You already decided that you will walk the Camino this year, but still thinking what time of the year is the best for you? Let us help you to make up your mind. The decision on when to do the Camino de Santiago depends largely on the weather and the number of people walking with you. Some people want a private experience, others like the crowds. Others deal with the cold or extreme heat better than others.

FOR THOSE WHO WANT A PRIVATE EXPERIENCE

The high season of the Camino de Santiago starts in April with the Spanish Easter, but it is in the summer (June, July, August and September) when the Camino is most crowded. Lots of people filling up the hostels means you will need to set off very early in the morning to get a good hostel and lots of people being thirsty of company might disturb you and prevent your wishes of peace and silent. Definitely, crowds decrease in September and October. The weather will be generally nice, but it can rain a lot. From the end of February to April could be a good option as well to walk on your own. But don’t forget the cold temperatures!

FOR THOSE PILGRIMS WHO WANT TO MAKE FRIENDS 

The summer is the best season to walk the Camino for those who want to meet new people of all ages, countries, cultures… It may turn out a funny and an unforgettable experience, taking into account that you will communicate with pilgrims who speak in different languages, from English or Japanese to Spanish, of course! It is said that August is the spaniards time to walk, so if you would like to meet local people, it will be easier in the summer. July, August and September are the best months if you go alone and want to join other pilgrims to walk together. Just mind the summer is pretty hot in Spain… 

FOR THOSE WHO LOOK FOR COLORFUL LANDSCAPES 

Autumn and Spring will provide you the most stunning landscapes. In November you will enjoy walking along a colorful ‘carpet’ made by red, yellow, green, brown leaves and in May you will be delighted with the smell of the flowers everywhere. Spring is the favourite season for those pilgrims who have done the Camino more that twice. Some of them tell that if the weather is right in the spring, Navarra is just starting to bloom, the grapevines haven’t decided to wake up yet, Rioja will have many more flowers the vines have nice leaves coming out, the wheat will be growing until Sarria! Galica will have a riot of colors and smells, wisteria, lobellia, digitalis, primula, jasmine… Just an awesome experience!

FOR THOSE ADVENTURERS AND OTHERS WHO WANT TO SAVE SOME CASH

Some adventurer pilgrims don’t mind to take risks and decide to start the Camino in the winter. This means they will have a challenging, but also spiritual experience, according to what they tell us. Other pilgrims think about how to save some cash and evaluate seasonal differences in airfare prices. For instance, by starting the Camino in May instead of June you could save approximately 40% on your round trip airfare.

FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO GO IN JACOBEAN YEAR

Those who want to do the Camino de Santiago in Jacobean year will have to wait till 2021. The last one was in 2010. Pilgrims point out that a Jacobean year might be either the best or worst time for you to do the Camino de Santiago.

After taking all of these considerations into account, our suggestion is: “The best time to do the Camino is when it suits you best to walk it!  Even if you are not sure and you want to check the weather. Here you have a useful website http://www.wunderground.com to look at  weather history for keys points along the route, such as Pamplona, Leon, Burgos, Lugo, and Santiago. But never forget: Global warming is also penetrating the Camino and one never knows what to expect…

Buen camino 2014