Luggage transfer during Jan/Feb (French Way)

[rtcunha]

Hi all and happy new year!

I'm struggling to find an answer to my question(s) as it seems that information about doing the French Way in Jan/Feb of 2023 (i.e. Winter season).

Context:
- I live in Australia and I'm planning to start El Camino from Saint Jean Pied de Port on the 23rd of Jan, 2023;
- As I'll be traveling to Brazil after finishing the peregrination, I'll have a second bag that I would like to dispatch to Santiago to wait in storage
- I'm fine to carry my backpack all the way (if services are not available), just need to sort this second bag

Questions:
- Most of the services that have online information seem to not be operating before March (i.e. low season). Is this real or are just the online operations that are not available? Are there luggage services that operate normally off-season?
- My other option is to fly to Santiago, find storage there, and then go to St Jean Pied de Port - but this seems to be a challenge too as it would take 2 or 3 days just to arrive there (currently considering train to Pamplona then bus to SJPDP). Seems like that transport from Pamplona to SJPDP is quite limited off-season too - is this true?

Any ideas from people that did the French Way during the Winter season and had to deal with luggage to help me with my crux here?

Also, I understand the challenges of doing it during the winter, but this is the only time that I'll be able to, so I'll need to adapt and deal with the adversities.

Thank you all and any support is appreciated!

 

[J Willhaus]

Check Express Bouricott. They will transport luggage to Santiago. Not sure about winter services. I don't see anything specifically about that just looking at the site quickly. We used them to taxi from Biarritz to SJPDP IN 2016.

Transport de bagages et personnes Saint Jacques de Compostelle - Napoléon

Transport de personnes, de bagages et randonnées autour du chemin de St Jacques Découvrez nos offres de dernières minutes !

www.expressbourricot.com

 

[LynnT]

Send your suitcase to Santiago at the post office in Pamplona. Pick it up when you arrive:

Paq Peregrino: Your luggage awaits you at the end of the Camino

With Paq Peregrino you can send your suitcases or backpacks to the post office in Santiago or your destination and pick them up on arrival

www.elcaminoconcorreos.com

Or send your suitcase to Ivar in Santiago.

 

[rtcunha]

Send your suitcase to Santiago at the post office in Pamplona. Pick it up when you arrive:

Paq Peregrino: Your luggage awaits you at the end of the Camino

With Paq Peregrino you can send your suitcases or backpacks to the post office in Santiago or your destination and pick them up on arrival

www.elcaminoconcorreos.com

Or send your suitcase to Ivar in Santiago.

LynnT, do you know a service from SJPDP that will transfer my luggage to Pamplona that is available in Jan?

 

[truenorthpilgrim]

Do you know a service from SJPDP that will transfer my luggage to Pamplona that is available in Jan?

Contact Jacotrans transfer your baggage until you arrive in Pamplona. I entered in a late January date on the website, and a pop-up window stated "From November 1 to February 28, reservations will have to be made through the email info@jacotrans.es"

 

[rtcunha]

Contact Jacotrans transfer your baggage until you arrive in Pamplona. I entered in a late January date on the website, and a pop-up window stated "From November 1 to February 28, reservations will have to be made through the email info@jacotrans.es"

@truenorthpilgrim unfortunately they are not available. I messaged them and they can provide quotes from Feb and services from March - so couldn't find anything so far for Jan.

I'm losing hope that I'll find a luggage transfer service in Jan, I think that my only option will be to fly to Santiago, leave it in storage there and then travel to SJPDP.

Thank you for your suggestion, thou.

 

[trecile]

@truenorthpilgrim unfortunately they are not available. I messaged them and they can provide quotes from Feb and services from March - so couldn't find anything so far for Jan.

I'm losing hope that I'll find a luggage transfer service in Jan, I think that my only option will be to fly to Santiago, leave it in storage there and then travel to SJPDP.

Thank you for your suggestion, thou.

Where is your first stop in Europe? If you will be anywhere in Spain before traveling to SJPdP you can mail your suitcase via Correos. I have mailed a small suitcase within Spain with Correos and had no issues. Have you thought of starting your Camino in Pamplona?
You could also try mailing to Casa Ivar from SJPdP. Here's a thread with information: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...-suitcase-how-do-i-ship-it-to-santiago.45855/

 

[rtcunha]

Where is your first stop in Europe? If you will be anywhere in Spain before traveling to SJPdP you can mail your suitcase via Correos. I have mailed a small suitcase within Spain with Correos and had no issues. Have you thought of starting your Camino in Pamplona?
You could also try mailing from SJPdP.

@trecile I'm trying to define my start based on this. I haven't considered the idea of landing in Pamplona, sending the luggage, and then traveling to SJPdP. It's a good idea, thank you!

The option of sending from SJPdP directly would be the perfect option (so I could fly directly there), but I couldn't find any service that would offer this service in Jan (off-season). Are you aware of any?

Thank you for the idea, might be a good one to consider.

 

[trecile]

The option of sending from SJPdP directly would be the perfect option (so I could fly directly there), but I couldn't find any service that would offer this service in Jan (off-season). Are you aware of any?

No, you can't fly to SJPdP.
Have you not purchased your plane tickets yet?

If not, fly to Madrid, train or bus to Pamplona, then taxi to SJPdP. While in either Madrid or Pamplona mail your suitcase - but make sure that you are there on a weekday, not a weekend! You can mail a suitcase to either Casa Ivar, or have it held at the main post office in Santiago. If you are having the luggage held at the post office you need to make sure to let them know how long you need luggage storage, and pre-pay for that.

 

[truenorthpilgrim]

@truenorthpilgrim unfortunately they are not available. I messaged them and they can provide quotes from Feb and services from March - so couldn't find anything so far for Jan.

I'm losing hope that I'll find a luggage transfer service in Jan, I think that my only option will be to fly to Santiago, leave it in storage there and then travel to SJPDP.

Thank you for your suggestion, thou.

I plan on hanging out in the EU after my camino and had a similar issue when planning my logistics. On my previous caminos, I've always flown into Paris, then taken a train to Bayonne and departed from SJPdP. This time I decided to bend a little and depart from Roncesvalles, in large part due the luggage conundrum; I just don't want to hassle with multiple transfers of my luggage. I've started from SJPdP twice, so I don't feel as if I'm missing out on an experience.

I'm planning on flying into Madrid or Barcelona and hanging out a few days to shake off jet lag and ship my suitcase to Casa Ivar. I'll hop on the train to Pamplona, then bus to Roncesvalles et voila. Perhaps you could take a taxi from Pamplona to SJPdP?

Buen Camino.

 

[J Willhaus]

Did you contact Express Bouricott?

 

[trecile]

Did you contact Express Bouricott?

Their service doesn't start until March 14th

Luggage transport to Santiago de Compostela | Backpacks transport on the Way of St James

Backpacks & luggage transport on the Way of Saint James, Jakobsweg, Camino de Santiago From St Jean Pied De Port to Roncesvalles or directly to Santiago

www.expressbourricot.com

 

[rtcunha]

No, you can't fly to SJPdP.
Have you not purchased your plane tickets yet?

If not, fly to Madrid, train or bus to Pamplona, then taxi to SJPdP. While in either Madrid or Pamplona mail your suitcase - but make sure that you are there on a weekday, not a weekend! You can mail a suitcase to either Casa Ivar, or have it held at the main post office in Santiago. If you are having the luggage held at the post office you need to make sure to let them know how long you need luggage storage, and pre-pay for that.

I haven't purchased the tickets exactly because of the luggage question, but I'm doing that today/tomorrow.

I think that the best option will be as you suggested:

• fly to Pamplona and make sure that I'm there on a weekday
• send the bags to Casa Ivar (as it'll give me more flexibility on dates) via correos.es Pilgrim Paq service
• get a taxi from Pamplona to SJPdP and start the walk from there

Appreciate everyone's suggestions and feedback, it really helped me to find an option and decide with confidence!

Thank you!

 

[Mr_Ross_Duncan]

Hi, I've had similar issues where I've flown into the E.U from Australia with the intention of staying on long after the Camino walk I'm doing has finished.
My baggage solution, while not ideal, it at least works.
I will fly into a major city, Madrid works for the Camino Frances, leave my second bag there, I've used Nannybag a few times, make your way to St Jean, walk to Santiago and catch the train back to Madrid.

 

[Sam - AU]

Hi, I transferred a small suitcase from SJPP to Santiago in winter. I started a thread in this forum containing all the information for future pilgrims trying to do the same thing.
Do a forum search for
“Suitcase Transportation and Storage from SJPP to Santiago - Winter Caminos”
and you should find it and all the information there.

 

[trecile]

I will fly into a major city, Madrid works for the Camino Frances, leave my second bag there, I've used Nannybag a few times, make your way to St Jean, walk to Santiago and catch the train back to Madrid.

You can also try to find a hotel in Madrid that will store your luggage.

Hi, I transferred a small suitcase from SJPP to Santiago in winter. I started a thread in this forum containing all the information for future pilgrims trying to do the same thing.
Do a forum search for
“Suitcase Transportation and Storage from SJPP to Santiago - Winter Caminos”
and you should find it and all the information there.

Here's the thread

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/suitcase-transportation-and-storage-from-sjpp-to-santiago-winter-caminos.65067/

 

[rtcunha]

Hi, I transferred a small suitcase from SJPP to Santiago in winter. I started a thread in this forum containing all the information for future pilgrims trying to do the same thing.
Do a forum search for
“Suitcase Transportation and Storage from SJPP to Santiago - Winter Caminos”
and you should find it and all the information there.

Thank you @Sam - AU !

I just saw your post, for some reason the search query that I used didn't retrieve it on my search!

Your option 1 is what I am doing now, tickets booked, I'll arrive in Pamplona on the 20th of Jan (Friday), send the bags to Casa Ivar, and go to SJPdP from there (weather dependent).

Your option 2 is not available this year. I contacted them and they will not be operating until March, unfortunately. That would save me a potentially expensive taxi from Pamplona to SJPdP...

 

[Chingona]

@truenorthpilgrim unfortunately they are not available. I messaged them and they can provide quotes from Feb and services from March - so couldn't find anything so far for Jan.

I'm losing hope that I'll find a luggage transfer service in Jan, I think that my only option will be to fly to Santiago, leave it in storage there and then travel to SJPDP.

Thank you for your suggestion, thou.

Ask Ivar! Some people have suggested sending on things to him.