To book or not to book.....that is the question!

[Leemac40]

I am planning to walk from Leon and onto the Invierno next April, walking over Easter, as I understand it this is a very busy time on the Camino! Is it therefore necessary to book or would I still manage to wing it?
I hope to do the more scenic Southern variant out of Leon which looking at Gronze doesn't leave too many possibilities for stages, I am on a tight timescale of 15 days, hoping this is enough
Apologies if this is an age old question which has been discussed to death and thanks for any replies.

 

[Kirkie]

Hi, @Leemac40. All the best for your preparation and planning. You ask a question, and it doesn't really matter how many times it is asked. I am not going to give you an answer, but I will share what a member of the Camino Society Ireland shared with me yesterday: I don't know what all the hype is about. She is an experienced pilgrim. She walked this time from Leon, returning perhaps last week, and maybe once or twice needed to book, but of that I am not even sure.
Do your level, or hilly, best to get in form for walking an average of 25km a day. That depends of course on your overall distance plan. You are from UK. Contact St James Society, ask them your questions. I might pm the forum member I refer to and ask her to pm you so you could get more precise help.
Do enjoy this time of trial and error. Scots wha hae and all that - whatever it really means in modern times!
My message will be followed without doubt with other, possibly contrary, recommendations. That is where your own common sense will need to filter what it is you need to pay attention to.
Buen camino.

 

[Robo]

I walked it last year in May so can't comment on the impact of Semana Santa.
Though Semana Santa on the VdlP prior to it did lead to a shortage of beds a couple of times and places also closed. I would say on the Invierno, on balance. you should be OK.

But if it were me, I'd be booking a day or two ahead just to be sure, as in some places there may only be one option to stay. (depending on your stages)

It's a wonderful route, and quie hilly.
But if you have a few days walking already as a warm up you should be fine.
I hit it after 40 days on the VdlP so hardly noticed the hills!
Well, they were not as bad as they might have felt......

Sounds like you are used to quite long days.
Allowing 4 days from Leon to Ponferrada, you'd need to do the Invierno in 11 days.
Average 24 km days.
It sounds easy, but the hills make it harder, and the stages often don't work out as you'd like.
But very 'doable' I'm sure.

I stuck to an average <20 km days on the Inveirno.

These were my stages. I go slow......... (green = short day <15 kms)

 

[Leemac40]

Hi, @Leemac40. All the best for your preparation and planning. You ask a question, and it doesn't really matter how many times it is asked. I am not going to give you an answer, but I will share what a member of the Camino Society Ireland shared with me yesterday: I don't know what all the hype is about. She is an experienced pilgrim. She walked this time from Leon, returning perhaps last week, and maybe once or twice needed to book, but of that I am not even sure.
Do your level, or hilly, best to get in form for walking an average of 25km a day. That depends of course on your overall distance plan. You are from UK. Contact St James Society, ask them your questions. I might pm the forum member I refer to and ask her to pm you so you could get more precise help.
Do enjoy this time of trial and error. Scots wha hae and all that - whatever it really means in modern times!
My message will be followed without doubt with other, possibly contrary, recommendations. That is where your own common sense will need to filter what it is you need to pay attention to.
Buen camino.

Thankyou so much for your reply, I have planned my stages, very roughly, I think the planning and excitement is as much fun as the walking! I walked the West Highland Way this year, 20miles per day which I felt comfortable with so hoping for the same but the path will decide! I have been on different Camino routes but only felt 'brave' enough to book daily and stay in donativos when I walked the Baztan and onto Burgos a couple of years ago, loved it but the planning sometimes gets the bast of me!

 

[Leemac40]

I walked it last year in May so can't comment on the impact of Semana Santa.
Though Semana Santa on the VdlP prior to it did lead to a shortage of beds a couple of times and places also closed. I would say on the Invierno, on balance. you should be OK.

But if it were me, I'd be booking a day or two ahead just to be sure, as in some places there may only be one option to stay. (depending on your stages)

It's a wonderful route, and quie hilly.
But if you have a few days walking already as a warm up you should be fine.
I hit it after 40 days on the VdlP so hardly noticed the hills!
Well, they were not as bad as they might have felt......

Sounds like you are used to quite long days.
Allowing 4 days from Leon to Ponferrada, you'd need to do the Invierno in 11 days.
Average 24 km days.
It sounds easy, but the hills make it harder, and the stages often don't work out as you'd like.
But very 'doable' I'm sure.

I stuck to an average <20 km days on the Inveirno.

These were my stages. I go slow......... (green = short day <15 kms)

View attachment 177898

Thanks Robo, this is great, I have made a rough plan using buen Camino and Gronze however I'm sure in all my obsessing from now until April this will change! Hoping to not rush ahead and spend more time being present! Love a good hill....well going up anyway not so much the downward journey! Plan to get popes in Leon to assist me with this

 

[Kirkie]

Thankyou so much for your reply, I have planned my stages, very roughly, I think the planning and excitement is as much fun as the walking! I walked the West Highland Way this year, 20miles per day which I felt comfortable with so hoping for the same but the path will decide! I have been on different Camino routes but only felt 'brave' enough to book daily and stay in donativos when I walked the Baztan and onto Burgos a couple of years ago, loved it but the planning sometimes gets the bast of me!

Yes, I realised you are not a first time pilgrim. How I would love to do the West Highland Way! Not enough time for me with other things in the diary...
I sent a pm to the forum member and have no doubt she will respond to you...

You need to autocorrect above! popes?

 

[Leemac40]

Thanks Robo, this is great, I have made a rough plan using buen Camino and Gronze however I'm sure in all my obsessing from now until April this will change! Hoping to not rush ahead and spend more time being present! Love a good hill....well going up anyway not so much the downward journey! Plan to get popes in Leon to assist me with this

*Poles

 

[Leemac40]

Yes, I realised you are not a first time pilgrim. How I would love to do the West Highland Way! Not enough time for me with other things in the diary...
I sent a pm to the forum member and have no doubt she will respond to you...

You need to autocorrect above! popes?

I do enjoy a walk alongside a pope however poles are also necessary

 

[Robo]

Thanks Robo, this is great, I have made a rough plan using buen Camino and Gronze however I'm sure in all my obsessing from now until April this will change! Hoping to not rush ahead and spend more time being present! Love a good hill....well going up anyway not so much the downward journey! Plan to get popes in Leon to assist me with this

The uphills are all great. Wonderful views.
There are a couple of very steep downhills, but they are not long.
Go slow with poles!

This one is a classic!! But wonderful views.

Tip. The Casa Rural in Vilarino is really nice!

 

[domigee]

I would book Vilariño if you plan to stay there… Otherwise, I think you’ll be fine

 

[SioCamino]

Hi, @Leemac40. All the best for your preparation and planning. You ask a question, and it doesn't really matter how many times it is asked. I am not going to give you an answer, but I will share what a member of the Camino Society Ireland shared with me yesterday: I don't know what all the hype is about. She is an experienced pilgrim. She walked this time from Leon, returning perhaps last week, and maybe once or twice needed to book, but of that I am not even sure.
Do your level, or hilly, best to get in form for walking an average of 25km a day. That depends of course on your overall distance plan. You are from UK. Contact St James Society, ask them your questions. I might pm the forum member I refer to and ask her to pm you so you could get more precise help.
Do enjoy this time of trial and error. Scots wha hae and all that - whatever it really means in modern times!
My message will be followed without doubt with other, possibly contrary, recommendations. That is where your own common sense will need to filter what it is you need to pay attention to.
Buen camin

Yeah I walked from 16/08 to 15/09 from Logroño through to Fisterra and was pleasantly surprised by how quiet it was, certainly up to Sarria. I was never in a full albergue. I occasionally booked when I wanted a private room or to stay in a specific albergue - and of course several of the albergues I really wanted to stay in didn't take reservations anyway.

However I think this experience is very very time dependant. I think I was walking before the bulk of the September pilgrims start from SJPP and but the time I reached Sarria the larger numbers of Spanish pilgrims would have finished (eg with return to school, university etc end of summer holidays).

I walked the week before Semana Santa this year also and accommodation was plentiful where open (still march) but that changed as Semana Santa started, with noticeably more pilgrims joining every day. I bailed out on Spy Wednesday (planned) to avoid the easter crowds.

My general advice would be that many camino routes get very busy over Easter. I don't know off hand when Easter falls in 2025 but the later in April it is the busier it will be. Remember also that May 1st is a holiday so Spanish pilgrims in particular might combine their holidays with both of those (to maximise time off).

For the invierno generally some of the places to stay will require booking or prior notice e.g. The lovely Albergue in Villavieja - you need to contact in advance to get the door code.

With the exception of Easter, I generally like to book my first night (if arriving late especially) and then if I must book to do so only a couple of days in advance.


Hope this is of help

S

 

[Leemac40]

Yeah I walked from 16/08 to 15/09 from Logroño through to Fisterra and was pleasantly surprised by how quiet it was, certainly up to Sarria. I was never in a full albergue. I occasionally booked when I wanted a private room or to stay in a specific albergue - and of course several of the albergues I really wanted to stay in didn't take reservations anyway.

However I think this experience is very very time dependant. I think I was walking before the bulk of the September pilgrims start from SJPP and but the time I reached Sarria the larger numbers of Spanish pilgrims would have finished (eg with return to school, university etc end of summer holidays).

I walked the week before Semana Santa this year also and accommodation was plentiful where open (still march) but that changed as Semana Santa started, with noticeably more pilgrims joining every day. I bailed out on Spy Wednesday (planned) to avoid the easter crowds.

My general advice would be that many camino routes get very busy over Easter. I don't know off hand when Easter falls in 2025 but the later in April it is the busier it will be. Remember also that May 1st is a holiday so Spanish pilgrims in particular might combine their holidays with both of those (to maximise time off).

For the invierno generally some of the places to stay will require booking or prior notice e.g. The lovely Albergue in Villavieja - you need to contact in advance to get the door code.

With the exception of Easter, I generally like to book my first night (if arriving late especially) and then if I must book to do so only a couple of days in advance.


Hope this is of help

S

 

[Leemac40]

Sorry pressed the wrong button! Thanks, very helpful, have booked my first night in Leon and last in Santiago so just all the fin bits in between now! It's very early at the moment for booking anyway so will keep up the planning stages then see what happens when I'm there

 

[trecile]

To make sure that you allow enough time to enjoy the Primitivo I recommend that you start from Astorga instead of León. You won't have to rush, and the scenery is nicer after Astorga.

 

[Leemac40]

To make sure that you allow enough time to enjoy the Primitivo I recommend that you start from Astorga instead of León. You won't have to rush, and the scenery is nicer after Astorga.

Might be a good plan if I need more time although the stages I've planned should allow enough time, planning on 25-35km each day depending on accommodation as obviously this seems quite sparse after leaving the Frances, will be staying in albergue/donativos

 

[Dougie]

I am planning to walk from Leon and onto the Invierno next April, walking over Easter, as I understand it this is a very busy time on the Camino! Is it therefore necessary to book or would I still manage to wing it?
I hope to do the more scenic Southern variant out of Leon which looking at Gronze doesn't leave too many possibilities for stages, I am on a tight timescale of 15 days, hoping this is enough
Apologies if this is an age old question which has been discussed to death and thanks for any replies.

I walk from SJPDP to SDC in April and I only booked two places SJPDP & Santiago and even though I was told at the Pilgrims office in St. Jean that it was the busiest April on record I never had any issues finding a bed but I did stay exclusively in Municipal which you can't book, I did however arrive early in the day most times and I was told in St Jean to arrive early at Ronsevalles which I did and got a bed but many pilgrims were turned away later in the afternoon as it was full.