Help! How do I get to Madrid to St. Jean

[marclynnette]

I read some of the previous forums on how to get there, but now I received this email from EXPRESS BOURRICOT:

We don't do any more transport from pamplona to St Jean Pied de Port, cause of problems with the taxi there.
I can pick up you at San Sebastain airport (Spain) or Biarritz airport (France).

Does anyone have other ideas on how to get to the starting point? Should I just fly into France instead of Madrid?

Thanks - my first post!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

There is a bus almost daily from Pamplona to Roncesvalles. From there you will need to take a taxi. There has been a seasonal bus from Pamplona to SJPdP, but ALSA has not announced it for this year.

If you are not insistent on starting in SJPdP, you could start in Roncesvalles or Pamplona.

Pamplona Estación de Autobuses
(Jaurrieta-Pamplona) 18:00 Roncesvalles 19:10 LMXJVS ATIVAR, S.L. 6.00 €

 

[mralisn]

Hello,

Do you have the option of flying from Madrid to San Sebastian for pick-up? Where are you flying from? Maybe flying into Biarritz would be better. I've done both (EAS and BIQ) quite easily. If you fly into BIQ, you won't need the express transport. A simple bus ride to Bayonne and then train to SJPdP is a great way to arrive. What is your timeline and when? If you scroll down to posts from the beginning of summer, you'll find all kinds of information as well.

We're all here to help.

 

[crad80]

If you need to travel from Madrid to St. Jean Pied-de-Port, first take a train out of Madrid to Pamplona. Be aware that you'll arrive at that the main train station in Pamplona. There is a bus stop directly in front of the train station which will take you to the main bus terminal (it's about a 10-15 minute bus ride). From there you can take the bus that leaves daily from Pamplona to Roncesvalles (see the previous post above). Once in Roncesvalles, there's a taxi (like a big VW bus) that you can share with other pilgrims to SJPDP. You'll probably arrive sometime around 9-9:30 in the evening. Hope this helps and Buen Camino, C-rad

 

[hueppi]

I am flying into Pamplona as with Iberia that is nearly the same price as Madrid.

The Pamplona taxi service does offer transport to Sean Jean. But it is not cheap - 92 €.
Apparently they offer also shared taxis for pilgrims. Not sure if this works though.
http://www.taxipamplona.com/

 

[RENSHAW]

I should imagine the most difficult leg will be from Roncesvalles to St.JeanPDP - During May though to September there should be many pilgrims willing to share a taxi with you for this short leg. The 18h00 Bus option from Pamplona to Roncesvalles means that you will only arrive at St. Jean at 20h00 which means you need to have a booked bed for the night.
Roncesvalles has always been my first choice for a starting point ; easy to get to and missing out that first day over the Pyrenees which is the fundamental cause of so many pilgrims dropping out with injuries a few days later.