DO YOU NEED TO BOOK ACCOMMODATION ON THE CAMINO PRIMITIVO? PROS AND CONS.
We walked the Camino Primitivo recently and after much debate, decided to book all of our accommodation ahead of time. While the Primitivo is often described as one of the quieter Camino routes, that reputation is becoming outdated.
Throughout the summer we saw frequent Reddit posts about albergues filling up early, pilgrims turning up to towns with no available beds, and people having to walk several extra kilometres or take taxis just to secure a place for the night.
In this blog post, we’ll break down the pros and cons of booking accommodation in advance, share what we learned on our own walk, and highlight the situations where planning ahead really matters.
Why book accommodation on the Camino Primitivo?
Here are nine reasons why you may want to consider booking accommodation on the Camino Primitivo. Ultimately, this is why we decided to plan ahead when we walked this route.
1/ The route has become more popular
The Camino Primitivo is not the most popular of the Camino de Santiago route. In terms of number of people walking, the Camino Frances far surpasses the amount on the Primitivo.
That said, the idea that it is a “quieter” or “lesser known” Camino route is outdated. This year alone over 27,000 people walked the Primitivo. This is based on stats kept by the pilgrim office in Santiago and the actual number is likely to be much higher. In comparison, in 2015 just 11,000 walked the same route.
When you consider that the Primitivo walking season is mostly limited to four months – June to September – this equates to roughly 200 people walking each day.
2/ There’s not as much infrastructure as some other routes
The Primitivo is remote in parts. Some stages have only one or two albergues or guesthouses, and smaller villages may offer just a handful of beds. Although there are some fantastic large albergues, like Miguelin Hostel. Compared to the likes of the Camino Frances, there’s just less infrastructure.
3/ Certain towns create bottlenecks
Popular stopping points likeBerducedo, A Fonsagrada, O Cádavo, and Lugo can become pinch points where many pilgrims converge. If you’re walking typical stages, these bottlenecks are almost unavoidable and they’re the places most likely to be fully booked.
You can find our daily stages guide for the Camino Primitivo here.
4/ You want to secure the standout albergues
Some of the best albergues on the Primitivo -whether because of their meals, hospitality, or facilities, are small and bookable. If you have a few “must-stay” places on your list, booking is the only way to guarantee you’ll get them.
You can find our guide to our favourite albergues on the Camino Primitivo here.
5/ You’re walking in peak season
If you’re walking anytime from mid-June to early September, expect significantly more pilgrims on the trail. The Primitivo’s limited accommodation makes summer the riskiest time to rely on finding a bed on arrival.
6/ You’re not walking solo
Couples, pairs, and groups almost always benefit from booking. A single bed might be available last-minute, but finding two or more together is much harder – especially in albergues with mixed-size dorms.
7/ You don’t want to race for beds
If you prefer slower mornings, long coffee breaks, or stopping to take lots of photos, booking will give you the freedom to do so. No need to rush to the next town or stress about someone beating you to the last bunk.
If I’m honest, this is normally our main reason for booking ahead. I’d much rather take things easy knowing I definitely have a bed secured, rather than skipping a coffee break!
8/ You want to walk “typical stages”
The “typical” stage breakdown is exactly where most pilgrims stop. And where most pilgrims stop is where beds fill up first. If you want to stick to the common rhythm of the route (staying in Tineo, Salas and Grado for example) booking makes life easier.
9/ You can often cancel if plans change
Finally, it’s worth considering that you can often cancel albergue or hotel bookings with sufficient notice. We booked a few of our albergues via booking.com – which tends to offer free cancellation.
So, if your plans change, you get injured, or you want to walk quicker or slower, you can just amend dates.
Why you may not need to book accommodation on the Camino Primitivo
Here are four reasons why you may not need to book accommodation on the Camino Primitivo.
1/ You know you have extra kms in your locker
If you have strong legs and the flexibility to push on to the next town, you’ll always have more options. Pilgrims willing to walk off-stage or add 5–10 km rarely get stuck.
That said, we met a few pilgrims this year who had to walk 45km because they hadn’t booked accommodation or considered how they would tackle the Hospitales route.
2/ You are walking solo
Single pilgrims can often squeeze into the last available bunk. If you’re not picky and you don’t mind whatever bed is left, walking without bookings can work.
3/ Spontaneity is your core value
If your perfect day involves letting the path decide where you stop, then pre-booking will feel restrictive.
Likewise, if you are someone who wants to meet people on route and you’d like the flexibility to tag along with any new walking pals.
4/ You aren’t very fussy
If private rooms, small albergues, or specific facilities aren’t important to you, you’ll have more flexibility. Those who can happily stay anywhere -from municipal dorms to basic hostels – can usually find something.
More Camino resources
If you’ve landed on this page, you may be interested to know that we’ve got oodles of comprehensive guides to the Camino de Santiago on this website. Routes guides for major routes, packing guides, training information and more.
>>FIND OUR CAMINO DE SANTIAGO PAGE HERE<<
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
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