Demographic of VDLP pilgrim in recent years

[JustJack]

I’ve read in a few places that the typical pilgrim on the VDLP is an older European man. Not everyone of course, but this would be the largest demographic. Just wondering if that’s still the case or does it attract a broader demographic in 2024. For anyone that’s walked it in the past couple years - was there a wide variety of demographics in the pilgrims you met? Good mix of men, women, young and old? From all over the world?

I’ll be starting from Seville next month and curious how different it will be compared to the CF. Far fewer pilgrims I realize.

 

[Bradypus]

I saw this article fairly recently. A few details stuck out while reading it. The large difference in numbers of men and women - 72% men recorded on the VdlP while for the Santiago overall stats women make up 53%. Although the USA makes up the largest non-Spanish nationality in the overall figures they are a minor feature on the VdlP. The percentage of Spanish pilgrims is far lower on the VdlP where foreign pilgrims dominate the figures. I have walked the VdlP twice but mostly in winter when there were very few pilgrims to meet so my personal observations were limited but those numbers do seem plausible.

El resurgir de la peregrinación por los caminos de Santiago en Zamora no oculta su situación endémica

Una radiografía de los Caminos en Zamora en busca de revertir la “penosa” situación

www.zamora24horas.com

 

[Peregrinopaul]

I saw this article fairly recently. A few details stuck out while reading it. The large difference in numbers of men and women - 72% men recorded on the VdlP while for the Santiago overall stats women make up 53%. Although the USA makes up the largest non-Spanish nationality in the overall figures they are a minor feature on the VdlP. The percentage of Spanish pilgrims is far lower on the VdlP where foreign pilgrims dominate the figures. I have walked the VdlP twice but mostly in winter when there were very few pilgrims to meet so my personal observations were limited but those numbers do seem plausible.

El resurgir de la peregrinación por los caminos de Santiago en Zamora no oculta su situación endémica

Una radiografía de los Caminos en Zamora en busca de revertir la “penosa” situación

www.zamora24horas.com

I find that interesting. My impression of my three VdlPs is that the pilgrims were overwhelmingly male. The women I met were usually walking as a couple.

 

[alexwalker]

When I walked VdlP in 2012-2013, it was dominated by old men. I was one of them, then 58-59.

 

[pinkwadingbird]

When I walked the VDLP in 2018 my recollection is that there were more men than women but not by a lot. There was also a nice mix of ages. A 40-ish gentleman with his 10-year old son, young post-college types, middle-aged couples and retirees like me.

 

[AntonM]

Roughly, I've seen a bit more than 20 pilgrims this year, 8 of which were female but I might have miscounted as this is from memory. Ages fairly mixed.

But yeah, sample size is small, if I hadnt briefly met a mother walking with her two daughters, my statistics would already be quite different.

 

[geraldkelly]

When I first walked the Via (Seville to Merida) I didn't meet a single pilgrim.

Next time (Seville to Astorga) I met 3 German guys, all in their 50s.

Recently it's gotten more diverse, different nationalities and more women, but still older and more male than the CF, much more Spanish too (before there was hardly any).

I don't have statistics but I'd say the Germans are still the largest group.

 

[Tom Conklin]

In 2022 I wrote this: There are a lot of late middle aged men on the Via. It sort of makes sense because it is the Camino for more experienced pilgrims who have time on their hands. There are younger folk but they are often stuck listening to chat about pensions and arthritis.

 

[alexwalker]

There are younger folk but they are often stuck listening to chat about pensions and arthritis.

What's wrong with arthritis? It means you have many Caminos in your knees. Like me.

 

[geraldkelly]

pensions and arthritis

If it stops there you can consider yourself lucky!

 

[el-pe]

Last year it was mostly older men, several few couples, a few single women, mostly German. Almost everyone was experienced, many retired - all had a good time.

 

[sprinto]

When I walked VdlP in 2012-2013, it was dominated by old men. I was one of them, then 58-59.

Old men ?
I plan to walk the Vdlp in 2026
I will be a very young and spritely 66

 

[Bradypus]

Old men ?
I plan to walk the Vdlp in 2026
I will be a very young and spritely 66

I walked for the second time in January and February 2022. I was a worn-out wreck at 60...

 

[alexwalker]

I’ve read in a few places that the typical pilgrim on the VDLP is an older European man. Not everyone of course, but this would be the largest demographic. Just wondering if that’s still the case or does it attract a broader demographic in 2024. For anyone that’s walked it in the past couple years - was there a wide variety of demographics in the pilgrims you met? Good mix of men, women, young and old? From all over the world?

I’ll be starting from Seville next month and curious how different it will be compared to the CF. Far fewer pilgrims I realize.

Very different.

As you walk in April, hope for not too hot weather. You are after all walking through the Extremadura district (Extremely Durable; just sayin') from Sevilla & up.

Alwasy have sufficient water: In the first days, there will be (I think 2) of 40 kms. with nothing. If you cannot walk 40K, meke arrangements to detour or whatever.

This is not the CF: There are far fever places to stop during the days. Do not rely on a cafe popping up each 6-8 kms.

The vastness of the landscape is enormous: The path points forward into eternity in several places, it seems.

You will not likely meet many pilgrims each day.

I advice a rest day in Merida, Salamanca and Zamora.

Merida: Spectacular Roman remains: It was a retirement town (how convenient for us old men walking ) for Roman legionnaires (soldiers) after end of duty.

Mérida, Spain - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Roman Theatre (Mérida) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Salamanca: Big university city with the largest Plaza Mayor in Spain (larger than in Madrid).

Salamanca - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Zamora: Great city.

Zamora, Spain - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Buen Camino!

 

[brian560]

Very different.

As you walk in April, hope for not too hot weather. You are after all walking through the Extremadura district (Extremely Durable; just sayin') from Sevilla & up.

Alwasy have sufficient water: In the first days, there will be (I think 2) of 40 kms. with nothing. If you cannot walk 40K, meke arrangements to detour or whatever.

This is not the CF: There are far fever places to stop during the days. Do not rely on a cafe popping up each 6-8 kms.

The vastness of the landscape is enormous: The path points forward into eternity in several places, it seems.

You will not likely meet many pilgrims each day.

I advice a rest day in Merida, Salamanca and Zamora.

Merida: Spectacular Roman remains: It was a retirement town (how convenient for us old men walking ) for Roman legionnaires (soldiers) after end of duty.

Mérida, Spain - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Roman Theatre (Mérida) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Salamanca: Big university city with the largest Plaza Mayor in Spain (larger than in Madrid).

Salamanca - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Zamora: Great city.

Zamora, Spain - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Buen Camino!

I like to say that the Via de la Plata is more an Odessey than a walk. Also, I would carry breakfast and lunch for the day and carry coffee bags and a collapsible cup. Most of the public Albergue's have a microwave at least and only the bigger towns have cafe's open in the morning.

 

[High Endeavours]

Very different.

As you walk in April, hope for not too hot weather. You are after all walking through the Extremadura district (Extremely Durable; just sayin') from Sevilla & up.

Alwasy have sufficient water: In the first days, there will be (I think 2) of 40 kms. with nothing. If you cannot walk 40K, meke arrangements to detour or whatever.

This is not the CF: There are far fever places to stop during the days. Do not rely on a cafe popping up each 6-8 kms.

The vastness of the landscape is enormous: The path points forward into eternity in several places, it seems.

You will not likely meet many pilgrims each day.

I advice a rest day in Merida, Salamanca and Zamora.

Merida: Spectacular Roman remains: It was a retirement town (how convenient for us old men walking ) for Roman legionnaires (soldiers) after end of duty.

Mérida, Spain - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Roman Theatre (Mérida) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Salamanca: Big university city with the largest Plaza Mayor in Spain (larger than in Madrid).

Salamanca - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Zamora: Great city.

Zamora, Spain - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Buen Camino!

Haha! Let’s not scare the question presenter quite yet! When I walked the Plata in spring 2014 without a guide book I didn’t experience any 40 km stages during the first week. I looked at my blog record and there was one stage of just over 30km and the rest were generally between 22-25km. For sure there were longer stages later on, one that was around 45km, and I could have broken it up, but I chose not to. I also doubled up a number of stages because I was able to.
For what’s it’s worth there were just a few more men than women, including 6 women who started solo. Mostly ranging in age from 45-60. It really is luck of the draw. My experience could have been completely different if I’d started a few days earlier or later than when I did. Every day I walked solo and didn’t see others until they arrived later in the day. Because of the people I met and have remained friends with, this walk remains one of my favourite Camino experiences! Have fun and just be prepared for whatever the trail brings you. Do plan to leave early to beat the heat and to catch the sunrise!

 

[mla1]

I went days and days on the VDLP without seeing another woman. There were rarely other women in the albergues I was in. Other people talked about having walked with women or stayed with them, but somehow, very often, I ended up being the only woman in a middle-aged European man bubble. French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch. Mostly it was very fun. But the snoring! It was rare for the albergues to be full, but in the albergue in this photo (Tabara - where the hospitalero gives you a wooden camino necklace) I got the last bunk. In the middle of the night, it seemed like every single other person in the room, all of whom were men over the age of 50, was snoring...I wondered about my choices!

 

[Miaka]

Y'all are making me reconsider walking the plata haha

 

[geraldkelly]

Y'all are making me reconsider walking the plata haha

You can download a guide from my website. It'll show you the real distances. There's a FAQ page too which tries to give an overview of what you need to know before setting off. Don't let comments on here put you off walking this Camino. It's a great experience, although it isn't suitable for everyone. https://www.viadelaplataguide.net/

 

[Miaka]

You can download a guide from my website. It'll show you the real distances. There's a FAQ page too which tries to give an overview of what you need to know before setting off. Don't let comments on here put you off walking this Camino. It's a great experience, although it isn't suitable for everyone. https://www.viadelaplataguide.net/

Thanks, I already have a guide I am comfortable with and I am all prepared. I was just joking coz apparently I will be ruining the gender statistics of this camino (as well as the age I guess)
Edit: In fact, I think it is your app I have.

 

[duncanwhyte]

The main guidebook stages can be long. But I've found that there are many intermediate and turn off points where albergues are located.

 

[camino07]

Thanks, I already have a guide I am comfortable with and I am all prepared. I was just joking coz apparently I will be ruining the gender statistics of this camino (as well as the age I guess)
Edit: In fact, I think it is your app I have.

Don't worry ! I have noted in the three times I have walked the Via that there are many more women walking than my first time. I usually start the week after Easter which seems to be the busier time. I'm no Spring chicken and start once more on 10th April. Great Camino!

 

[MichaelC]

I was half way through the comments before I remembered that I am now one of those “old men!” And I’m also eyeing the VP when I turn 60, in 2026 (if I can talk my boss into giving me a leave-of-absence).

 

[Donna Sch]

I was a 46 year old female when I walked the VdlP. I was one of the younger ones walking. Until I hit the Sanabres I only came across two other women. One was a bicigrino and the other part of a couple. Did come across a couple of Uni students. Solo women are a bit of a rarity and the number of times people told me how brave I was drove me nuts.

 

[Robo]

Of those I met on the VdlP last year, a rough breakdown would be

Men over 50 - 10
Men 30-50 -2
Men under 30 - 2
Women over 50 - 3
Women 30-50 -1
Women under 30 - 2
Couples 50+ 2

A fair cross section really.

By gender
16 male (10 alone)
8 female (6 alone)
24 total

most alone, but
2 M/F couples.
2 x 2 male friends

 

[Babyboomergirl]

I walked with my husband last year and we met quite a few couples from France, Netherlands, Latvia, a few other Australian men and a few younger German females so an equal mix really.

 

[Rita Flower]

In autumn 2022 I met people of all ages, - solo women, women walking with female friends, woman walking with male partners, women, walking with a small group of men - but I guess there were also a lot of men over the age of 50. I remember one section where I was the only female in the albergue with 4 to 6 males.
However, because I was looking forward to a rather solitary Camino, it really didn’t matter the ages of the other Pilgrims.
By the time I got towards the end of the Sanabres, I was walking parallel with a young woman, a young man just out of school.
I think @Robo ’s figures, probably reflect my experience.
But you just never know who you will find on the Via.

 

[Ross1066]

Haha! Let’s not scare the question presenter quite yet! When I walked the Plata in spring 2014 without a guide book I didn’t experience any 40 km stages during the first week. I looked at my blog record and there was one stage of just over 30km and the rest were generally between 22-25km. For sure there were longer stages later on, one that was around 45km, and I could have broken it up, but I chose not to. I also doubled up a number of stages because I was able to.
For what’s it’s worth there were just a few more men than women, including 6 women who started solo. Mostly ranging in age from 45-60. It really is luck of the draw. My experience could have been completely different if I’d started a few days earlier or later than when I did. Every day I walked solo and didn’t see others until they arrived later in the day. Because of the people I met and have remained friends with, this walk remains one of my favourite Camino experiences! Have fun and just be prepared for whatever the trail brings you. Do plan to leave early to beat the heat and to catch the sunrise!

Thanks High Endeavours _ I am about to walk the VDLP and was wondering if I had made the wrong call reading these comments - I know it is a matter of chance but the consistently reported narrow demographic made it sound a little dull ...

 

[Robo]

Thanks High Endeavours _ I am about to walk the VDLP and was wondering if I had made the wrong call reading these comments - I know it is a matter of chance but the consistently reported narrow demographic made it sound a little dull ...

You don't see many other Pilgrims anyway.

 

[Robo]

However, because I was looking forward to a rather solitary Camino, it really didn’t matter the ages of the other Pilgrims.

I think that's the key point on this route. It's not really about the 'Socialising'.

 

[TravellingMan22]

I

Thanks High Endeavours _ I am about to walk the VDLP and was wondering if I had made the wrong call reading these comments - I know it is a matter of chance but the consistently reported narrow demographic made it sound a little dull ...

I would say that walking a Camino, and any other type of ‘backpacking’ travel tends to rip down the barriers of age and gender in a way that more conventional travel does not, but it’s not really a ‘party’ route anyway such as the Portuguese that I walked recently!, so it’s doesn’t matter.

 

[Rita Flower]

Thanks High Endeavours _ I am about to walk the VDLP and was wondering if I had made the wrong call reading these comments - I know it is a matter of chance but the consistently reported narrow demographic made it sound a little dull ...

If you love constantly meeting lots of people on Camino, you might try one of the more popular routes - although there seem to be more people on the Via in Spring that in Autumn. I have even heard of some pinch-point accommodation being full in Spring. In Autumn it is definitely a more solitary route but with a lot of interesting landscapes and history - Roman, Moorish and Christian. If you want a bit of a retreat - whether that's a preference or a challenge - then this is definitely the route for you. I had many days alone but also many communal meals and companionship along the way. My last few days were spent with a couple of under 20-year-olds and I had lots of fun celebrating with them in Santiago.
EDIT - a range of images in order of date, ,along the way.

 

[Reinoud]

I’ve read in a few places that the typical pilgrim on the VDLP is an older European man. Not everyone of course, but this would be the largest demographic. Just wondering if that’s still the case or does it attract a broader demographic in 2024. For anyone that’s walked it in the past couple years - was there a wide variety of demographics in the pilgrims you met? Good mix of men, women, young and old? From all over the world?

I’ll be starting from Seville next month and curious how different it will be compared to the CF. Far fewer pilgrims I realize.

My wife and I just finished the Via de la Plata. We have met people of all sge groups and genders on the way. From 35 year old single woman to 76 year old woman as well as a lot of single older men.

 

[JabbaPapa]

I was on the VDLP for no more than 48H in the Summer of 2022, north of Salamanca -- but walking southbound, and I encountered more than 50 pilgrims over the course of those three days between late morning on the first and morning on the third. Which I know is unusual ...

The younger pilgrims, 30s or younger, were few in number -- as to the others, there was a good spread between those in their late 30s and their 70s.

The largest contingent was the middle aged, and IIRC about 75-80 % male, and the majority of pilgrims in that area had started at Salamanca.

The younger peregrinas were walking alone, usually the older ones either with another peregrina or two, or with their husbands and/or other family and/or small Camino family.

I met around four times as many pilgrims on the VDLP in those 48 hours than in about 5-6 days southbound on the Madrid Way 7 to 10 days earlier.

 

[Stivandrer]

"In 2022 I wrote this: There are a lot of late middle aged men on the Via. It sort of makes sense because it is the Camino for more experienced pilgrims who have time on their hands. There are younger folk but they are often stuck listening to chat about pensions and arthritis."

I have walked the VdlP and portions thereof 3 times, and I have not yet met gripes of this sort,
I do however have another statistic, namely that multiple times when I have been in company of fours of pilgrims my age, (60 to 75 and male/female) on this route, the topic of conversation would at some time land on our health and in all cases, there would be 3 of us, who´d had cancer and the fourth would have has a new hip or a new knee.
See, that is the sort of hope that I see, which is that we walk in spite of our apparent health issues and this on a route just a bit more demanding !!!
I am now getting 70 this month and am currently waiting for a new knee, and I have absolutely no intention of not parading that fact next time around !! I think we are all as tough as they come.......
The oldest pilgrim I have met was 93, I merely want to continue till I am 88, which is a bit more humble......

 

[unadara]

I walked the Via in 2014 (in think) I met many lovely people. I could not imagine Any Camino to be Boring? I love solitude, I love to stop for coffee and Vinos. But most of all I love to walk the Paths that other Pilgrims have walked and know there are services (somewhere) even 40km away, I can’t do the 40km anymore but if I had to?