Hospitales vs. Napoleon -- how do the routes compare?

[Nelle]

I'm planning to walk the Primitivo this spring after a completing the Frances in fall 2023. For those who have walked both -- how does the Hospitales route compare in terms of difficulty to the Napoleon? Other than the usual caveats about bad weather and the need to carry provisions -- how do the experiences stack up? I'm just trying to get a sense of what I might be signing up for. Thanks in advance for your insight. Buen Camino!

 

[Anhalter]

Comparable length, Hospitales has less elevation gain, less infrastructure and imho the descent is more difficult. Napoleon route is a bit more walking on paved roads if i remember correctly.
I'd go as far as to say Hospitales is not harder than Napoleon (tbh, i found both not terribly hard), maybe even easier in terms of exhaustion (but again, the descent can be tricky). Only downside is that you'll have to carry everything you need with you from the litle vending machine in Borres up till Berducedo.

 

[trecile]

I plugged both stages into the Buen Camino app, and this is what you get as far as elevation gain/loss

Napoleon:



Hospitales:



As you can see, if you are looking solely at elevation gain, the Napoleon route is more difficult.

One thing that stood out for me on the Hospitales was the long downhill on a very rocky trail.

I can recommend Albergue Los Hospitales. And if you want a real treat, book their private room. They have a bar/restaurant for meals, and will pack you a sandwich to take in the morning if you want.

 

[OzAnnie]

how does the Hospitales route compare in terms of difficulty to the Napoleon?

My memories fade re difficulty a bit…. but I’d think of them as fairly equal.

I plugged both stages into the Buen Camino app, and this is what you get as far as elevation gain/loss

Only comment I would add when comparing these stats — is —. Re Napoleon route / Many people walk part way to one of the 3 stops along the way at Orisson, Borda or the earlier stop and break it up into 2 days.

IMO., If you were okay with starting the CF at SJPdP… you will be ok with the Hospitales route.

 

[peregrina2000]

I think one other big difference is the grade. There is no part of the ascent on Hospitales that even comes close to the huffing-and-puffing part of the ascent from SJPP. Hospitales has a fairly steady, gradual ascent, which makes it, I think, a much easier walk than out of SJPP. (If you take the alternative route through Pola de Allande, though, you will have 400 more meters of elevation gain than you get on the Hospitales route, and a short but very steep ending to take you to the Puerto de Palo where the two routes combine).

And yes I also agree that the descent from Hospitales is much harsher than the descent to Roncesvalles.