Camino Del Norte - smaller stages - Baggage transport

[Michaelcamino]

Dear Peligrinos,

I am Michael from Belgium.
I have a potential opportunity to do el Camino Del Norte in May from Irun to Bilbao.(constraint 1)
I have some health issues so i need
-to sleep in private room with private bath room (constraint 2)
-to have a system that will take my luggage from point A to point B ( constraint 3)
-For the constraint 3, correos is only able to deliver following the "official" steps of the Camino Del Norte
Irun-> San Sebastian -> Zarautz -> Deba -> Markina -> Gernika -> Lezama-> Bilbao
And so here is my constraint 4, i would like to divide the steps in less than 15 km and so find a lugagge transportation that can be customized for these shorter steps.
Is it possible?
Thanks in advance for your response.
Kind Regards,
Michael

 

[Jan Jones]

I walked the Norte in 2019 in shorter stages and using Correos for pack transfer. If you go to the Correos page click the accommodations link and then select the Norte you can search by locations , For example - search for Pasajes San Juan which is between Irún and San Sebastián and it shows two accommodations. Hope this helps.

Accommodations on the Camino de Santiago

Albergues, hostels and hotels on the main Jacobean Routes

www.elcaminoconcorreos.com

 

[Teddie]

With your "constraints" and The Norte being not the most supported, I suggest ( and at this point in my life not something I would consider...maybe later ) that you rent a car and have a friend 'leap frog' ahead.
It sounds you are setting up for some hardship, frustration and disappointment, of which, if you accept these inevitables, they will be offset by the excellence of The Norte.

 

[trecile]

For the constraint 3, correos is only able to deliver following the "official" steps of the Camino Del Norte
Irun-> San Sebastian -> Zarautz -> Deba -> Markina -> Gernika -> Lezama-> Bilbao

I don't believe that's true. Correos shows most towns on the Norte as pick up and drop off points.

 

[Corned Beef]

Correos Paq Mochila will take your rucksack but check which accomodation they service.

Rucksack transfer on the Camino de Santiago

Correos transfers your rucksack, suitcase or luggage along the Camino de Santiago stage by stage

www.elcaminoconcorreos.com

Email is paqmochila@correos.com for any questions

 

[Jan Jones]

With your "constraints" and The Norte being not the most supported, I suggest ( and at this point in my life not something I would consider...maybe later ) that you rent a car and have a friend 'leap frog' ahead.
It sounds you are setting up for some hardship, frustration and disappointment, of which, if you accept these inevitables, they will be offset by the excellence of The Norte.

I don’t think the OP’s constraints are that limiting . I basically did the same when I walked the Norte in 2019, private rooms, Correos bag transfer and walking short days (I.e. less than 25kms , often less than 20). I walked alone and it was glorious. Check the link I posted above - you will find accommodation serviced by Correos in most towns .

 

[Patterson]

Dear Peligrinos,

I am Michael from Belgium.
I have a potential opportunity to do el Camino Del Norte in May from Irun to Bilbao.(constraint 1)
I have some health issues so i need
-to sleep in private room with private bath room (constraint 2)
-to have a system that will take my luggage from point A to point B ( constraint 3)
-For the constraint 3, correos is only able to deliver following the "official" steps of the Camino Del Norte
Irun-> San Sebastian -> Zarautz -> Deba -> Markina -> Gernika -> Lezama-> Bilbao
And so here is my constraint 4, i would like to divide the steps in less than 15 km and so find a lugagge transportation that can be customized for these shorter steps.
Is it possible?
Thanks in advance for your response.
Kind Regards,
Michael

Like you Michael, we had health constraints which governed our Camino del Norte adventure in 2023. We decided to stay an extra night in Hondaribbia (just out of Irun), so our Day 1 was 17.4k to the Passajes de San Juan where we caught the train (Herrera station) back to Irun, then bus to Hondaribbia. Day 2 we bussed and trained back to the Passajes and walked the 13.3k to San Sebastian. There are also two routes from Passajes de San Juan: either the staircase or to the left of the fountain on the waterfront is a yellow arrow on the upright of a road sign. This route takes you through the back streets of town; still a heart pounding road climb to the top of the staircase and obviously longer but easier on the knees. Similarly, we walked to Orio from San Sebastian, train back to SS that afternoon then next day train to Orio and on to Zumaia. Just took pressure off.
We booked accommodation until Bilbao before we left Australia.
No correos experience.
Am green with envy!
Buen Camino

 

[Corned Beef]

@Patterson makes a good point about using the train if you have a problem.

FEVE is the rail operator from Bilbao - but between Irun and Bilbao it is Euskotren

Network is here. Note that the station names may be in Basque.

Euskotren Trena - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Train times and ticketing is here

home | Euskotren

www.euskotren.eus

 

[Michaelcamino]

I walked the Norte in 2019 in shorter stages and using Correos for pack transfer. If you go to the Correos page click the accommodations link and then select the Norte you can search by locations , For example - search for Pasajes San Juan which is between Irún and San Sebastián and it shows two accommodations. Hope this helps.

Accommodations on the Camino de Santiago

Albergues, hostels and hotels on the main Jacobean Routes

www.elcaminoconcorreos.com

Thanks a lot for your replies this helps a lot.
Actually, the person in correos told me there is no pickup in Pasaia ( the name in Basque) but with your link it's better now. Need to use the castillan name
I let you know the outcome of this.I have also a more simple plan from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Irun.
I will see
Great community here.
Thank you again.

 

[Michaelcamino]

Thanks a lot for your replies this helps a lot.
Actually, the person in correos told me there is no pickup in Pasaia ( the name in Basque) but with your link it's better now. Need to use the castillan name
I let you know the outcome of this.I have also a more simple plan from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Irun.
I will see
Great community here.
Thank you again.

Back to you guys.
Actually, I have decide to do Bilbao=> Santander this spring.
Less ups and downs and slipping stones compare to Irun => Bilbao and more possibility to catch a bus in case of a body failure. For a first time, i need security
I am gonna book everything this week and have already started to walk peacefully every day betwen 1 and 2 hours to awake the walking tiger inside me
cheers,

 

[Jan Jones]

Back to you guys.
Actually, I have decide to do Bilbao=> Santander this spring.
Less ups and downs and slipping stones compare to Irun => Bilbao and more possibility to catch a bus in case of a body failure. For a first time, i need security
I am gonna book everything this week and have already started to walk peacefully every day betwen 1 and 2 hours to awake the walking tiger inside me
cheers,

I’m sure it will work for you. Buen Camino.

 

[Patterson]

Back to you guys.
Actually, I have decide to do Bilbao=> Santander this spring.
Less ups and downs and slipping stones compare to Irun => Bilbao and more possibility to catch a bus in case of a body failure. For a first time, i need security
I am gonna book everything this week and have already started to walk peacefully every day betwen 1 and 2 hours to awake the walking tiger inside me
cheers,

Good decision! Cantabria is beautiful. May I suggest getting the train to Portulagete from Bilbao?
We thoroughly enjoyed Pobena overnight, small untouched village. There had been a land slip so the route along the coast was closed however the alternative was well marked. The route may well be fixed now. BTW, we had some navigational 'challenges' from Castro Urdiales to Liendo going over the Pass just passed La Magdalena, Guriezo thru the eucalyptus forest down into Liendo.
Am even greener with envy now!
Buen Camino

 

[Michaelcamino]

I have not booked yet. I have a doctor appointment Thursday 22nd. Something in me would like to know the outcome of this appointment before pushing further.
go/no go?
Will buy my shoes and other goodies Tuesday the 20th. At least i will walk with better gear this year.
What ever camino.Will see.

 

[Pilgrim9]

Hoping your pilgrimage goes ahead in a successful and entirely fulfilling manner.

I spent a week or so exploring Bilbao and area on foot and by Métro. I really enjoyed my walks south along the riversides from the coast south-east to the centre of town (both sides of river, but obviously not on same day). I found the riverside industrial, shipbuilding, and port scenes fascinating but that might be because I enjoy urban/industrial explorations almost as much as getting out into nature; others' opinions about that might differ. In any event, should one start one's pilgrimage by walking along the riverside and then decide it is not to one's taste, one can simply jump on the Métro at many places and bypass it. There is a Métro line on both sides of the river.

Bilbao Métro route maps are here:

https://www.metrobilbao.eus/en/map-and-network-status

For those who elect to walk towards the coast along the east riverside (which IMO was a bit less gritty than the west riverside), the river can be crossed at Portugalette by means of the historical Vizcaya Transporter Bridge.

Vizcaya Bridge - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Michaelcamino]

OK doctor appointment gave me a bit of hope.
So i have booked my hotel/hostel/pensions
I will arrive in Bilbao Sunday 28th of April afternoon . Visit of Guggenheim Museum and eat some pintxos in Casco Viejo
Start Monday 29th of April