going the Valcarlos route Apr 1st

[gypsywind]

well, Pilgrims, I have decided I have to commit to the Valcarlos route. Though I am going to flow once I get my flow going, I can't find out about Orrison until Apr. 1st, as per their email. Sooo, I do want to have my 1st few days planned, so I am going to Book into Valcarlos the 1st night. It is my understanding that is a gentler jumping off route, am I correct? and any ideas for Roncevalles stay? I am a bit concerned about my budget, am I looking at the wrong places? The 2 places I looked at in V, are about 40eu per night, I thought I was going to be paying 10ish. Any corrections for my directions from you Camino Veterans?

Best Regards, Shannon

 

[Mark Lee]

On my first Camino (July-August) I walked the ValCarlos route to Roncesvalles the first day. At the time I didn't know there were two routes. I didn't have a guidebook when I got to St Jean and I had never researched the Camino on a forum. So when I stepped off in the morning I ended up on that route with only about 5-6 other pilgrims I saw all day until I reached Roncesvalles at about 4:00 pm. About 1/2 way one of the other pilgrims informed me there were two routes and also that I had entered Spain. Cool.
Anyway, no regrets and it is a beautiful route as well (check out my photos on here, I have some from that day).
There are threads on here about the route:
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/valcarlos-route.4750/
And check this out as well. Looks like there is an albergue there:
http://www.gronze.com/navarra/valcarlos
cheers

 

[GettingThere]

well, Pilgrims, I have decided I have to commit to the Valcarlos route. Though I am going to flow once I get my flow going, I can't find out about Orrison until Apr. 1st, as per their email. Sooo, I do want to have my 1st few days planned, so I am going to Book into Valcarlos the 1st night. It is my understanding that is a gentler jumping off route, am I correct? and any ideas for Roncevalles stay? I am a bit concerned about my budget, am I looking at the wrong places? The 2 places I looked at in V, are about 40eu per night, I thought I was going to be paying 10ish. Any corrections for my directions from you Camino Veterans?

Best Regards, Shannon

Hi Shannon
The 40 Euro you have been quoted would be about average for the small hotels/pensions along the Camino Frances (ie private rooms,), so I imagine that you have been looking at a couple of those sort of places in Valcarlos. The 10-ish Euro you have heard about would be for albergues (with dormitories and bunk beds). There is a municipal albergue in Valcarlos which is about 10 Euro I think. Not sure if it accepts reservations, others on the Forum will know although this info suggests it does: http://www.gronze.com/navarra/valcarlos/albergue-municipal-valcarlos

For Roncesvalles there is the albergue (which does accept bookings) or 3 hotels which would be more expensive. More info here: http://www.gronze.com/navarra/roncesvalles

Buen camino!

 

[gypsywind]

Hi Shannon
The 40 Euro you have been quoted would be about average for the small hotels/pensions along the Camino Frances (ie private rooms,), so I imagine that you have been looking at a couple of those sort of places in Valcarlos. The 10-ish Euro you have heard about would be for albergues (with dormitories and bunk beds). There is a municipal albergue in Valcarlos which is about 10 Euro I think. Not sure if it accepts reservations, others on the Forum will know although this info suggests it does: http://www.gronze.com/navarra/valcarlos/albergue-municipal-valcarlos

For Roncesvalles there is the albergue (which does accept bookings) or 3 hotels which would be more expensive. More info here: http://www.gronze.com/navarra/roncesvalles

Buen camino!

Thanks for that, I am saving my pennies for the end of the trip, I plan on doing a nice place in Santiago, and maybe midway, but certainly not the 1st day out!
Thanks Again !

 

[mspath]

The Valcarlos municipal albergue does accept reservations. You can write to
Luzaide-Valcarlos@wanadoo.es

Buen camino!

 

[Deleted member 43985]

You're right, by going Valcarlos Route it is an easier first day when you overnight in Valcarlos (only 13kms +/- and pretty flat). Shortly after you leave SJPDP you can cross the river and take a very quiet country road all the way up to Arneguy and then cross the road (and river again) and take another quiet road to Valcarlos. The only downside of the second alternate route is the steep climb out of the river valley up to the Albergue at the very end of your day! The municipal albergue @mspath noted above has a nice little kitchen and there is a good grocery store a short walk away so you can well save your pennies by cooking yourself dinner that night! Buen Camino!

 

[Deleted member 36903]

For your 10 euros at the Valcarlos albergue you also get a private locker, and a breakfast left by the hospitalero. It is continental style, bread, jam, small cakes, enough to pack in your backpack if you want to rush off in the morning but do fill your water bottle. Buen Camino!

 

[wayfarer]

The Valcarlos route is a lovely route, we got to Valcarlos at 11.10 but decided it was too early to stop so we pushed on to Roncevalles. It gets a bit steep after leaving Valcarlos but not too bad. I would also suggest staying on the road from there on and not using the trail that leaves the road to the left, this can be very muddy and is very steep to climb back up to the road, it avoids the long sweeping bends in the road but is very hard going early in the year. You might save a kilometre or two by using it but the road is easier IMO.
Buen Camino.

 

[good_old_shoes]

Hey Shannon,

The Valcarlos albergue is great! Highly recommend it! If you don't get there too late, you shouldn't even need to make a reservation - I stayed there last year around the same time, only a few days earlier. It was beginning of Spanish easter holidays and the Napoleon route was closed, so almost everyone walked via Valcarlos, but it still was no problem getting a bed without reservation.
For entering the albergue you need a key code, which you can get in the bar across the street. The hospitalera will come in the evening to collect the money and stamp your credencial.

In Roncesvalles there is a huge albergue. I don't know whether they accept reservations or not, but even if not, don't worry, there will be a bed for you. Both the Valcarlos and Roncesvalles albergue are 10 Euros per night, if I recall correctly. During the time you're walking, reservation should not be necessary. And if you do a bit of planning, you won't have to spend more than 10Euros per night anywhere, apart from Santiago, maybe.

Also, if you're not the kind of person who stumbles and falls a lot, I'd recommend to take the path through the woods after Valcarlos. It was muddy when I got there, but I was still able to walk in sandals most of the time. And if you might be worried about getting lost in the wilderness - no need to be, the road is always quite close.

In case of snow, the road is probably the better option, though.

Buen Camino!