Getting to SJPDP

[JerseyWalker]

I am planning to walk from SJPDP to Leon staring in late April. Any suggestions on getting to SJPDP from Madrid? Also, how far should we walk the first day? Should we make reservations? And finally, what kind of weather should we expect?
Thank you!

 

[Tincatinker]

Try here: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/traveling-to-from-the-camino.19/ for all the information & variants.

And here: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/the-camino-does-not-start-in-stjpdp-discuss.64450/ for why you may choose not to start in StJdP

 

[Anniesantiago]

When you fly into Madrid, you can walk right out of the terminal and onto a bus to SJPP.
You can do the same for a bus to Pamplona, then catch a bus to SJPP from there.
www.movelia.es is a good website to check the bus schedules from the airport.

Remember, when putting in the date to put it in Day/Month/Year

 

[Donjek]

Renfe Cercanias from Madrid Airport to Chamartin station. Renfe Train from Madrid Chamartin to Irun/Hendaye.

Alternatively take ALSA bus from Madrid airport or Avenida de America to San Sebastian. San Sebastian Renfe and bus station are the same location. Then Renfe Cercanias from San Sebastian to Irun.

If your train terminates in Irun Renfe station, take Metro Donostealdea from Irun Colon to Gare d'Hendaye.

Take SNCF train from Hendaye to Bayonne.

SNCF train from Bayonne to SJPdP.

You can make this faster by taking a flight from Madrid to San Sebastian EAS. EAS is 3 km from Gare d'Hendaye.

Or take a flight from Madrid to Biarritz BIQ. Local Chronoplus bus from BIQ to Gare Bayonne.

 

[Donjek]

There are limited options for walking from SJPdP. There are but two small albergues between SJPdP and Roncesvalles on the Route Napoleon. If you can get a bed at either it is worth trying to shorten that first day because SJPdP to Roncesvalle is a long day for tenderfoot pilgrims.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Remember, when putting in the date to put it in Day/Month/Year

And the Spanish calendar week runs from Monday to Sunday. You might goof by making a booking for what you may think is the first Sunday of the month only to find out it is Monday. I goofed like this but luckily noticed the mistake in time to fix things up when it was easy and relatively cheap.

 

[BROWNCOUNTYBOB]

My wife and I have walked CF three times, the first two we flew from the US to Madrid, spent one night there to conquer jetlag, took a train from the Atocha train station to Pamplona, spent a night there, then a bus to St jean. The bus leaves around 10 am and with a stop in Roncesvalles, arrives in St jean around 11:30. We scramble up the steep hill to the Pilgrim's office to get our first stamp (it closes at noon, then reopens again in the afternoon).

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

The bus leaves around 10 am and with a stop in Roncesvalles, arrives in St jean around 11:30.

There are from 0 to 4 buses daily depending on the time of year.

Roughly the ALSA/CONDA schedule has been:

Jan No service
Feb No service
Mar 14:30
Apr 14:30 17:30
May 14:30 17:30
Jun 10:00 14:30 17:30
Jul 10:00 12:00 14:30 17:30
Aug 10:00 12:00 14:30 17:30
Sep 10:00 14:30 17:30
Oct 14:30 17:30
Nov No service
Dec No service

There is year-round (almost daily) service from Pamplona to Roncesvalles on Autocares Artieda. Also,
PLM Autocares has year-round twice-weekly service for Pamplona to Valcarlos and Pekotxeta (essentially Arneguy, France).

Autocares Artieda Pamplona y Navarra alquiler autobuses

Autobuses Pamplona y Navarra, alquiler autobuses y microbuses. Servicios de transporte discrecional, laboral, escolar, universitario, turístico, adaptado, vip en Pamplona y Navarra.

www.autocaresartieda.com

Horarios - PLM Autocares

Consulta todos los horarios que te ofrecemos en PLM Autocares entre Madrid - Logroño y Pamplona.

www.plmautocares.com