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Luggage transfer during Jan/Feb (French Way)

R

rtcunha

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
French Way starting in late Jan-23
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!
 
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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.
 
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LynnT, do you know a service from SJPDP that will transfer my luggage to Pamplona that is available in Jan?
 
rtcunha said:
Do you know a service from SJPDP that will transfer my luggage to Pamplona that is available in Jan?
Click to expand...
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 said:
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"
Click to expand...

@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.
 
Walking Tours of the Camino!
Join our full-service guided tour and let us convert you into a Pampered Pilgrim!
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/
 

@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.
 
rtcunha said:
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?
Click to expand...
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.
 
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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.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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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!
 
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.
 
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.
 
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St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
Mr_Ross_Duncan said:
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.
Click to expand...
You can also try to find a hotel in Madrid that will store your luggage.
Here's the thread
 

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