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When Is The Best Time . . . For You?
When people ask “when is the best time to walk the Camino”, what are they really asking? When is the best weather? When is it least crowded? When can I be certain to find food and a place to sleep? Yes, yes, and yes.
And at least as important is the question of when is the best – or right – time for you to walk the Camino, given your reasons for walking and what’s going on in your life. That’s why I think this question deserves more than just a discussion of weather patterns in Spain and Portugal.
The first thing I do when I am considering walking the Camino is break out my calendar. I look at upcoming birthdays, holidays, family events, work commitments, vacation plans, volunteer gigs, and things I don’t want to miss out on. With all of those, when can I get away to walk the Camino? And who do I need to talk to if I want to be away for an important day or event?
Sometimes the answers come easily. In March 2022 I found myself completely uncommitted. Find out why, what I did about it, and what questions you need to ask to determine the right – best – time for you to walk the Camino, in this episode of the “YOU on the Camino de Santiago” podcast.
How do you book trains and buses in Spain and France?
As promised, here are the websites I use to book my ground transportation to my Camino starting point and from my ending point back to my airport departure city.
*Note that train timetables and tickets sometimes are not available until 30 to 60 days before departure. To get an idea of what will be available on your travel date, check the same day of the week but within two to three weeks of today’s date.
- To book trains within Spain
- To book buses within Spain, specifically from Madrid to points on the Camino and from Pamplona to Saint Jean Pied de Port:
- To book trains within France
Walking in the Winter
For those thinking of walking in the winter months, check out this resource from American pilgrim Anne Born: Buen Camino: Tips From a WINTER Pilgrim. You can buy the book by following this link to my ever-expanding guidebook and product page.
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