Lista de Correos

[markinwinter]

I will be starting a 10 day pilgrimage on the Camino de Frances starting in Leon on the 22nd of January. I am continuing from Santiago to Rome on Feb 1. I would like to mail my suitcase (a standard 22" carry on bag) from Leon to Santiago and pick it up when I arrive. I read in my guidebook that there is a Camino option called 'Lista de Correos' were packages can be sent to Camino cities or Santiago and held for up to 15 days. Has anyone used this and can you answer some questions?

1. How much does it cost, is it free?
2. Will the Correos (post office) be open on a Sunday in Leon, or what time might it open Monday AM (Jan 23)
3. Can I send a suitcase or does it need to be 'packaged'?

Thanks so much for your help. Best, Mark

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Helpful link here: http://www.casaivar.com/luggage-storage-in-santiago-de-compostela/

Casa Ivar is run by Ivar Rekve, the owner of this caminodesantiago.me forum.

The page above says "Ship your box/luggage from anywhere in Europe" but that really means the EU (not all countries in Europe are members of the EU.) Things can get really complicated (read "bad") if you ship from the outside the EU. Contact Ivar beforehand if you are thinking of doing that. To do that use page http://www.casaivar.com/luggage-storage-in-santiago-de-compostela/contact-me.html

 

[Saint Mike II]

I would recommend against attempting to transport your extra bag via the postal service from outside of Spain. We have had a number of posts from pilgrims who did this and then incurred the wrath of not only the Spanish Post / Corroes but also Spanish Customs. Even the bag contains your personal, used, property they still treat it as importing something into Spain and charge accordingly. I have used Ivar's services twice and found it quite OK. You can post your bag from Leon to Ivar in Santiago and he will hold it until you arrive. Yes there is a charge but it is quite reasonable (in my opinion). When you say your bag is a standard 22" (is that its length?). When I have sent bags (up to carry-on size) the post office provides (at cost) a flat pack cardboard box (you follow the instructions the erect it) and they can also sell packing tape. I forget the postal charge but again it was also quite reasonable. Go to the main post office in Leon and they will assist you.
If you are sending a bag from outside Spain there is a courier service that operates from St Jean Pied de Port and it charges around E70 for the transportation and holding in Santiago. This organisation operates a hostel in Santiago and if you use their courier service there is a reduction in charges if you stay with them in Santiago. Hope this helps.

 

[GettingThere]

I will be starting a 10 day pilgrimage on the Camino de Frances starting in Leon on the 22nd of January. I am continuing from Santiago to Rome on Feb 1. I would like to mail my suitcase (a standard 22" carry on bag) from Leon to Santiago and pick it up when I arrive. I read in my guidebook that there is a Camino option called 'Lista de Correos' were packages can be sent to Camino cities or Santiago and held for up to 15 days. Has anyone used this and can you answer some questions?

1. How much does it cost, is it free?
2. Will the Correos (post office) be open on a Sunday in Leon, or what time might it open Monday AM (Jan 23)
3. Can I send a suitcase or does it need to be 'packaged'?

Thanks so much for your help. Best, Mark

Hi @markinwinter - I think the Camino-related service you may have heard of is this one, called Paq Peregrino: http://www.elcaminoconcorreos.com/en/envio-maletas.php

Please note this is not the same as Lista de Correos (which is the poste restante/general delivery service) although it works in a similar way. It is also different from the Correos Paq Mochila service, which provides day-by-day transport of your backpack between accommodation stops along the Camino. They call this one Paq Peregrino, and as you'll see on the site it is for transport of luggage from one post office to another (eg Leon-Santiago) where they will store it free for 15 days and for 1 Euro per day thereafter for as long as you need. You would organise it by taking your suitcase into a post office in Leon. As far as I know they will take your suitcase without the need for further packaging. The fees for the actual transfer are listed on the site and seem quite reasonable.

Alternatively as others have recommended, you can send your suitcase by post from Leon to Santiago to Ivar's storage service which always receives very good reviews here on the Forum. Or use one of the day-by-day transport services like the abovementioned Paq Mochila from Correos, or Jacotrans, Caminofacil or others.

Buen Camino - I hope you have a wonderful winter Camino experience!