How to Plan a Camino Route for First-Time Pilgrims?
Hello everyone...........
I am currently in the early stages of planning my first Camino de Santiago and I could really use some advice on how to best plan my route. There are so many different paths and starting points, and it’s a bit overwhelming trying to figure out where to begin!
I am looking to walk a route that’s not too physically demanding but still offers a genuine Camino experience, with some beautiful scenery and a good sense of the pilgrimage tradition. I’ve heard a lot about the Camino Francés, but I’m wondering if there might be other routes that are better suited for a first-timer.
Here are a few specific questions I have:
- How do you decide which route to take? What factors should I consider, like the length, terrain, or the number of pilgrims on each route?
- Are there any sections or routes that are less crowded but still provide access to accommodations and services?
- What’s the best way to plan the daily stages? Should I follow a strict schedule or leave some flexibility to adjust along the way?
- Any tips on what to pack or what not to bring? I’m aiming to travel light but don’t want to leave out anything essential.
- Lastly, I’ve read about booking accommodations in advance vs. finding them as you go. What would you recommend for someone who wants a bit of security but also enjoys some spontaneity?
I also check this: https://www.gronze.com/foros/camino-portugues/many-more-personal-questionsblockchain But I have not found any solution. Could anyone guide me about this? I’d appreciate any insights from experienced pilgrims who can share their experiences or recommendations. Thank you in advance for any guidance you can offer!
Buen Camino!
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Hola Vexexo!! Voy a ser muy conciso en mi respuesta. Mi opinión es que lo mejor que podrías hacer siendo la primera vez que vas a hacer el Camino es ir al Camino Francés pero en otoño-invierno. Noviembre, diciembre, enero o febrero sería la mejor epoca para hacer el Camino Francés con suficientes peregrinos para tener una experiencia sociable de la peregrinación pero sin ser multitud. El Camino Francés no es una ruta más entre otros Caminos sino que es el auténtico Camino de Santiago (ruego que me perdonen turistas o expertos que lean esto). Hay otros "Caminos de Santiago" pero no son el 100% histórico y legendario. En otoño-invierno vas a tener menos alojamientos disponibles pero siempre vas a tener asistencia, siempre, no te preocupes por este aspecto. El Camino Francés siempre está asistido por servicios de todo tipo, en cualquier época del año. Lo único que tienes que decidir es comenzar en Saint Jean o Roncesvalles. Reserva la primera noche en el albergue y a partir de ahí puedes ir decidiendo cómo lo vas a hacer con los alojamientos. Lo más común (y lo que hemos hecho todos la primera vez) es juntarte con aquellos que comenzáis el primer día y os vais organizando. Si eres una persona que ya ha viajado un poco y eres sociable no vas a tener problemas. Si sabes hablar o leer español será una gran ayuda pero no es absolutamente imprescindible pues un peregrino en el Camino Francés se entiende que probablemente no hable mucho español. Sobre el resto de preguntas que haces te remito a mil páginas que hay en internet, al final no vas a ir al Himalaya y cualquier problema que vayas a tener lo puedes resolver en el camino.
Mi primer Camino fue Roncesvalles-Santiago-Finisterre en Febrero de 2020 y la experiencia fue extremadamente enriquecedora. Hacerlo en invierno es mucho más espiritual y alejado del turismo.
Te deseo un Buen Camino!!!
Hola! There's a saying in spanish that translates to "The Camino will provide"!
As Berto_Kairos says the Francés is the "classic" camino, and is extremely well provided for in terms of accomodation for the whole length. If you walk according to the stages on Gronze you'll find the town at the end of each stage will tend to have multiple hostels (albergues in Spanish) which will make it very unlikely that you'll be without a place to stay. You may not necessarily get your first choice of albergue, but you'll find somewhere.
I walked from Pau in France to Fisterra in spring last year, which took 49 days - I only booked ahead a couple of times when there was very limited accomodation ahead (mainly not on the Francés) and I only found there was "no room at the inn" once for the whole trip - that was on the Camino Primitivo, which is a little less well provided for. I stopped in the town square along with a German lady and two French men who were stuck in the same situation. I was the only person who knew any Spanish so I starting ringing ahead along the way, and we ended up sharing a cottage in a wonderful rental place that had special rates for pilgrims a few kilometres on - it was one of my fondest memories of the trip.
If you're flying in from somewhere I'd probably aim to book the first night, as that can be a bit stressful otherwise - but other than that I think there's a lot to be said for serendipity, as you never know who you'll end up walking with and whether you want to change you schedule to walk a bit more with them.
In terms of packing, less is more! I packed too much and shed some things along the way which I didn't need - my pack was around 9kg without water, but because of the route I took (over the Pyrenees in the snow in March) I had a down jacket with me which was annoying for the other 90% of the trip.
Three each of pants, socks and shirts (merino if possible since it doesn't smell quite so bad)
one pair of trousers
a pair of shorts
a fleece
a thin sleeping bag
a travel towel
powerbank for phone
USB charger for Euro plugs
Travel cutlery
a light raincoat (or poncho)
A good sunhat
Sunblock
Walking poles (optional but I found them useful)
is probably a good starting point - You could cut that down a bit if you didn't mind being a bit grubby. You're never more than a couple of days from a Decathlon so you don't need to worry massively if you've missed anything.
As was said above you probably don't need to know Spanish - most of the people I met couldn't - but it's never going to hurt.
Buen Camino!