Starting From Pamplona

[Dan I]

Hi Guys


I am planning on starting my first Camino from Pamplona, on 30 April - arriving from Barca on the 29 April


Can you guys give me some directions where to get the Pilgrim Credential and also a recommendation on where to stay?


Thank you


Dan

 

[Deleted member 3000]

You can stay at the Albergue de Jesus y Maria at minimal cost, and get a credenciale at the reception desk there.

http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/albergue-de-jesus-y-maria

 

[RobertS26]

I am planning on starting my first Camino from Pamplona, on 30 April - arriving from Barca on the 29 April. Can you guys give me some directions where to get the Pilgrim Credential and also a recommendation on where to stay?

The Jesus y Maria Albergue a block from the Cathedral in the old town fits the bill for both of your needs. And if you are wondering how to find it, I bet there are pilgrims on your bus or train that are headed there themselves. Many of these pilgrims are veterans and will be glad to assist you. Buen Camino.

 

[Jochen-Schmidtke]

Hi Guys I am planning on starting my first Camino from Pamplona, on 30 April - arriving from Barca on the 29 April
Can you guys give me some directions where to get the Pilgrim Credential and also a recommendation on where to stay?
Thank you Dan

Hi Dan. Here you are!
Buen Camino
Jochen

 

[Dan I]

Thank you Guys

 

[Kelly Scherer]

Hi Dan! I also start from Pamplona on May 8th... I have booked a bed at the Aloha Hostel Pamplona for €18... They have been very kind in returning my emails right away I sent my trekking poles in the mail to them yesterday since I cannot bring them in my carry-on from Los Angeles. It is easy to book through Booking.com.
Buen Camino!!! Kelly

 

[PANO]

Hi Dan! I also start from Pamplona on May 8th... I have booked a bed at the Aloha Hostel Pamplona for €18... They have been very kind in returning my emails right away I sent my trekking poles in the mail to them yesterday since I cannot bring them in my carry-on from Los Angeles. It is easy to book through Booking.com.
Buen Camino!!! Kelly

Hey Kelly, I am not writing this to you in particular, but more in general to pilgrims-to-be from the US, Canada etc.:
Bear in mind that Spain is not a third-world country and even small towns like Pamplona have plenty of stores selling everything a peregrino might need, including trekking poles. Mailing them there alone cost you probably almost as much as you would pay to buy a pair in Spain.
Why not combine a first day to recover the jet lag with a bit of relaxing and enjoyable shopping in the small streets of this beautiful old town? You can basically get your entire gear right there, the prices are very reasonable, often lower than in the US.
A tip to the ladies: On your camino, you will pass towns like Pamplona, Burgos, Leon, Astorga and eventually Santiago; spending evenings there, you might feel like lifting your spirits by changing your pilgrim's wear with a light summer dress made in non-wrinkling material. Such can be bought very cheaply in plenty of small boutiques and I have yet to meet a woman incapable of finding an extra stowing space in her backpack to carry it along.
ENJOY the camino!

 

[Kelly Scherer]

Hey Kelly, I am not writing this to you in particular, but more in general to pilgrims-to-be from the US, Canada etc.:
Bear in mind that Spain is not a third-world country and even small towns like Pamplona have plenty of stores selling everything a peregrino might need, including trekking poles. Mailing them there alone cost you probably almost as much as you would pay to buy a pair in Spain.
Why not combine a first day to recover the jet lag with a bit of relaxing and enjoyable shopping in the small streets of this beautiful old town? You can basically get your entire gear right there, the prices are very reasonable, often lower than in the US.
A tip to the ladies: On your camino, you will pass towns like Pamplona, Burgos, Leon, Astorga and eventually Santiago; spending evenings there, you might feel like lifting your spirits by changing your pilgrim's wear with a light summer dress made in non-wrinkling material. Such can be bought very cheaply in plenty of small boutiques and I have yet to meet a woman incapable of finding an extra stowing space in her backpack to carry it along.
ENJOY the camino!

PANO,
I wasn't actually planning on taking/using trekking poles.... However, a good friend of mine have them to me last week as a gift for my journey so I felt I should probably get them there somehow lol! But yes I do plan on buying a dress on the way thank you for the info! Have a super great day! Kelly

 

[PANO]

PANO,
I wasn't actually planning on taking/using trekking poles.... However, a good friend of mine have them to me last week as a gift for my journey so I felt I should probably get them there somehow lol! But yes I do plan on buying a dress on the way thank you for the info! Have a super great day! Kelly

Like you, I though that poles are not for me, on my camino last September. I bought a pair on the way and found them VERY convenient after getting used to them; they give your walk support and relieve your knees and ankles.......collapsing types for easy stowing are recommended.

 

[indyinmaine]

Like you, I though that poles are not for me, on my camino last September. I bought a pair on the way and found them VERY convenient after getting used to them; they give your walk support and relieve your knees and ankles.......collapsing types for easy stowing are recommended.

Even though I trained with poles I thought I could do the Camino without them! HA! After about 10 days I capitulated and bought an ultralight pair of Lekis in Santo Domingo for the same price as in the US.

 

[Dan I]

Hi Dan! I also start from Pamplona on May 8th... I have booked a bed at the Aloha Hostel Pamplona for €18... They have been very kind in returning my emails right away I sent my trekking poles in the mail to them yesterday since I cannot bring them in my carry-on from Los Angeles. It is easy to book through Booking.com.
Buen Camino!!! Kelly

Thank You Kelly

 

[Dan I]

Since there is an open talk on stuff - May i ask if i need to book in advance rooms or places to sleep? As i planned to walk around 35 km/ day, is it that crowded that i should book in advance? I plan to stop every 6 days and rest for one day.


From my point of view, booking was a way of losing touch with the road and go from one pointer to another; also spoiling the fun...Also how safe is it to sleep outside, as i have a good outdoor sleeping bag?



Thank you in advance, this forum is a great resource.

 

[alexwalker]

I have booked a bed at the Aloha Hostel Pamplona for €18...

Thank you for that: I just ordered a bed there for the 24th.

Dan I: Just saw your post: It is not neccessary to book in advance, but I do some booking, preparations, etc. on my way to SJPdP, in order to have some system. Once in SJPdP I do not book anything, except for the first day out, where I have booked a night in Orrison. I have to consider my age (was 60 on March 30th...) and want to take it easy the first few days, until I get into the routine. I most certainly do not want to crush my feet at the very beginning of this Camino. Other than that, there is always a bed to be found as days pass by.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

May i ask if i need to book in advance rooms or places to sleep?

Honestly, there is no really good answer to that question. Places fill up. On the other hand, there may not be a place that takes reservations at your destination. If you make a detailed itinerary, you can check the internet for places that take reservations.

Some do simply sleep outside. It is safe, but in a city where it is illegal, you may run a risk. I watched a tent get rousted in Portomarin one morning.

 

[alexwalker]

Since there is an open talk on stuff - May i ask if i need to book in advance rooms or places to sleep? As i planned to walk around 35 km/ day, is it that crowded that i should book in advance? I plan to stop every 6 days and rest for one day.


From my point of view, booking was a way of losing touch with the road and go from one pointer to another; also spoiling the fun...

I should elaborate on this FYI: It is not normally neccessary to book in advance: Go as you like, and look for a place to stay: You will find them. I started out originally by only booking a flight to Barcelona, no more, but now I have booked my way to SJPdP and first day albergue at Orrison. It is just me. Good luck with your journey!

Buen Camino!

 

[Dan I]

Thank you Guys!!!

 

[Roger Hogstrom]

There is a nighttrain from Barcelona and you arrive in Pamplona 5 or 6 in the morning and you have the first yellow arrow 500 meters from the station. I was on the camino right away and walked to Puente la Reina.Also an option to do this. Good luck

Roger

 

[Dan I]

thanks Roger, but i'm planning to stay in Pamplona for half a day

 

[santiago_67]

PANO,
I wasn't actually planning on taking/using trekking poles.... However, a good friend of mine have them to me last week as a gift for my journey so I felt I should probably get them there somehow lol! But yes I do plan on buying a dress on the way thank you for the info! Have a super great day! Kelly

Hi Kelly, you will be thanking your friend for the gift of those trekking poles. I started without poles and was having great difficulty negotiating the rocky paths. I found a tree limb just outside of Viscarret that I used as a walking staff and it made a great difference. Then in Viana I found a wonderful sporting goods store where I bought trekking poles and they helped me tremendously going downhill, going uphill, crossing muddy areas, etc. I don't know that I could have made it to Santiago without my trekking poles. Buen Camino!

 

[PANO]

Since there is an open talk on stuff - May i ask if i need to book in advance rooms or places to sleep? As i planned to walk around 35 km/ day, is it that crowded that i should book in advance? I plan to stop every 6 days and rest for one day.
From my point of view, booking was a way of losing touch with the road and go from one pointer to another; also spoiling the fun...Also how safe is it to sleep outside, as i have a good outdoor sleeping bag? Thank you in advance, this forum is a great resource.

Let's look at this with common sense:
(1) (Municipal -) Albergues don't take reservations anyway.
(2) Pensions, Hostals, small hotels....you can book, but you don't know what is ahead when you do.
What I did was to take chances by just walking; when I was tired, I started to check the albergue first. If 'completto', I worked myself up the ladder. Mostly I found a bed at only little higher cost. There was one exception in St. Domingo de la Calzada, where I ended up with the top: The Paradores. "The Camino provides"....and its only money, I never regretted one second and indulged.
In high season, reservations on the last 100 km (after Sarria) are worth consideration.

 

[jmcarp]

... May i ask if i need to book in advance rooms or places to sleep? As i planned to walk around 35 km/ day, is it that crowded that i should book in advance? I plan to stop every 6 days and rest for one day...

Hi Dan,
In my limited experience it was not necessary to book in advance except at SJPP and Orisson (if you plan to stop there), as well as the last 100km after Sarria when it starts to get crowded. If you intend to walk 35km a day, you'll probably be getting to your stopping points much later than those who walk only 20-25km (unless you start really early in the morning), so you may need to factor that into your daily planning and reserve ahead to ensure that you have a bed. When my wife and I walked the CF in September 2013, we never reserved ahead until Sarria. We merely called ahead the day before to book beds in the last 100km and never had a problem.
Buen Camino,
Jim

 

[SYates]

... I am planning on starting my first Camino from Pamplona, on 30 April - ... Can you guys give me some directions where to get the Pilgrim Credential ...

The albergue and / or the cathedral will have a credencial for you ;-)
Buen Camino! SY

 

[Jochen-Schmidtke]

The albergue and / or the cathedral will have a credencial for you ;-)
Buen Camino! SY

Also in the pigrims refuge Casa Paderborn you can obtain your Credencial.
Buen Camino
Jochen

 

[Rani]

Also in the pigrims refuge Casa Paderborn you can obtain your Credencial.
Buen Camino
Jochen

Looking for a place between Pamplona and Villatuerta to stay, can you help?

 

[Anniesantiago]

Puente la Reina? Obanos? How far do you want to walk?
Are you looking for private accommodation or albergue?

 

[Dan I]

Do you guys know some trekking gear shop in Pamplona?

 

[Deleted member 3000]

http://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/caminoteca-a-shop-for-pilgrims-in-pamplona.17552/

 

[Rani]

Puente la Reina? Obanos? How far do you want to walk?
Are you looking for private accommodation or albergue?

Hi, looking for private accommodations, would like to walk about 22 to 25km. Is Casa Magica about 20 km after Obanos? Thanks you for the help

 

[mspath]

Hi, looking for private accommodations, would like to walk about 22 to 25km. Is Casa Magica about 20 km after Obanos? Thanks you for the help

Yes. Obanos to Villatuerta (Casa Magica) is easy walking. Pamplona to Uterga roughly 18 km climbing Alta de Perdon and Uterga to Villatuerta (Casa Magica) roughly 24 km of easy walking.

MM

 

[Rani]

Yes. Obanos to Villatuerta (Casa Magica) is easy walking. Pamplona to Uterga roughly 18 km climbing Alta de Perdon and Uterga to Villatuerta (Casa Magica) roughly 24 km of easy walking.

MM

Thank you That's perfect, you have been so helpful with all of my planning. I am so glad that I joined this forum, everyone is absolutely incredible and so nice

 

[Dan I]

Hey guys It's me again. Tomorrow i'm leaving to Barcelona, i paked my bag and it has 10kg, i read about taking 10% of your bodyweight (including 1 l of water) - i weight around 80 kg so i'm over with 2 kg. I plan to take my winter sleeping bag - as i can sleep outside from time to time but it has like 2.2 kg - comparing to the summer one that has 1.2 kg? Also the winter one is more cozy and i think good night sleep is important? What do you guys think? Thank you so much

 

[PANO]

Hey guys It's me again. Tomorrow i'm leaving to Barcelona, i paked my bag and it has 10kg, i read about taking 10% of your bodyweight (including 1 l of water) - i weight around 80 kg so i'm over with 2 kg. I plan to take my winter sleeping bag - as i can sleep outside from time to time but it has like 2.2 kg - comparing to the summer one that has 1.2 kg? Also the winter one is more cozy and i think good night sleep is important? What do you guys think? Thank you so much

Hey Dan, forget that romantic notion of spending a night outside, you will not! My advise: A nice (Merino-) liner, a blanket that you find in practically all albergues if needed, you might just as well leave that sleeping bag at home. Buen Camino.

 

[bokormen91]

Hey guys It's me again. Tomorrow i'm leaving to Barcelona, i paked my bag and it has 10kg, i read about taking 10% of your bodyweight (including 1 l of water) - i weight around 80 kg so i'm over with 2 kg. I plan to take my winter sleeping bag - as i can sleep outside from time to time but it has like 2.2 kg - comparing to the summer one that has 1.2 kg? Also the winter one is more cozy and i think good night sleep is important? What do you guys think? Thank you so much

The 10% is sort of thrown around as a guide... And that is all it is. Some carry less, some carry more. I often carry more. Sometimes I'm "good" and pare my pack down, other-times I decide that I want the extra luxuries.

As for the sleeping bag - very individual. I sleep cold, and would not consider going anywhere with a 1-2 season bag. I use a silk liner, if it gets too hot, I just open the zip on my main bag. I did sleep outside a few times - not planned, and it was at small albergues that became full after I arrived- I slept on the patio/roof as people that arrived later than me did not have warm bags, and I knew I'd be snug and warm in my 4 season bag. I quite enjoyed my nights under the stars

Hope you have a lovely time, buen camino

 

[Rani]

Hey guys It's me again. Tomorrow i'm leaving to Barcelona, i paked my bag and it has 10kg, i read about taking 10% of your bodyweight (including 1 l of water) - i weight around 80 kg so i'm over with 2 kg. I plan to take my winter sleeping bag - as i can sleep outside from time to time but it has like 2.2 kg - comparing to the summer one that has 1.2 kg? Also the winter one is more cozy and i think good night sleep is important? What do you guys think? Thank you so much

Hi, I am leaving in a month, so excited. I am bringing a silk liner, don't think I will need a sleeping bag from all the blogs I have read. I wish you the best. Buen Camino!

 

[Magpie]

Hola Pano,

Gracias por su consejo. I intend to spend a few days in Pamplona before I start the walking part of my camino. Thanks to your message I will outfit myself after my arrival. I like to travel as lightly as possible, with carry-on bags only for flights, if possible. I will bring my hiking backpack, tested in the Himalayas and my worn-in boots and it sounds as if I can find everything else that I will need in a local shop. That makes me very happy!
My intended start date is sometime in April 2015.

I don't usually plan anything this far in advance but I cannot go until next spring, and it's a LOT of fun to think about now.

Amy

 

[PANO]

Hola Pano,
Gracias por su consejo. I intend to spend a few days in Pamplona before I start the walking part of my camino. Thanks to your message I will outfit myself after my arrival. I like to travel as lightly as possible, with carry-on bags only for flights, if possible. I will bring my hiking backpack, tested in the Himalayas and my worn-in boots and it sounds as if I can find everything else that I will need in a local shop. That makes me very happy!
My intended start date is sometime in April 2015.
I don't usually plan anything this far in advance but I cannot go until next spring, and it's a LOT of fun to think about now.
Amy

Hi Amy
great, you've got it alright!l Planing is much part of the fun and you've got plenty of time. PM in case you need any further advise.
Ultreya.