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Which Camino for 2025? (January/February)

Stephan the Painter

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Time of past OR future Camino
Frances ' 22, Madrid '24, Frances '24
It looks like it'll be in January and February if I get a chance to go to Spain next year.

So I am looking for suggestions for a warmish winter Camino starting about Jan.15 and going on for a few weeks. Does not have to end in Santiago.

Originally what I had in mind was the Levante or Sureste starting from somewhere around Toledo. But I think that will be to cold in that area for me early in the year and I am not interested in carrying lots of cold-weather gear.

So I think it'll have to be a more southern Camino.

The Fisherman trail in Portugal sounded pretty good, but I want to stick to Spain because I'm forever trying to learn more Spanish language.

Luckily, my issues with my feet and lower legs have been resolved, so no restrictions on where to hike.

And of course, I want interesting towns with lots of good stuff to draw!

Thanks!
 
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I did look at the VDLP again. But what caught my eye while looking at some posts was the Via Serrana starting in Gibralter. I know someone in Tarifa and maybe I could start there. That's the Estrecho, I think?

And if I wanted to I could continue along VDLP after Sevilla up to Merida. This would definitely work. The other likely choices would be the Mozarabe from either Almeria or Malaga.

For the first time I checked the Camino Weather site, which is very useful and gives data on likely weather along all the camino routes. Ths southern Caminos are quite mild in January. And it seems I could even do the Levante from Toledo. It would be cold, but not freezing during the day. I would still have to carry extra clothing, and I really find I enjoy myself much more when my pack is really light!

I know there's some other unofficial Camino routes that stretch in the south of Spain. Is there one that leaves from near Cartegna and goes west? Would love to hear about any of these lesser-known routes.
 
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Since you've read about my Vía Serrana and commented elsewhere, I'll just add here that I think this would be a great choice, potentially including some of the add-ons you mentioned. I'd definitely go for a southern route at that time of year, as you have already figured out. On the map I have, I see the Argar starting near Cartagena and meeting the Sureste near Toledo, but I have never heard of it.
 
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My experience living in Estoril was it is not "warmish" in January and February and the prevailing winds/rains are forever coming in from the west off of a very chilly Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the reasons I left Portugal, I don't even think the Algarve is conducive to t-shirts in the winter. At any rate, all that being said; let me know what you plan. I could easily pop over there and be your "concierge" chase car when you decide your route.
 
Thank you, Don! How nice of you to offer! I'll take a more careful look at the weather norms. I know that Atlantic winter weather can be unpleasant, but I'm hoping that the Via Serrana is far enough inland.

A couple of years ago I spent six weeks in January and February in Sevilla, and while it was often very cold at night and in the mornings, the days were quite nice. I assume that it would be similar on The Via Serrana. But if I started in Tarifa I might get some of that…
 
jungleboy said:
On the map I have, I see the Argar starting near Cartagena and meeting the Sureste near Toledo, but I have never heard of it.
Click to expand...
I guess I was thinking about the Caravaca de la Cruz. There seem to be multiple variations of this in the same region of the Argar.


Pilgrimage routes in the Region of Murcia : Web del Camino de la Cruz

The Region of Murcia offers a new way to reach Caravaca de la Cruz, the fifth place in the world to be recognized as a Holy City.
www.turismoregiondemurcia.es

And Alan Sykes is walking it now or was recently.

And thanks to the moderator who added January and February to my post title. I tried to edit it, but it seems I can't edit post titles anymore, which I know I've done in the past…?
 
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Stephan the Painter said:
I am looking for suggestions for a warmish winter Camino starting about Jan.15 and going on for a few weeks. Does not have to end in Santiago.
Click to expand...
I'll be starting a bit later than that (end of January or first week of February) walking one section of the Mozárabe (Granada to Córdoba) and two sections of the Vía de la Plata (Sevilla to Mérida and Salamanca or Zamora to Astorga) with time for good visits in those cities. If you're looking for company or just want to chat, feel free to DM me.
 
Everything's still in the planning stage for me ( no plane tickets yet!), but if we end up anywhere near each other at the right times, it would be great to meet up.
 
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I´ve walked the Via Serrana but not the Via Augusta from Cadiz. The Via Serrana is beautiful but goes through some very significant mountains for a couple of days. I don´t know how much snow they get in the winter - I walked it late September last year. Jungleboy probably has a better feel for that. I opted for the Via Serrana over the Via Augusta (thank you to Jungleboy!) for the beauty of the scenery and the more rugged terrain, but that might be a reason to consider the Via Augusta in the wintertime. I understand it is much flatter and I would think easier to walk during winter. Especially if you like sherry/jerez!
 
Just a thought Stephan, the Andalusian Coast to coast? There are some high passes so maybe a bit tricky during deep winter. Not a Camino as such and I’ve not done it, but it looks good.

An Introduction to the Andalucían Coast to Coast Walk

Guy Hunter-Watts introduces this 21-day coast to coast hiking trail across Andalucía. It's been twenty years in the making and he's excited to share this…
www.cicerone.co.uk
Jon
 
How about the Mozarabe from Almería? It passes through Granada and Cordoba, and you might find one or two things worthy of drawing in those towns.
 
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Stephan the Painter said:
It looks like it'll be in January and February if I get a chance to go to Spain next year.
Click to expand...
I would second the idea about the Mozárabe from Almería. If the weather goes very badly, you can count on the Association to keep you informed (and actually you can count on the Association to take care of you, they are amazing).

Here’s the count from January and February 2023. More than I expected!

 
Jon53 said:
Just a thought Stephan, the Andalusian Coast to coast?
Click to expand...
That's very interesting. I have never heard of that. I'll have to investigate.
MesaWalker said:
The Via Serrana is beautiful but goes through some very significant mountains for a couple of days. I don´t know how much snow they get in the winter -
Click to expand...
That's a good thought. It's a very mild winter in that part of the world, but the mountains are probably much colder. I will look into it.
David Tallan said:
ow about the Mozarabe from Almería? It passes through Granada and Cordoba, and you might find one or two things worthy of drawing in those towns.
Click to expand...
peregrina2000 said:
I would second the idea about the Mozárabe from Almería
Click to expand...
Starting the Mozarabe in Almeria is near the top of the list. Last year I actually spent five or six days in Almeria, pretty much only drawing and painting that wonderful fortress on the hill. And one day I was loitering in front of the church before mass, and someone approached me from the Camino Association, and asked me if I was a pilgrim. I guess I had the look!


The nice thing about the Almería route is that there are plenty of Albergues. Some of the other routes I'm looking at like the Serrana will be all private rooms and dramatically increase my budget. It seems the days of €25 or €30 private rooms are almost gone.

And it looks like they were only 100 people in total in January and February. That will be quite a change from my busy April/May Camino Frances this Spring! But probably much busier than something like the Serrana, where I probably would meet no one.

I did spend a week each in both Granada and Cordoba drawing last year, but in Grenada I was sick with something so I didn't do anything except lie around in my hotel room. So I do need to go back! This time I know I better buy tickets in advance if I want to see the Alhambra.

Thanks. I'll take a much more serious look at it. It does seem to be very popular with many multiple camino veterans on this board so I'm sure I'll have a good time.
 
Stephan the Painter said:
The nice thing about the Almería route is that there are plenty of Albergues.
Click to expand...
That was a point that I had forgotten to mention. No worries about winter closings because the association runs all of the albergues. On the Serrana, which I walked this past spring, we were almost always in private accommodations. So I don’t think winter closing will be a problem there either, but the price differential will be pretty substantial.
 
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