4 Amigas

[Vivian Eckerly]

Starting SJPP 12 Sept taking the Main Waymarked route but first overnight in hotel outside Valcarlos. We were unable to book anything in orisson. What are our options in getting from Orisson to Valcarlos without having to take the alternative road route from SJPP.

 

[C clearly]

Welcome to the forum!

There are two routes from SJPP to Roncesvalles. Both are waymarked:

1. One goes over the Napoleon route pass Orisson and Borda, which are the only two accommodations. There is no village. This is perhaps the route that has been most popularized recently.
2. The other route goes through the village of Valcarlos, providing a slightly different but lovely experience. It just doesn't seem to be as famous in the pop culture.

You have accommodation in Valcarlos, so it makes total sense to walk directly from SJPP to Valcarlos. (Is this what you mean by the "alternative road route from SJPP"? It is not all on road, but others will be able to describe it better than I.) It doesn't make sense to walk to Orisson and then transport to Valcarlos. You would need to go through SJPP again.

If your heart is set on doing the Napoleon route (#1) above, you could walk to Orisson one day, get transport back to SJPP, and then get transport up to Orisson the next morning so you can continue to Roncesvalles.

 

[trecile]

If your heart is set on doing the Napoleon route (#1) above, you could walk to Orisson one day, get transport back to SJPP, and then get transport up to Orisson the next morning so you can continue to Roncesvalles.

If you decide to do this you can use Express Bouricott's Mountain Shuttle.

Passengers tranport on the way of Saint James | Trip from Biarritz to St Jean pied de port

Transporting people around the Way of Saint James. Trips from Biarritz to St Jean Pied De Port to Roncesvalles, and the whole pilgrimage region

www.expressbourricot.com

 

[Tincatinker]

Starting SJPP 12 Sept taking the Main Waymarked route but first overnight in hotel outside Valcarlos. We were unable to book anything in orisson. What are our options in getting from Orisson to Valcarlos without having to take the alternative road route from SJPP.

There’s a hotel outside Valcarlos? Wow, where? Grumpy old Tinkers like me would suggest that the main way marked route from St Jean to Roncesvalles is via Valcarlos. The other route is the invention of guidebooks, hostal owners and the internet

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I'm confused but if you are staying in SJPdP on night 1 and in Valcarlos on night 2 but you rather walk the Napoleon Route through Orisson for your first day of walking and not walking the more direct and lower way to Valcarlos then I have an adventurous route. Take the Napoleon Route out of SJPdP where you will be on the D428 until you encounter the D128. Take that downhill, it will bring you close to a bridge over a river separating France from the town of Valcarlos, Spain. This is the same bridge that you would take going from SJPdP to Valcarlos via Arneguy (from Arneguy you would be taking the D128 heading the other way).

BTW, I was charmed by the start of the Valcarlos (lower) route.

 

[henrythedog]

Starting SJPP 12 Sept taking the Main Waymarked route but first overnight in hotel outside Valcarlos. We were unable to book anything in orisson. What are our options in getting from Orisson to Valcarlos without having to take the alternative road route from SJPP.

Vivian; welcome.

I think you need to check the map and set your question out again. You’re in danger of getting unimpeachable answers to a question which is open to interpretation.

If you are not staying at Orisson (my personal view is that’s a lucky escape) it’s not entirely clear why you would choose to walk there. Did you try Borda as an alternative?

 

[Vivian Eckerly]

Vivian; welcome.

I think you need to check the map and set your question out again. You’re in danger of getting unimpeachable answers to a question which is open to interpretation.

If you are not staying at Orisson (my personal view is that’s a lucky escape) it’s not entirely clear why you would choose to walk there. Did you try Borda as an alternative?

Thanks for your replies. We were concerned the waymarked route to Valcarlos would not be as scenic and also be too close the the road.

 

[Vivian Eckerly]

I'm confused but if you are staying in SJPdP on night 1 and in Valcarlos on night 2 but you rather walk the Napoleon Route through Orisson for your first day of walking and not walking the more direct and lower way to Valcarlos then I have an adventurous route. Take the Napoleon Route out of SJPdP where you will be on the D428 until you encounter the D128. Take that downhill, it will bring you close to a bridge over a river separating France from the town of Valcarlos, Spain. This is the same bridge that you would take going from SJPdP to Valcarlos via Arneguy (from Arneguy you would be taking the D128 heading the other way).

BTW, I was charmed by the start of the Valcarlos (lower) route.

Thank you for your suggestion. We will certainly consider that option.

 

[Vivian Eckerly]

There’s a hotel outside Valcarlos? Wow, where? Grumpy old Tinkers like me would suggest that the main way marked route from St Jean to Roncesvalles is via Valcarlos. The other route is the invention of guidebooks, hostal owners and the internet

Welcome to the forum!

There are two routes from SJPP to Roncesvalles. Both are waymarked:

1. One goes over the Napoleon route pass Orisson and Borda, which are the only two accommodations. There is no village. This is perhaps the route that has been most popularized recently.
2. The other route goes through the village of Valcarlos, providing a slightly different but lovely experience. It just doesn't seem to be as famous in the pop culture.

You have accommodation in Valcarlos, so it makes total sense to walk directly from SJPP to Valcarlos. (Is this what you mean by the "alternative road route from SJPP"? It is not all on road, but others will be able to describe it better than I.) It doesn't make sense to walk to Orisson and then transport to Valcarlos. You would need to go through SJPP again.

If your heart is set on doing the Napoleon route (#1) above, you could walk to Orisson one day, get transport back to SJPP, and then get transport up to Orisson the next morning so you can continue to Roncesvalles.

Thank you for your reply. We will probably confuse via the lower route to Valcarlos. I just haven’t seen as many remarks concerning that route. If anyone has travelled it I would like to hear more.

 

[trecile]

Thank you for your reply. We will probably confuse via the lower route to Valcarlos. I just haven’t seen as many remarks concerning that route. If anyone has travelled it I would like to hear more.

Here's a thread from someone who recently walked via Valcarlos.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/finally-on-the-way.76450/

 

[Tommy Brown]

Starting SJPP 12 Sept taking the Main Waymarked route but first overnight in hotel outside Valcarlos. We were unable to book anything in orisson. What are our options in getting from Orisson to Valcarlos without having to take the alternative road route from SJPP.

Vivian how are you?am starting primitivo on 2 September,

 

[Vivian Eckerly]

Welcome to the forum!

There are two routes from SJPP to Roncesvalles. Both are waymarked:

1. One goes over the Napoleon route pass Orisson and Borda, which are the only two accommodations. There is no village. This is perhaps the route that has been most popularized recently.
2. The other route goes through the village of Valcarlos, providing a slightly different but lovely experience. It just doesn't seem to be as famous in the pop culture.

You have accommodation in Valcarlos, so it makes total sense to walk directly from SJPP to Valcarlos. (Is this what you mean by the "alternative road route from SJPP"? It is not all on road, but others will be able to describe it better than I.) It doesn't make sense to walk to Orisson and then transport to Valcarlos. You would need to go through SJPP again.

If your heart is set on doing the Napoleon route (#1) above, you could walk to Orisson one day, get transport back to SJPP, and then get transport up to Orisson the next morning so you can continue to Roncesvalles.

We will stick to our original plan. Certainly appreciate the feedback.

 

[trecile]

We will stick to our original plan. Certainly appreciate the feedback.

What exactly is your original plan? Are you walking the Valcarlos route?

 

[Tommy Brown]

We will stick to our original plan. Certainly appreciate the feedback.

Am one of the 4 amigos, you don't remember me?

 

[aliciag56]

I walked valcarlos in 2018. Loved the first days walk to valcarlos. Also loved the ascent up the hill in the woods (although there were hunters)
HATED the section along the road. I found it very dangerous. So much so I'd consider taking a taxi from valcarlos to where you enter the woods for the final ascent.
Just one person's observations.

 

[Vivian Eckerly]

What exactly is your original plan? Are you walking the Valcarlos route?

Yes, the Valcarlos route since we already have rooms arranged.