Quiet in St Jean Pied de Port!

[alanlandy5]

I normally walk the Frances late May and June, last time was 2022. I expected higher numbers in the peak months, is this just from Sarria?

Pilgrim office said there are 180 people registered so far today, which they say is quiet. If it is quiet I think I would enjoy going at a slower pace to take it all in.

I booked as far ahead as pamplona, does anyone have any problems turning up on the day for a bed?

Alan

 

[trecile]

I normally walk the Frances late May and June, last time was 2022. I expected higher numbers in the peak months, is this just from Sarria?

Yes, those peak Compostela numbers generally reflect those walking from Sarria or the final 100 km on other routes. June, July and August are generally quiet on the Francés until you get to Galicia.

This thread explains - A tale of two Caminos - What about those crowds?

 

[Grousedoctor]

180 is a number leaving SJPP that is considerably lower than on the days I left there in both a May and in late September.

I have found that if you end your walking day in the early afternoon, you generally don’t have a problem getting a bed. Due to the heat both times that I was on the CF, my routine was to leave around sunrise with the cool morning air and finish no later that 1 pm before the heat of the day and before, at least in busy times, most pilgrims arrived into town. With very few exceptions, beds were always available for pilgrims walking in without a reservation.

And by all means, go at a pace where you can take it all in. No need to rush your Camino.

 

[David Tallan]

I normally walk the Frances late May and June, last time was 2022. I expected higher numbers in the peak months, is this just from Sarria?

Pilgrim office said there are 180 people registered so far today, which they say is quiet. If it is quiet I think I would enjoy going at a slower pace to take it all in.

I booked as far ahead as pamplona, does anyone have any problems turning up on the day for a bed?

Alan

There are different peak months from different parts of the Camino. May and September are the peak months between SJPP and Sarria. July and August are the peak months between Sarria and Santiago. Since so many pilgrims start in Sarria, July and August end up being the peak months overall.

 

[C clearly]

May and September are the peak months between SJPP and Sarria.

But really, this peak is only significant between SJPP and Pamplona. After that, the bed crunch is much less.

 

[Ianinam]

Yes, June and July are a 'low season', also in Roncesvalles. In May we had full house every day (245 beds and had to send away pilgrims much to our regret as we run out of beds), but June and July are quiet. Last weeks we had 'only' 130 - 170 pilgrims per day. This will increase again as from mid August, and September is crazy again, full house every day.