Pamplona to stantiago

[franrtw]

Thanks for such great info on this forum. I am a newbie and hope to start my walk mid september. I fly into London from Australia on 8 September. I plan to walk for 4 weeks so am hoping that from Pamplona to Santiago is doable (I may bus it from Burgos to Leon). What are your thoughts?

My dilemma is that after the walk I am in europe for 2 months and will be bring over gifts so should I (A) fly from London to Santiago to leave my suitcase then take train or bus to pamplona with just my pack or (B) fly into Bilbao and is it possible to post a medium/large suitcase onto Santiago. I tried looking up the post website but could not understand it or (C) don't bring the suitcase
As yet I do not have my pilgrim passport. I assume I can get one in Pamplona.
Thanks for your help.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

You can get a credencial at the cathedral or at the Jesus y Maria albergue in Pamplona. The Correos will not take suitcases unless they are in a cardboard box. They hold items only for two weeks. Ivar has a baggage hold service in Santiago where you can store your suitcase.

 

[franrtw]

Thanks Falcon.
Is it best to arrive in Santiago so that I can leave my suitcase at Ivar's luggage service then take a train/bus to Pamplona. Or can I send my suitcase from Pamplona to Ivar.s baggage hold

 

[zammy]

4 Weeks is not enough to make it, I never liked skipping any part and I recommernd that you start 4-5 days west of Pamplona and make it all in one walk, it's better . Tuis way you stay and walk with people you will meet.
As for your luggage-it's quite a big hassle to get to santiago and from there back to the trail, waste or precious time. why don't you get to Pamplona ans send it by mail to the destination in Europe?

 

[Deleted member 3000]

can I send my suitcase from Pamplona

I don't know who handles suitcases in Spain. I know the postal service will require that it be in a box. Maybe someone has shipped a suitcase and can help with that part of the question.

I don't hesitate to take a bus, train, or taxi to skip parts of the camino. That causes a lot of psychic distress for some pilgrims, so decide for yourself. I even took a side trip from Astorga to Oviedo to visit the city, and rejoined the Camino at Sarria. I believe that the fewer mental constraints you put on your pilgrimage, the more fun it will be (and definitely do not adhere to the mental contraints of others)! Pamplona is a great city. If you want to start there but have only 28 days to get to Santiago, do it any way you want.

 

[ivar]

I have received suitcases "as is" (no box).. but then also some in a box. I think it depends on the clerk at the counter... It needs to be locked, so if you have a suitcase with a zipper, you need to lock it with a lock (or something like that).

 

[SYates]

1. I plan to walk for 4 weeks so am hoping that from Pamplona to Santiago is doable (I may bus it from Burgos to Leon). What are your thoughts?

2. Suitcase /Luggage Question

3. As yet I do not have my pilgrim passport. I assume I can get one in Pamplona.

Assuming you are moderately fit Pamplona > Santiago = 620 km in 28 days is perfectly feasible if you walk each day between 20-25km and don't plan to take any rest days. If that seems too much for you starting in Logrono (550 km to Santiago) would be another possibility. As others have mentioned it, taking the bus to jump a section will mean to loose all your Camino friends / family you just found ...

2. I would contact Ivar directly and figure out the best solution for you. Flying to Santiago, taking the bus to Pamplona / Logrono (or wherever you decide to start) and then walking to Santiago again might be an option, but somehow might give you a strange feeling. Only you can decide that.

3. As an Australian, you can get your pilgrim's passport already there, contact infos on this webpage: http://www.csj.org.uk/australia.htm

Hope that helps and Buen Camino!, SY

 

[tpmchugh]

I made it from Pamplona to Castrojeriz in just over two weeks. Starting first week in September I hope to get from Castrojeriz to Santiago in about 3 weeks. That's 5 hopefully for me and I walk like as one old Spaniard called Poco Poco. I think that means slowly but if that's what it means it describes my walking to a tee. If I can do it in 5 weeks then anyone with a good level of fitness should also be up to it. Also, back in March Mount Perdon and the Meseta were just seas of mud which slowed us down considerably. One Australian girl christened Perdon, mudslide mountain. As to your other questions, I am a bit of a novice on the Camino so cant help

 

[franrtw]

Thanks so much for all your advice. Very helpful.

 

[piogaw]

4 weeks from pamplona to santiago is doable, but i think it is not enjoyable. there are no rest days in between. i would also recommend that you want to stay an extra day in burgos and leon. you might also want to stay an extra day or two upon your arrival in santiago.

in regards to your luggage, try to get with ivar to see what he can do, but do not fly to santiago just to leave your luggage behind. your best bet is to fly from london to biarritz or bilbso and bus to pamplona to start your camino.

buen camino and good luck. god bless.

 

[Albertinho]

If I were you, I should not bother about gifts to take with me but should concentrate on and prepare myself for the physical and mental trip rather then loosing energy in such details. But that is my opinion .it costs a lot of energy to walk such a long distance . It is not just a piece of cake and we all intend to enjoy the way to it and the glorious finish in Santiago . Maybe sending the gifts from your home by f.ex.UPS could be cheaper than flying to Santiago to park a suitcase and continue by any transport to your starting point. I think the persons who receive the gifts will understand it and admire you for what you achieved by showing them your Compostela and telling them your stories !
Buen camino !

 

[Deleted member 12253]

Thanks so much for all your advice. Very helpful.

Very very doable, Buen camino,

 

[julie]

3. As an Australian, you can get your pilgrim's passport already there, contact infos on this webpage: http://www.csj.org.uk/australia.htm

The pilgrim passport is available from the Australian Friends of the Camino http://www.afotc.org/ You have to be a member ($20 fee) to receive a credencial from them. There is an application form on their website and, if you send an email explaining your looming departure and requesting a credencial, they will fast-track the process for you.

Alternatively, you can pick up a credencial in Spain.

Pamplona to Santiago is doable in the time you have available. However, the psychological pressure of having a tight schedule is strong. If you find that you're having to walk further, faster than is comfortable or can't give yourself over to the experience of being there because you feel like you're rushing then it would be better to skip a few stages.

Are the gifts really necessary? If so, post them. Trying to go via Santiago would cut into your time and would add to the stress of arriving ready to start. It's bad enough flying from Australia without adding any further travel unless it's absolutely unavoidable.

Buen Camino

 

[nreyn12]

There are so many ways to do this! The easiest might just be to go to Pamplona and post your bag ahead. As Ivar said in his post above, the Correos (Spanish Post) office will (sometimes) allow you to post a suitcase. If your suitcase is small enough, it might fit into the largest box sold at the Correos office. Another idea is to bring a wheeled duffel bag that will collapse small enough to fit into a box.

Here is a full primer on how to use the Correos system to post items ahead: http://thecaminoexperience.com/Correos-post-office-Camino-de-Santiago.php.

Good luck!