How are the crowds at Roncesvalles right now? April 24, 2018

[Anniesantiago]

Just curious how the crowds are right now in Roncesvalles?
Is it getting busy?
Necessary to book between now and May 1?
Please only answer if you're on the Camino please or you have actual data.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Annie, I don't know if you have the alburgue booking website handy, but here it is in case you do decide to make a reservation. It was fairly straight forward when I made a reservation for September this year.
http://www.alberguederoncesvalles.com/reservas.php

 

[Anniesantiago]

Annie, I don't know if you have the alburgue booking website handy, but here it is in case you do decide to make a reservation. It was fairly straight forward when I made a reservation for September this year.
http://www.alberguederoncesvalles.com/reservas.php

Thanks Dave. I book every year. I was just wondering how busy it was this week, and if they were turning people away.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Thanks Dave. I book every year. I was just wondering how busy it was this week, and if they were turning people away.

You're welcome; I kinda figured you had the information. I reserved last year, as well as the reservation for this year, and it seemed to make my check-in go very quick. Maybe my imagination.

 

[Banjo&Matilda]

Is it necessary to book there? I'll be there early October. Thanks in advance.

 

[Dorpie]

Is it necessary to book there? I'll be there early October. Thanks in advance.

It largely depends on the time of day you anticipate arriving, if you're getting there at noon, no problem, 6 maybe a problem. I've arrived sometime between 2 and 3 in both May and July and been fine and seen plenty of people arrive after me. By October unless you're getting in very late I'd imagine you'd be fine.

Buen Camino,

Rob.

 

[Banjo&Matilda]

It largely depends on the time of day you anticipate arriving, if you're getting there at noon, no problem, 6 maybe a problem. I've arrived sometime between 2 and 3 in both May and July and been fine and seen plenty of people arrive after me. By October unless you're getting in very late I'd imagine you'd be fine.

Buen Camino,

Rob.

Thanks for your advice. We're coming from orrison, so seems like we will be ok.

 

[Former member 76285]

Just curious how the crowds are right now in Roncesvalles?
Is it getting busy?
Necessary to book between now and May 1?
Please only answer if you're on the Camino please or you have actual data.

We stayed there last night. A fellow peregrina said that It was full at municipal albergue. It sure FELT full. Pilgrims on all three floors.

 

[Cruiser01]

We were in Roncesvalles three days 22Arpil ago and did not have any problem with a getting a bed

 

[Zen Librarian]

I cannot say whether it's necessary to book a bed at Roncesvalles between now and 1 May but I can say that it is impossible, at the time of writing, to book a bed for 27, 28 and 29 April 2018, ie. this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, because you get the following message:

View attachment 41902

They have plenty more beds that cannot be booked and are given to people as they arrive. This will be a busy weekend, as expected.

As far as I have understood from the training I received because I am going to volunteer in the Roncesvalles Albergue (yahay, totally excited!) the albergue allows 70 reservations per night, on a total of about 220 beds. The rest are for the first come first serve pilgrims. We are still awaiting information on whether the extra accommodation that was closed last year, will be open again this year. I will keep the forum posted on that. I'm in Roncesvalles 31 August-14 September, looking forward to welcoming Forum members!

 

[Miekemcm]

Camino seems really busy now - stayed in Roncesvalles last night and it was very full... I’m not enjoying the crowds too much, so I’m trying to stay in between the “big” stages for now...

 

[Susan Peacock]

I’m in Burgos now and started in SJPdP on April 14. For me it is way more crowded than either of my two prior Camino’s; one being the exact dates. I would also suggest staying off the book stages when possible. Leaving Pamplona up to Alto Perdon was like a conga line. I think it would have been great if we had stayed in Cizur Menor or one of the following towns. There are some lovely places to stay in some of the in-between towns. I don’t mean to discourage anyone, the Camino is still a special place.

 

[Vacajoe]

Burgos was very busy today due to the holiday weekend BUT my wife and I have a four bed bunk room to ourselves in Rabe de las Calzades (18km away), so it’s all location location location! To avoid the feeling of hiking in a long line, we always leave later than everyone else which gives us the trail all to ourselves. While others race to a bed, we meander and end up in the same place. We have yet to see a COMPLETO sign on an albuergue

 

[vettesquared]

Is it necessary to book there? I'll be there early October. Thanks in advance.

I assume you are starting in St Jean Pied de Port. I recommend yes, book in advance.
Just to stay on the safe side, I booked the first 5 nights in advance for my Camino last year in September/October. That way, I could avoid any issues of bed availability. Plus it gave me some time to get the feel of things, get over jet lag, etc. After that, I usually either winged it (with no reservation) or booked a night in advance when I found some good wifi (which is fairly plentiful). Never had a problem!
Buen Camino!

 

[Bradypus]

One poster lamented that Roncesvalles would not even allow them to sleep on the floor ... those days are apparently over.

True for most albergues these days. Regulations and official oversight are far tighter than they used to be.