- Time of past OR future Camino
- Too many and too often!
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Back in 2011 when I first walked the Plata I started comparing numbers along the "main" Camino routes including the Plata and continued doing so up until about 2018/19 and noted that the numbers along the Plata remained consistently around 9,000. The last couple of years has shown a drop below 9,000.
Although I'm not at all surprised that the numbers have not followed the other Caminos (due to infrastructure, weather & stages) I can't explain the drop. After having walked the Plata on 3 or 4 different occasions and talking to hospis, it would seem that the "typical" Plata walker is ok with its solitary nature, less infrastructure and often longer stages. It's not for everyone that's clear but there are still walkers out there like me who enjoy such a route.
The huge black pigs made me more nervous. Big sharp teeth in there...I think it is due to the thousands of cows loose in Extremadura!
I think people may be getting out off by it being made out to be harder than it really is.
I agree with both of the above. For some reason, people think they must walk the long distance when 2 short days are possible.I would maintain that, with good pre-planning, it is quite easy to break the VdlP into very manageable stages (only one day put us above a walk of 30 km).
This is an excellent point. I loved the VDLP and I don't favour "hard" routes, but I would only start it in March, April, or October.I think the most important reason is the split season.
Although I'm not at all surprised that the numbers have not followed the other Caminos (due to infrastructure, weather & stages) I can't explain the drop. After having walked the Plata on 3 or 4 different occasions and talking to hospis, it would seem that the "typical" Plata walker is ok with its solitary nature, less infrastructure and often longer stages. It's not for everyone that's clear but there are still walkers out there like me who enjoy such a route. Why the drop?
Exactly. A do-able challenge for anyone who is reasonably resourceful and flexible.A bit of a challenge too. Not too of one I hope
Nah, they were nice and friendly, big and noisy and they had this tendency to trot behind you... I never walked so fast lolThe huge black pigs made me more nervous. Big sharp teeth in there...
I lived on turrón on the VdlP lolI loved the VDLP and didn't find it particularly challenging. But I didn't like the lack of food services in so many areas. Not being able to make regular stops at bars for coffee and food sucked. And eating peanut butter and crackers for dinner and breakfast yet again because I neglected to stock up on food the day before and there was nothing open in the village when I arrived sucked, but that was my own fault. And I had a couple weeks of cold rainy weather. But those things aside, I loved it more than the CF. Mostly because of the lack of pilgrims. It's an awesome feeling walking all alone under that big sky.
As long as you know what to expect... it's a blast. Buen camino.I'll be walking the VDLP, starting in Sevilla, at the end of March. This will be my third Camino (2nd route). I'm a bit anxious at the challenges of the lack of infrastructure support and the solitary nature of the Camino. Unlike so many here (on the forums in general), I don't view the significant lack of pilgrims as a great benefit of this route. I recently watched the youtube vlogs of an older gentleman who walked the VDLP and he commented on how he and others would purposely slow down or speed up to avoid catching up to each other; presumably because catching up and saying hello to each other was a situation to be avoided at all costs? I found that sad. While I don't like or want a conga line of pilgrims, 5 pilgrims purposely avoiding each other on 27 kilometer stages isn't the environment I hope to find either. In any case, I chose this route as a physical and spiritual challenge foremost, yet hope to meet interesting friendly folks along the way. But, I'll adapt to whatever I find.
I think that the VdlP attracts a fairly high percentage of solitaries like myself. People who are happier on their own. I often enjoy my random meetings with other pilgrims while walking but I do not seek them out. I would not actively avoid contact with others by changing my pace but I would not deliberately speed up or slow down in order to meet up with another walker either. That would feel intrusive to me. My first Camino experience was very solitary - I probably met no more than 30 other pilgrims between SJPDP and Santiago. I am quite happy with that level of contact. I think you will probably discover quite quickly which of your fellow pilgrims welcome company and which would prefer to walk alone.While I don't like or want a conga line of pilgrims, 5 pilgrims purposely avoiding each other on 27 kilometer stages isn't the environment I hope to find either.
Yes that pretty much describes me too. I do like meeting folks and am outgoing and very socialable, but also enjoy my own company and just being alone with my thoughts! Certainly always walk alone for the majority of the day and quite like an informal meet up in evenings for a drink or dinner but not a fan of Camino family type things. I am a slow walker anyway although I like to walk a long day so I will just see how things pan out! Bring it on I guess!I think that the VdlP attracts a fairly high percentage of solitaries like myself. People who are happier on their own. I often enjoy my random meetings with other pilgrims while walking but I do not seek them out. I would not actively avoid contact with others by changing my pace but I would not deliberately speed up or slow down in order to meet up with another walker either. That would feel intrusive to me. My first Camino experience was very solitary - I probably met no more than 30 other pilgrims between SJPDP and Santiago. I am quite happy with that level of contact. I think you will probably discover quite quickly which of your fellow pilgrims welcome company and which would prefer to walk alone.
Agreed,. Any socially adept person should be able to discover rather quickly if someone prefers to not be bothered. Both of my experiences walking the Camino Frances were deeply enriched by the variety of people that I met along the way. I'm hopeful that remains true on the VDLP.I think that the VdlP attracts a fairly high percentage of solitaries like myself. People who are happier on their own. I often enjoy my random meetings with other pilgrims while walking but I do not seek them out. I would not actively avoid contact with others by changing my pace but I would not deliberately speed up or slow down in order to meet up with another walker either. That would feel intrusive to me. My first Camino experience was very solitary - I probably met no more than 30 other pilgrims between SJPDP and Santiago. I am quite happy with that level of contact. I think you will probably discover quite quickly which of your fellow pilgrims welcome company and which would prefer to walk alone.
But do you consider 2 to be "a significant number" in this context?I am aware from earlier planning that there are a significant number of +30km days between Sevilla and Salamanca
As you said, they were delightful welcoming creatures when I walked through their paddocks - happy pigs, tender tasting jamon, wealthier farmers.The huge black pigs made me more nervous. Big sharp teeth in there...
Exactly my point. I'm still struggling with the lack of facilities comments. If people want the ability to stop every 5kms for a latte then yes, but I never went hungry or missed a good dinner/late lunch. Walking in April there were plenty of pilgrims albeit most were retired. I made lifelong friends and even met my partner enroute. At one stage I paused to get out of synch with a large group putting pressure on facilities. Although for some the distances may be longer the terrain is easy going, the heat avoidable and for the want of carrying a banana or two and not having an hourly coffee fix could hardly be described as arduous. Aside from being made out to be overly challenging by some it may simply come down to the extra time needed compared with most other routes and therefore get factored out.But do you consider 2 to be "a significant number" in this context?
That's it, as far as I can tell, and as experienced! There are simple ways to get taxi assist for those stages if necessary. Everywhere else can be walked in stages under 30 km, and under 25 km in most cases.
- Castilblanco to Almaden de la Plata is about 30 km
- Casar de Caceres to Cañaveral is about 34 km
I think the number of pilgrims who do indeed want that is pretty high already and only increasing.Exactly my point. I'm still struggling with the lack of facilities comments. If people want the ability to stop every 5kms for a latte then yes,
I think people may be getting out off by it being made out to be harder than it really is. I don't think it's harder physically than some and didn't think there was an issue with facilities.
If people want the ability to stop every 5kms for a latte then yes,
So this last time I spent the night in Caceres. I like that place. The next day I only walked the 11km or so to Casar. It was a nice chill walk for a bit of a "near-0" day.- Caceres to Cañaveral by bus - apparently no bus from Casar de Caceres.
Not entirely convinced. My experience has generally been that as older people drop off the perch another generation of wrinklies comes along to replace them. Something that is becoming all too personal lately...Many VdlP walkers are older with at least one completed camino under their belts.
That population might be giving pause to VdlP.
That struck me too. Spanish pilgrims are a minority overall in the Compostela figures these days (about 44% last year) but still a definite majority on the VdlP. And while pilgrims from the US have grown to be the largest non-Spanish group receiving Compostelas (about 8% last year) they only make up about 3% of those on the VdlP - behind the Spanish, Portuguese, Italians and Germans. Why are US pilgrims so much more likely to choose other routes and be disproportionately scarce on the VdlP?It is also curious about the proportion of nationalities...
its all about marketing.That struck me too. Spanish pilgrims are a minority overall in the Compostela figures these days (about 44% last year) but still a definite majority on the VdlP. And while pilgrims from the US have grown to be the largest non-Spanish group receiving Compostelas (about 8% last year) they only make up about 3% of those on the VdlP - behind the Spanish, Portuguese, Italians and Germans. Why are US pilgrims so much more likely to choose other routes and be disproportionately scarce on the VdlP?
There were only few pilgrims when I walked it (it was June!) . Nationalities: 2 French (me included), 1 English (my husband), another French/Moroccan lady, 3 Spanish, 2 Italians, one from Holland and a Canadian.I can't offer any empirical evidence. But I swear the VDLP is older. Maybe it is because they (we) are the only ones with the guts to do it. Maybe they just like the terrain profiles. It is also curious about the proportion of nationalities...
That's because you walked in the "wrong" direction; not walking to Santiago, what pilgrims normally do. So of course you would see every pilgrim walking within those 48 hours.Interesting.
My experience of the VDLP was quite brief, walking southbound from Zamora to Villanueva de Campeán in 2022 on my Way to Portugal and Fátima, but over the course of just over 48H spread over three days, I encountered about 60 or more pilgrims, which I understand is more than most encounter on the whole VDLP.
Not so much the only ones with the guts to do it, but the only ones with the time I think. Us older people are retired and don't need to plan around limited holiday time.I can't offer any empirical evidence. But I swear the VDLP is older. Maybe it is because they (we) are the only ones with the guts to do it. Maybe they just like the terrain profiles. It is also curious about the proportion of nationalities...
Only encountered 3 from the US and only 1 Spaniard. The largest national grouping were Germans. I wonder if the national breakdown is affected much by the different starting locations ? I did meet in SdC one American and his young son who proudly told me they had just completed the VdP. Impressed at the young man's fortitude I asked where they had started from. Ourense !That struck me too. Spanish pilgrims are a minority overall in the Compostela figures these days (about 44% last year) but still a definite majority on the VdlP. And while pilgrims from the US have grown to be the largest non-Spanish group receiving Compostelas (about 8% last year) they only make up about 3% of those on the VdlP - behind the Spanish, Portuguese, Italians and Germans. Why are US pilgrims so much more likely to choose other routes and be disproportionately scarce on the VdlP?
That very steep hill as you leave Ourense should qualify for a Compostela of its own!That’s a true pilgrim. I hope they did walk the whole way and didn’t use the bus.
Via de la Plata from Ourense to Santiago Last 100km
I found the Via de la Plata very similar in numbers to my first Camino Frances though the accommodation on the VdlP was usually of better standard than I remember from that first Camino.I think that Via de la Plata is ideal for people trying to do just a pilgrimage without the distractions you would find on the most popular Camino Frances.
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