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I don't have personal experience but was recently talking to a friend who said when she walked the Camino she inadvertently arrived in Pamplona during San Fernin. It was a bit of a nightmare. Drunken noisy crowds. Some kindly people steered her through to the muni albergue and she got a bed there - they did not take bookings and all beds were reserved for walking pilgrims. It was about six years ago so don't know if the situation with regard to the public albergues remains the same. I have stayed a few times at the albergue in Trinidad de Arre (immediately to the right of the bridge as you enter Trinidad) which is only about 5 km before Pamplona - might be worth checking in there instead of going on to Pamplona
I am afraid to say that weekend and the second go round in September is a drunken mosh pit for more than 5 days. There are more broken bottle and puke than bulls running in the streets. But then for each his own. This time of year you can find a lot more interesting places with bull fights and local celebration of bulls running in the street. i.e., Puenta la Reina, Sahagun for example.
Reminds me of an early morning experience I had leaving Logrono on a Saturday morning as the bars were closing around 6am. I was obviously a pilgrim with my backpack and these young Spanish punks were abusing me because they thought I was Dutch, I told them I was French just to say my life. Their hatred for what the Orange did to the Spanish team in the World Cup is still alive and the fact that I'm really an American would have probably gotten me beaten up.Sounds like if I was to stay in Pamplona that night that the walk out the next morning would be an eye-opening experience.
I remember in 2012, if I ended up staying in even a moderately-sized town on a weekend night, revellers and clubbers were still making their way home the following morning as I was beginning my walking day. It made for some 'interesting' encounters with people who might best be described as "tired and emotional"!
Reminds me of an early morning experience I had leaving Logrono on a Saturday morning as the bars were closing around 6am. I was obviously a pilgrim with my backpack and these young Spanish punks were abusing me because they thought I was Dutch, I told them I was French just to say my life. Their hatred for what the Orange did to the Spanish team in the World Cup is still alive and the fact that I'm really an American would have probably gotten me beaten up.
Albergue Jesus y Maria:
Disponibilidad del albergue: Todo el año salvo Sanfermines (5 al 14 de julio incluidos), y durante las Navidades.
At the moment Jesus y Maria is closed to everyone during Sanfermines, so its 114 beds are not available to anyone. I made the enormous error of scheduling a flight departing Pamplona early on the first day of the festival. The least expensive bed I could find was in a college dormitory near the airport at over 100E per night. It was packed, and generated more revenue that week than it does the entire rest of the year!
Remember that the Camino is blocked for the actual running of the bulls, so you cannot get through the city before about 9 a.m. After the fences are taken down, it is merely impassible because of crowds, drunks, and vomit. It is a religious event, so don't forget the real parades and ceremonies that will impact the crowds. The Capilla de San Fermin is on Calle Mayor, pretty much on the Camino. Many festivities launch from its locale.
Cizur Menor will be almost full at its opening bell at noon, so don't plan on a bed for an arrival after about 2 p.m. Quite frankly, in my opinion, Sanfermines is a bigger pain than the descent from the Iron Cross...
Sadly there are not that many places to stay in Zariquiegui and it is accessible to cars so I suspect finding a bed there is going to be a bit of a problem since it is very close to Pamplona.
Places in both Zariqueigui and Uterga take reservations. While we're talking about blasphemy PM me for suggested ad hoc camping spots!
Places in both Zariqueigui and Uterga take reservations. While we're talking about blasphemy PM me for suggested ad hoc camping spots!
I'm going to be starting the Camino Frances from St Jean on July 3 this year, and expect to reach Pamplona on Sunday, July 6 - the day the big San Fermin festival is scheduled to begin!
I may or may not want to stop in Pamplona overnight, that's something I want to decide on the day. If I decide that the busy, loud fiesta vibe isn't compatible with my Camino mindset I may well look to walk on to Cizur Menor.
However, I'm wondering about the implications of the fiesta for bunk availability in Pamplona. I saw on a thread in the albergue sub-forum that apparently beds are like goldust during San Fermin, which would make sense for hotels etc., but I asked a question in that thread which has gone unanswered, so I'll ask it again here - does San Fermin make much difference to how busy albergues are? Given the way the distances line up, Pamplona is a natural stop point on day 3/4 of the Camino for many people (even though to do so would be to go against the Brierley guide!!!); so, short of pilgrims choosing to start in Pamplona at that time or timing their departure from St Jean to coincide with San Fermin, I don't see why albergues should be filling up any faster there at that time than anywhere else in July.
Am I missing some vital bit of understanding on this or is it just that Pamplona albergues will be busy in July anyway, San Fermin or no San Fermin?
Thanks in advance!
Hey Mark I'm planning on leaving St Jean the same day as you. Was planning to walk past Pamplona to find a bed but in hindsight will probably just be sleeping under the stars. Do any forum members know whether this will be safe due to the inevitable San Fermin chaos?
Falcon, now that you have opened the blasphemy window, I was going to make a similar suggestion to go as far as Puente la Reina by public transportation and escape the madness.It may be blasphemy, but there is a city bus to Cizur Menor, so you can take it for about 1.25E, get a jump on the crowds, and press on to Zariqueigui or Uterga (both on my favorites list) for a mid-afternoon arrival.
Falcon, now that you have opened the blasphemy window, I was going to make a similar suggestion to go as far as Puente la Reina by public transportation and escape the madness.
Mark, do you have totally fixed dates, as regards your arrival in Santiago? If not and if you have several more days available, why not start on another route? I'm thinking of the beautiful Camino Aragonés, which joins the Francés in Puente de la Reina. You would need about an extra 3 days to add on to your Camino! Remember that everybody leaving SJPP when you do will also be frantically looking for a bed!. And that could be a lot if people! Anne
Mark, do you have totally fixed dates, as regards your arrival in Santiago? If not and if you have several more days available, why not start on another route? I'm thinking of the beautiful Camino Aragonés, which joins the Francés in Puente de la Reina. You would need about an extra 3 days to add on to your Camino! Remember that everybody leaving SJPP when you do will also be frantically looking for a bed!. And that could be a lot if people! Anne
These are private albergues. Reserve ASAP!Also, with regard to reservations, how far in advance should I be looking to confirm a slot in either of those places? I'm guessing they keep the majority of bunks open for walk-up pilgrims, with only a minority available for pre-booking?
These are private albergues. Reserve ASAP!
Hi Mark.I'm going to be starting the Camino Frances from St Jean on July 3 this year, and expect to reach Pamplona on Sunday, July 6 - the day the big San Fermin festival is scheduled to begin!
I may or may not want to stop in Pamplona overnight, that's something I want to decide on the day. If I decide that the busy, loud fiesta vibe isn't compatible with my Camino mindset I may well look to walk on to Cizur Menor.
However, I'm wondering about the implications of the fiesta for bunk availability in Pamplona. I saw on a thread in the albergue sub-forum that apparently beds are like goldust during San Fermin, which would make sense for hotels etc., but I asked a question in that thread which has gone unanswered, so I'll ask it again here - does San Fermin make much difference to how busy albergues are? Given the way the distances line up, Pamplona is a natural stop point on day 3/4 of the Camino for many people (even though to do so would be to go against the Brierley guide!!!); so, short of pilgrims choosing to start in Pamplona at that time or timing their departure from St Jean to coincide with San Fermin, I don't see why albergues should be filling up any faster there at that time than anywhere else in July.
Am I missing some vital bit of understanding on this or is it just that Pamplona albergues will be busy in July anyway, San Fermin or no San Fermin?Thanks in advance!
I am afraid to say that weekend and the second go round in September is a drunken mosh pit for more than 5 days. There are more broken bottle and puke than bulls running in the streets. But then for each his own. This time of year you can find a lot more interesting places with bull fights and local celebration of bulls running in the street. i.e., Puenta la Reina, Sahagun for example.
I wish I could be more helpful, I stayed there on a Friday night 23 September 2011 and the whole night you could hear nothing but revelers and breaking beer bottle, the next morning walking out of town was not a pretty sight and we were told Saturday would even be worse. San Fermin the patron saint of Pamplona died on 25 September, so I don't know if this was the second round of the July festivities or not. I do know there is bull fighting in Pamplona the weekend of 5-7 September this year and that almost always includes running some bulls in the streets and this event is capped off with a fight between horsemen and bulls. You will experience similar fetes and running of bulls in Puenta la Reina, Sahagun and other small towns throughout the bull fighting season on various weekends.I'll be going through Pamplona around September 15th.
What and when is the drunken party there?
Hopefully I miss it.
Hello Petitewalker.I'll be going through Pamplona around September 15th.
What and when is the drunken party there?
Hopefully I miss it.
Well I'm leaving SJPP on the 12th, so I should hopefully miss both the bullfighting and the Fiesta San Fermin.Hello Petitewalker.
Here is the link to the Fiesta San Fermin.
And here you have an impression of running with the bulls.
I hope you will not take part in this idiotic game!
Buen Camino
Jochen
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