Seeking opinions and advice

[Yossi Fuchs]

1.For the section of SJPP - Pamplona; what time of the year is best; mid October or mid May?
2. Arriving in Pamplona by train from Barcelona in the evening; what's the best way to get to SJPP?

 

[Deleted member 3000]

1.For the section of SJPP - Pamplona; what time of the year is best; mid October or mid May?
2. Arriving in Pamplona by train from Barcelona in the evening; what's the best way to get to SJPP?

I think mid-October; there is almost no chance for bad weather. The best way to get from Pamplona to SJPdP is the ALSA bus if it is still running. Check with their site. It looks like it is running until October 23 this year. It is hard to guess when it will start in 2017.

 

[whariwharangi]

Usually the fall bus service from Pamplona to SJPdP reduces to 1 bus in the afternoon. Last year it was extended from end of October to early December though not posted more than 30 days in advance.

This year bus service started at the beginning of March. A second bus was started near end May.

If the bus times don't suit your schedule you might be better off either taking the SNCF train from Barcelona to Toulouse and Toulouse to Bayonne to catch one of the 4 daily trains from Bayonne to SJPdP. It takes about the same amount of travel time.

You can also take Renfe train from Barcelona to Irun (or Fly Barcelona to San Sebastian) and SNCF train from Hendaye to Bayonne. EAS airport and Irun Renfe station are about 3 km from Gare d'Hendaye.

If you are stuck in Pamplona ... take CONDA (ALSA) bus from Pamplona to San Sebastian and Renfe Cercanias from San Sebastian to Irun.

 

[Yossi Fuchs]

I think mid-October; there is almost no chance for bad weather. The best way to get from Pamplona to SJPdP is the ALSA bus if it is still running. Check with their site. It looks like it is running until October 23 this year. It is hard to guess when it will start in 2017.

Thanks a lot for the quick response!

 

[Yossi Fuchs]

Usually the fall bus service from Pamplona to SJPdP reduces to 1 bus in the afternoon. Last year it was extended from end of October to early December though not posted more than 30 days in advance.

This year bus service started at the beginning of March. A second bus was started near end May.

If the bus times don't suit your schedule you might be better off either taking the SNCF train from Barcelona to Toulouse and Toulouse to Bayonne to catch one of the 4 daily trains from Bayonne to SJPdP. It takes about the same amount of travel time.

You can also take Renfe train from Barcelona to Irun (or Fly Barcelona to San Sebastian) and SNCF train from Hendaye to Bayonne. EAS airport and Irun Renfe station are about 3 km from Gare d'Hendaye.

If you are stuck in Pamplona ... take CONDA (ALSA) bus from Pamplona to San Sebastian and Renfe Cercanias from San Sebastian to Irun.

Thanks for the detailed reply!

 

[pattymo97206]

I walked in 2012 from SJPdP in Sept-early October and it was wonderful! We had something of everything..cold, hot, windy, sunny, cloudy,rain, fog...no snow! It was pretty brown and dusty, but still beautiful. I went with a group and we skipped the Meseta.

I walked again in 2014 from mid May to early July (I went slow!) and it was wonderful! We had something of everything...cold, hot, windy, sunny, cloudy, rain, fog....no snow! It was lush and green with wild flowers and vivid red poppies in the endless fields of green wheat. It was beautiful! I did not skip the Meseta...I loved it!

When I go back, I"ll go in the spring. However, you simply cannot go wrong whenever you choose to walk.
Buen Camino!

 

[JohnMcM]

1.For the section of SJPP - Pamplona; what time of the year is best; mid October or mid May?
2. Arriving in Pamplona by train from Barcelona in the evening; what's the best way to get to SJPP?

Hello Yossi,

Standby for an answer to your travel question from our forum travel guru Whariwarangi


Edit: Goodness me Whariwarangi is not only good at replying to these types of questions. He/she is also pretty fast. You got your answer before I finished typing I think.

 

[MTtoCamino]

In my opinion the time of year to walk your first Camino will be determined by what you prefer when thinking about temperature & your preferences for seasons. Then toss in the time of year when it is the busiest. It all boils down to the individual & what is preferred.
I chose the spring fewer people early spring, everything is green, the workers you encounter have recovered from the last season. I live in a colder climate so snow was not an issue nor the rain. My next Camino I will try the fall starting either in Madrid to Oviedo to Muxia or do the Portuguese. Just so many options.
I wish you the best in your planning.
Keith