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jrs1965 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 14, 2024 9:17 am We're thinking the second half of September might be a sweet spot for weather, but August - September is said to have many Peregrino's...

For me, the other peregrinos were an important part of the journey. If I wanted solitude, I wouldn't be looking for it on an urban hike. The friendships and conversations with fellow peregrinos were part of the fun on the Camino. My $.02

jrs1965 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 14, 2024 9:17 am Buen Camino! Thanks for the input! We are planning on maybe breaking it up over several years and doing Saint-Jean to Burgos the first year. How was the crowds/weather in April? We're thinking the second half of September might be a sweet spot for weather, but August - September is said to have many Peregrino's...

Oh, yes, we did start in SJPdP as well (Roncevalles is the first evening) - good call.

"Section hiking" is a great idea, and certainly quite common. Then there were also the overachievers who had started from their doorsteps in northern France, or the Vatican, etc., haha! And the hospitaleros who essentially live on the Camino, bouncing around to different albergues every couple of weeks.

Weather-wise, I believe May is supposed to have potential for rain? However, we only got rain on three days, but we were completely dry by the time we rolled in to our final destination on each of those days. It was plenty warm, with some cold mornings.

In fact, there were a few very hot, exposed (to the sun) days! I learned pretty quickly how imperative it was to be either covered (long sleeves, neckie, sunglasses, ballcap) or sunscreened up (shins/calves and face). I think July/August would be brutal. Lots of peregrinos would start their days very early, and finish by 11am or 12pm, to avoid the heat.

gb wrote: ↑Thu Nov 14, 2024 11:21 am For me, the other peregrinos were an important part of the journey. If I wanted solitude, I wouldn't be looking for it on an urban hike. The friendships and conversations with fellow peregrinos were part of the fun on the Camino. My $.02

Good call here - though, there were plenty of other peregrinos in May! For what it's worth, we did have several days of big afternoon miles to ourselves (some good alone time and memories, in fact), and one night between Santiago and Muxia where we had an albergue to ourselves... but other than that, we saw other peregrinos in every albergues, in most towns, and pretty constantly during our morning miles.

Was lodging tough (necessary to make reservations, arrive super early, etc.) day to day, during the "busier" time?

If you're looking for a bit more solitude I would do literally any other Camino aside from the Frances.

Speaking of food, I formed a habit of packing out sandwich supplies everyday and had a large baguette sticking out out the side of my pack. It was honestly super fun to get my bread at a bakery and meat from a butcher when I could. Learning enough spanish to order food isn't too tough thankfully. I also don't drink now, but lemonade shandies were in rich supply (~3% abv), and I'd often end my last 5-7 miles buzzed from lunch.

As far as time of year, I would be most concerned about heat -- aka those summer months can be quite toasty when you're inland. Aka another vote for the Norte if you're going in the summer.