Best Time to Walk the Camino de Santiago (& The Worst!) 2024
Hiking the Camino de Santiago is truly a magical adventure. That said, there’s definitely a best time to walk the Camino de Santiago and a worst time! If you pick the wrong time of year, your experience may be more miserable than magical.
I spent a month hiking the Camino Francés myself last June. I started in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and finished almost 500 miles later in Santiago de Compostela. I’ve also spent hours pouring over Camino statistics and weather data for almost 30 cities along Camino routes to prepare this post.
Here are my insights on the when to hike the Camino de Santiago.
Best Time to Walk the Camino de Santiago
Overall, June is arguably the best time to walk the Camino de Santiago. It generally gives you the best mix of ideal weather and fewer crowds. The one exception is if you’re hiking a southern route like the Via de la Plata, which is best in April or May when weather is more tolerable.
Northern Spain and Portugal tend to be quite rainy outside of the summer. If you’re hiking the Camino Francés from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, it’s also not uncommon to find snow in the Pyrenees Mountains even up until May. When there’s snow in the mountains, pilgrims should typically take an alternate low route and miss out on mountain views.
While June is a popular time to walk the Camino de Santiago, it’s not as crowded. On an average day on the Camino in June, you don’t have to worry as much about trying to find a bed. If you’re hiking along a coastal route, you also don’t have to worry as much about too many tourists taking their beach vacations and driving up accommodation prices as much as you would later in the summer.
What Is the Busiest Month on the Camino de Santiago?
August is typically the busiest month to hike the Camino de Santiago with September not far behind. In 2023, 68,530 pilgrims hiked the Camino de Santiago in August and 67,596 hiked in September.
I would generally avoid hiking in August as it will be busy and hot. Many Spanish and other Europeans take August as a holiday time. This contributes to a huge swell of pilgrims on the Camino during that month.
When the routes are this busy, it can make it harder to find accommodations if you don’t book ahead of time or leave quite early each morning. This is true for even the less popular routes. In addition, accommodation prices will be much higher on coastal routes like the Camino del Norte at this time since they’re busier with vacationers wanting to enjoy the beach.
Worst Time to Walk the Camino de Santiago
December, January, and February are generally the worst months to hike the Camino de Santiago. So few pilgrims hike during these winter months that many albergues are closed.
If you hike during this time, you’ll want to keep a very close eye on the weather forecast. Weather can change quickly, especially in the mountains. At times, you may need to look into alternate routes depending on weather conditions.
Camino de Santiago Weather by Month
As you consider when to hike the Camino de Santiago, definitely take into account the weather for your specific route. Here’s a breakdown of typical weather by month for the most popular routes.
January, February, and March
The first three months of the year on the Camino de Santiago tend to have quite unpleasant weather. Few pilgrims choose to hike at this time as a result.
About a third to a fourth of days have rain. Temperatures vary by route, but you can generally expect them to be fairly cool with an overall average high of 55°F (13°C) and low of 40°F (4°C).
You should expect to encounter even colder temperatures and potentially snow if you’re hiking through any mountainous regions. For instance, on the Camino Francés, most pilgrims typically cross over the Pyrenees Mountains via the Napoleon Route, but that route is closed during this time of year. Pilgrims instead have to take the low Valcarlos Route and miss out on mountain views.
I only advise hiking during these months if you’re extremely well prepared as many albergues will be closed and mountain areas may be dangerous to pass through.
April and May
The spring can be a good time to hike the Camino if you want to avoid crowds. For the Via de la Plata route, this is the best time to walk the Camino de Santiago. It can also be a good time to hike the Camino Portugués.
That said, keep in mind that while the average high is around 64°F (18°C) and low is around 48°F (9°C), you can still encounter colder temperatures and rain about a fourth to a third of the month.
If you’re hiking the Camino Francés starting in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, then the Napoleon Route to cross over the Pyrenees Mountains will be open this time of year. Keep in mind that even though it’s open, you can still encounter snow and dangerous conditions. Closely monitor the weather, checking in with the pilgrim’s office before you go, and take the low Valcarlos Route if needed.
June
This is my favorite time time to walk the Camino de Santiago and when I’d recommend hiking most of the popular routes. Weather is ideal at this time for the Camino Francés, Ingles, Norte, Portugués, and Primitivo routes.
The chance of rain drops significantly in the summer months, with an average of just five days of rain in June. Temperatures are also fairly pleasant with an average high of 72°F (22°C) and low of 55°F (13°C).
Plus, while this is a popular time to hike the Camino, it’s not as crowded as many other months. I personally hiked the Camino Francés in June and felt it was a great time to meet many other people without worrying too much about finding a bed each night.
July and August
July and August are the hottest and driest months on the Camino de Santiago. The Ingles, Norte, and Primitivo routes have tolerable weather at this time of year with the average high around 75°F (24°C) and low around 55-60°F (13-16°C).
The Camino Francés and Camino Portugués can get quite hot this time of year with the average high at 80°F (27°C) and low around 55-60°F (13-16°C). This may not sound so terrible, but keep in mind that you’ll likely be hiking for several hours each day. Plus, most albergues do not have air conditioning.
Generally, I’d avoid these months for the weather alone, but August is also the busiest month on all Camino routes.
September
September weather is ideal for most of the popular Camino de Santiago routes, including the Francés, Ingles, Norte, and Portugués. Weather is similar to June with an average high of 73°F (23°C), low of 56°F (13°C), and just six days of rain.
October
As temperatures start to drop in October, the chance of rain increases. The average high among the most popular Camino routes is 66°F (19°C) and low is 51°F (11°C). On average, there are 10 rainy days in the month.
If you’re planning to cross over the Pyrenees Mountains on the Camino Francés, this is the last month where the Napoleon Route will be open. However, weather this time of year can get dicey, so be sure to keep a close eye on it and check with the pilgrim’s office before you leave. If there’s a chance of storms or snow, take the low Valcarlos Route.
November and December
Weather really starts to worsen in these months with an average high around 56°F (13°C), low around 44°F (7°C), and 11 days of rain in each month. Mountain passes also have a higher chance of dangerous snowy conditions.
Very few people hike the Camino de Santiago at this time due to the poor weather conditions. Many albergues will not be open either, so if you plan to go at this time, you will need to do much more planning in advance.
FAQs
As you decide the best time to walk the Camino de Santiago for you, here are answers to some frequently asked questions.
Does it rain on the Camino de Santiago?
Yes, it rains on all Camino de Santiago routes. October through March are the rainiest months, but there’s a chance of encountering rain during the whole year. As you think about what to pack, make sure to bring a rain cover for your backpack and a rain jacket or poncho.
Which Camino route is the most beautiful?
Each Camino route has its own charms. I personally hiked the Camino Francés for almost 500 miles and appreciated getting to hike through so many different landscapes and towns. I started in a small storybook French town, crossed over the Pyrenees, trekked through Spain’s premier wine region, saw the green landscapes of Galicia, and more.
Some say the Camino del Norte is the most beautiful with its stunning mix of mountain and coastal views. Another option with ocean views is the coastal route of the Camino Portugués.
The Camino Primitivo is the oldest Camino route and starts in the region of Asturias. When I studied abroad in Spain, my Spanish host mom always said Asturias is the most beautiful part of Spain.
How fit do you have to be to walk the Camino?
You don’t have to be a marathon runner to hike the Camino, but don’t make the mistake of not training a little beforehand. You need to be in good physical shape and capable of hiking for a few hours each day. The difficulty and number of stops vary by route, so do your research and determine what would work best for you.
For instance, the Camino del Norte route is one of the most challenging with large changes in elevation. The Via de la Plata has its own challenges with long stretches at times without any albergues. Conversely, the Camino Francés typically has many towns to stop in, allowing you to more easily take shorter hiking days if needed.
Can you walk the Camino without a guide?
You can absolutely walk the Camino de Santiago without a guide. In fact, most people don’t hike with a guide. I safely hiked the Camino Francés by myself and just used a guidebook and app to know where to go.
Conclusion: Best Time to Walk the Camino de Santiago
So, have you figured out your best time to walk the Camino de Santiago? If you had to choose one best month, I recommend hiking in June for the following routes:
- Camino Francés
- Camino Portugués
- Camino Ingles
- Camino del Norte
- Camino Primitivo
For the Via de la Plata route, I recommend hiking in May.
However, while I feel this is the best time to walk the Camino de Santiago, the true best time is when you can make the hike happen for yourself. If your heart is calling you to go, but you can only go in, say, April, do it! Dig deeper into the weather for your specific route, prepare yourself for it, and you’ll be ready to experience all the magic the Camino has to offer.
Read More About the Camino
Sources for hiking and weather statistics: Oficina de Acogida al Peregrino, Weather Spark
