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Which way to go...?

V

Vilbol

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Primitivo
Hello Camigos,

With a limited two-ish weeks at my disposal I am aiming to go on Camino. I have already done the Primitivo, which was amazing, so I was thinking of doing the Portuguese this time. However, I want a challenge and a quieter route. So I'm thinking of doing a second Primitivo. I hear the Portuguese is much busier and flatter, especially compared to Primitivo, so less appealing to me. What would you do? Ideally I would go on the Norte, but don't have the time.

Thanks in advance for your inputs!
 
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I did the Primitivo last year and fully intend to walk it again, like you I loved it. So I certainly would not dissuade you from doing that. If you wanted you could skip the last few days by turning off onto the Verde (beautiful) immediately after Lugo and finish on the Norte.

You could also consider the Invierno.
Thread 'Invierno Planning Questions 2024' https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/invierno-planning-questions-2024.87206/

I guess it depends on how important it is for you to reach Santiago. Because otherwise you could do the first two weeks of the Norte, drop off, and then come back to it next year.
 
I haven't walk the Invierno yet but I think I will next year after I do the Mozarabe. From everything I read I think it would be a great option. No idea if it is as challenging as the Primitivo but it looks beautiful, has good and getting better infrastructure and is well waymarked.
 
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Do the salvador and then do as much of the primitivo as you have time for. I like the mountains so did the Salvador. Also did the aragones,starting in Pau which was very nice.
 
I agree that the Invierno would be a good choice for you in your time frame. Start with a couple of short days so that you can spend some time at Las Medulas.
 
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Thanks for all of the excellent replies so far!

I had been considering the Verde (on Primitivo) to make it a little more different, and then heading up to Fin Terra afterwards for a swim (or at least some sea air). To be more specific than my original post, my "two-ish" weeks is closer to 3 weeks.

Though I hadn't heard of the Inveirno! It looks like a really interesting route, though with less infrastructure, and my Spanish is more survival level than anything competent.
I wonder if it would be worth adding a few more days and starting in Leon, then breaking off the French Way at Ponferrada and doing the lenght of the Invierno?
 
Vilbol said:
Though I hadn't heard of the Inveirno! It looks like a really interesting route, though with less infrastructure, and my Spanish is more survival level than anything competent.
Click to expand...
There are plenty of pilgrim accommodations on the Invierno. When I was there in June there were often only two of us in the albergue.
There are a couple of days with no or few services where you should carry your lunch with you.
Vilbol said:
I wonder if it would be worth adding a few more days and starting in Leon, then breaking off the French Way at Ponferrada and doing the lenght of the Invierno?
Click to expand...
I would start at Astorga.
 
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It looks and sounds like a really interesting route, especially with those historical sites along the way.

Would you say it requires a bigger outlay towards accommodation? Or is it fairly Camino-typical in terms of daily costs?
 
Vilbol said:
Would you say it requires a bigger outlay towards accommodation? Or is it fairly Camino-typical in terms of daily costs?
Click to expand...
No more than the Francés. You can check Gronze.com for prices.

Camino de Invierno | Camino de Santiago | Gronze.com

El Camino de Invierno es el trazado jacobeo que une Ponferrada con Santiago de Compostela pasando por el valle del río Sil y la Ribeira Sacra. Se trata de una gran variante meridional del Camino Francés que evita las cumbres del Cebreiro, y que por tanto resulta más asequible en invierno, como...
www.gronze.com
 
Peterexpatkiwi said:
I guess it depends on how important it is for you to reach Santiago.
Click to expand...
This is the main question. There are great 2ish weeks all over the map, but if you are intent on getting to SdC *on this trip* then you go backwards from there to figure out a suitable route.

Your options are:
2 weeks with an intent to get to Santiago on this trip
2 weeks somewhere with an intent to get to Santiago on another trip (or two) as a continuation of this walk
2 weeks somewhere without an intent to get to Santiago on this trip's route (now or later)
 
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With closer to three weeks I would combine the Salvador and Primitivo, with 6 days on the Salvador and a stop in Bendueños.
 
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David Tallan said:
With closer to three weeks I would combine the Salvador and Primitivo, with 6 days on the Salvador and a stop in Bendueños.
Click to expand...
This looks like a nice option. I love the mountains.

I think narrowing it down I would choose either - Salvador - Primitivo (with the Verde)

Or...

Invierno (Starting on the French in Leon or Astorga)

Too many choices! Thanks for everyone's input so far, much appreciated
 
Vilbol said:
I think narrowing it down I would choose either - Salvador - Primitivo (with the Verde)

Or...

Invierno (Starting on the French in Leon or Astorga)

Too many choices! Thanks for everyone's input so far, much appreciated
Click to expand...
You can't lose. Very happy for you!
 
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With two weeks to walk I would absolutely recommend the Camino del Invierno. I walked it in June (but started in Astorga to add the days over Cruz de Ferro and to Ponferrada). The route was breathtakingly beautiful and still extremely wild. We estimate an average of 8-10 other hikers on each stage so there is ample sense of solitude and yet also a sense of 'solidarity' in the fact that you tend often to see familiar faces in each village. I've walked the French Way between Astorga and Sarria too and if it's a 'more challenging and quieter' route that you're after I'd say look no further than the Winter Way.
 
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