CF from SJPdP in the winter

[tominrm]

I am trying to help a friend of mine who wants to start from SJPDP in late January. I believe Napoleon Route is closed for the winter.
Questions:
1. He will arrive in Madrid Airport( Barajas). In the summer I think I saw buses at the airport that goes to SJPdP. Is there such bus in late January? If not, what would be the best way to go to SJPdP from Barajas?
2. Is the tourist office in SJPdP open all year? He needs to buy a credential and ask about the route conditions.
3. Is it permitted to use Napoleon route if the weather / conditions is favorable?
4. What about Valcarlos route? Is it normally open all year unless the weather is bad?

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Hi, Tom.

1. Madrid to Pamplona via flight, bus , or train. Taxi or bus to SJPdP.

2. Yes. Additionally, a Credencial may also be purchased through the Forum's store.

3. No, and heck no.

4. Yes.

 

[Bradypus]

The Route Napoleon is closed by local Spanish law until 31st March. No matter what the weather conditions may appear to be on any given day. The SJPDP pilgrim office is open every day and will provide a credencial and lots of useful information about routes, albergues and so on. I believe that the bus service from Pamplona to SJPDP is a seasonal one and I do not not think it operates in mid-winter. The Valcarlos route remains open all year round though in heavy snow it may be necessary to walk along the road rather than use the off-road paths. This is a fairly busy route linking Basque communities either side of the border and is usually well-cleared and maintained even in difficult weather.

 

[mspath]

Do check out the helpful posts and links in this earlier recent thread re Walking in Winter.
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...o-pamplona-via-roncesvalles-in-1-24-19.59644/

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

The Alsa/Conda bus from Pamplona to SJPdP does not run in the winter. That is probably the connection used by the Madrid/SJPdP bus. From Pamplona a taxi to SJ would be about 100 euros. The bus line Artieda Autocares has Mon-Sat service to Roncevalles (except on holidays.) PLM Autocares has non-holiday Tues and Fri service to Valcarlos and Arneguy. Start the camino from there or walk the camino in reverse into SJPdP and then walk it back the next day.

Use these pages for official information on the Pamplona to Roncevalles route:
Webpage description of services (Spanish):
http://www.autocaresartieda.com/?scc=roncesvalles
Four page PDF with schedule (Spanish):
http://www.autocaresartieda.com/Pamplona_Roncesvalles_Pamplona.pdf

The PLM homepage and the Pamplona to Arnéguy schedule are at:
PLM homepage: https://plmautocares.com/
Webpage with schedule: https://www.plmautocares.com/horarios/

I THINK this could work also:

From San Sebastian town take train to Bayonne and another to SJPdP
From San Sebastian airport in Hondarribia (runway in river) walk or taxi the short distance across the river to Hendaye, France and take train to Bayonne and another to SJPdP.

https://www.4umaps.com/topomaps/preview/27552597_Hondarribia_M.jpg

 

[RJM]

Perhaps your friend could fly from Madrid to Biarritz/Bayonne and take the train or bus from there down to Saint Jean Pied de Port.
Having walked the Valcarlos route before I can say it is quite lovely, but one does have to use due caution on the portions where one walks along the highway. Be very mindful and alert.
If one does not want to walk all the way to Roncesvalles that first day, the albergue at Valcarlos is nice, and there are places to eat in Valcarlos as well as a grocer's shoppe.

 

[Priscilla NC]

I've been trying to search: when does Alsa resume bus service from Pamplona to SJPdP?

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I've been trying to search: when does Alsa resume bus service from Pamplona to SJPdP?

It is likely the first week of March. 14:30. April should bring in an additional 17:30 bus.

The 2018 schedule was posted here: http://www.saintjeanpieddeport-pays.../17030/file/MAJ COMPOSTELLE-2018 FRANCAIS.pdf

I haven't found the 2019 schedule yet.

 

[Priscilla NC]

Thanks, Rick. That might be why I couldn't find anything online about April 2019 schedules. When I walked the CF in 2016 I used the services of Corazon Pura (of blessed memory) to get me to SJPdP. I'm going in April again -- I won't worry now.