If unable to walk each day

[Guemes]

I’m planning 14 days of Camino de Santiago from St Jean to Burgos. I’d like my husband to be able to join me but he would not be able to walk the long distances. He would be happy visiting while waiting for me to arrive each day. Any suggestions for transportation?

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

Welcome to the Forum, Guemes,

There are usually taxis available but one thing that most do not consider is riding with the delivery guys who transfer backpacks from one albergue to the next. It is usually cheaper too as these guys have quite a system set up across the country, at least for the Camino Frances. Not sure of the other Caminos and their infrastructure. Just look up Camino Bag Transfer and I am certain that everything needed will be there.

 

[MichaelC]

Welcome to the Forum, Guemes,

There are usually taxis available but one thing that most do not consider is riding with the delivery guys who transfer backpacks from one albergue to the next. It is usually cheaper too as these guys have quite a system set up across the country, at least for the Camino Frances. Not sure of the other Caminos and their infrastructure. Just look up Camino Bag Transfer and I am certain that everything needed will be there.

I wonder if this is still possible? I never tried, but I met one woman who wasn’t able to ride with them when she asked, from Roncesvalles to Zubiri.

 

[StFina]

I was on the CF from St. Jean to Burgos this past June, and had the same problem. One of our group was unable to walk. We asked the drivers from both Jacotrans and Camino Facil, the backpack transport people whether they could also take the one person in our group. Both refused, saying that they are not permitted to do so by the company. We therefore used a combination of taxis and public transport to send the individual forward. Taxis were relatively inexpensive, about 8 to 10
Euros per segment. As a plus, some of the group sent their backpacks along in the taxi to save on money. We dd find some very good bus service from Belorado to Burgos, only about one Euro for the trip. I am sure there are others to be had as well if you research and ask. Buen Camino - Steve

 

[t2andreo]

Download the ALSA app for your smartphone. ALSA has most of the bus services between cities, with stops in most towns along the Camino Frances. When you come to a town, ask at a bar / cafe WHERE the ALSA bus stops. There might only be one bus per day. The bus is far less expensive than taxis.

However, taxis are sometimes more practical for shorter, or more direct distances. AS others may have stated, the going rate is about one euro per kilometer.

Other bus services with contracts for maintaining links between Spanish towns along the Camino include, but are not limited to:

Generally: http://www.monbus.es/es/empresa/nosotros

Cities, like Leon and Burgo also have local, metropolitan bus lines. Some pilgrims use these services to skip the industrial belts around these large cities. This is a viable means to "leap-frog" some 1/2 to one day's walking on either side of a city, skipping the bits that many folks consider soul-sapping and dreary...

In Castilla y Leon: http://www.horario-autobuses.com/bus/horarios-autobuses/castilla-y-leon

In Burgos (city environs): http://www.aytoburgos.es/movilidad-y-transporte/mapa-lineas-autobus

In Galicia: http://www.empresafreire.com/html/ingles/seccion0.php

Navarra and in the West: http://laestellesa.com/es/rutas-regulares

Some of these services and companies may also have smart phone apps.

I hope this helps.

 

[trecile]

I have a friend who walked the entire Camino Frances whose husband also wasn't able to walk it. He would spend a few days in the major towns, and they would meet up every four to six days or so.

 

[PilgrimPillar]

I’m planning 14 days of Camino de Santiago from St Jean to Burgos. I’d like my husband to be able to join me but he would not be able to walk the long distances. He would be happy visiting while waiting for me to arrive each day. Any suggestions for transportation?

My humble advice...?...

....talk through with your spouse the alternative the he walks HIS distance and jump forward to meet up with either bus and/or taxi .

It will give you both experiences that differs but also bring you more together. EVERYONE can walk in control of ones own distance/speed....that is the camino in a nutshell....

Just do it!

Bo Camino

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

I wonder if this is still possible? I never tried, but I met one woman who wasn’t able to ride with them when she asked, from Roncesvalles to Zubiri.

Hi MichaelC,

May be on a case by case basis as I had a walking friend who did use the transfer service as she was not able to walk that same circuit. I met her in Zubiri later that day.

 

[mark connolly]

You can take buses from St Jean to Pamplona via ALSA. Just remember there are no buses on Sunday and it may have a limited schedule during the winter season. In fact, last year after I walked from St Jean to Roncesvalles, I was out of it both physically and mentally, so I was going to take a bus from Roncesvalles to Pamplona to catch up on some rest and continue my camino. Lo and be hold there were no buses because it was Sunday, so I hitch-hiked to Pamplona (that may also be an option). As some one mentioned above Express Bourricot goes from St Jean to Roncesvalles and ALSA goes from St Jean to Pamplona. From Pomplona to Burgos, I don't know, you may want to check with the websites recommend above. However, never under estimate the power of the Hospitalero! They know some one (meaning their "friend", "some guy", "brother", "brother-in-law", or let alone themselves) who can arrange transportation for you.

Good luck.
Buen Camino.

Mark

 

[t2andreo]

I just had a thought. Has anyone else ever bummed a ride from the mochila transport services. I have.

On one occasion on a snowy, cold, and windy day in 2016, I simply had no more "gitty up" in my legs. I waved down a fellow and convinced him to take me to the next stop. In thanks, I paid him like double the going taxi fare. I KNOW this was likely illegal...but only if you get caught.

My question goes to this, Express Bourricot (SJPdP) carries BOTH passengers and luggage. That is among the services they offer. Does anyone know if the various mochila transport services offer a similar service just between daily Camino stopped points?

Just wondering if a tag-along spouse or friend transport link can be established using this capability? If not, it would be a good idea...

 

[simeon]

Would he fit in a bag??

 

[Margaret Butterworth]

Re using baggage transportation services: when I left Boadilla for Fromista, a German girl with a foot problem was waiting for a lift with Camino Facil, at the recommendation of the hospitalera - so this is clearly possible in some places, but maybe cannot always be relied on. Also, I noticed this year that Rome2Rio, whilst being a very useful site for checking transport options, does not and cannot list everything, esp. local bus services. The latter are of course intended for the local people, who want to go INTO cities in the morning for shopping etc. and OUT of cities in the afternoon (which may not always be what pilgrims want to do).

 

[oursonpolaire]

In villages without much bus service, or none at all, locals use taxis to get into the city for appointments, etc, or to the next village, or even to get children to school. The hospitalero or barkeep will happily arrange it. Some buses services are run by the province, and are hard to find on the internet, but times are generally posted by the bus stop ("parada"), or will be known by barkeeps or shopkeepers. My experience is that they are often early in the morning.

 

[David]

Why not rent a small car?

 

[JohnCP43]

Another not discussed is for the non walker to rent a car. In the morning the walkers and non walker agree to meet at point X - usually where the camino and a highway cross. This may impact eligibility for use of some facilities for sleep but can expand reach for lodging further off the camino itself. It also gives the nonwalker the freedom & opportunity to explore other sites further off the camino & bus routes rather than sitting somewhere waiting for the walkers to catch up. Hauling luggage, etc is also easier. Granted it's not the cheapest option but may make everyone's camino experience more enjoyable. (and no, that's not my car behind me and my cafe con leche y saccharina in my avatar !)

 

[gloria lowe]

Most places you stay will have cards with names and # of taxi drivers. I got into the habit of taking a picture of cab #s anywhere I saw them, poles, walls or fences. They were everywhere. I never knew when I just might need one that day and just going to my last taxi picture I knew I would have a local one. Then every couple of days deleted the old pics.