The Camino Climate and Conditions
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The seasons in Spain are divided into three-month segments, and are only a general guide about what is 'supposed to' happen with the weather! It should be noted that weather conditions in Spain are variable and walkers do not always experience the climate they were expecting. Always check the seasonal weather trends to get an idea what is happening in the year that you choose to go. When I walked in 2013, May was really quite cold at times and June only warmed up a little compared to other years.
The seasons are divided in the following way: WINTER: December, January, February SPRING: March, April, May SUMMER: June, July, August AUTUMN: September, October, November WALKING THE CAMINO IN WINTER
Winter walking can be a much more challenging experience than in other months, due to the extremes of cold, snow and ice. It is usually very quiet, with few pilgrims on the road. It is normally a very solitary experience, and many do the trip in winter for this reason. The hikes over the Pyrenees can be perilous, and have seen the deaths of a number of pilgrims in the past. Even when temperatures are not at freezing point, low clouds make visibility very poor. The Montes de León and O’Cebreiro, as well as the high altitude passes on the Via de la Plata, can be dangerous when there are freezing, icy conditions and when the mist and fog sets in. Where there is deep snow, finding way-markers can be tricky, and pilgrims can easily get lost if they do not know the route well. Getting lost in winter when there are hardly any pilgrims on the isolated roads, can be hazardous. WINTER ACCOMMODATION Most of the albergues close down between November and March/April. There are a few that stay open for the winter pilgrims, and they are not always warm. It is always a good idea to find out which are open so that you can plan your days walk. Pilgrims often find that they have to walk further than they anticipated because of the lack of albergue facilities en-route. WALKING THE CAMINO IN SPRING
While March is still relatively cold, April and May tend to bring extremely unpredictable weather patterns. Temperatures vary greatly and it can rain for days on end, making the tracks muddy and difficult to walk through. Many pilgrims are starting to arrive from March onwards, though it doesn’t get too busy until around mid-May. With the rains and warmer temperatures comes the new life of spring, and the camino route is a vista of colour and beautiful smells. And with the birds in full song it is nothing less than heaven on earth. Some of the mountain passes still tend to be dangerously frozen over and pilgrims are advised not to take certain routes. SPRING ACCOMMODATION By April, most albergues have opened up again after the winter break. It’s not difficult to get accommodation in April and in the first half of May, but after that camino walking does tend to become a race for a bed. The Way is very busy by this time and a lot of pilgrims opt for hostals instead, either sleeping alone, or sharing double rooms with others. It makes for a stress-free walk when we can book ahead of time. Only some of the private albergues will allow pilgrims to make reservations, and will only keep the bed if they arrive by 4 pm. |
  AccuWeather.com
This is a great weather forecaster that you can bookmark for use while walking the camino. Click on the link below, bookmark on your mobile, type in any location and it will give you the weather forecast for the next few days.   Winter Pilgrim Camino Stories
If you're considering walking in winter, these interesting stories will give you more to think about Things To Consider When Packing
Click on the link below for help with your camino packing list   |
WALKING THE CAMINO IN SUMMER
June, July and August are peak walking months on the Camino de Santiago, and while temperatures can soar to uncomfortable levels for hikers, the weather tends to be much more consistent. Pilgrims tend to sleep earlier at night and rise again in the pre-dawn hours to get a head-start on the heat of the day.
SUMMER ACCOMMODATION
Summer in Spain brings many other tourists to certain towns along the camino routes, and so hotels, pensions and hostals can be in short supply. Busy with pilgrims, getting accommodation can sometimes be a challenge if you are not organized. Pilgrims tend to rise early to avoid too many hours in the direct sun, and to get to the albergues early in order to queue for a bed. Others book hostals and private albergues well in advance making sure they keep to a walking schedule. Other camino routes such as the Camino Portugues, the Camino del Norte and the Via de la Plata are less crowded than the popular Camino Frances, and so pilgrims tend to encounter less problems in getting a bed for the night in summer.
June, July and August are peak walking months on the Camino de Santiago, and while temperatures can soar to uncomfortable levels for hikers, the weather tends to be much more consistent. Pilgrims tend to sleep earlier at night and rise again in the pre-dawn hours to get a head-start on the heat of the day.
SUMMER ACCOMMODATION
Summer in Spain brings many other tourists to certain towns along the camino routes, and so hotels, pensions and hostals can be in short supply. Busy with pilgrims, getting accommodation can sometimes be a challenge if you are not organized. Pilgrims tend to rise early to avoid too many hours in the direct sun, and to get to the albergues early in order to queue for a bed. Others book hostals and private albergues well in advance making sure they keep to a walking schedule. Other camino routes such as the Camino Portugues, the Camino del Norte and the Via de la Plata are less crowded than the popular Camino Frances, and so pilgrims tend to encounter less problems in getting a bed for the night in summer.
WALKING THE CAMINO IN AUTUMN
By September, the weather is still quite hot, but temperatures begin dropping as October approaches. Even in October, it is still relatively warm and the scenery beautiful. Leaves are changing colour, birds are flying southwards and the quiet sleep of winter is drawing in. This is reflected in the quiet of the camino roads, as people return home from their summer pilgrimages. At some of the higher altitudes, snow can fall as early as the end of October, so the pilgrim needs to be prepared for that. It is useful to have an online weather forecaster bookmarked on electronic appliances. Regular rainfall starts up again by this time and this is an occasion for those pilgrims who love to walk as nature completes it cycle, and withdraws for the winter.
AUTUMN ACCOMMODATION
Pilgrims numbers have dropped considerably by October, and albergues are relatively empty by then. Many lodgings close down in November and people still walking sometimes have difficulty finding somewhere to sleep. Some places still open may also be quite cold.
By September, the weather is still quite hot, but temperatures begin dropping as October approaches. Even in October, it is still relatively warm and the scenery beautiful. Leaves are changing colour, birds are flying southwards and the quiet sleep of winter is drawing in. This is reflected in the quiet of the camino roads, as people return home from their summer pilgrimages. At some of the higher altitudes, snow can fall as early as the end of October, so the pilgrim needs to be prepared for that. It is useful to have an online weather forecaster bookmarked on electronic appliances. Regular rainfall starts up again by this time and this is an occasion for those pilgrims who love to walk as nature completes it cycle, and withdraws for the winter.
AUTUMN ACCOMMODATION
Pilgrims numbers have dropped considerably by October, and albergues are relatively empty by then. Many lodgings close down in November and people still walking sometimes have difficulty finding somewhere to sleep. Some places still open may also be quite cold.