Alternative to walking to O Cebreirio

[Elaurel]

does anyone know if I could get public transport or any other way to acoid the climb up to O Cebriero? It will be too long a climb for me. Thank you.

 

[naplesdon]

Horseback

 

[Elaurel]

Horseback

Haha! I did think about that!

 

[naplesdon]

I did it last year in a very cold July rain. The horses are very gentle and walk the same speed as the pilgrims, it was fun but I am not a rider so it was a bit daunting for me riding with an English saddle.

 

[Elaurel]

I did it last year in a very cold July rain. The horses are very gentle and walk the same speed as the pilgrims, it was fun but I am not a rider so it was a bit daunting for me riding with an English saddle.

It sounds interesting. I am not a rider either but it could be a way of getting to the top of this climb, otherwise I will be stopping every few metres! Thank you.

 

[MartinZ]

Try not to arrive too late.
Even though it's a big alburgue it can quickly be filled to the brim with pilgrims and you would be forced to move on.
Last year, august, it happend to me and i had to walk all the way to fronfria before i got a bed.
It was cold and wet and windy and i was frozen to the bone! (That's not an early morning picture but mid day!)

 

[Robo]

By mistake......I took the road route. wasn't too bad. A bit longer though.

 

[mspath]

You might have your 'night before' albergue call a taxi for you. Or you might stop that night at Ruitelan and then follow a combo of the camino with the bike route to ascend. This would be less arduous and is the way I have always walked even in snow.

Good luck and Buen camino!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

does anyone know if I could get public transport

No. Bus service is to Piedrafita do Cebreiro, which is down the hill from O Cebreiro. From there you need to take a taxi, so it might be only a little more costly to take a taxi from Herrerias. Taxis cover that route extremely frequently!!!

 

[Margaret Butterworth]

Last year in heavy rain and wind, I took the bus from Villafranca to Pedrafita, small bus which leaves (from memory) at 8.30 a.m. At Pedrafita, everyone rushed into the nearest bar for a hot drink and we (complete strangers) reviewed our options. I shared a taxi to O'Cebreiro with another woman for €10.

This year, in better weather, I walked as far as Ambasestas, stayed the night and then continued on next day to O'Cebreiro where it was still freezing cold but fine! Breaking the walk in two made it very doable to a not super-fit 70-year- old.

 

[whariwharangi]

does anyone know if I could get public transport or any other way to acoid the climb up to O Cebriero? It will be too long a climb for me. Thank you.

Empresa Monforte (Monbus) provides bus service from Pedrafita do Cebreiro to Sarria via O Cebreiro.
http://www.monbus.es/es

Gonzalez de la Riva provides bus service from Ponferrada to Pedrafita do Cebreiro via Vega de Valcarce and Villafranca. They offer service to Santuario do Cebreiro from Pedrafita do Cebreiro. Click on the white stylized arrow at the bottom of the page.
http://www.gonzalezdelariva.es/

 

[Carol06]

I found the climb to O'Cebreiro much easier than I expected. The part to look out for is the tough climb a few kms on the other side. And I am sorry I cannot remember the name. It is just after the big pilgrim statue on the of the road. And there was a very welcome cafe at the top of the hill. I am not saying the climb to O'Cebreiro is easy, but don't think it is all over when you get there. Just to cheer you up!

 

[Icacos]

I found the climb to O'Cebreiro much easier than I expected.......

That's good to hear. My companions managed it well too. I, on the other hand, shared a taxi with a fellow injured peregrino (arranged by our hospitalera) from Villafranca, and the ascent to Laguna de Castilla, just short of O Cebreiro, as I observed from the comfort of the taxi, seemed interminable.

 

[GettingThere]

does anyone know if I could get public transport or any other way to acoid the climb up to O Cebriero? It will be too long a climb for me. Thank you.

We were unable to walk up because my mother injured her leg near Trabadelo. We stopped overnight at a casa rural in Vega de Valcarce and in the morning the owner, who also owns the local bakery which opens early for breakfast, called a local taxi for us. He drove us up to O'Cebreiro, helpfully pointing out all the pilgrims we were passing on the way! We also passed a group on horseback, which is another option as has been mentioned.

 

[waveprof]

The walk down from O'Cebreiro is one of the best parts of the Camino, if you can't make the hike up I'd strongly consider the horseback.

You might also consider stopping at Laguna de Castilla for the night. A great albergue and meanwhile you arrive in O'Cebreiro in the morning after the pilgrims have left and before the tourists arrived. It is more impressive (and less Disney) that way.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I did it last year in a very cold July rain. The horses are very gentle and walk the same speed as the pilgrims, it was fun but I am not a rider so it was a bit daunting for me riding with an English saddle.

I'm glad to hear from someone who did it.
I've seen the signs and often considered it and since I've climbed that hill more than once, I think I may try this next trip!

 

[Anniesantiago]

We were unable to walk up because my mother injured her leg near Trabadelo. We stopped overnight at a casa rural in Vega de Valcarce and in the morning the owner, who also owns the local bakery which opens early for breakfast, called a local taxi for us. He drove us up to O'Cebreiro, helpfully pointing out all the pilgrims we were passing on the way! We also passed a group on horseback, which is another option as has been mentioned.

Do you remember what the cost was?

 

[Elaurel]

Thank you everyone for all your suggestions. By the time I get to that stage I will have a much better idea of whether to go for it, or now, armed with a few choices, chose an alternative.

 

[naplesdon]

I want to say something between 20 and 30 euros plus you have an option to ship your pack ahead for another 5+/- euros.

 

[MTtoCamino]

Did you have to wait for a specific amount of riders?

 

[GettingThere]

Do you remember what the cost was?

I don't, sorry Annie. I don't think it was too bad though - I don't remember fainting in shock anyway!

 

[Castilian]

does anyone know if I could get public transport or any other way to acoid the climb up to O Cebriero?

I don't know what's your starting point but don't forget you can avoid the climb to O Cebreiro by leaving the Camino Francés in Ponferrada and taking the Camino de Invierno instead. Of course, that would mean to totally change your route from Ponferrada to Santiago de Compostela (i.e.: forget not only about O Cebreiro but also about Sarria, Portomarín, Melide...).

 

[JP]

I did it on Horseback in May 2014, cost was 30 Euro. Probably, my best memory on the Camino. I really felt like I was a knight of Charlemagne.

 

[NualaOC]

I found the climb to O'Cebreiro much easier than I expected. The part to look out for is the tough climb a few kms on the other side. And I am sorry I cannot remember the name. It is just after the big pilgrim statue on the of the road. And there was a very welcome cafe at the top of the hill. I am not saying the climb to O'Cebreiro is easy, but don't think it is all over when you get there. Just to cheer you up!

I totally agree Carol, O'Cebreiro wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. However, the next hill (Alto do Poio) felt really tough!

@Elaurel - if you decide to walk to O'Cebreiro, you might want to stop there overnight and do Alto do Poio the next day. Neither are unmanageable if you take them at your own pace. But as you say, it's good that you now know about a few alternative options. Buen Camino!

 

[Cindy22]

I completed the Camino on May 21, this year. I enjoyed a delightful horse back ride from Herrares to O Cebrierio. With shipping cost for my backpack and horse rental, it was the best 50 euros spent on the trip!

does anyone know if I could get public transport or any other way to acoid the climb up to O Cebriero? It will be too long a climb for me. Thank you.

 

[kelleymac]

Horseback

You can get a taxi or ride horses! We took the horseback riding option (alpaso.eu)-- our stuff was taken up by taxi. The horses walk up the big hill at a slow easy pace-- We rode up on a sunny day in the Spring, and it was a high light of our trip (one of many!).

 

[yvillanua]

does anyone know if I could get public transport or any other way to acoid the climb up to O Cebriero? It will be too long a climb for me. Thank you.

You can call a taxi in piedrafita, I think we used one called el Rubio, or something like that.

 

[marigold]

does anyone know if I could get public transport or any other way to acoid the climb up to O Cebriero? It will be too long a climb for me. Thank you.

Hi Elaurel,
I was terrified of the climb to O'Cebreiro and spent ages trying to find out about buses as I got nearer......But then I just decided to go for it! And it was not as hard as I thought, not bad at all. And the sense of achievement was amazing.
The next time I walked, it snowed in June! Again, O'Cebreiro made me scared, but this time because I couldn't see the path, and couldn't see more than a couple of metres in front of me! But I made it to the top and into the little church to say my thanks, and shed a couple of tears of relief. I then walked the road way to Fonfria. I was freezing and exhausted, but after a rest and superb meal I was dancing with Angela the hospitalera and her latino staff!
Sorry to ramble on, but this is just to say: take it as it comes. You can't really tell what you will feel like or encounter until you are there, and the Camino will test you as well as look after you. It's wonderful.

 

[whariwharangi]

Empresa Monforte (Monbus) provides bus service from Pedrafita do Cebreiro to Sarria via O Cebreiro.
http://www.monbus.es/es

Gonzalez de la Riva provides bus service from Ponferrada to Pedrafita do Cebreiro via Vega de Valcarce and Villafranca. They offer service to Santuario do Cebreiro from Pedrafita do Cebreiro. Click on the white stylized arrow at the bottom of the page.
http://www.gonzalezdelariva.es/

I'm reading the Gonzalez de la Riva site again and note that their site states the bus goes to Pedrafita do Cebreiro, which is close to the Santuario do Cebreiro. When I read it earlier I thought it translated into going to Santuario do Cebreiro.

 

[whariwharangi]

Last year in heavy rain and wind, I took the bus from Villafranca to Pedrafita, small bus which leaves (from memory) at 8.30 a.m. At Pedrafita, everyone rushed into the nearest bar for a hot drink and we (complete strangers) reviewed our options. I shared a taxi to O'Cebreiro with another woman for €10.

This year, in better weather, I walked as far as Ambasestas, stayed the night and then continued on next day to O'Cebreiro where it was still freezing cold but fine! Breaking the walk in two made it very doable to a not super-fit 70-year- old.

You can call a taxi in piedrafita, I think we used one called el Rubio, or something like that.

Note there is a town called Pedrafita. Don't get it confused with Pedrafita do Cebreiro.

 

[cheminHugh]

does anyone know if I could get public transport or any other way to acoid the climb up to O Cebriero? It will be too long a climb for me. Thank you.

La Faba has a fine albergue run by the German confraternity and a nice family café in town. That leaves a nice morning climb (hopefully in fog) to O Cebriero in time for café con leche and a nice downhill.

 

[SeaHorse]

From Herrerias to O Cebreiro I went by horse. They started little after 9. Well, as somebody had called and made a reservation but didn't show up we were waiting a little more than "little after 9". They had 7 horses. It takes about 2 hours for the horses to get there (walking humans about 4h). Fantastic views, even better from riders position. Horses know the way, just let them walk and enjoy. Not tired at all. 35 euros for horse + 5 to send the backpack to O Cebreiro (but its an option to keep the pack on while riding). Even with the delayed start arrived in O Cebreiro early enough to walk on a few km to the next village.

 

[Susan Peacock]

How did you arrange the horseback riding?

 

[mspath]

How did you arrange the horseback riding?

For more on the pros and cons of riding a horse up to O Cebreiro see this earlier Forum thread.

 

[SeaHorse]

How did you arrange the horseback riding?

I called Victor at 638 041823. He speaks English.

As for the "cons" in the other thread - maybe the malnourished horses were some others, I saw all 7 horses Victor had and they all were ok. They do the walk 2x a day. Horses know the path very well and you just let them choose how to manage it.