Bus........

[CarlyA]

Good Day Everyone,
My Mom and I are walking from Leon to Santiago De Compostela starting at the beginning of September (2016). My Dad and my 5 year old Daughter are coming with us, but will not be walking.
I am having a heck of a time finding a bus schedule (etc) to get them from one place to another.
Can anyone help me out by pointing me in the right direction.

Thanks a million in advance

 

[Castilian]

Hi CarlyA! Welcome to the forum!

León-San Martín del Camino; San Martín del Camino-Astorga are made by Alsa: www.alsa.es/en

From Astorga to Foncebadón, Autocares Pedrín (http://autocarespedrin.e.telefonica.net) has buses but I think they don't run daily so check with them once on the ground. From Foncebadón to Ponferrada, AFAIK, there aren't buses. I would suggest to go all the way from Astorga to Ponferrada (either by bus or train) even if that means your dad and daughter miss you one night.

Astorga-Ponferrada; Ponferrada-Villafranca del Bierzo; Villafranca del Bierzo-Pedrafita do Cebreiro (roughly 4 kms away from O Cebreiro) are made by Alsa. Once in Pedrafita do Cebreiro, you can take a taxi to O Cebreiro because the bus from Pedrafita do Cebreiro to O Cebreiro departs early in the morning.

Pedrafita do Cebreiro-O Cebreiro; O Cebreiro-Triacastela and Triacastela-Sarria are made by Monbus: www.monbus.es There isn't service on Sundays.

Sarria-Portomarín is made by Empresa Portomarín: www.empresaportomarin.com

From Portomarín to Palas de Rei there aren't direct buses. For that strecht you have two options to take a taxi (quicker) or to make the route changing buses in Lugo (a big detour but probably -way- cheaper). The bus companies making the route from Portomarín to Lugo are Empresa Portomarín (this one makes it daily and offers more frequencies) and Monbus. From Lugo to Palas de Rei, the bus company that makes it is Empresa Freire.

Palas de Rei-Arzúa; Arzúa-O Pedrouzo and O Pedrouzo-Santiago de Compostela are made by Empresa Freire: www.empresafreire.com

 

[Deleted member 3000]

While buses parallel most of the route between Leon and Santiago, they do not serve all the towns and villages. If you go to ALSA and look at the itinerary of a local bus, you can see the major stops. From Melide onward there are local buses that follow the route fairly closely.

 

[CarlyA]

Thank you so much!!!!!!
I appreciate all of that!!!

 

[JillGat]

Just want to say how impressed I am with this comprehensive response.

Hi CarlyA! Welcome to the forum!

León-San Martín del Camino; San Martín del Camino-Astorga are made by Alsa: www.alsa.es/en

From Astorga to Foncebadón, Autocares Pedrín (http://autocarespedrin.e.telefonica.net) has buses but I think they don't run daily so check with them once on the ground. From Foncebadón to Ponferrada, AFAIK, there aren't buses. I would suggest to go all the way from Astorga to Ponferrada (either by bus or train) even if that means your dad and daughter miss you one night.

Astorga-Ponferrada; Ponferrada-Villafranca del Bierzo; Villafranca del Bierzo-Pedrafita do Cebreiro (roughly 4 kms away from O Cebreiro) are made by Alsa. Once in Pedrafita do Cebreiro, you can take a taxi to O Cebreiro because the bus from Pedrafita do Cebreiro to O Cebreiro departs early in the morning.

Pedrafita do Cebreiro-O Cebreiro; O Cebreiro-Triacastela and Triacastela-Sarria are made by Monbus: www.monbus.es There isn't service on Sundays.

Sarria-Portomarín is made by Empresa Portomarín: www.empresaportomarin.com

From Portomarín to Palas de Rei there aren't direct buses. For that strecht you have two options to take a taxi (quicker) or to make the route changing buses in Lugo (a big detour but probably -way- cheaper). The bus companies making the route from Portomarín to Lugo are Empresa Portomarín (this one makes it daily and offers more frequencies) and Monbus. From Lugo to Palas de Rei, the bus company that makes it is Empresa Freire.

Palas de Rei-Arzúa; Arzúa-O Pedrouzo and O Pedrouzo-Santiago de Compostela are made by Empresa Freire: www.empresafreire.com

 

[Gillean]

Rome2Rio website is pretty useful for researching travel: https://www.rome2rio.com/

 

[Anemone del Camino]

This guide has excellent maps that show the Camino but also roads, routes, highways, bus and train stations. It may help you picture things and plan.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/3763348352/?tag=casaivar02-20

As was mentioned before, many of the places you will be walking through are off route, and places where albergues are locatd as well, or only served by bus once or twice a day, especially on weekends. Taxis may be something to consider here an there. Budget 1€ per km. Taxi phine numbers can be found in many places: albergues, bars, along the Camino on trees! ;0)

 

[grayland]

Alsa has a good iPhone app that is simple and quick to use.