Planning for Winter Camino Frances

[Bama Hiker]

Looking for information from other actual "Winter Peregrinos" who have walked the Camino Frances in January and February. I am planning to return to walk my 3rd Frances as a winter pilgrim in January after New Years Day from SJPP to SdC. Is there a website or place to downloaded documents to help with stage planning to find open albergues? Looking for guidance on where to find open places to stay. I do NOT need gear or clothing advice. My first assumption is I will have to follow the road from SJPP to Rouncesvale because the Napolean Route will be closed. Thank you.

 

[SabsP]

Aprinca will update their list of open albergues later in the year.

Pagina nueva 1

 

[Bradypus]

The best resource for winter pilgrims on the Frances is this website which is regularly updated over the winter months.
https://www.aprinca.com/alberguesinvierno/

Only active during the winter so don't worry about seeing nothing helpful on it yet. Gronze lists open and closed periods for albergues but they may not be accurate - things do change.

The Valcarlos route is at least theoretically open all year round but of course bad weather can make it unsafe too. I walked from SJPDP on 2 January 2023 and found the Valcarlos route completely free from snow but you may not be so lucky. I thoroughly enjoyed my January pilgrimage - like stepping back a couple of decades. It does mean far fewer choices and possibly some longer stages than in summer but I found it well worth any small inconveniences like that

 

[Bama Hiker]

The best resource for winter pilgrims on the Frances is this website which is regularly updated over the winter months.
https://www.aprinca.com/alberguesinvierno/

Only active during the winter so don't worry about seeing nothing helpful on it yet. Gronze lists open and closed periods for albergues but they may not be accurate - things do change.

The Valcarlos route is at least theoretically open all year round but of course bad weather can make it unsafe too. I walked from SJPDP on 2 January 2023 and found the Valcarlos route completely free from snow but you may not be so lucky. I thoroughly enjoyed my January pilgrimage - like stepping back a couple of decades. It does mean far fewer choices and possibly some longer stages than in summer but I found it well worth any small inconveniences like that

Bradypus: Thanks for the notes. I walked the Frances on April 5, 2022 and heavy snow 2 days earlier closed the Napolean Route, So I had to trudge the road from SJPP to Rouncesvales. Not quite a winter P, but I was prepared for the cold conditions. I check the Aprinca later this year. Cheers BH

 

[roving_rufus]

Also might be useful for someone's experience last year

Jeremy Walks the Camino in Winter

Records for a walk on the Camino de Santiago in January 2023

jeremycamino.blog

 

[J Willhaus]

Once you get to Galicia, all the Xunta albergues are open and there are a lot of them on the CF. I would use a combination of Aprinca (the winter pilgrim site), maybe an app, and gronze.com. I cross-referenced the three, and sometimes there is conflicting info, but I contact the app developer when this happens.

Sometimes, you need to call ahead, and that will be specified in these three resources. Some albergues will be open and don't take or need to make reservations such as Valcarlos, Santo Domingo, Grañón, Najera, Ponferada and the Xunta albergues. There are others, but as there are smaller numbers in the winter, you'll meet other pilgrims, and a grapevine of info will emerge. Also check with the hospitalero at each place as they usually know what is open in the route immediately ahead.

I love being both a hospitalera and a winter pilgrim. I hope to be both this coming winter.

 

[mspath]

Wherever you do plan to walk in winter do keep these thoughts in mind.
In addition to the Valcarlos alternate to Roncesvalles difficult CF stretches after winter storms could be across the Montes de Oca from Villafranca, Najera to Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Monte Irago and, of course, to and from O Cebreiro. Be prepared.

For any winter camino I stress this bit of info re: carrying food supplies.

Whenever you do walk keep warm, stay safe and Buen camino!

 

[Bama Hiker]

Once you get to Galicia, all the Xunta albergues are open and there are a lot of them on the CF. I would use a combination of Aprinca (the winter pilgrim site), maybe an app, and gronze.com. I cross-referenced the three, and sometimes there is conflicting info, but I contact the app developer when this happens.

Sometimes, you need to call ahead, and that will be specified in these three resources. Some albergues will be open and don't take or need to make reservations such as Valcarlos, Santo Domingo, Grañón, Najera, Ponferada and the Xunta albergues. There are others, but as there are smaller numbers in the winter, you'll meet other pilgrims, and a grapevine of info will emerge. Also check with the hospitalero at each place as they usually know what is open in the route immediately ahead.

I love being both a hospitalera and a winter pilgrim. I hope to be both this coming winter.

Thank you J for that message. Buen Camino