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 thick of that wave.

 

[JustJack]

This has been very helpful. Thanks all.

Now same question for departing Burgos in June, just in case I can’t wait til September. I know May is a busy departure month from SJPDP, but can anyone add to that? Does there tend to be any notable waves leaving SJPDP in May that I can try to avoid in Burgos?

 

[trecile]

I joined the Camino Francés from the Camino Aragonés at Puente la Reina on May 25th this year, and it was remarkably quiet for that time of year. Several hospitaleros/as told me that it was unusually quiet for late May/early June, and I didn't meet any pilgrims that had problems finding places to sleep.

 

[Walkerooni]

You've done CF just last year, so you are aware of how busy it can be in May/June. Again, if you start in Burgos beginning of May, you will be a few weeks ahead of that rush. Having done a spring and a fall CF, I can tell you this--they look completely different to the eye. Both beautiful.

 

[JustJack]

I joined the Camino Francés from the Camino Aragonés at Puente la Reina on May 25th this year, and it was remarkably quiet for that time of year. Several hospitaleros/as told me that it was unusually quiet for late May/early June, and I didn't meet any pilgrims that had problems finding places to sleep.

Good to know. I went through there on May 20 and it was really busy. I probably left SJPSP in the midst of a wave of pilgrims on May 15. So if I were to depart Burgos around the first week of June I might miss the big May waves. Early June or mid-late September sound like the sweet spots.

 

[trecile]

Early June or mid-late September sound like the sweet spots.

A mid to late September start from Burgos will put you right in the middle of the huge waves that start from SJPdP during the first two weeks of September. I would start early June for the wild flowers and fields of green grain.

 

[JustJack]

You've done CF just last year, so you are aware of how busy it can be in May/June. Again, if you start in Burgos beginning of May, you will be a few weeks ahead of that rush. Having done a spring and a fall CF, I can tell you this--they look completely different to the eye. Both beautiful.

I’m aware that May is busy departing SJPDP. But within that busyness there are larger waves. And some of those waves are predictable. I have the luxury of picking when I want to leave so just trying to optimize the date and avoid walking in a big wave of pilgrims.
I agree spring is beautiful. Haven’t seen fall yet but looking forward to it. Although I think I’ll miss the waving fields of flax and wheat in the meseta in the spring…

 

[JustJack]

A mid to late September start from Burgos will put you right in the middle of the huge waves that start from SJPdP during the first two weeks of September.

Oops I mistyped that. You’re quite right. An early September or early June departure is probably best.

 

[Walkerooni]

Good to know. I went through there on May 20 and it was really busy. I probably left SJPSP in the midst of a wave of pilgrims on May 15. So if I were to depart Burgos around the first week of June I might miss the big May waves. Early June or mid-late September sound like the sweet spots.

Actually, no. The math says if you leave Burgos beginning of June you would be joining the exact same wave that started mid-May from SJPdP that you are stating you want to avoid!

 

[trecile]

Actually, no. The math says if you leave Burgos beginning of June you would be joining the exact same wave that started mid-May from SJPdP that you are stating you want to avoid!

But I think that the numbers really decrease starting from SJPdP after May 15th. I would probably aim to start from Burgos in the second week of June.