Bus/train/taxis along VLDP

[Rajy62]

Done the Francis and Norte once and want to try VDLP this year. Some stages seems very long (25-30k). Transport services, like buses or trains or taxis along the VDLP if one wants to shorten the walking distances and still keep the staging.

 

[Stripey Socks]

Done the Francis and Norte once and want to try VDLP this year. Some stages seems very long (25-30k). Transport services, like buses or trains or taxis along the VDLP if one wants to shorten the walking distances and still keep the staging.

Hi Ray
I walked the VDLP in Sept/Oct 2014 - a magical but, at times, challenging experience.
I am not confident that you will be able to access public transport whenever you want/need it on this camino. Some of the stage villages are tiny and may not have taxis or trains and/or only irregular bus services. If you planned ahead and arranged this when you were in a larger centre (ie. for the next/forward stages) it may be doable.

Perhaps other pilgrims have managed this successfully but it is not something I tried to do. It is a wonderful walk and by the end of it a 30-km day became an 'easy' day!!
Bye
Mel

 

[SYates]

Perhaps going ultralight with your backpack might be an option? I don't think that kind of pilgrim infrastructure has reached the VdlP yet. Buen Camino, SY

 

[Luka]

I actually think the VdlP is quite doable in combination with bussing a little every once in a while. Most of the time you are in between of two south-north roads: the highway A66 (if I recall correctly) and the N630. This N630 covers a lot of villages along the VdlP and most of those village are covered by a bus using the same road. I think the company was Alsa most of the time. These are not buses that have frequent services, but at least 2 or 3 times a day. Just try and google 'autobus' in combination with villages along the VdlP. I expect a lot of hits.

 

[Rajy62]

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I had a quick look at Gerald Kelly's vdlp guide. The stages/distances seems reasonable. Only few sections that are long. I have walked that distance before and it is always good to have a plan B, in case i needed it.. I am not 100% drawn to this trail yet. Just starting to evaluate my choices. I love to go back to Norte also. I guess bacon and eggs are out of the question on vdlp eh?

 

[SYates]

Bacon and eggs you will find, you are passing through 'jamon serrano home country' ;-) As for transport options, the only one I found so far is: http://www.mochilasviadelaplata.com/ but they seem to do only backpacks, not people. Buen Camino! SY

 

[Rajy62]

Bacon and eggs you will find, you are passing through 'jamon serrano home country' ;-) As for transport options, the only one I found so far is: http://www.mochilasviadelaplata.com/ but they seem to do only backpacks, not people. Buen Camino! SY

That is good news. On those longer stages I can always walk without my pack. I couldn't believe the prices though, 5 Euros?? Hope they have enough packs to stay in business. On the Francis, i paid around 5 Euros on average and sometimes even less because they had high volume. But on Norte, they charged 20 Euros/stage. May be i should stop walking and setup a mochila transport business on Norte.

 

[mmm042]

Hi.

I have always been able to find transportation on the VDLP -- if you're willing to pay for taxis. They can be expensive (about 1 euro per kilometer), although in the last year a lot of B&B owners (casas rurales) will move your bags ahead (or you) for a reduced fee if you've stayed in their inn the night before. There is also now a mochila service similar to the Frances between Ourense and Santiago. Try the Vdlp -- you'll love it!

Melanie

 

[Rajy62]

Hi.

I have always been able to find transportation on the VDLP -- if you're willing to pay for taxis. They can be expensive (about 1 euro per kilometer), although in the last year a lot of B&B owners (casas rurales) will move your bags ahead (or you) for a reduced fee if you've stayed in their inn the night before. There is also now a mochila service similar to the Frances between Ourense and Santiago. Try the Vdlp -- you'll love it!

Melanie

Hi Melanie,
Good to have confirmation on the transportation options. I suspected that since there are major roads along the trail there must be transport services. The taxi fare along the Norte and Francis were also about 1 euro/km. I think it is the going rate in Spain.
From what have i read so far, most of the vdlp, at least until Astroga, is just flat. I remember on the Francis, between Burgos and Leon, it was flat also for about 10 days. Not very appealing scenery-wise. Just ordered Gerald Kelly's vdlp guide. I will study the stages/maps in detail. Thanks for your feedback.