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Pilgrims used to take this path to avoid the snow on and around O Cebreiro in the winter months. It separates from the CF in Ponferrada, so it's a way of avoiding the crowds. I haven't done it yet, but it looks absolutely beautiful: the walk takes you along the Sil river, and through some...
Hi rometimed, the path from Bayonne to SJPP is known as the "Voie de la Nive". I'm sure there's information on this forum somewhere, but to keep you going in the meantime, you can try this site. They have it down as 3 stages of 14km, 25km, and 28km (I recall another pilgrim went a bit further on...
I don't think it will make a difference whether you go at the beginning or end of April in 2021. Pilgrim numbers on the camino normally increase from Easter/April onwards. In the last Holy Year (2010), around 20,000 pilgrims arrived in April, 29,000 in May, and 34,000 in June. (Overall, pilgrim...
It seems that things might not change that much for UK passport holders. Even in the event of a "No Deal", the EU has agreed that UK citizens can visit visa-free for 90 days in any 6-month period (although there might be a few additional requirements, for example, passports will need to be valid...
In November last year, 1,604 pilgrims arrived in Santiago after starting in SJPP (4,718 arrivals in total, including those starting after SJPP). Numbers drop significantly over the month of December, but there should hopefully be enough people walking in November to allow for a bit of company...
Well... only if you're prepared to combine stages on a few occasions, which would make for some very long days. It normally takes at least 10 days. You can see recommended stages and accommodation options here!
No need to go downtown. Alsa does direct buses from Madrid Airport T4 to Pamplona.
Buses leave daily at 1:15am, 10:45am and 15:15pm (and an extra bus at 20:00 on weekends).
Hi Fencly, welcome to the forum! I'm not entirely sure of the legalities, but I've met 17-year olds who've done the camino without a problem. In my experience, it seems more common for European teenagers to be allowed to travel independently than in some parts of the world (I remember walking...
At 14 your son is a minor, and I'm assuming they wouldn't allow him stay alone at an albergue without a guardian, so (one would hope) it would be in everyone's best interest to ensure his mom could stay with him.
Maybe write a little spiel in Spanish that he can show to the hospitaleros to...
Buses in Spain tend to be very reliable and comfortable. Cuadrabus does the route from Logrono to Bilbao. Here's the timetable.
From the Bilbao bus station (Termibus) you catch Bus A3247 to the airport.
When are you thinking of going? I'm afraid it can be quite bad in the summer months (especially as much of the alternative accommodation is booked up by Spanish holidaymakers...)
True. You'll miss the amazing landscapes and food/culture of the Basque country, the gorgeous medieval towns (Santillana, San Vicente) of Cantabria...
On the plus side, the Norte gets very quiet after Aviles, as many pilgrims change to the Primitivo in Oviedo. So there'll be less of a bed race...
You can walk from Leon to Oviedo - this is the "Camino del Salvador". It's a really beautiful walk (on completion you can even get the "Salvadorana" certificate from the cathedral!) From Oviedo you walk straight up to Aviles to join the Norte.
The Norte really is spectacular. I'd just add two things:
1. There's lots of road and pavement walking on the official camino route. Make sure you take the coastal alternatives when you can (do a search for "coastal alternatives to the Norte's asphalt" on this forum, peregrina2000 has compiled a...
You don't say where you're flying from in the UK - no biggie, but might be relevant to work out whether they have a direct flight from where you are to some point on one of the caminos. For example, my nearest airport has cheap flights to places like Santander and Porto; it's usually a quick...
Hi Wei Ho, that's a lovely painting :)
Most people start the Portugues in Porto, and it takes around 10 days. If you start the Norte from Irun, it will take around 35 days of walking. So I guess time constraints, etc, will need to be factored into your decision. How much time do you have? Is it...
The pilgrim office publishes figures for pilgrims "registering" in Saint Jean Pied de Port. Figures for 2018 can be found here (statistics for previous years here). I suppose you could get some idea by comparing the numbers departing with those arriving (a month later?) but as others on the...
Ryanair do direct flights from Porto to La Rochelle. Just checked and it's only €45 on 1 June (flight leaving 13h10). It's really easy to get to Porto from SdC.
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