Bag Transport and Roncesvalles

Annie - you could email them to ask.

Email: info@alberguederoncesvalles.com

Or you could contact jacotrans to ask them where they leave pilgrims bags if they are not staying in a hotel.
jacotrans@jacotrans.com

I'm pretty sure the answer is yes on staying at the albergue if you have your bag transferred.

I sent ahead an extra bag to Roncesvalles last Fall, and it was delivered to a bar/restaurant, not the albergue. The drop-off point is Hostel La Posada. If you've seen the movie The Way with Martin Sheen, this is where he checks in when he arrives in Roncesvalles.

Lots of people send their bag over the Pyrenees and just carry a day pack. You should have no trouble.

Nancy

I am certain for sure that bag transfer is allowed even if you register in any albergue. I researched this quite heavily before I decided to accompany my daughter through the camino since I did not intend to walk the entire trip. The rule to stay in an albergue is if you walked the camino rather than ride a van or other forms of transportation like bus, train or taxi. I just 'accompanied' my daughter from Saint Jean to Roncesvalles, and a piligrm couple asked me to carry their backpacks while they stayed in the Roncesvalles albergue (a sophisticated one I must admit which you should definitely try!). I did not walk but took a taxi since I was sick. For any bag transfer from town to town, simply go to a major hotel in that town (the night before) and enquire how to transfer your bags to your next destination town; they usually tie up with bag transfer entities as it is an ongoing business. Also, if you are sure beforehand, the website "follow the camino" has links where you can pay ahead if you are sure which towns you will be stopping to sleep; however, this may not work for many since your sleeping towns may change once you determine your walking 'power'. The rate for each bag is 10 euros and cannot exceed 20 kg (or 44 lbs - international luggage limit). Hope the above helps.

Buen Camino!

One cannoit send backpacks to albergues that dont have a resident hospitalero (warden). There are many albergues that are run by volunteers who only open the albergue at a certain time in the afternoon and there might not be anyone to accept backpacks at those albergues until quite late in the afternoon.

In addition, some albergues specifically state - in guidebooks etc - that they do not accept pilgrims who send their packs ahead by vehicles. The CSJ albergue in Rabanal is one that comes to mind. A friend of mine was very indiganant when they sent their packs ahead to Albergue Gaucelmo from Astorga and were refused a place. They were given theri packs and politley, but firmly, told to try another albergue!

Jacotrans charges €6.50 per stage (max 25km) to transfer a pack - max weight 12kg.