starting in pamplona

[johnnyman]

How much time should I budget for walking from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela? I'm thinking 22 days? Not enough?

 

[ranthr]

Depends on who you are and how far you manage to walk each day, and whether you are going to walk all the way and not take stages by bus. I guess most people would need 28-30 days on the road.
ranthr

 

[markss]

Pamplona to Santiago in 22 days? Definitely do-able. It depends partially on the kind of shape you are in.

However aside from your level of fitness, there are certain other considerations that might affect your desire of whether to move that quickly. Many people form little “Camino families” preferring to continue much of the journey with the same group of people. This is not likely at such a pace as not many others will keep up with you. As a consequence, in lieu of perhaps forming stronger bonds with fewer individuals you will meet a larger total number of people.

Some may argue that you will have a sense that you are in a race to get to Santiago, thereby not taking time to smell the roses. That depends on the person; for some a faster pace can actually provide a natural endorphin charge, thus enhancing the entire experience and making those roses far more vibrant.

If on a tight schedule to Santiago you find that you have a desire to slow the pace or stop somewhere for an extra period of time, there is always an option of taking some form of transportation for a stage or two. Not that this would be your intent from the outset, but knowing it is possible relieves any time pressure.

My bottom line suggestion is that if at all possible try to schedule a few more days into your trip. Even if reaching Santiago in 21 or 22 days, it’s nice to spend extra days on the back end either in Santiago greeting people you met along the way or unwinding by continuing with a walk to Finisterre. You won’t regret the additional time.

If you absolutely only have 22 days and are physically fit, planning to begin from Pamplona seems like a good idea. When you are a few days to a week into the Camino you should be in a position to judge whether you are on pace. If not look at perhaps hopping a bus for a portion of a less interesting section.

My own experience as a relatively fit 50+ year old was to have in 2010 twice completed the Camino from SSJP to Santiago. Once in 21 days, the other in 22. In both instances I allowed 33-35 days thus having no compulsion to go at any particularly fast pace. That pace was most comfortable for me and in the end that is what matters for each individual.

Buen Camino!

 

[sillydoll]

You'll have to average 32km per day in all terrains, some rocky, steep, gravel-pit trails, some long, flat tedious paths that kill the calf muscles. If you are walking-fit you should manage in 22 days.

 

[johnnyman]

Hey, thanks folks! I think I am going to plan 28 days overall, allowing for a day to rest up when I get to Pamplona, then a couple of days in Santiago at the end, including a bus trip out to watch the sun set over the "end of the world" ...

 

[Sevilay]

Hello Pilgrims! I am also starting my camino on 24th of august and wanted to ask where to go to get a stamp for my pilgrimpass.. thank you and Buen Camino!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I am also starting my camino on 24th of august and wanted to ask where to go to get a stamp for my pilgrim pass.

In Pamplona you can get a stamp at any of the albergues or the cathedral. Bars, hotels, hostales, and the ayuntamiento have them too. Buen camino.

 

[SYates]

And apparently also post offices http://www.correos.es/ss/Satellite/...lle_de_producto-sidioma=en_GB?idiomaWeb=en_GB they even sell Credenciales apparently ;-) Buen Camino, SY

 

[whariwharangi]

How much time should I budget for walking from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela? I'm thinking 22 days? Not enough?

22 days and allowing 20km per day ... 440 km means start at Fromista.

Pamplona is 720 km from Santiago ... at 20km per day you should allow 36 days.

Can you do more than 20km per day ... Probably. But what would be the point?

 

[SYates]

... Pamplona is 720 km from Pamplona ... at 20km per day you should allow 36 days. ...

I think somewhere there is a typo ;-) Buen Camino, SY

 

[whariwharangi]

I think somewhere there is a typo ;-) Buen Camino, SY

Yup ... thanks.

 

[Castilian]

I think somewhere there is a typo

Not necessarily. Someone might be able to draw a 720 kms route from Pamplona (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamplona,_Cagayan) to Pamplona (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamplona,_Camarines_Sur).

 

[SYates]

Good one @Castilian ! Or one could just create a circular route starting and ending in Pamplona ;-) Buen Camino, SY

 

[vlebe]

I will try not to repeat some good arguments already listed above but, yes... 22 days from pamplona to Santiago is pretty ok. I'd even go further and say that if you are minimally fit you can do this without having to push yourself that much.

Im not saying those who take 30+ days to walk from Pamplona to Santiago are not fit! Just that, some people feel more comfortable walking longer distances.

IMHO, 20kms per day is a very very very conservative planning. You can do some 20kms a day, but mixed with some 30kms a day without having to feel like you are running to Santiago.

Buen Camino and Good Luck!!

 

[Jeff Crawley]

And apparently also post offices http://www.correos.es/ss/Satellite/...lle_de_producto-sidioma=en_GB?idiomaWeb=en_GB they even sell Credenciales apparently ;-) Buen Camino, SY

Spanish post offices ARE improving!
First Camino I arrived in Pamplona with too much in my pack so went to forward some of it on to SdC.
Post office was empty except for me and one Spanish lady so I walked up to a free counter. The assistant snapped out something in very fast Spanish which I did not understand but the lady kindly took me by the hand to a ticket machine, took the next number and gave it to me.
The very same assistant then served me . . .
Funnily enough the self same thing happened to me in Bastogne a couple of years ago.
Probably why the English invented queuing