Suggestions

[1elantra]

Hi all. Looking to do a camino in April 2025. I did the Frances April 2023 nd loved it.
Cant decide if to do portugese, Norte or another one. Have heard some are not as well set up as Frances and dont want to be on my own miles from anywhere, just in case. Whats the most popular after Frances?
Can anyone offer some recommendations please?
Thanks Sharon

 

[Paul.W]

I walked from Porto in May and would highly recommend! Not as busy as the Frances but I went solo and met lots of people along the way. Not sure of the figures in April though. Like you I was undecided which Camino to walk after the Frances but with only 2 weeks vacation time chose Portuguese this and next year the Primitivo. Decisions decisions!

 

[1elantra]

I walked from Porto in May and would highly recommend! Not as busy as the Frances but I went solo and met lots of people along the way. Not sure of the figures in April though. Like you I was undecided which Camino to walk after the Frances but with only 2 weeks vacation time chose Portuguese this and next year the Primitivo. Decisions decisions!

Thanks for your input. I am hoping to do a camino with similar km or more than Frances as have plenty of time.

 

[1elantra]

Thanks for your input. I am hoping to do a camino with similar km or more than Frances as have plenty of time.

Also wondering if bag transfer and acc etc is set up as good in France as it is in Spain

 

[SYates]

Also wondering if bag transfer and acc etc is set up as good in France as it is in Spain

he Le Puy route is beautiful and very historic and as well set up with "pilgrim infrastructure" including luggage transport, as the CF.
BC SY

 

[1elantra]

he Le Puy route is beautiful and very historic and as well set up with "pilgrim infrastructure" including luggage transport, as the CF.
BC SY

Excellent thank you. Does it finish in Santiago or St Jean Pied Port?

 

[Paul-CH]

Does it finish in Santiago or St Jean Pied Port?

That will depend on you and your time. All camino have the target SdC, but some people have to split up the route because they don't have enough time to do the whole route in one go.

 

[David]

I would also suggest France, Le Puy route . Is beautiful, friendly, great food, and depending on how much time you have .. you could start further down from Le Puy and/or finish at St Jean.

French Caminos are GR65 hiking routes so you do get hikers on them who are not going to Santiago .. because of the casual hikers you will find that the route can leave a path, go madly up to the top of a ridge for a view and then bring you down again - I ignored those hiking detours!

Le Puy camino

A guide for English-speaking pilgrims

solocamino.com

Though - European weather has strange new patterns now - you can have an April like early summer or wet and really really cold - so whichever route you choose do keep an eye on the forecasts.

 

[wisepilgrim]

The most popular after the Francés would be the Portugués, which has many variations. The minority of pilgrims walking it start in Lisbon, which is a pity because the Lisbon to Porto section is wonderful and gives the sort of contrasts in terrain that only a long walk can offer. From Porto you can chose an interior route or a coastal route, and everyone has their own opinions about which is better.

You can also try combinations of lesser traveled Caminos, such as combining the San Salvador (Léon to Oviedo) and the Primitivo (Oviedo to Santiago).

The Vía de la Plata from Sevilla is the most underrated of all the long walks, and that's not fair. If popular is what you are looking for then this one may not be for you. It allows for a number of combinations though as many other (much less traveled) Caminos intersect with it.

In some ways it comes down to how much time do you have, and when do you have it. The answers to these questions will shape the answer to your question.

 

[David Tallan]

Hi all. Looking to do a camino in April 2025. I did the Frances April 2023 nd loved it.
Cant decide if to do portugese, Norte or another one. Have heard some are not as well set up as Frances and dont want to be on my own miles from anywhere, just in case. Whats the most popular after Frances?
Can anyone offer some recommendations please?
Thanks Sharon

Partly, I would say, the best advice would depend on how long you want to walk for. But the next most popular is certainly the Portugues after Porto.

That is noticeably shorter than the Frances (from the border with France). The Norte is of a more similar length (maybe a smidgen longer), and still gets a fair number of pilgrims. The Salvador/Primitivo/Finisterre-Muxia combo is about three and a half weeks and is a beautiful combo. The Salvador part has a few less pilgrims, but is beautiful and has enough infrastructure, and other pilgrims (when I walked there were 6-12 pilgrims i saw every day.

 

[1elantra]

Partly, I would say, the best advice would depend on how long you want to walk for. But the next most popular is certainly the Portugues after Porto.

That is noticeably shorter than the Frances (from the border with France). The Norte is of a more similar length (maybe a smidgen longer), and still gets a fair number of pilgrims. The Salvador/Primitivo/Finisterre-Muxia combo is about three and a half weeks and is a beautiful combo. The Salvador part has a few less pilgrims, but is beautiful and has enough infrastructure, and other pilgrims (when I walked there were 6-12 pilgrims i saw every day.

Thank you. I have 4 to 6 weeks

 

[trecile]

Since you want another route about the same distance as the Francés I can recommend the Norte.

 

[1elantra]

Since you want another route about the same distance as the Francés I can recommend the Norte.

Appreciate all the suggestons.. very helpful. 4 to 6 weeks starting in April. From what I have read, looks like the puy although popular may be a little isolating re language barrier, and a little harder to plan accom meals etc. When I did the Frances communicating with other pilgrams and sharing stories added to the experience. So in short may will probably look at a route which is mainly within spain / portugal. Tossing up now between norte and portugese.

 

[trecile]

Appreciate all the suggestons.. very helpful. 4 to 6 weeks starting in April. From what I have read, looks like the puy although popular may be a little isolating re language barrier, and a little harder to plan accom meals etc. When I did the Frances communicating with other pilgrams and sharing stories added to the experience. So in short may will probably look at a route which is mainly within spain / portugal. Tossing up now between norte and portugese.

If you decide on the Portuguese from Lisbon be aware that there will be very few other pilgrims until you get to Porto.

 

[ParisOslo]

Perhaps you could consider the Francigena Camino route from Kent to Rome. If you find the trip to long you could start from Switzerland.

The web site in case…. https://www.viefrancigene.org/en/

 

[1elantra]

If you decide on the Portuguese from Lisbon be aware that there will be very few other pilgrims until you get to Porto.

Trecile is there a guidebook for the Fishermans Trail Camino in Portugal that you know of please. Also do you know if there is a backpack transfer company to transfer packs from Lisbon to Santiago?

 

[trecile]

Trecile is there a guidebook for the Fishermans Trail Camino in Portugal that you know of please. Also do you know if there is a backpack transfer company to transfer packs from Lisbon to Santiago?

I don't know about the Fishermans Trail - you can find info on this subforum:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/rota-vicentina-sagres-santiago-do-cacem.182/

And as far as I know there is no inexpensive luggage transfer between Lisbon and Porto. You can check with this company. I used them to send a suitcase direct from Lisbon to Santiago.

Luggage Driver | Transfer Bagagens Passageiros Bicicletas

Transfere de bagagens, passageiros e bicicletas em Portugal e Galiza | Luggage, passengers and bikes transfers in Portugal and Galicia.

luggagedriver.com