Well, it's happened

[angmsmith]

I got back from my first Camino earlier this year in September. I loved it, found a lot of joy and strength from the experience. But I didn't really think that I would do it again. It was a one-and-done experience. Or so I thought. I've found myself thinking about the Camino a lot in the last few weeks. And considering doing another. Which I'm sure comes as no surprise to many of you veterans

I found the 2 weeks to complete the Portuguese coastal was good timing, both from a personal obligations perspective and a physical one. I could push to a 3 week window, but I don't know that I'd be able to do the full Frances. That said, what recommendations do you have for a Camino route in the 2-3 week timeframe? Excited to be thinking about jumping back into it!

 

[wisepilgrim]

A lot depends on what you like most, and when you can go.
I like the San Salvador (117km) + Camino Primitivo (303km), but the former is as quiet as it is scenic and involves a mountain pass which has snow into late spring.

Another alternative is to pick a long camino and what as much as you can in the time that you have, saving the end for another year.

 

[SYates]

You could fly into Pau (France) and walk the Camino d'Arles > Camino Aragones until Puente la Reina in two weeks.
BC SY

 

[davejsy]

I got back from my first Camino earlier this year in September. I loved it, found a lot of joy and strength from the experience. But I didn't really think that I would do it again. It was a one-and-done experience. Or so I thought. I've found myself thinking about the Camino a lot in the last few weeks. And considering doing another. Which I'm sure comes as no surprise to many of you veterans

I found the 2 weeks to complete the Portuguese coastal was good timing, both from a personal obligations perspective and a physical one. I could push to a 3 week window, but I don't know that I'd be able to do the full Frances. That said, what recommendations do you have for a Camino route in the 2-3 week timeframe? Excited to be thinking about jumping back into it!

Do the first 3 weeks on the Frances (which I would say is the best IMHO), this will get you to Leon, then you can always go back and finish next time - unless you need an ending. Otherwise what @wisepilgrim says would be a beautiful route, but more rugged than the Portuguese.

 

[Tincatinker]

That said, what recommendations do you have for a Camino route in the 2-3 week timeframe?

@angmsmith can you remember, articulate, what bit of your Camino still lingers? What it is that is drawing you back?

If it’s that glorious, tearful, arrival in the Obradoiro then you’ll need to find a start point 2-3 weeks out of Santiago. There’s a thousand roads to Santiago but they all get there in the end. If it was the interaction with that amazing international community then you’ll need to pick one of the busier routes but there’s plenty fit that frame. If it was your own achievement: walking that far, that well, that completely engaged…

Then you’ll be okay on whatever path you choose next. Many here can never quite shake the dust of Camino off their shoes. I once persuaded a good friend who had limited time and opportunity to walk the Camino Frances from Ponferrada and then to Muxia. She has never quite forgiven me but we still meet up from time to time to discuss her next Camino

 

[Bradypus]

Many here can never quite shake the dust of Camino off their shoes.

I can give it up anytime I want. But so far I haven't wanted to...

 

[dcalonder12]

I highly recommend the Primitivo. You could spend a couple days in Oviedo (the official start of the Primitivo and a lovely place to experience) and a couple days in Lugo (also a lovely place which happens to be 100 KM from Santiago). The Primitivo is a beautiful walk, though a bit of a challenge (but very doable). It also has plenty of support along the way. Buen Camino!

 

[Tandem Graham]

Not everyone would agree on my recommendation: why not start from Burgos and enjoy the Meseta and its wonderful monotony of big open spaces? Depending on your daily distances, you might or might not reach Santiago in three weeks, but you will have had a new Camino experience.

 

[Walkingat70]

I got back from my first Camino earlier this year in September. I loved it, found a lot of joy and strength from the experience. But I didn't really think that I would do it again. It was a one-and-done experience. Or so I thought. I've found myself thinking about the Camino a lot in the last few weeks. And considering doing another. Which I'm sure comes as no surprise to many of you veterans

I found the 2 weeks to complete the Portuguese coastal was good timing, both from a personal obligations perspective and a physical one. I could push to a 3 week window, but I don't know that I'd be able to do the full Frances. That said, what recommendations do you have for a Camino route in the 2-3 week timeframe? Excited to be thinking about jumping back into it!

The Frances is the big daddy and you should do it. Doing it in one go may not be feasible so do it in stages. First from St John to possibly Burgos

 

[lt56ny]

For peace and solitude and beauty I would highly recommend th Camino Madrid. If you walked it every day for 14 days it is about 23k a day. Of course every day will be longer or shorter, just the average. It is very often solitude and simplicity. Some nights albergues you stayed in on the CF will look like the 4 Seasons compared to some of the Madrid albergues. I loved it.

 

[hokiebobwise]

In 2023 I walked from Astorga, on the Framces. I'm hoping to walk from Porto this summer.

 

[JacquelineA]

You can do part of a Camino. Gives you a good reason to come back every year to go further!
I met a couple on the via de la plata this year who walked two weeks from Sevilla to Merida last year and picked it up from there for another to weeks this year. I’m sure you can walk other caminos like that

 

[domigee]

You can do part of a Camino. Gives you a good reason to come back every year to go further!
I met a couple on the via de la plata this year who walked two weeks from Sevilla to Merida last year and picked it up from there for another to weeks this year. I’m sure you can walk other caminos like that

I have met many people who did just that, sometimes only one week at a time over several years... because at the time, that is all they could manage. (workwise, usually)

 

[peregrina2000]

I can give it up anytime I want. But so far I haven't wanted to...

Remember what Mark Twain may have said — giving up smoking is easy, I’ve done it many times!

 

[CactusTrail]

Have you considered doing the Via Podiensis in France from Le Puy en Velay to Cahors? That can be achieved in 3 weeks with a day off. You'll find gorgeous scenery and plenty of companions without feeling crowded. The food is excellent too.