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Okay, good to know for thinking about what gear/clothing to bring.April can be very rainy and cold!
Rain gear, check.I’m a big fan of spring Caminos despite the possibility of poor weather. On our first CP Central Route in late March/April we has great weather. A day or two of a light drizzle, but sunny most of the time. The following year, at the same time of year, we walked the Inglés in torrential rain and wind for a week. A big challenge, but still a great Camino! This past spring, we returned to Porto to walk the Coastal Route. Great weather almost every day on the coast even that early in the year. So, I wouldn’t discourage you from a spring Camino. Hope for the best, but prepare for some rain. Growing up in Oregon, if you didn’t do things in the rain then you didn’t do much at all. Just carry rain gear! Bom Caminho!
Thanks, @RJM . That is good info about more pilgrims. They might be a little ahead of me but I guess albergues must be open in anticipation of the Easter pilgrims.You'll be walking during Holy Week. That means more pilgrims. Depending upon how you look at it, could be a pro, could be a con.
Otherwise I'd say the only actual con for April Camino is cooler/colder weather and possibly more of a chance of rain. Key word possible.
Check Gronze - they show the opening/closing dates of albergues, and it's usually accurate.Did you have trouble finding open albergues in late March? I’ll search the forum and apps for albergue info in March ‘22 as a predictor.
Thanks!! Great suggestionCheck Gronze - they show the opening/closing dates of albergues, and it's usually accurate.
Practically none. Toss a coin; it’ll be closer than a weather forecast.I need to move my May Camino from Porto to early April or to June. I would leave Porto around March 29 and arrive in SdC a couple of days after Easter (which is April 9). June is an option but much more expensive.
Questions:
What are the biggest cons for going in early April? Biggest pros?
muito obrigado!
I think I mean that the weather will be what it is. April will be cooler and probably wetter than June but dealing with the weather is more about clothing than planning. Effective layers are of more use than the past experiences of others. Their weather will be different to yours even if it’s the same.Err, not sure I understand your question, @Tincatinker . There is no problem, just a few decisions to make. I like reading the opinions of experienced folks here, so I asked a question.
Yes, there may possibly be more pilgrims but there's no way to predict. I haven't been on the Portugues since 2019 so I don't know what albergues are open that closed during the pandemic or when albergues fully open for the year.Thanks, @RJM . That is good info about more pilgrims. They might be a little ahead of me but I guess albergues must be open in anticipation of the Easter pilgrims.
Well to be fair to Tincatinker and henrythedog, when you spend most of the daylight hours outdoors, the weather does tend to be something of a priority. I haven't walked the Portugués, but I did live in Oporto and let me assure you, it really does rain there (I used to swear the Atlantic didn't like me so had decided to jump on my head once a day) so good waterproof gear is a must. So that's a con. But a big pro is that it will be spring, a beautiful time to be walking, the countryside will be ablaze with flowers, and in the towns I used to love the way the mica in the granite buildings sparkled whenever the sun came out after the rain. By the way, April 25th is a big day in Portugal - they celebrate the revolution of the carnations.@Tincatinker @henrythedog I think you interpreted my original post as focused on the weather. I deliberately asked a broad question to elicit a range of answers. I joined this forum and read others’ posts as I thoroughly enjoy seeing the Camino experience through the eyes of others. It doesn’t harm my own experience of the Camino and often enriches it. Thank you for taking the time to respond, though. It is thoughtful of you experienced pilgrims and longtime forum members to respond to questions from less experienced pilgrims!
That is a lovely image of sparkling mica in the towns and the countryside “ablaze with flowers”! And great info on Carnation Revolution day. If I’m there at the time I will pause for the day to enjoy the celebrations.Well to be fair to Tincatinker and henrythedog, when you spend most of the daylight hours outdoors, the weather does tend to be something of a priority. I haven't walked the Portugués, but I did live in Oporto and let me assure you, it really does rain there (I used to swear the Atlantic didn't like me so had decided to jump on my head once a day) so good waterproof gear is a must. So that's a con. But a big pro is that it will be spring, a beautiful time to be walking, the countryside will be ablaze with flowers, and in the towns I used to love the way the mica in the granite buildings sparkled whenever the sun came out after the rain. By the way, April 25th is a big day in Portugal - they celebrate the revolution of the carnations.
And less chance of bedbugs before thousands of pilgrims have passed through!Spring Caminos have the extra benefit of refreshed albergues, locals happy to see the return of pilgrims, and cleaner trails!
We did it that time this year. We were incredibly lucky with the weather & walked in shorts! The route was very quiet; it felt like we were some of the first of the "season". However, it was clean, peaceful, unspoilt and local business owners were really happy to see us!I need to move my May Camino from Porto to early April or to June. I would leave Porto around March 29 and arrive in SdC a couple of days after Easter (which is April 9). June is an option but much more expensive.
Questions:
What are the biggest cons for going in early April? Biggest pros?
muito obrigado!
OK, got it.@Tincatinker @henrythedog I think you interpreted my original post as focused on the weather. I deliberately asked a broad question to elicit a range of answers. I joined this forum and read others’ posts as I thoroughly enjoy seeing the Camino experience through the eyes of others. It doesn’t harm my own experience of the Camino and often enriches it. Thank you for taking the time to respond, though. It is thoughtful of you experienced pilgrims and longtime forum members to respond to questions from less experienced pilgrims!
No problem finding open albergues from Porto on up to SdC. As a plus for us, the Camino wasn’t busy at all any of our early spring walks. We didn’t find reservations necessary that time of year even at Casa Fernanda’s (which I highly recommend as a stop between Barcelos and Ponte de Lima). Regarding checking out albergues, go on to Gronze.com. Even if you don’t want reservations, it’s a good site for identifying places to stay along The Way.Rain gear, check.Did you have trouble finding open albergues in late March? I’ll search the forum and apps for albergue info in March ‘22 as a predictor.
Who said anything about there being a problem? I think their question was explained very clearly.You have an opportunity to walk a Camino. What exactly is the problem?
I agree, Sarah. Exactly.Err, not sure I understand your question, @Tincatinker . There is no problem, just a few decisions to make. I like reading the opinions of experienced folks here, so I asked a question.
Oh, that is really something to look forward to!! Thanks @Vacajoe !Spring Caminos have the extra benefit of refreshed albergues, locals happy to see the return of pilgrims, and cleaner trails!
This is an advantage I hadn’t considered, but is solidly in the “pro” side of the list!!And less chance of bedbugs before thousands of pilgrims have passed through!
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