Is 42 days for SJPDP to Finisterre too long?

[Linz2024]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

 

[Robo]

Depends how fast you walk and how long you want to walk each day?
Some people you will leave behind, others you will leave behind.
You might want rest days when others don't.
Or need to slow down due to injury.
It's a constantly changing environment of greetings and farewells to some degree.
But 42 days sounds good to me.
I walk fairly slow and might do it in 45.
Others will say it 'can be done' in 35.
But you do it at your pace...............

Don't over plan or have too many firm expectations.
Let it unfold.

 

[Opiemoore]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

Everybody gets to do their own Camino!

You’ll meet wonderful people. Some will travel faster and leave you behind, some slower and you’ll leave them behind, and some will be your pace. Just enjoy the opportunity to meet more people as you go along.

Buen Camino!

 

[Linz2024]

Depends how fast you walk and how long you want to walk each day?
Some people you will leave behind, others you will leave behind.
You might want rest days when others don't.
Or need to slow down due to injury.
It's a constantly changing environment of greetings and farewells to some degree.
But 42 days sounds good to me.
I walk fairly slow and might do it in 45.
Others will say it 'can be done' in 35.
But you do it at your pace...............

Don't over plan or have too many firm expectations.
Let it unfold.

Thank you

 

[trecile]

Give yourself ample time, but don't book everything ahead. It will all work out.

 

[Damien Reynolds]

I tend to take about 33 days for that journey (not crazy aggressive but sort of)... but the thing is you will meet friends who travel at your own pace. It takes about a week but you'll find the ones who end up being wherever you are every night. Then you'll talk to them, maybe asking them "what date are you going to be in Santiago?" It's a bonus when they have some extra time and can walk to fin. IF you end up chasing friends because its comfortable for you, you could always walk to Muxia too, and then back...

 

[C clearly]

Don't forget that if you find yourself walking faster/longer than you expected, you can always use the days to add on a trip to Finisterre/Muxia, or not.

Just as you might be left behind by friends if you are walking slower, if you plan a faster Camino you might find yourself leaving your friends behind you! 42 days sounds perfect - then you can adjust your pace as you wish.

 

[scott the farmer]

My plan is 44 days

 

[krystianw]

I think you're assuming that everyone else will be doing the "standard" stages, so I guess around 37 days? This is absolutely not true for the Frances. The amount of albergues in towns between stages is big enough that nobody *needs* to stick to them. Because of that, daily distances will vary widely among pilgrims. Many aim for about a month SJPdP - Santiago, but that's by no means a rule. Even if you did the exact guidebook amount of days, you'd still be meeting new people, and losing track of others, all along the way.

 

[AK2112]

No. The time you use is the right time for you. I spent 41 days in 2018, including 4 rest days between SJPDP and Santiago and 2 days in Santiago before walking to Finesterre.

 

[linkster]

I like to walk about 20km, but that is not a magic number. I have walked in excess of 30km some days. I do like the flexibility of zero or nero days especially in Pamplona, Burgos, León, Astorga ... At least one a week. I have averaged about ~45 days on the Francés. I do not plan ahead.

The friend or family thing can impact my schedule. There are a lot hellos and good byes on the Camino. I hung out in Santiago at the end of a camino for longer than I should have before walking to Muxia. I stayed longer to meet a friends new fiancee (they got engaged in Santiago at the end of his camino). I said good bye again, and again for days as friends entered and left Santiago for home. I think it started to take a tool on my mood. I felt a bit stuck, and left the day after the engagement party in Santiago to Muxia. When I returned from Muxia there was a different vibe. Everyone I knew had returned home.

Any excess days prior to your return home can be spent as a tourist. Either locally ~A Coruna or back to Madrid, Toledo, Avilla, Escorial, Seqovia ... all days trips from Madrid.

 

[Antnix1]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

Hi
You're forgetting most people don't walk the whole way from sjpdp, so people will move on anyway as they return home.

Also people with a short amount of time will be more likely do shorter stages from guidebooks and spend more time socialising.

But you'll find if you have a loose group of people, initially you'll end up walking together. One person might recommend camino ninja or a similar app, and everyone will end up doing similar stages. It can take some effort to give yourself some space from your new friends.

42 days might seem like a long time but really, it will just take pressure off and give you flexibility in the event if illness, or if you decide to take rest days or walk slower certain days or go off the beaten track. If you arrive in Finisterre early, you can always do muxia.

 

[tim winn]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

Divide the distance by the days and decide if you can manage the daily kms, to include a couple of breaks.

 

[dfitzg773]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

As others have said it depends I. Walking speed and the amount of time you want to walk each day. I’d suggest you read other pilgrims blogs to see how others have done the walk. I did it in about 33 days, but I walked long days. Here’s my blog if you are interested.
Danscaminotravels.wordpress.com

 

[Tincatinker]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

I wrote this a while ago in another context but I hope it helps: "2012 Camino, I'd made a vow to pick litter everyday of my Camino. I'd met Carl the evening before in the Albergue. A pastor from Canada. We had chatted amicably about camino, pilgrimage and Navarran wine. Carl caught me up about 10 in the morning, saw me picking litter. He pulled a carrier bag from the hedge and joined me, one side of the trail each. Not a word was said." We spent the morning picking litter. Lunch together. Never saw him again. Never forgotten. If you are looking for "Friends" on the Camino you may get lucky. If you are looking for friendship; mutuality, the sense of being Pilgrim. You'll find it. Sometimes for just 24 hours; sometimes for a week of shared trails and tales, sometimes for much longer.

For me one of the joys of Camino is its separation from the normal patterns of human social interaction. As my ever wise Grandma once said "you don't have to marry every girl you kiss".

 

[WalkingMan]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

I would be of the opinion that if you have 42 days available,then take every minute of it. I walked in 2017, I completed to Finisterre in 31 days, I was under pressure for time and in hindsight I wish I had taken more time to enjoy the experience(people,places and that feeling of freedom,or no obligations at least).

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

It took us 48 walking days for SJPdP to SdC (and 10 not walking) so averaging about 15 kilometers or 10 miles per walking day. That was slow enough that there were very few that we met that were behind us. We stayed in SdC for a few days (Peg even more) and this allowed meetups with those few, some ahead of us also lingering in SdC and some of the even faster returning from Finisterre and Muxcia. So not all your fellow walkers will disappear.

 

[Jodean]

Spent 46 days walking last spring just from SJPDP to Santiago and wish I had 1 more week. I enjoy short days, taking my time, walking around the towns, chatting with new friends. People came and went and then saw them again and again.

 

[Arctic_Alex]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

Advantage: You make more friends ;-)

Also, you will not be the only slow pilgrim. In my experience, walking at the extreme ends of the spectrum often means you meet a smaller group of people again and again. I am on the very fast end and remember from my walk from SJPDP to Fisterra that I met maybe 5 people again and again and we were a bit like a lose team, leaving everyone behind but now and then running into each other. Maybe it works similarly on the slow end as well

 

[darealdeal77]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

Absolutely!
We did Camino Frances in 2014, it took us 42 days, and till this day we are still thinking that we should had taken more time. The more, the better if you have the time. More time to do less mileage, more time to mingle and make friends, more time to enjoy the scenery. To me 33 days like the book says is grueling and damaging on the body, unless you’re 23 and full of life! That’s just my opinion! Enjoy Camino is a pilgrimage, not a race! BUEN CAMINO

 

[AR1965]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

I am going mid-June through early August next year (SJPDP to SDC, and then continuing to Muxia and Finesterre) and my trip will encompass 50 days: 2 travel days on each end, 1 day at the beginning to explore SJPDP, 5 rest days, 40 walking days. I will average 14 miles per day. I wouldn't want to do it any quicker than that.

 

[David Tallan]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

When I walked with my son in 2016, it took us 41 days from Roncesvalles to Finisterre. Less would not have worked out. His blisters wouldn't have gotten quite so bad if we had added a day or two to that length.

You may say goodbye to some who walk faster/further. On the Frances, there are still likely to be folk who are walking at your distances.

Better to walk at the pace that is right for you. There are health risks to pushing yourself too hard, which can lead to an unfinished Camino (or, one that is much more painful than necessary).

 

[CAshworth]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

42 days isn't that long from SJPP to Finisterre. You may find you need more days depending on how many km's are comfortable for you to walk each day. You'll make friends and not see them for a few days and then see them again on another day. Some you may never see again.

 

[Mark Greenwood]

Interesting reading, I walk in April and have told my partner that I will be a way for 50 days. No plans other than to enjoy the experience, stay over where I find places to explore and things that interest me, and allow for rest days which I do expect to need. For me, and I say for me as this is "my Camino" it's about making memories, I'm in no rush. If it takes me only 35 - 40...well that's fine. I guess my point is that this is your Camino, take as long as you want, if time is of no essence. Enjoy it. Have fun. Buen Camino.

 

[trecile]

Interesting reading, I walk in April and have told my partner that I will be a way for 50 days. No plans other than to enjoy the experience, stay over where I find places to explore and things that interest me, and allow for rest days which I do expect to need

Perfect.

 

[Henry1953]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

That's exactly our plan leaving in late March on the CF.
We are building one rest day every week, usually in the larger places. Make the Camino your own! Buen Camino

 

[DLJ]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

There is no too long. Time is the key to experiencing all the Camino has to offer. Buen Camino!

 

[OdysseusSympath]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

I walked SJPDP to Finisterre in 26 days, no rest days, more painful than necessary, no exploration of towns besides meals. During that 26 days I came to love more people than maybe the previous 26 years, even at that ridiculous pace I walked to a lighthouse at the end of the earth with people I had been walking with for ten days. You won't be the one deciding how many gooddbyes you say, just who you say them to. I passed up many groups, all made up of lone pilgrims that came together and grew like a snowball as they found their pace and bonded. Many pilgrims start anywhere along the way too. I think 42 days is perfect to find your snowball or snowballs. Buen Camino!

 

[alexwalker]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

Just go.

My plan is to not have a plan, but just play it by ear. It has worked for me many times before.

2 times have I planned and booked a return flight ticket home. Both were thrown away bc life happened.

To quote John Lennon: "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans".

Or Confucious: "Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated".

I should add, though, that I am retired and have the time. Finally.

 

[CWBuff]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

LOL... I'm sorry!!! never mind the number of days but... you 'worry' you will make friends?
As many already pointed out - Camino has its own flow if you will. You will meet people and you will perhaps lose some without even saying goodbye (someone decides to have a 3:00AM start while you are still sleeping). You may walk alone or you may "acquire a Camino Family"... Perhaps looking back you may wishfully think "oh I should've taken their phone number"... but you didn't (I can think of at least 3 situations where now I almost kick myself in the butt for not doing so)..
But then there are folks whom you will feel a special connection and you will stay in touch! 2 ladies that I walked with practically from the get-go (Orisson) sort of loosing them and meeting them over and over.... well they hit it off so good that no sooner they were done Frances they planned and did walk Camino de Faros...
I myself keep in touch with about 1/2-dozen - and we like to reminiscent...
so the benefits are "IN THIS" no matter how long or not it will take you to walk YOUR WAY!

For me one of the joys of Camino is its separation from the normal patterns of human social interaction. As my ever wise Grandma once said "you don't have to marry every girl you kiss".

Yes... but methinks that would make one beautiful harem

 

[DwainS]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

May- June 2023 I had 41 total days. The walk from SJPP to Santiago was 32 days with no rest days. You lose a day flying to Madrid from Vancouver than I spent a night in Pamplona for jet lag relief than one night in SJPP. So that was 3 nights already plus 32 days walking was 35 days. Three nights in Santiago (which was one of my highlights of the whole trip) and bused for 2 nights in Finisterre for two nights. that put me at 40 days and one last day in Madrid for the flight for 41 days. At just 3 months shy of my 65th birthday and not a hiker the 32 days was a challenge. I'am glad I had the 3 nights in Santiago and 2 nights in Finisterre to rest and recharge before returning to work. This year i'am retired, no job to get back to so I have 49 days to play with.

 

[CWBuff]

On a serious note _ seems a lot of folks do write about their 'schedule' if you will
I left home on May 18, 2022. if you want to consider it as such - "lost a day" flying to Europe (but then I fail to see how one does not do that) although I dont consider it to be lost - flew to Paris and had a nice afternoon checking out some old haunts and did a bit of exploring the new
Took a train to SJPdP the next day, checked into Albergue, got my Sello in the Pilgrim's office and started walking the following day (May 21)
Walked into SdC on June 25th; (so looks like 35 days) spent 3 days in city proper and then walked to Finisterre in 3.5 days
took a cab back to SdC, train to Madrid and hung out there for 2.5 more days and then flew home from there (on July 4th to boot)
All-in-all 6 weeks and I consider to to be (at least up-t-date) a trip of a lifetime!
So... take your time if thats what you want to do.... enjoy and no worries!
Buen Camino

 

[jpflavin1]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

The CF is the most flexible Camino. The CF has a town/village/city approximately every 6-10km's, with the exception of a few days.

A key element of walking a Camino, imo, is finding your own pace. (Good shoes, pack weight and listening to your body are other key factors).

You will connect and disconnect from many along the way. If you find someone you are particularly connected too. You can just agree to meet at a certain destination each night. This way you stay in contact without impacting the pace you walk. (Camino variables, fast walker vs. slow, early riser vs. late, limited vs. unlimited time, injury vs. no injury, rest days vs. no rest days, tourism vs. no tourism etc, etc. will make this challenging)

I recommend you plan as little as possible and just let the Camino be your guide. You can maintain contact with those you meet via WhatsApp and meet up in Santiago, possibly for a drink or dinner.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[StephenCO]

My original plan was 42 days, but took 49 days. I started with a group that was traveling at about a 42 day pace but lost them when I walked to the Yuso Monastery.
It seemed like I was with a new group every 4 to 6 days. I enjoyed meeting different people as they slowly passed me.

 

[Ken & Liz]

Hi Everybody, Walking from SJPdP to SdC is a pilgrimage not a race.
Take as long as you want and make or not make friends as you go.
In 2016 at the age of 72 we started out from SJPdP on the 1st Sept and finished 59 days later, had a day of from walking each week and stopped to take lots of photos on the way. Enjoy the moment and listen to others as they have joys or troubles they need to unload.
Again it is a pilgrimage not a race.
We come from New Zealand and it takes about 32hours from Auckland to Paris via HK and will leave on the 2nd of April to fly to Auckland then the next day the two long haul flights with the stop in HK being 5.5 hours, everything from NZ takes time so at the age of 79 we are not interested in rushing the Camino as this is what we have come to enjoy, not rush We start in SJPdP on April 9 and after this we fly to Paris and take a week of rest and celebrate my 80th then train to Le Puy and start there on the 15th June and walk down to SJPdP should finish on the 17th August.
As the saying goes "Take your time and smell the roses"
Buen Camino

 

[jimmyc]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

I did it in 42 days. I had a rest day once a week and two days off due to sickness.

 

[HappyValerie]

If you have the time, take it and enjoy. It will be over & in the past all too quickly. Savour every step & feel blessed.
Buen Camino.

 

[bergmannfamily]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

We did 42 walking days from SJPdP to Finisterre. We built in 6 other tourist days along the way. It was perfect for us. We met up with about twenty or so people who walked about the same distances each day, so each evening some of our loose grouping was together for the evening. By the last two weeks we noted we were walking with 5 others everyday without fail. Like a flock of birds. It was great! You will not miss out any camino experience by walking what feels comfortable each day.

 

[Linz2024]

LOL... I'm sorry!!! never mind the number of days but... you 'worry' you will make friends?
As many already pointed out - Camino has its own flow if you will. You will meet people and you will perhaps lose some without even saying goodbye (someone decides to have a 3:00AM start while you are still sleeping). You may walk alone or you may "acquire a Camino Family"... Perhaps looking back you may wishfully think "oh I should've taken their phone number"... but you didn't (I can think of at least 3 situations where now I almost kick myself in the butt for not doing so)..
But then there are folks whom you will feel a special connection and you will stay in touch! 2 ladies that I walked with practically from the get-go (Orisson) sort of loosing them and meeting them over and over.... well they hit it off so good that no sooner they were done Frances they planned and did walk Camino de Faros...
I myself keep in touch with about 1/2-dozen - and we like to reminiscent...
so the benefits are "IN THIS" no matter how long or not it will take you to walk YOUR WAY!


Yes... but methinks that would make one beautiful harem

I guess I didn’t phrase that very well, I am excited to make friends, worried about all the goodbyes lol

 

[dailycamino]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

No

 

[jgiesbrecht]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

I did that in 43 and actually ran into the same group multiple times...I didn't take rest days (but did a few very short ones) while they did, and we hit santiago the same day

 

[Luap]

Don't over plan or have too many firm expectations.
Let it unfold.

Best bit of advice! Especially for the most organised of us.
One of the gifts of walking the Camino is this sort of truth unfolds itself as we finish.
Thanks Robo. P

 

[wabana]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

That’s what I did in 2021…… I wouldn’t change a thing……..perfect daily mileages, no injuries….remember it’s your Camino! “take it and enjoy. It will be over & in the past all too quickly” stole the words out of my mouth! www livealagom .life. My Camino Frances is there

 

[CA_Pilgrim]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

I did it in 41 days and made a huge number of friends along the way. In fact, I arrived in Santiago the day before my 65th birthday and my friends threw me a birthday party. I'm guessing that there were at least 20 people I met along the way at the party.

If you open yourself up to making new friends, you end up meeting a lot of people walking at the same pace as you over and over. Yes, some really nice folks leave you behind and you leave other really nice folks behind, but the people walking your pace become your walking group. It helped that I met this one really outgoing lady who introduced me to other people she had met and that snowballed into a huge group of us seeing and communing with each other town after town. It truly was a magical experience!

 

[Val&Tom]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

If I were you, I’d take 45days plus. Camino is not a race. It’s a journey. Time to explore where you are physically and emotionally. Don’t rush the experience, you may regret it later

 

[JamesHowe]

No. The time you use is the right time for you. I spent 41 days in 2018, including 4 rest days between SJPDP and Santiago and 2 days in Santiago before walking to Finesterre.

Great to know. I've given myself 35 to 40 days to get from SJPP to Santiago. Now I'm thinking I may also be able to get to Finisterre.

 

[Linz2024]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I am a planner by nature so I think the Camino is going to be a wonderful opportunity for me to practice leaning into the unknown!

 

[Thornley]

I know that this might sound like a silly question!
My concern is that by taking 42 days I will make friends and have to say goodbye too often as other people move on.
Are there benefits to taking longer that will outweigh this?

Via Muxia to Finisterre its about right.
Distances will increase with fitness , but the 22-25 km principal will prevail.
You won't get much more than 3.5km / hour Linz.
Coffee breaks , meals during the day , rain , hail , and humour will be 3.5km @ the end .

 

[PeteAJ]

You'll be fine! There's some uncertainty but you'll find the rhythm of it. I did 36 to Santiago (33 stages + 2 rest days and a little day). The Brierley says 3 stages to Finisterre which could easily be 4. Plus a rest day in Santiago. That'd be 41 right there. I didn't meet anyone in a rush to get off the camino unless they had a tight time table and somewhere else to be! (Surely a few drop out due to other issues or divert to something else).

 

[CWBuff]

I guess I didn’t phrase that very well, I am excited to make friends, worried about all the goodbyes lol

Yes of course. Well The Camino is no different than Life in general where some people come to us for a season and some for a reason

 

[Old Kiwi]

I walk SJPDP to Finistere via Muxia easily in 36 days because that is the time I usually have available. If I had your 42 days, I would use the lot and spend more time sightseeing.