Suggestions Welcome...

[Alex Krizel]

Greetings.

I am planning a Camino, and I have never done one, so I am looking for suggestions from others.

My biggest issue is time.
I cannot take 3 months off work at this point in my life, so I have to do it within my vaca limits.

Ideally, I would like to start out with a one-week Camino.
I am thinking Ingles or Portugues.
Even though I wanted to try Portugues, I think Ingles would be more practical, especially for a first timer.

BTW: I am not as concerned about getting a Compostella.
I am more concerned with the "experience".
I would actually like to go through to Finisterre.

So....

Looking for suggestions.
1. When to go (was thinking early May or October).
2. How to get there (from US east coast, around NYC/PHL area to Ferrol).
3. How to walk (you know what I mean). I plan on getting a guide when I know what route I'm taking.
4. Overall suggestions (staying one place over another, where to find food/water, etc.).

Tango Yankee in advance for all your help.

Also, if anyone is planning a trip, and doesn't mind a tag-along...

Buen Camino.

Alex

 

[norelle]

Welcome to the forum Alex!

You can do a search of the forum threads for your questions above - there is an abundance of information here and it's easy (and fun) to research and possibly stumble across the answers to questions you didn't even know you had!

Enjoy the planning!

Buen Camino

 

[Deleted member 3000]

October would be less busy than May on the Ingles.

You can fly to Santiago and take a bus to a starting point, Ferrol for the Ingles. A shuttle from the airport runs about every 30 minutes for under two Euros to the bus station. You will find bus schedules online.

Buen camino.

 

[Jan_D]

Hi Alex, why not just spend one week on the Frances? Many people come to walk parts of it for a few days at a time; you will be guaranteed wonderful facilities and companionship, that iconic Camino Frances landscape, and dare I say it, that camino "experience". October is probably a bit quieter, but if you're really eager come in May it will also be great. No need to plan a route, just get to a point (like Pamplona?) and start following the arrows...

 

[RJM]

Ditto to just picking a section of the Camino Frances and start walking. Save the part to the coast for a later time (IMO).

 

[Camino Chrissy]

When you make your decision on what route you plan to walk, the guidebook you purchase should have many/most of the various lodgings, restaurants and resupply options listed.

If walking/seeing the coast is important to you, you could start in Santiago, walk to Finesterre, spend an extra day, walk on to Muxia via an overnight in Lires on the way, then bus back to Santiago. A nice one week little Camino gem, although far fewer pilgrims walking these stretches. If companionship and the true vibe of the Camino is important to you, then a portion of the Frances is the way to go.

 

[t2andreo]

Alex:

Most "newbies" start with the Camino Frances. It is the most developed of all the routes with the largest number of "services" close enough to each other to give you near infinite options for planning and walking each day. It also (IMHO) is the route that best supports "going with the flow."

During the summer months, when universities are out of session, it can get crowded. Then there is the famous heat in July and August. So, many of the veterans will walk during one of the two "hip seasons." These are from (approximately) Easter to early June, and mid-September through the end of October.

For reference, doing the entire Camino Frances takes nominally 35 days (+/-). Walking from Porto to Santiago on the Camino Portuguese takes about 10 days (+/-). Both routes have plenty of amenities for first-timers.

There is nothing wrong with the Ingles or any other route. However, my recommendation for a first-timer who wants a "taste" of the Camino, will likely be most satisfied with a segment of the Frances or Portuguese. The other, less traveled routes simply have less supporting infrastructure.

Overall, the Camino de Santiago is not a back country or "through hike" like the Appalachian or PCT Trails in the US. It is village-to-village hiking. You only need to carry clothes, toiletries and day-hiking supplies.

Personally, I have done five Caminos, including two full Camino Frances (form Saint Jean Pied de Port) and one Camino Portuguese (from Lisbon). I made a separate trip on the Portuguese from Porto one year.

This year, I start on 13 April from Ponferrada walking the Camino Invierno (the winter route). This route runs to the south of and sort of parallel to the final part of the Camino Frances into Santiago. It takes a couple of extra days over the CF route, about 10 - 12 in total, depending on pace. However, I have not done it and want to evaluate it as a viable alternative for folks who wish to avoid the relative crowding and commercialism on the final stretch of the Camino Frances.

Hope this helps.

 

[Tia Valeria]

The Camino Inglés was my first Camino and as such gave me a great sense of achievement in managing to complete it. Walking slower than many took 9 walking days but most can do it in 5 or 6 days - leaving you time for Finisterre.
There are several good guides both online and via the resources section here - @JohnnieWalker 's guide is available for Kindle or printed version from CSJ-UK
The only part of the Francés I walked was when completing the Primitivo and joined the Francés at Palas de Rei.
My preference would still be for the Inglés or else the Primitivo (from Lugo if time is short).

 

[FreshAir]

Hi!

My first (and only so far) Camino was the Inglés and I absolutely loved it.

We did it the first week of October and the weather was great, warm and sunny. No guaranties, as the weather is a bit unpredictable, but I guess we were lucky.
Not crowded at all (even though we managed to meet people from our city on the Camino) and the albergues were nice.

We went a bit crazy and did it in three stages:
Ferro - Miño
Miño - Bruma
Bruma - Santiago

This makes for 40+km stages, which was brutal... I'm a trail runner, all my friends are as well, but it wasn't easy at all. At the end of the first day I thought we wouldn't be able to make it to Santiago...

The albergue in Miño is small (2 rooms, ours had 5 bunk beds) but clean. They provide disposable sheets and we ordered pizza, which after such a long day tasted amazing!
The albergue in Bruma was full and we were "diverted" to a sports centre nearby. Doable, but not advisable...
In Santiago we actually stayed at Monte de Gozo (everything was full in the city) and the albergue is just amazing!

That's mostly it. If you need any other info, just ask!