Arriving Late in Pamplona

If you walk in the months 1 July to end of August, there is a 10am bus to Roncesvalles from Pamplona. You can take a taxi from there to St Jean for about 30€

You could also take a taxi to Roncesvalles (Pamplona - Roncesvalles € 42.00) and then hitch a ride to St Jean Pied de Port.

If not, this is what the taxi fares from Pamplona to St Jean cost.
Weekdays: Pamplona - Saint Jean de Pied de Port € 68.00
Holidays and Weekends and weekday evening Rates (22:00 PM – 7:00 AM)
Pamplona - Saint Jean de Pied de Port € 85.00

There is a cheaper - though longer - option.

You can take a train to Irun. ± 2.5 hours, costs between 15€ and 19€ and then a train to Biarritz. ± 45 mins (http://www.renfe.es)

(There is also a bus to Irun but it leaves at 18h00 and gets there at 19h50 - costs 6,75€ http://www.laburundesa.com/ing/dinamica ... rridos.asp)

From Biarritz you take a train, bus or taxi to Bayonne and then a bus to St Jean.

At least you get to see lots of countryside!

EasyJet flight out of Gatwick that same morning to Biarritz and then bus to SJPP.

Click to expand...

Tha sounds like a good, less complicated option!

Another option would be to start walking from Pamplona instead of SJPP.

Hi Trundle,
You can also begin walking from Roncesvalles. Most of the Spaniards who walk the Camino begin there. I too, because I came north from Madrid (via Pamplona) decided to begin in Roncesvalles. It was recommended to me since I am not a "seasoned" hiker like you (and so many others) that perhaps it wasn't the best plan to begin by crossing the mountain. Since your time appears also to be a bit tight, beginning in Roncesvalles would cut one or maybe 2 days off your time. I walked Roncesvalles to Santiago in 30 days (no rest days) and was really covering ground at the end. It could easily (and perhaps should have been 31 days) - just an other thought to throw into your muddle.

By beginning in Roncesvalles you still begin in the Pyrenees, you just don't begin by crossing the highest peaks. If you take the 18h bus from Pamplona, you will arrive Roncesvalles around 19:30h in plenty of time to obtain your credencial, get your gear into the albergue and make the Pilgrim Mass/Blessing at 20h.

Buen Camino,