nowhere to stay, I am afraid. There is some fancy casa rural type place up there but I have heard loud and clear from them that this is not a pilgrim place.

After Buiza, the next possible stop is Poladura de la Tercia. Albergue closed but the wonderful Casa Rural Posada de Embrujo is giving pilgrims great deals and serves a very nice meal.

Pajares has two places to stay, again the albergue is closed. But there is both a Pensión Mirador and a Casa Rural, Posada Real

Gronze shows that the new albergue in Llanos de Somerón is open (at least there is no indication that it is closed). Bendueños, a few km further on, is in theory open, but several pilgrims have been unable to stay there. On both occasions Sandra said she was closed because of something.

Campomanes has two pensiones. Pola de Gordón has a hotel and a pensión, and Mieres has lots of options.

The threads @trecile linked to have more information, but if you post your proposed stages,the Salvador veterans can help.

Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Canche]

Oops, I see you answered my question before I asked it . What stages did you do? By any chance did you get to the wonderful new albergue in Bendueños?

Leaving Leon for San Salvador tomorrow. Super excited. Meeting Ender in La Robla in a couple if days. Thrill of a lifetime Got taxi service for backpacks thank God

 

[peregrina2000]

Leaving Leon for San Salvador tomorrow. Super excited. Meeting Ender in La Robla in a couple if days. Thrill of a lifetime Got taxi service for backpacks thank God

Glad you got taxi service for your packs, that was something that seemed unclear — you should post more about that when you get back so others can find it more easily.

And tell Ender not to forget that I’m coming a few days behind you, fingers crossed!

Buen camino, @Canche!

 

[trecile]

This was posted on the Salvador FB group recently:

 

[Canche]

Glad you got taxi service for your packs, that was something that seemed unclear — you should post more about that when you get back so others can find it more easily.

And tell Ender not to forget that I’m coming a few days behind you, fingers crossed!

Buen camino, @Canche!

I will tell Ender. Hope i can meet up you at some point, perhaps in Santiago I will post more later on my experiences. Buen camino. P S you will probablypass me