First Time Concerns

[kdvanderpool]

Hi Everyone,

Grateful for this community as my wife and I are planning our first Camino after 13 years of longing to go! We will be walking in mid-May to mid-June and I have a few questions:

1. What is the humidity like? Specifically on the Frances or the Primitivo. Where we live it is very hot but very dry. Humidity affects me much more than heat.
2. Which route do you recommend for first-timers (and possibly only timers for the foreseeable future). We are considering the Primitivo or the Frances but are open to ALL options.

When choosing a route, here are our wants and concerns:

• WE can only spare between 2-4 weeks so none of the super long routes.
• We love beautiful views, solitude, and moments of "sacred silence"
• We are not experienced hikers by any means but we are relatively fit and did a 10mile hike in Copenhagen this year that felt very easy (though my calves hurt the next two days). We are also careful and athletic.
• We like challenges but we also like to enjoy ourselves and don't do well with uncomfortable sleeping arrangements. The one area that we can be a little high maintenance is where we stay when we travel. We will be doing some public albergues because that is the experience, but we will want to do some nicer accommodations.
• I have heard the Primitivo does not always have reliable accommodations and you may have to figure it out or sleep outside after a long day of difficult hiking. We can handle it but this would greatly sour our trip. Just being honest about ourselves when we travel. The less decision-making and trouble-shooting the better.

I think that's it for me! Thank you all so much for your help!

 

[Juspassinthru]

Hi Everyone,

Grateful for this community as my wife and I are planning our first Camino after 13 years of longing to go! We will be walking in mid-May to mid-June and I have a few questions:

1. What is the humidity like? Specifically on the Frances or the Primitivo. Where we live it is very hot but very dry. Humidity affects me much more than heat.
2. Which route do you recommend for first-timers (and possibly only timers for the foreseeable future). We are considering the Primitivo or the Frances but are open to ALL options.

When choosing a route, here are our wants and concerns:

• WE can only spare between 2-4 weeks so none of the super long routes.
• We love beautiful views, solitude, and moments of "sacred silence"
• We are not experienced hikers by any means but we are relatively fit and did a 10mile hike in Copenhagen this year that felt very easy (though my calves hurt the next two days). We are also careful and athletic.
• We like challenges but we also like to enjoy ourselves and don't do well with uncomfortable sleeping arrangements. The one area that we can be a little high maintenance is where we stay when we travel. We will be doing some public albergues because that is the experience, but we will want to do some nicer accommodations.
• I have heard the Primitivo does not always have reliable accommodations and you may have to figure it out or sleep outside after a long day of difficult hiking. We can handle it but this would greatly sour our trip. Just being honest about ourselves when we travel. The less decision-making and trouble-shooting the better.

I think that's it for me! Thank you all so much for your help!

Welcome to the Forum, we were all New Members once and we all had our questions and concerns.

I’ll share my thoughts on some of your question/concerns.

The temperature and humidity will really depend upon the route and time of year, from my experience. Generally the interior routes should be warmer and dryer, again depending upon the time. Summer will probably be down right hot.

As a first timer, I’d choose the Francés. With your available time, you could do it from St. Jean or Pamplona or Burgos. It also has the most infrastructure. Regards your accommodation concerns, the Francés offers many options in most places.

I’ve not done the Primativo so I’ll let others offer their thoughts. There’s a lot of experience here.

I hope you enjoy your Camino and good luck.

 

[trecile]

I have heard the Primitivo does not always have reliable accommodations and you may have to figure it out or sleep outside after a long day of difficult hiking

That was not my experience at all, but I usually booked a day ahead.

 

[Jarrad]

In researching the humidity question, you might check out weatherspark.com and insert a few locations that you would pass through on the routes that are of interest.

I'd bet that you will be fine on any route you choose. If elevation gain and loss are a concern, then the Primitivo might be more of a challenge. Although if crowd avoidance and opportunities for silent walking are major drivers for you, then that could outweigh the physical challenge.

On the CdF you will find a broad range of accommodation types in many (but not all) areas. I suggest trying out a pension first to if that meets your needs. They're great for getting a good shower and an uninterrupted night of sleep. You can find posh hotels in the metropolitan areas.

 

[Turga]

The less decision-making and trouble-shooting the better.

Then you should do some planning in advance and you have the time to do it (and it's fun). GRONZE is a great resource to start with.

Buen Camino!

 

[J Willhaus]

I also recommend the Camino Frances. Given your time constraints, I would probably start in Logroño. If you have time at the end you can walk or take a bus to either Muxia or Finesterre.

Private rooms will increase your costs so budget a bit more. Don't take for granted private rooms will be more comfortable. Be sure to look for perks like AC as not all rooms will have that. I find private rooms isolating so look for opportunities to talk or eat with other pilgrims. They also may not have a place to do laundry so maybe look for AirBNB's that have a washer and drying rack. Some private albergues have private rooms so that might be a good option for you although you may still share a common bathroom in some. Usually bedding will be provided for those.


You may be aware that Booking.com does not have all the rooms in a hotel so don't panic if you can't find a place on booking.com where you want to sleep. Use other resources, too, and maybe call direct or send a WhatsApp. Gronze.com is an excellent resource to see what is available. It is in Spanish, but your browser can translate.

 

[dbier]

Hi Everyone,

Grateful for this community as my wife and I are planning our first Camino after 13 years of longing to go! We will be walking in mid-May to mid-June and I have a few questions:

1. What is the humidity like? Specifically on the Frances or the Primitivo. Where we live it is very hot but very dry. Humidity affects me much more than heat.
2. Which route do you recommend for first-timers (and possibly only timers for the foreseeable future). We are considering the Primitivo or the Frances but are open to ALL options.

When choosing a route, here are our wants and concerns:

• WE can only spare between 2-4 weeks so none of the super long routes.
• We love beautiful views, solitude, and moments of "sacred silence"
• We are not experienced hikers by any means but we are relatively fit and did a 10mile hike in Copenhagen this year that felt very easy (though my calves hurt the next two days). We are also careful and athletic.
• We like challenges but we also like to enjoy ourselves and don't do well with uncomfortable sleeping arrangements. The one area that we can be a little high maintenance is where we stay when we travel. We will be doing some public albergues because that is the experience, but we will want to do some nicer accommodations.
• I have heard the Primitivo does not always have reliable accommodations and you may have to figure it out or sleep outside after a long day of difficult hiking. We can handle it but this would greatly sour our trip. Just being honest about ourselves when we travel. The less decision-making and trouble-shooting the better.

I think that's it for me! Thank you all so much for your help!

I can comment on the Primitivo in Sep and on Sarria to Santiago in July - but I noticed that you're from Texas, and you say your area is hot and dry (El Paso?). So let me opine, please.

With the possible exception of the Meseta, both of the Caminos, and most of Northern Spain, are more humid than where you're from. All the time.

If I remember Copenhagen correctly, both the Primitivo (particularly the first few days) and even the Frances have more elevation changes than either your home or Copenhagen. I'm afraid that your hiking experience there won't accurately predict how you'll do on Camino.

The Primitivo in May/Jun has "reliable" accommodations, but they're fewer and spread out further from each other. And there are one or two places that can fill up, especially if you arrive in Lugo during their Roman festival in Jun.

Given your time and hiking experience and first Camino status, I would *highly* recommend starting the Camino Frances from a point past Pamplona (León?/Burgos?). Gronze or any of the apps (Buen Camino, Wise Pilgrim come to mind) will help you select a start point you can get to. From there, use them and WhatsApp to identify appropriate accommodations.

Buen Camino.

 

[trecile]

With the possible exception of the Meseta, both of the Caminos, and most of Northern Spain, are more humid than where you're from. All the time.

But not oppressively humid like Florida. The humidity is similar to where I live in Oregon, which isn't much.

 

[Dawsie]

Welcome to our little area of Camino dreaming.
Given your experience and timescale, I would strongly recommend reading other threads on this forum about Winter Training. See if you can arrange a few weekends away this Fall and again in early Spring. Walk for a couple of long days staying overnight so that you get the chance to:
a) spend time together, and get used to the speed that you each like walking
b) learn how to push yourselves a bit where necessary
c) try your gear, and get used to your favourite footwear
d) try your gear, ideally in rainy weather to understand how to keep things dry
e) try your gear, and get used to carrying your rucksack, perhaps adding extra unnecessary items to get closer to your expected load.
f) have fun, meet people, explore and meet personal challenges

It may be a "once in a lifetime" trip, but don't over plan things - we say "The Camino Provides".
Once you know that you can get up and walk from dawn and can walk all day and enjoy it, then you will have an idea of how far you will be able to get each day on your Camino (and how much you want to carry on your backs - or if you want to use any of the "bag forwarding" services).
I recommend buying a couple of guides (especially via Ivar, so that you will get your "passports" too) read these in the dark nights of winter to get the feel of how these work, but only book your first couple of nights in advance, booking subsequent ones while on the Camino and you have an idea where you are likely to end up on the next evening.

If this is a "special trip", then I would also recommend finding somewhere about halfway that you both like the look of and arrange a "zero day" where you get the chance to stop, explore and rest up.

I am personally very pleased that even though you describe yourselves as "high maintenance" for sleeping arrangements, you have realised the advantages of the community of an albergue will offset a less comfortable sleep - you never know, you might like it.

Your experience in Copenhagen should have exposed you to European phone networks - important since WhatsApp is now the most common method of booking accommodation.

Enjoy planning your wonderful adventure.

 

[512]

Our first Camino was the Norte at the age of 60. Lots of ups and downs but we averaged 12 miles/20 km per day; it shouldn't be a problem for you.
There's plenty of infrastructure, accomodations, cafes and restaurants. Spectacular coastal scenery (up to Ribadeo), and plenty of solitude.
Just my dos céntimos

 

[CTLawGal]

• We love beautiful views, solitude, and moments of "sacred silence"

Based on this, I can understand why you are considering the Primitivo. For my first Camino in 2023 I thought I was going to do the Frances, but was very tempted by the Norte/Primitivo, which seemed more scenic and quieter, but concerned whether that route might be too ambitious given the elevation gain. A friend familiar with my training walks convinced me I could do it and I'm glad I did. I also don't do well in humidity, but didn't find it too warm or humid in May.

That being said, if you are unable to train on elevation, I would agree that the Frances is probably a better route for you. I don't know if your 10 mile Copenhagen walk was a single event or if it followed on the heels of other long walks. While I routinely walk 10-12 miles relatively easily, on the Camino it's being able to walk that and more (12-18) every day that is really hard, especially with elevation gain.

I thought Dawsie made a lot of good suggestions for training. I would add that for me, in the last 2 months before I left for Spain, I tried to walk two 12-milers back-to-back, then I would drop it back down to a 4- or 6-miler the following days to allow some time for my body to recover, and then back to 6- or 8-milers. I also tried to get in at least 1000 feet of elevation gain on those longer walks. The days on the Camino were hard, but I felt prepared for the hills and distance . As the Primitivo converged with the Frances, I noticed that most of the pilgrims had a difficult time even on the smallest hills, dramatically slowing down, while the pilgrims I recognized from the Primitivo seemed to float up by comparison. (It was also a LOT less quiet once on the Frances). So I would guess that there might be a fair number of days that would be challenging if you can't train with some elevation gain.

If you are still considering the Primitivo and have the time, I would recommend maybe starting in Santander on the Norte, primarily so you have a week to get used to walking every day, and also to enjoy some amazing coastal views before you head inland. However, if the elevation gain seems daunting, I agree the Frances is your best bet. Either way, I'm sure you'll love whichever route you choose!