Meal Options on the Camino from St.JPP to Roncesvalles

[kmcg123]

Ideally, we'd like to start walking early and stop for coffee/breakfast along the way and then lunch further along. Are there any places to stop and get food on the way other than Orisson? Or should we plan on coffee and eating something before starting out and perhaps stopping in Orisson and picking up lunch to eat later on the Camino? And are there places along the way to fill up on water and use a toilet? It appears that we'll have more options walking after Roncesvalles.

 

[NorthernLight]

Count on nothing after Orisson. There is nothing. There's nothing before Orisson either, so have coffee and breakfast in SJPDP.

Bring lunch and snacks. There may or may not be water at the fountain at the border, so don't count on it and top up at Orisson. Occasionally there is a mobile truck with snacks after Orisson, but I've never seen it, so don't count on it.

Be prepared to pee behind a bush. Carry out your toilet paper!

 

[mspath]

If you are walking the Valcarlos alternate route to Roncesvalles do be aware that
between Valcarlos and Roncesvalles there is no place to buy food nor is there potable water. Be prepared!

 

[Vacajoe]

The mobile food truck at the top of the Napoleon route was there in mid-April but it’s not a guarantee. Roland’s fountain at the border was also glowing quite well, but again, not a guarantee. Orisson has a beautiful patio and reasonable prices for food (bowl of soup for 5€) and drink. You can bring your own lunch to eat there, but be kind and support them through a purchase if you use their toilets or chairs.

 

[Bella2017]

I bought bread also dried sausage with hazelnuts from the market it tasted great as we were very hungry. Definitely carry food with you. I was lucky to see the farmer in his van so bought some cheese from him. We were at Orrisson early so just had coffee and used the loos

 

[J Willhaus]

There is a place to stop for coffee before Orrisson at Honto. We stopped there for coffee our first morning and we were glad to stay overnight at Orrisson before going on the next day. We bought sandwiches at Orrisson to take the next morning, but we had to order them the night prior.

 

[Deleted member 397]

I don't think you'll want to eat too much on the first leg..it's hard enough without being weighed down with a full stomach

 

[Davey Boyd]

If you are walking the Valcarlos alternate route to Roncesvalles do be aware that
between Valcarlos and Roncesvalles there is no place to buy food nor is there potable water. Be prepared!

There is one drinkable water fountain between Valcarlos and Roncesvalles. Though it is about only 4km from Roncesvalles. It is at the last point the wooded trail gets to the road (the trail meets the road for a few meters before the very steep section). Saw locals from the cottages down the road getting water there too. It comes straight off the mountain, but does not say potable or otherwise, but I have been fine with it. And the locals said it was fine.

I would not count on it though, just in case it is not working when you get there.

Davey

 

[kmcg123]

Thank-you very much for all of your replies. Very much appreciated. Don't know why I am always thinking about food; perhaps that's something I'll figure out on my Camino! I'm sure I can do without coffee that first morning as I expect the adrenaline to kick in. Will stock up on some nuts and dried fruit the night before. Honto and/or Orisson will be good places to stop for coffee, water, toilet and maybe a sandwich or other food to put in the pack for later.

The difficult thing for me is that I really have no idea how long it will take to walk from St. JPPP to Roncesvalles due to the incline. I am probably a bit faster walker than "average" but do slow down going uphill and I have no plans to turn my Camino into a race.

 

[Davidmm]

If you can, spend the night at Orisson. It is a wonderful start to your Camino.

 

[C clearly]

I really have no idea how long it will take to walk from St. JPPP to Roncesvalles

It will take you all day.

 

[Cambridge Pilgrim]

I'm sure I can do without coffee that first morning as I expect the adrenaline to kick in.....

The difficult thing for me is that I really have no idea how long it will take to walk from St. JPPP to Roncesvalles due to the incline.

About 8 hours if you have that coffee... about 15 if you don't.

Or is that just me!?

There's also a bakery on your way out of SJPdP. We left pretty early last time and they were open.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

I eat a light breakfast in SJPdP; depending on your lodging, a breakfast may be included. Bread, cheeses, oatmeal, eggs are all good foods to fuel up with. If that is not available, then some ideas might include the purchase of some croissants and cheese, and some sort of spread like nutella or peanut butter the day before.

You could also have some bottled drinks, like juices, available in the morning.

For snacking along the way, I like Snickers and Peanut M&Ms. I put together my own trail mix with Peanut M&Ms, raisins, and unsalted cashews. I will also have an extra croissant and a small amount of some hard cheese and hard sausage. I want snacks that are energy dense.

I stop at Orisson for a long ( 40 minute) break and order a bocadilla, pastry and coca cola and Fanta. I refill my hydration reservoir, and replenish snacks if needed.

There CAN be two food wagons between Orisson and Col de Loepeder, but they are not something you want to rely on. In order to keep fuel in my engine, I will eat about 100 calories of snacks every 30 minutes or so. And I will frequently be sipping water as I'm walking.

This is one stretch of Camino Frances where I tend to carry more food than needed. Although long, it is very doable in a day and part of making it doable is to keep fueling yourself and keep yourself hydrated.

 

[mspath]

Although I had walked throughout the summer hiking 20 k up the 1060 meter Ibaneta pass via the Valcarlos route the first time in autumn 2004 at 65 to the monastery at Roncesvalles was certainly the most physically exhausting day of my adult life then to date. I was pooped! Beneath a deep blue sky and brilliant sun I gasped and ached while my pack felt like bricks.

After about 5 hours I finally staggered over the pass into a picnic area filled with a munching mob; they had arrived by bus and cars! Never will I forget the look that one très correct French woman drinking champagne from a crystal flute, no plastic for her, gave me as I trudged past exhausted!
ET would have been better received....Nevertheless eventually I made it to Santiago walking slowly all the way.

Ever since for 10 more caminos via Valcarlos I always walked very easy. Daily distances cited in the guidebooks are not sacred; remember the fable of the tortoise and the hare.

 

[Telboyo]

Although I had walked throughout the summer hiking 20 k up the 1060 meter Ibaneta pass via the Valcarlos route the first time in autumn 2004 at 65 to the monastery at Roncesvalles was certainly the most physically exhausting day of my adult life then to date. I was pooped! Beneath a deep blue sky and brilliant sun I gasped and ached while my pack felt like bricks.

After about 5 hours I finally staggered over the pass into a picnic area filled with a munching mob; they had arrived by bus and cars! Never will I forget the look that one très correct French woman drinking champagne from a crystal flute, no plastic for her, gave me as I trudged past exhausted!
ET would have been better received....Nevertheless eventually I made it to Santiago walking slowly all the way.

Ever since for 10 more caminos via Valcarlos I always walked very easy. Daily distances cited in the guidebooks are not sacred; remember the fable of the tortoise and the hare.

I remember that final climb on the Valcarlos way, puffing like a steam train, my pack felt like it weighed nothing, my thighs were burning and weighed 10 times more than my pack.

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

Be prepared to pee behind a bush. Carry out your toilet paper!

And for the most part, after Orisson, you may have to take your own bush to pee behind.

 

[KinkyOne]

Count on nothing after Orisson. There is nothing. There's nothing before Orisson either, so have coffee and breakfast in SJPDP.
...

Not at all true! There is one stop before Orisson at Hunto. Even accommodation possible there.
And as mentioned after Orisson there might be a camper van with snacks and drinks. Anyway from Orisson to Valcarlos there is one fuente (de Roland) and a very basic shelter (non-attended) further on.

Please do not post false info for the newbies!

 

[NorthernLight]

Not at all true! There is one stop before Orisson at Hunto. Even accommodation possible there.
And as mentioned after Orisson there might be a camper van with snacks and drinks. Anyway from Orisson to Valcarlos there is one fuente (de Roland) and a very basic shelter (non-attended) further on.

Please do not post false info for the newbies!

My info is not false. I have never seen this camper van, and it should not be relied on as a guaranteed source of food; if it's there, bonus. I've not seen Hunto open in my crossings. It is actually easy to walk past the fuente without noticing it, and I imagine in the mountain snow season it's turned off, but concede I may be wrong about that.

It is a mountain pass, please don't post information that will encourage newbies to treat it like a stroll.

 

[KinkyOne]

My info is not false. I have never seen this camper van, and it should not be relied on as a guaranteed source of food; if it's there, bonus. I've not seen Hunto open in my crossings. It is actually easy to walk past the fuente without noticing it, and I imagine in the mountain snow season it's turned off, but concede I may be wrong about that.

It is a mountain pass, please don't post information that will encourage newbies to treat it like a stroll.

You were saying there is nothing apart from Orisson and I replied that there are options.
First of all if Hunto was closed that doesn't mean it wasn't there.
I clearly wrote that the camper van might be there. If you haven't seen it again it doesn't mean that yesterday or tomorrow it won't be.
If you can't spot the Fuente de Roland it doesn't mean that it isn't there. It just means that you did bad research or/and wasn't paying enough attention. Which is very hard to believe because it's right on the Camino. Lefthand side.
And in the snow season Napoleon route is closed anyway so a person that would take it would definitely not act very responsibly. Fuente being turned on or off doesn't change a thing then. Probably turned on because it's not water from plumbing system but live (spring) water that flows constantly.

Have a nice day

 

[naplesdon]

After my four or five crossings since 2011, the van has always been there in the summer. The fountain is hard to miss because the horses line up to drink from it. I doubt it has a shut off valve.

 

[NorthernLight]

The OP says nothing about when they plan to walk. The van guy being there most summer days is meaningless for anyone not walking in summer. Just because the van was there today, does not mean someone should count on it being there tomorrow. If Hunto is closed, it might as well not be there.

Following your advice, some may set off without breakfast and without food, assuming those options would be there. They aren't options if they aren't reliable.

People ARE stupid, and irresponsible, and lazy, and a whole host of things that get them into trouble in the mountains. Our advice, IMHO, should be on the side of encouraging advance preparation for a long stretch in the mountains.

I have some nice pictures of the fountain too, but no horses were using it when I've been there.

You have a nice day too

 

[Richmond Gardner]

Thank-you very much for all of your replies. Very much appreciated. Don't know why I am always thinking about food; perhaps that's something I'll figure out on my Camino! I'm sure I can do without coffee that first morning as I expect the adrenaline to kick in. Will stock up on some nuts and dried fruit the night before. Honto and/or Orisson will be good places to stop for coffee, water, toilet and maybe a sandwich or other food to put in the pack for later.

The difficult thing for me is that I really have no idea how long it will take to walk from St. JPPP to Roncesvalles due to the incline. I am probably a bit faster walker than "average" but do slow down going uphill and I have no plans to turn my Camino into a race.

I forget who said it, but was great advice- pack some energy bars to munch on. It is quite a first leg up to Orisson. Sunny and steep, with beautiful views of the valley. After a beer and filling my water jug, I took off a layer, which promptly went back on in the later foggy conditions. Of course, this was early April and conditions will be different now, however, as had been stated by others- don’t expect any food or cafe after Orisson! The leg after is beautiful and long. Take a breather every now and then, drink your water, have a bar to keep you going and you will have a nice dinner to lol forward to.

 

[naplesdon]

The OP says nothing about when they plan to walk. The van guy being there most summer days is meaningless for anyone not walking in summer. Just because the van was there today, does not mean someone should count on it being there tomorrow. If Hunto is closed, it might as well not be there.

Following your advice, some may set off without breakfast and without food, assuming those options would be there. They aren't options if they aren't reliable.

People ARE stupid, and irresponsible, and lazy, and a whole host of things that get them into trouble in the mountains. Our advice, IMHO, should be on the side of encouraging advance preparation for a long stretch in the mountains.

I have some nice pictures of the fountain too, but no horses were using it when I've been there.

You have a nice day too

As I said the van is there in the summer. I have never walked the Pass any other time of year. I wasn't suggesting it is always there. I always pack water, a sandwich and a banana when I walk out of SJPdP, Orrison, Carrion and....
The horses love the fountain in the summer, it is quite a sight to watch how docile and calm they are lining up for a drink. Sorry you have missed it.
Yes, people are stupid, irresponsible, lazy and a whole host of things in the mountians as well as on the Meseta, sleeping in albegues and a whole host of other places like cathedrals, taxis. But it not my job to look after fools.

 

[Richmond Gardner]

As I said the van is there in the summer. I have never walked the Pass any other time of year. I wasn't suggesting it is always there. I always pack water, a sandwich and a banana when I walk out of SJPdP, Orrison, Carrion and....
The horses love the fountain in the summer, it is quite a sight to watch how docile and calm they are lining up for a drink. Sorry you have missed it.
Yes, people are stupid, irresponsible, lazy and a whole host of things in the mountians as well as on the Meseta, sleeping in albegues and a whole host of other places like cathedrals, taxis. But it not my job to look after fools.

Nope, that’s the overworked search and rescue teams...March on the Napoleon?

 

[kmcg123]

Just to follow up.... we walked this stage on Wed. 8. The camper van was there. But so was the strong wind, hail, rain and thunder! What a dramatic day and food was the last thing on my mind! We had stopped in the Lidl in St. Jean the night before and bought food for sandwiches and snacks. We had our lunch in that little hut and were able to get out of the wind for a bit. To be honest, it was a great start--it was a challenge to move forward in that wind at some points, but we did it and it was very satisfying when we arrived in Roncesvalles. And has bonded us with others we have met on the Way who started their Camino the same day.

 

[domigee]

Just to follow up.... we walked this stage on Wed. 8. The camper van was there. But so was the strong wind, hail, rain and thunder! What a dramatic day and food was the last thing on my mind! We had stopped in the Lidl in St. Jean the night before and bought food for sandwiches and snacks. We had our lunch in that little hut and were able to get out of the wind for a bit. To be honest, it was a great start--it was a challenge to move forward in that wind at some points, but we did it and it was very satisfying when we arrived in Roncesvalles. And has bonded us with others we have met on the Way who started their Camino the same day.

Nice to hear from you! Well done for that first day and enjoy the rest of the Camino.

 

[T0M]

Just to follow up.... we walked this stage on Wed. 8. The camper van was there. But so was the strong wind, hail, rain and thunder! What a dramatic day and food was the last thing on my mind! We had stopped in the Lidl in St. Jean the night before and bought food for sandwiches and snacks. We had our lunch in that little hut and were able to get out of the wind for a bit. To be honest, it was a great start--it was a challenge to move forward in that wind at some points, but we did it and it was very satisfying when we arrived in Roncesvalles. And has bonded us with others we have met on the Way who started their Camino the same day.

what is Lidi?

 

[Bella2017]

It is a cheap supermarket. If you can go to the local market where they have home made bread , sausage etc that would be nicer

 

[domigee]

It is a cheap supermarket. If you can go to the local market where they have home made bread , sausage etc that would be nicer

As far as I am aware, I think market day in St Jean is only on Mondays, from 8 till 13.00.