captdave51
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Sept(2016)
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My wife and I will be travelling in early April from Pamplona to St. Jean PDP. I have contacted Alsa for their bus schedule for April but they are saying that they do not make this journey. I know that do not make this journey at this time(winter) but I did tell them that I wanted to travel in April. Besides a taxi, does anyone have any other ideas?
Iriebabel, thank you for the reply. I did check out the Conda website also before posting the thread but was unable to buy tickets using the links provided. I guess I'll keep on trying.....
In case you searched for St. Jean; don't. You must spell St as Saint for the site to work.Dave, that Conda site does not list St. Jean PDP as a destination for their trips to France from Spain. I'll just have to continue trying as the date approaches.
I just tried it with http instead of https (the error message on my Chrome browser indicated to me that the problem was incompatible security protocols - other browsers may not be so specific with the message - and I trust the site anyway.) I was not able to get them to give me an April date. It is probably too far in the future.There will be 2 of us that are trying to get the bus from Pamplona to SJPP on April 10th in the afternoon. Alsa schedule shows a bus on April 9th and April 11th. Anyone else needing transport to SJPP at that time who would like to share a taxi? I tried clicking on the link above that DaveBugg suggested but it says it is an unsecure site. Do you have the name I could look up? Thanks everyone!
There will be 2 of us that are trying to get the bus from Pamplona to SJPP on April 10th in the afternoon. Alsa schedule shows a bus on April 9th and April 11th. Anyone else needing transport to SJPP at that time who would like to share a taxi? I tried clicking on the link above that DaveBugg suggested but it says it is an unsecure site. Do you have the name I could look up? Thanks everyone!
There will be 2 of us that are trying to get the bus from Pamplona to SJPP on April 10th in the afternoon. Alsa schedule shows a bus on April 9th and April 11th. Anyone else needing transport to SJPP at that time who would like to share a taxi? I tried clicking on the link above that DaveBugg suggested but it says it is an unsecure site. Do you have the name I could look up? Thanks everyone!
It was my research that said that it was going to open on April 1st. If the weather is bad, we will take the Valcarlos route.
Judy, there's a good chance I'll be doing that on April 10th. I buy my ticket this coming week. I'll PM you! And, I've had the same trouble checking all this out as you did.
Yes many people do go but its not only is it not recommended I believe it is illegal when is is closed by local authority. I do not recommend you take the Napoleon if closed. 2 Pilgrims were rescued last year in April the very week when I walked. They were fined and also had to pay the cost of the rescue. Storms are fast moving and even if you are a seasoned veteran mountain hiker you not only risks your life but you risk the life of those who come to rescue you. My recommendation is to check with the Pilgrim’s office in St. Jean to determine what conditions are before setting out. Also just as additional note I departed 1 April and parts of the Valcarlos route were impassable due to winter conditions we had to take to the road as recommend by the pilgrims office. By the way, don't discount the Valcarlos route it is equally beautiful and challenging. The climb at the end is not to be scuffed at....Dave,
I arrive Madrid on April 5th, from Dallas, and will be traveling from Pamplona to St Jean on April 7. I have read the bus is available as well. The Napoleon route is open as mentioned, but most will recommend you not take this route due to snow, however many people go anyway and are fine. I will be going the Napoleon route short of a blizzard, since last year I went Valcarlos.
There will be 2 of us that are trying to get the bus from Pamplona to SJPP on April 10th in the afternoon. Alsa schedule shows a bus on April 9th and April 11th. Anyone else needing transport to SJPP at that time who would like to share a taxi? I tried clicking on the link above that DaveBugg suggested but it says it is an unsecure site. Do you have the name I could look up? Thanks everyone!
Hope to see you on the trail! Buen Camino!Judy I will also be looking for a taxi on April 10 but will be planning to leave Pamplina after breakfast so I can walk to Valcarlos that night. We may well meet on the road. Buen camino!
Thank you for such a thorough response! We are definitely staying flexible on which route to take from SJPP! We are hoping to make reservations for Orisson night of 10/11.Only God and the weather determine when the pass is actually open. April 1 is a relative date for reference. You ought not rely on that for making hard and fast plans.
My suggestion, if you are fixed on starting at SJPdP, is to make three alternative plans:
Plan A - the pilgrim office tells you, when you arrive, that the Napoleon Pass is open or will be tomorrow... follow Plan A
Plan B - plan to follow the Valcarlos Route from SJPdP to Roncesvalles, many have done so. The difference is that this route more or less follows the serpentine road over the Pyrenees from France into Spain. So, it is kept clear of snow all year. There is some road walking. Research the Valcarlos Route here in the Forum.
Plan C - pre-investigate and make reservations as needed to have Express Bourricot drive you over the mountains to Roncesvalles the next morning. Plan to be taxied over in the morning, after breakfast at SJPdP. Then you can start fresh walking from Roncesvalles to Zubiri, or onwards towards Pamplona. The drive over the mountains is about 45 minutes, and is not for the faint-hearted. I have driven it in summer weather. It is very windy and equal to the world's best amusement park rides.
Failing all of this, and if you are open to it, consider starting at Pamplona. Personally, I plan to fly there from Madrid. Coming out of Florida, I fly from Miami to Madrid on Iberia, then connect in the same Terminal 4 to Pamplona. There are several flights daily. For me, flying into Madrid is straightforward and easy. From there I fly to Bilbao, Barcelona, Santiago, etc. with ease.
Hope this helps.
A friend and are will be traveling from Pamplona to SJPP on April 10th. We are taking the train from Madrid and since it’s too early to book the train I’m not sure what time we’ll arrive in Pamplona, hoping to arrive early afternoon. I’m going to reserve a taxi for pick-up at the train station to go to SJPP. If you have same schedule we could also share taxi!Dave, thanks for the taxi info. I will contact them as the date approaches if no bus decides to run the route.
I’ve checked out the taxi for Pilgrims, pick-up at Pamplona train station for transport to SJPP. It would be very reasonable cost if we were able to share. I look forward to hearing from you after you’ve decided on your schedule!
I have also used the Rome to Rio sight & I cannot get a bus schedule to come up even within the next month or two. I am traveling in August and I planned to take an early flight out of Madrid to Pamplona and then catch the bus in to St Jean. Now my flight connection from Madrid to Pamplona has been changed to 5 in the afternoon. I don't think there is a bus that late in the day. Does anyone know if that's true? I may just be staying in Pamplona overnight and then catching a bus out early the next day too st.jean and start my Camino to Orisson midday.My wife and I will be travelling in early April from Pamplona to St. Jean PDP. I have contacted Alsa for their bus schedule for April but they are saying that they do not make this journey. I know that do not make this journey at this time(winter) but I did tell them that I wanted to travel in April. Besides a taxi, does anyone have any other ideas?
Thanks, good source.I have used https://loco2.com/en to search for train schedules, and if the train is not yet available to book you can sign up for alerts. Last time I did that I was able to get a preferente/first class ticket for 23.20€.
Right outside the train station is a bus shelter. According to Pamplona's street bus stop there is an hourly bus (line A) direct to the bus station. There is also more frequent service on line 9 with stops along the way.Yes, we're planning on taking a train from Madrid at 7:30am arriving in Pamplona around 11:15. The bus station is on the other side of town but a nice walk or taxi ride. You can then take the 2:30pm bus to SJPDP.
Don't trust those dates; I think the page is outdated. But over a couple of years the times are correct for the approximate dates.Historically, I believe that the last bus leaves Pamplona at 5:30 in August with the first one out the next morning at 10am. Check out this link: http://www.conda.es/eventos.php?tipo=3&id=438
The hourly line A bus I mention a few posts ago actually is a train station to bus station to airport (and reverse route.)Now my flight connection from Madrid to Pamplona has been changed to 5 in the afternoon.
See Post#2There is a bus from Pamplona to St. Jean, for example 5. and 6 April 2019.
Pamplona 14:30
St. Jean 16:15
price: 22,- €
www.alsa.es
To find it, you have to write: Pamplona and Saint Jean (not St. Jean)
I don´t know the exactly place, where the bus starts in Pamplona - Estacion de Autobus?????
I think you have to type in Saint Jean Pied de PortDave, that Conda site does not list St. Jean PDP as a destination for their trips to France from Spain. I'll just have to continue trying as the date approaches.
You do but when the post was made that didn't help as the site said something like "destination not found" instead of something like "the schedule hasn't been entered for this year yet". The schedule for the next six months has now been entered and can be searched.I think you have to type in Saint Jean Pied de Port
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