Avoiding the Crowds on the Camino de Santiago

[@robscamino]

Are you on the Camino Frances or another route now? What's your experience of finding accomodation? Hard to get?

[@PaulNelson392]

Another Camino KZbin channel I follow is the Camino Tellers. They are currently on the Camino Frances on the Meseta somewhere (they’ve been doing a 10 minute live stream each day). Their goal is to stay off stage and not pre book anywhere. So far they have found beds every day without any issues.

[@robscamino]

Good to hear. The problem comes about when people want to walk the most popular route, at the most popular time, staying at the most popular accommodation types, at the most popular budget point, in the most popular towns and villages......... So it just makes sense...............not to! 🙄

[@encouragesolutions2595]

I went on the Frances last June. I left SJPDP on a Tuesday as I had a theory that people would finish work on a Friday, travel on Friday night/Saturday and be ready to start on Sunday/Monday. It worked for me. Never had a problem and got accommodation easily. Occasionally the "weekend starters" would catch up but were never in numbers that made a difference.

[@robscamino]

Good tip. I used to do that on the Frances. Seems to help.

[@neilpresland3606]

Hello Rob. Thank your videos. A video for booking accommodation would be very useful. Keep up the good work. Your channel is very informative.

[@robscamino]

Sure thing. I'll show you how I do my bookings.

[@gregoryhageage6362]

Thank you Rob. I certainly appreciate and respect your views in response to my question. You provide much food for thought and I will put it to good use as I continue my Camino‘s planning stage. And the planning just adds to the excitement of the whole experience. I look forward to your next episode🤙🏽

[@robscamino]

I enjoy the planning almost as much as the Camino! Well, maybe not quite that much........ 🙂

[@samuelmcgovern]

Thanks for the videos, Rob - they've been a great help. Re: origins, I recently completed the Camino Primitivo (Original Way). It's the route Alfonso II walked in 813 to verify that the remains that were found in Northwest Spain were that of Saint James, which created the Camino de Santiago. The French Way became the traditional route centuries later. Known as one of the quieter ones, myself and others were surprised at how many people were doing the Primitivo (it was May). Still ample opportunities to walk alone, though, despite its rise in popularity. I'm with you on not adhering strictly to the guidebook. I flew into Oviedo on a Friday and started walking on Sunday, which a lot of people did. My advice to avoid crowds would be to start walking earlier in the week, if you can swing it with work etc. Although the Primitivo is also said to be the most difficult route as it's the most offroad (mountains, forests and varying gradients), I hope you get to do it at some stage, Rob. Would love to hear your thoughts.

[@robscamino]

Yes, it's a route I would certainly love to try......

[@katewill7302]

One suggestion I have heard is to start you Camino on the 2 week or the 4 week of the month. Also starting to walk on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday keeps you out of the wave of people starting at the weekends. This makes total sense to me… 🥾🥾

[@robscamino]

Yes, good tips! 🙂 In the past I have left St Jean on a Tuesday for that reason.

[@stinaolsen6909]

I do agree with your strategies! Its also a "I cant get a bed for the price I want" question. Of course its nice to pay only 10euros per night, but when the albergue is full, there is "almost always" more available beds around, but they do cost more... If you are on a real tight budget, you might want to wait and save more money before you travel...? Its also different prices on the different Caminos, because some have very few Municipal Albergues for 10€ pr night...

[@robscamino]

I think we often hear the lack of beds issue coming from those who want private rooms.......

[@stinaolsen6909]

@@robscamino Ok, I guess its "all kinds of people then". I have the experience of people who cant find a bed because the municipal albergues are too few/too many pilgrims at the same place the same time... It always turns out ok in the end anyway, maybe not as we plan, but its all part of the experience 😉

[@robscamino]

I agree. I often have 'plans' to stay at a certain place and I might find I want to walk lessor further, or the place is full...... And always.......... I sense that I am being gently guided to stay somewhere else. And always......... I meet someone special, or stay somewhere amazing, or get to help a fellow Pilgrim. There is always a silver lining, so when plans change, I just smile and look for what's coming my way. 🙂

[@julianlord5366]

The busiest periods generally on the Francès are April-May and September to mid-October -- but as to Sarria > Santiago it's between April and mid-October, including the Summer months.

[@robscamino]

Good point Julian. How many times have you walked that section from Sarria? I few I'm sure!

[@johnavery5384]

Thanks for this. A balanced approach I think and it’s given me some strategies to try, particularly actually doing a bit of planning and thinking. Up to now I have really just turned up and wandered off but if the trend continues then that will need to change. The reality is that using my vagabond approach I have never had to sleep under the stars so it’s not that bad.

[@robscamino]

THere are so many routes and so many accommodation options........

[@davidobyrne9549]

A possible avoidance strategy on Camino Frances might be to walk it 'out of season' Rob. It seems to me that the Spring into Early Summer is chosen by most people, how about doing it in late Autumn/Fall. Yes the weather would be more changeable, sometimes cold and wet, but not to the extent of preventing the walk. Your views on this might be appreciated.

[@robscamino]

Indeed, the issue of crowds comes about because many people want to walk in peak season. The peak season on the Camino Frances is May/June and Sep/Oct, though it is is fairly bust through the summer. From a personal perspective, if I wanted to avoid crowds on the Camino Frances, I might start early April or early October. But the weather would be cooler and wetter, which may or may not suit you. Also if starting from St Jean, the Napoleon route might be closed. If I really wanted to avoid crowds? I would walk another route.......there are plenty of options. The Frances right now is very popular.

[@GT-bq9oj]

Love your videos - if it were possible, would you consider showing on a map, the locations you are talking about?

[@robscamino]

The places I mentioned are easily found on Gronze. I was talking mainly about these sections on the Camino Frances. 1A, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12 www.gronze.com/camino-frances

[@GT-bq9oj]

@@robscamino thankyou what a fabulous resource. Love your work. Fellow Australian

[@robscamino]

My pleasure. This is the only way I can get to talk about the Camino endlessly LOL

[@abukyle1999]

You are not in traffic, you are traffic.

[@robscamino]

So True!

[@Irishpewtuber]

I didn't avoid them. I called it quits at Sarria and went home.

[@robscamino]

I guess that's one solution....... Have you walked a few Caminos before? I'm not sure I could walk that section from Sarria again. I would probably switch to another route.

[@Irishpewtuber]

@@robscamino it was a bit rash I suppose , on reflection I should have got a train to Logrono and walked back to St. Jean. Navara is definitely my favourite stretch

[@robscamino]

@@Irishpewtuber If you do another one, maybe pick a different route. Or switch to a different route as you near Sarria. The Invierno from Ponferrada is superb!

[@robscamino]

@@Irishpewtuber I love Navarre too. So many wonderful landscapes on the different routes. I really enjoyed the mix last year. The mostly wide open landscapes of the VdlP, rather like the Meseta on the Frances, and then the hills and valleys of the Invierno.

[@frankfurtonfoottours2361]

That is too bad. There are plenty of smaller towns you can stay in that have no crowds at all. Leaving at sunrise, I often walked alone last year for several hours. By the time I met others, they were not in crowds, but spread out. Only the last day was crowded, but that was pure fun, as everyone was excited about getting to Santiago. I didn't care about the noon mass, so took my time, stopped at every cafe to stretch the last day out. With some of the large groups, they were joyful, excited about being on the Camino and I enjoyed seeing them. The senior Spaniards especially. They were having such a good time.