Starting from Burgos in September - early, mid or late?

[JustJack]

My previous casinos have been in the spring. I walked the CF from SJPdP in May/June 2023. I’m thinking of going back to the CF next year to walk from Burgos to Sarria, but this time in the fall. I’m flexible and want to go while the weather is still warm/hot, when the kids are back in school, and hopefully avoiding the worst of the crowds. I know the crowds will be unavoidable, but for those that are really familiar with the patterns, would you start in Burgos in early, mid or late September? Or is September pretty consistently busy throughout the month? Thanks.

 

[JustJack]

My previous casinos have been in the spring. I walked the CF from SJPdP in May/June 2023. I’m thinking of going back to the CF next year to walk from Burgos to Sarria, but this time in the fall. I’m flexible and want to go while the weather is still warm/hot, when the kids are back in school, and hopefully avoiding the worst of the crowds. I know the crowds will be unavoidable, but for those that are really familiar with the patterns, would you start in Burgos in early, mid or late September? Or is September pretty consistently busy throughout the month? Thanks.

I guess another way to look at it is to see if there are any periods in September when a particularly large wave of pilgrims tend to leave SJPdP. I can then count the days till they would reach Burgos. I’m completely flexible on my departure date so hoping to avoid any predictable waves.

 

[Walkerooni]

I walked SJPdP to Santiago May/June 2018. Last year Burgos to Muxia starting last week of August, thinking that would put me ahead of the September wave from SJPdP. It did. Only encountered 4-6 people a day while waking, and a few more in albergues. Numbers picked up again with a wave starting in Leon.

 

[trecile]

I guess another way to look at it is to see if there are any periods in September when a particularly large wave of pilgrims tend to leave SJPdP.

The first two weeks of September have historically been two of the busiest weeks of the year for pilgrims starting from SJPDP. If you start from Burgos at the same time you will be a couple of weeks ahead of the big wave.

 

[JustJack]

I walked SJPdP to Santiago May/June 2018. Last year Burgos to Muxia starting last week of August, thinking that would put me ahead of the September wave from SJPdP. It did. Only encountered 4-6 people a day while waking, and a few more in albergues. Numbers picked up again with a wave starting in Leon.

Wow that sounds really hopeful! Only encountering 4-6 people per day on the CF. I'll try to time my camino accordingly.

 

[DreamWeaver]

Definitely not early. I did it 3rd week of September last year. Perfect for me. Just that towards the end of October, it started to rain.

 

[JerryStroebele]

I walked into San Juan de Ortega yesterday in blasting wind and some rain. Really heavy rain in the afternoon. Europe had its own hurricane yesterday. The albergue was pretty full but not completo. I’m a very slow walker so was probably passed by 30 to 50 pilgrims. ALL NICE PEOPLE. I wouldn’t say the Camino is crowded right now. I’ll be in Burgos tomorrow. Buen Camino

 

[AchimBerlin]

My previous casinos have been in the spring. I walked the CF from SJPdP in May/June 2023. I’m thinking of going back to the CF next year to walk from Burgos to Sarria, but this time in the fall. I’m flexible and want to go while the weather is still warm/hot, when the kids are back in school, and hopefully avoiding the worst of the crowds. I know the crowds will be unavoidable, but for those that are really familiar with the patterns, would you start in Burgos in early, mid or late September? Or is September pretty consistently busy throughout the month? Thanks.

I walked from SJPDP in 2022 starting September 4th. That day 700 pilgrims took off over the Pyrenees. More joining in from Pamplona. Start counting…

 

[trecile]

I walked from SJPDP in 2022 starting September 4th. That day 700 pilgrims took off over the Pyrenees. More joining in from Pamplona. Start counting…

If @JustJack starts from Burgos at the same time he will be about two weeks ahead of the big wave starting from SJPDP. If he starts later in the month he will be right in the middle of that wave.