Best day to leave Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port ?

[eamann]

Hello!

Do pilgrims leave Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in predictable "waves" and if so, which days of the week are the calmest?

I have the choice between three flights per week to Biarritz. Depending on which one I take, I could leave Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on a Monday, Tuesday or Friday.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to reply!

 

[Robo]

Given that some people might add a weekend to the start of their trip, I would vote for Tuesday.
But I'm not sure it makes much difference.
What time of year?

 

[markie6]

All I would say is maybe avoid the weekend ... or if you are wanting to stay in Pamplona, the weekend might be busiest ? and then adjust your starting date to coincide or dodge depending on preference

at certain times of the year, loads leave from Sarria and arrive in Santiago on Thursday ? IIRC

otherwise, check for national holidays and don't worry about any of it and just enjoy

good luck

 

[Kitsambler]

Stay over Tuesday and leave Wednesday.

 

[asl]

An important consideration is that Sundays many shops are closed. Restaurants and bars are open, but if you need things from the grocery, or pharmacy you may be out of luck.

 

[C clearly]

What month are you walking? Generally, the waves are only a problem in SJPP in April-May and September.

 

[CWBuff]

Hello!

Do pilgrims leave Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in predictable "waves"

ABSOLUTELY! 8am-9am on any given day - a HUUUGE WAVE Probably 99% of the Pilgrims who stayed overnight in SJPdP the previous day (could be 2 and could be 200)

On a serious note - of the days you propose I would probably lean towards Friday.
If you stop overnight at Orisson (or Bourda) then you continue to Roncesvalles on Saturday and move on to Zubiri Sunday (yes places are closed on Sundays but I think you'd be OK)
if you hiking straight to Roncesvalles then you'll be leaving Zubiri on Sunday and moving to Pamplona (I dont think you'll find problems with too many places closed in a large city)

Good Luck and Buen Camino

 

[Euphemis]

Take a lesson from me - try to work out your daily walking distance so you aren’t hitting the major cities on a Monday. All the museums will be closed.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Tuesday is the best of those three options crowd-wise. Walking towards SJPP on that section in late 2022, it was very noticeable that waves of pilgrims came through who started on the weekend, Friday to Monday.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I prefer to leave mid-week and get ahead or behind the herd.

 

[AK2112]

Any day without snow on the Napoleon route is a good day to leave SJPdP.

 

[Bradypus]

could be 2 and could be 200)

200 would be quite modest. It can be 400+ on occasion!

 

[eamann]

Thank you all for your helpful comments!

God permitting, I plan to leave Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on Wednesday 1 May, having spent the two previous weeks on the Voie du Puy.

I have already walked the Camino francés twice, starting from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, but spending my first night once in Orisson and once in Borda. This time round I would like to take the Valcarlos route and start out from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port itself.