LIVE from the Camino Camino Vasco del Interior or Camino del Norte?

[Jane Ginter]

We are here near Irun on the Camino on 18 March 2015 and trying to decide if we should go south on the Tunnel Route and join up the Camino Frances or go north along the sea. Any advice? We are in our early 60's.

Is the Interior route well marked?

Jane and Bob from Alaska

 

[Jan_D]

Hi Jane,

I haven't done the Interior Route, but from what I gather it's definitely a 'road less travelled': beautiful, rural, Basque... but also quite isolated (not many other pilgrims, or albergues), and you also have to watch out for weather conditions.

So I guess it depends on what sort of 'experience' you're after: if you enjoy walking alone, don't mind paying for private accommodation, and are comfortable with fickle winter weather, then do the Interior… On the del Norte, on the other hand, you'll meet up with more pilgrims and have the option of staying in albergues/ refugios, so less worry about planning things in advance, as well as having the chance to experience some great historical cities and beautiful landscapes/ seascapes along the way. You can also do the Camino del Salvador from Ovideo-Leon to catch up with the Frances a bit later if you so wish.

 

[Castilian]

If you are looking for a less traveled route, you could walk on the Norte till Bilbao and, once in Bilbao, continue on the Camino Olvidado till it joins the Francés and if by then you think the Francés might be too crowded for you, you could go from Columbrianos to Ponferrada and continue on the Invierno and the Sanabrés till you finally reach Santiago de Compostela.