03 Aug 20

The best time to walk the Camino de Santiago: how to prepare for the weather on the Camino

Mel Reynolds Camino

When’s the best time to walk the Camino de Santiago? It’s one of the most common questions we receive from people planning this epic pilgrimage, and the answer is as varied as the walk itself.

Each season along the Camino brings a distinct atmosphere, however the peak season on the Camino is considered between March and October. While you’ll get to enjoy fewer crowds outside of these times, you might be limited in your accommodation options as many hotels close during the winter.

To answer your questions, here is a recap we’ve learned about the different seasons and weather on the Camino and what we recommend for each season.

A hiker on a boardwalk on the Camino on a cold blustery day.

Walking the Camino

What are the different Camino de Santiago routes?

The Camino de Santiago, or Way of St. James, is a network of ancient pilgrimage routes leading to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Here are the main Caminos:

  • Camino Frances (French Way): The most popular and traditional route that spans 790km, starting from St. Jean Pied de Port in France.
  • Camino del Norte (Northern Way): A scenic coastal route of 817km, with less crowds along Spain’s northern coastline, starting in Irún.
  • Camino Portuguese (Portuguese Way): The Portuguese Camino begins in Lisbon or Porto, following a coastal or inland path through Portugal. Lengths are 260km or 620km.
  • Camino Primitivo (Original Way): The oldest route, starting in Oviedo, with rugged, mountainous terrain over 320km.
  • Le Puy Camino (Via Podiensis): This beautiful 730km route crosses southwest France and then joins with the Spanish Camino in St-Jean-de-Pied-Port to continue all the way to Santiago de Compostela.
  • Camino de Finisterre: Since ancient times, pilgrims have been making their way beyond Santiago to Finisterre. This 90km route is an extension to the most westerly point in Europe and a great end to the epic Camino Francés.

The weather on the Camino month by month

Understanding what the weather is like on the Camino will help you plan and prepare for your walk and contribute to the enjoyment of your pilgrimage. Start by working out which section of the Camino you want to walk, at what time of year and for how long. Also, consider what type of weather you enjoy walking in. RAW Travel staff are divided on this one; many of us enjoy walking in cooler weather, while some prefer hotter days. 

We have been sending hundreds of pilgrims on the Camino for many years, so we can plan a trip for you based on our extensive experience as well as our own personal journeys along the Camino routes throughout the year.

Generally the peak season on the Camino is considered to be between March and October. Many people walk outside of these more popular times and have a magical experience, getting to enjoy more solitude on the trail. Spring through to autumn is when properties and cafes are open and the trail is at its busiest: you’ll likely encounter plenty of other walkers on the trail. This is also generally the season when the Camino offers good weather for walking, with the exception of July and August on some sections.

  • Spring – March, April and May
  • Summer – June, July and August
  • Autumn – September, October and November
  • Winter – December, January and February

You can check out the weather here: just type in the city you are starting your walk in and click on month view, which will give you a good overview of your walk each day, for places including the Pyrenees, Roncesvalles, Pamplona, Burgos, Leon and O’Cebreiro.

A female hiker in shorts and a singlet walking a dusty Camino trail through Galicia in summer.

When is the best time to walk the Camino?

Generally, we suggest that April, May, June, September and October are ideal times to be walking on the Camino, but we always put this in perspective based on what you would like to do. We have had many staff and clients walk the Camino in successive years and experience very different conditions at the same time of year. April or October for example might have very sunny weather or very wet weather. Mornings and evenings can also be cool: it really depends on the year.

Walking in the summer heat

In Northern Spain the heat of summer is in July and August. It can be very hot and busy as this is when the Europeans also take their holidays and by far make up the greatest number of people walking on the Camino. It is not a coincidence that ‘siesta’ is a Spanish institution taken to avoid the heat of the day. A bit like Melbourne weather, the heat can be a little challenging to predict but Spain does have heat waves where the temperatures can exceed 40 degrees in summer months for days at a time before returning to more hospitable walking weather.

If you would like to travel during summer, we can plan an itinerary where it is cooler, there is more shade and we can break up the walking distances so the days are not as long. I did, for example, walk in Galicia in August and experienced glorious weather around the mid-20s. The weather on this section is milder as it is lower in altitude and closer to the coast, and there can be showers at any time of the year.

Extras to include in your kit during summer

  • Sun hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Breathable lightweight hiking socks
  • Quick dry fabric walking clothes
  • Additional water bottles and rehydration salts

Tori, one of our Camino Destination Experts, walked the Camino in summer: here is her experience.

Low-lying clouds blanket verdant mountains on the Camino pilgrim trail in rural Spain.

Walking in spring and autumn

If you are planning to walk the full Camino in spring or autumn, as we suggest, you should prepare for all types of weather as you are likely to also be walking across seasons, for example from spring to summer or from summer-type weather to autumn. 

The full Camino also encompasses mountainous areas that often have their own micro-climate and can be exposed to fog, rain, and even snow. It is not uncommon for example for there still to be snow underfoot in the Pyrenees in May. However, in general, these shoulder times of year offer milder weather, good daylight walking hours and more moderate numbers on the Camino.

March can be an ideal time to walk on the Camino, but if you are planning to visit areas that are above 800m and not on the coast, you can experience very cold conditions. Below are some pictures of towns on the Camino this week. This does not mean that you should not go in March. On the contrary, many of our travellers really enjoy the atmosphere that a dust of snow creates. However, you do need to be aware that it could be cold and slippery with reduced visibility – prepare accordingly.

Three male hikers making their way across snow-covered ground through a small village on the Camino

A male hiker dressed in rain gear on a beach boardwalk on the Portuguese Coastal Camino.

Extras for preparing for cold and wet weather

If you are planning a trip in March or April and are travelling in mountainous regions you will need to consider the likelihood of cold weather. Extras to pack in your kit include:

  • Head torch
  • Thermals
  • Layers – gloves, beanie, buff, warm socks and waterproof hiking boots
  • Extra socks (in a ziplock bag in your daypack)
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Overtrousers
  • Waterproof daypack cover
  • Hiking poles (the terrain can become more technical to navigate with ice/slippery conditions).

Snow can typically occur at any point above 800m on the Camino and this not only includes the Pyrenees and Cantabrian mountain range (O Cebreiro) but also places along the Meseta, which is an elevated plateau and typically associated with warmer weather.

Mel, one of our Camino Destination Experts, walked the Camino in May. Here she talks about the gear you’ll need in cooler conditions…

If you are starting your adventure in St Jean Pied de Port, please be aware that the Napoleon route between St Jean Pied de Port and Roncesvalles is closed between 1 November and 31 March. Regardless of when you are starting your walk, it is important that you visit the tourist office the day before you are due to depart so that you know if it’s safe to walk and what conditions you will be walking in so that you are prepared.

A hiker on a beach boardwalk of the Portuguese Coastal Camino with rough seas in the background.

Rooftops of the Burgos cathedral and other buildings covered in snow during winter on the Camino.

Burgos Cathedral (copyright @diegoms_22)
You can experience snow on the Camino…

Two happy female hikers under a big blue sky next to a bright yellow field on the Camino in Spain.

…and glorious sunshine!

Need help planning your Camino adventure?

RAW Travel is Australia’s leading walking tour operator for walking the Camino de Santiago. We offer options for all of the Camino routes in France, Portugal and Spain. Whether you want to take the inland route via Camino Frances, walk through France on Le Puy Camino, take the coastal Portuguese Camino, or walk to Santiago along Camino del Norte, we have guided and self-guided walking holidays for you to choose from.

Mel Reynolds

Written By

Mel Reynolds

Mel is the Sales Manager and Co-Owner of RAW Travel. She has spent a lifetime hiking many of the world's best trails. Mel believes the best way to understand the world is to explore it on foot. Many of her fondest memories are food related! She always has a great story to tell and loves creating memorable experiences for RAW clients.