Is starting from Pamplona ‘cheating’?

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Ivar Rekve — 12 Comments ↓

The question was:

I am starting my Camino on the 25th March. I have booked my train to Pamplona, arriving late Sunday evening, 24th March with a view to staying overnight in Pamplona and getting the train to Roncenvalles to start the camino on the Monday morning. However, I have booked my flights home from Santiago on the 28th April – and I am a little alarmed that I have now not given myself enough time to get from Roncenvalles to Santiago in only thirty-four days…

How flat is El Camino Frances? Is it do-able in only thirty-four days. I’m young (23) and quite fit, but for anyone, doing over 20 km per day for thirty-four days straight is quite a challenge…

Will it be ‘cheating’ for me to begin my Camino in Pamplona? Thus giving myself a bit of a headstart…?

I’m very excited about starting my Camino, but I reeeeally want to complete it in one go – and not end up having to catch any buses or trains along the route to ensure that I reach Santiago in time…

What do all you experienced Pilgrims think? How long did it take you guys, and how mountainous is the route?

Any advice would be much appreciated

Read the responses to the question if Starting in Pamplona is cheating in our Camino Forum.

Tagged with: Pamplona, Starting point
Posted in From the Camino de Santiago forum

http://twitter.com/ramblanista Siân Lacey Taylder

Depends on what you mean by ‘cheating’; it’s not a game, the only person you’ll be fooling is yourself and I think the point is to enjoy the experience, not beat yourself up about cutting a few corners. I caught buses into an out of a couple of cities including Burgos and Leon because I just couldn’t face the long, dull slog and there were times, across the Meseta, that I came close to forsaking the Camino for a fortnight’s ‘proper’ hiking in the Picos.

A young pup like you could comfortably complete the Camino Frances in 34 days without much trouble, a dozen or so stages aside it is relatively flat, sometimes soul-destroyingly so. Once you’re to speed then 30-35km a day won’t seen excessive and we did 50km on our penultimate day. I wasn’t pushed for time and continued to Finisterre – I would have carried on walking across the Atlantic if I could – but I have no regrets about taking the odd bus. For me one of the highlights was crossing the Pyrenees from St Jean to Roncevalles, if I had to make concessions to time I’d cut out the dreaded 17.5 km after Carrion de los Condes; it’s the closest I came to turning into a pilgrim psychopath.

But love it or hate – I did both in equal measure – the Camino will change your life. Last year was my first, I’ll be back again this July.
http://www.facebook.com/david.locke.7503 David Locke

I started in Pamplona, because i thought i was short of time, but i arrived in Santiago in exactly 30 days and played around there and Finestierre as i had five extra days to kill. i was 64 and untrained. that being said based on discussions with many injured walkers the walk from Roncenvalles to Pamplona for many was where they picked up injuries. the first 3 days might be better done in four… geez, i am still trying to figure it out. one more inconclusive thought: i regret not spending 60 days to do the 34 day walk. i missed too much by having the objective of completing a map segment every day. i did not even see the cathedral in Burgos. flying out of Santiago is a good trick as i spent 2 days getting to Madrid airport
http://www.facebook.com/bayerkarolina Karolina Bayerová

No worries. I started at St. Jean Pied de Port, and it is a difficult stage, crossing the Pyrenees. It took me 33 days, go with joy, because the goal is the path ;o)
Dan McInerney

Cheating? Only if you think so yourself. Walking the Camino is all about doing something very personnel and will help you to learn a lot about yourself. It is not about pitching what you do, or don’t do, against somebody else. So cheating doesn’t come into the equation, in my opinion. Go with an open mind … you will experience so much every day on the Camino … Treasure it all and don’t be too concerned about what other people think. Yes, a lot of people do make derogatory remarks, (mostly in jest I think) about taking shortcuts and such, but try to let it all go over your head. I hope you have a wonderful Camino!
Alex Baker

Took a long time for me to come to terms with the fact I started in Pamplona and not at the “official” start in St. JPDP. But as others have said, it is only cheating if you let that thought inhabit your mind. You are about to go on a life changing journey, that is just that, YOUR journey. Where you start, how you complete it and the direction you take are just the factors that will make the Camino, your camino. It took me exactly 31 days to walk from Pamplona to Santiago. I am a young fit 25 year old woman and walked the Camino when I was 23, so you should have plenty of time. Have an amazing time, don’t worry about rushing, enjoy the journey. BUEN CAMINO!
Lori singleton

I walked from Pamplona in a month and you shouldn’t have a problem with either location! I personally would recommend not taking any buses thru any of it because the boring and not so pretty parts of the camino are part of the experience and reflects life itself!
Riccardo

So you are 23, quite fitted and you have 34 days? You can start from SJPDP!!!!! and enjoy your Camino!!!! I was 35, completly untrained, overweight and with an heavy backpack and I made Roncesvalles – Santiago in 29 days.
http://www.facebook.com/svenolav Sven-Olav Back

Don’t worry. I am 51, walked from Saint Jean to Santiago last summer in 24 days without problems. You will see that 30 km a day is easy for you, and you will be able to do 40 or even 50, if you want (but probably you will not want to leave your new Camino friends behind). Just remember to take it easy the first few days; some young men tend to overestimate their powers and thus get injured.
pigrimgini

We are starting at Pamplona because of our ages. 75 and 72 didn’t think it smart to start off crossing the Pyrenees!! I’m sure we could do it at the end, but geography rules.
iatatxi

just wonderful !
velozuk54@hotmail.com

It’s no cheating as what really counts is the part from Samos to Santiago it’s after you many start the Camino from Pamplona. Buen Camino
pmstoat

No, starting from Pamplona is fine … a good place to begin, The pilgrimage isn’t a competition, or a game – it’s a spiritual journey, and begins where it begins for you!

Is starting from Pamplona ‘cheating’?

Camino Frances

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