Waking the Camino Frances - Pilgrimage

Just my opinion, but I’d arrive a day or two before Easter. Then you could rest after your long walk and enjoy the town and the processions/festivities. I’m sure it will be busy and hotel prices elevated.

Assuming you’re starting your walk in Sarria, the Camino isn’t very strenuous, but does have some hills. It’s a pleasant walk.

Thank you!

If you could stay in some of the smaller towns on this last stretch, it might be more enjoyable. I quite like walking shorter distances and stay in Barbadelo rather than in Sarria, then moving on to places like Morgade, Ventos de Naron, Eirexe, etc.

Santiago will be a mass of humanity, not sure I would want to be there over the Easter Weekend. Good Friday means huge processions. Maybe think about being in one of the smaller towns for those festivities and getting to Santiago afterwards? I was in Pamplona for Good Friday a couple of years ago and it had huge crowds.
You also would need to have your hotel reservations for Santiago done ASAP if you want to be there over Easter.

Ms Jo has walked the camino several times and her expertise is far greater than mine as I've only walked it once. Her warning about the crowds in Santiago are probably spot on. Still, I would think if this your first camino and haven't been to Santiago, I think you'd want to to be there instead of a smaller (and undoubtedly still charming and less crowded) alternative. When my wife and I finally arrived after a month plus of walking, it wasn't quite the ending we expected. There was no finish line, no Pope shaking your hand as you made it, nobody throwing rice or flowers. Yet it was still satisfying. After a bite, we got into the line to get our final stamp and scroll with a bunch of equally tired walkers and then we went to the crowded cathedral for the service where the incense burner was swinging wildly and we looked at each other and we smiled and we knew the camino really wasn't over. It never ends-- at least for us.

Either way, you'll have a great trip!

Buen Camino

True, it would be exciting to be in Santiago at Easter, but the crowds may be overwhelming. Maybe look at some videos to see what it has been like over Easter? There are bound to be some on YouTube.

Thank you everyone for your input. I really appreciate it. I have a received a quote from 57Hours for the self guided tour with approximate dates around the Easter week. I hope to make a decision by the end of the month. If you have any additional thoughts regarding the timing, weather, your highlights/lowlights I would still enjoy reading them. Thank you, again, and I wish everyone a wonderful holiday!

I have never heard of that company, but do make sure that the distances are what you want to walk each day and that the accomodation is actually on the Camino. Some of the tour companies book places that need pick up and the hotels are not on the Camino itself. Personally, I think one loses part of the attraction of the Camino by only staying in private hotels, rather than in an albergue where all the other pilgrims are staying, having meals together, etc.

It is quite easy to book your own places at the distances you want to walk and this includes private rooms in albergues. You don't have to stay in a dorm setting. Bag transport is easy to arrange day by day.

Take a look at this forum: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/camino-guides/
I have been using this since 2015 to help me with all my questions. Their search function works well.

This website is good for planning distances: https://godesalco.com/plan/frances

Apps like Wise Pilgrim or Camino Ninja can be very helpful too. There are no lack of services or places to stay on that last 100km.

I am not sure if a lot of people don't realize that the Camino de Santiago does not technically end at the Cathedral in Santiago... it ends at the cape of Finisterre (or Fisterra in Galician, the local language, literally "the end of the Earth"): https://concellofisterra.gal/fin_camino/presentacion_fin_camino/en Saying so, cause not doing it you're missing one of the best parts of the journey.

Thank you. Yes, I would like to add Finisterre! Now that Christmas is behind me I am really going to dig in! Thank you all for your help! I am very excited about this trip - the journey is calling me!