Refurgios in Santander

[cyril]

Hi all, i will be flying out to Santander on the 13th (wednesday) to begin my pilgramage to Santiago. Can anyone tell me the address of a cheap refurgio in Santander ! Also, anyone know where i can get a credential in Santander ?

Originally i was going to do the camino Frances and have bought all the guide books and maps ect (therefore had all of the hostel addresses, and was well organised for that route). Unfortunately, i missed my flight and have ended up having to fly to Santander. I wont arrive ther till 6pm and really would like an address of a pilgrim refurgio, so i wont end up walking around all night looking for a cheap place. Any information will be GREATLY RECEIVED, thankyou and god bless.

 

[Canuck]

Hi Cyril,

Here is the address of the Albergue de Peregrinos in Santander:

Calle Rúa Mayor, 9-11, Santander, Cantabria.

Google it and you should be fine. In any case, if you start at the Cathedral and follow the indications on the sidewalk, you are just a very short walk to the albergue. If you reach the town by bus, it is located two minutes away from the bus terminal. Walk out of the terminal, go straight to your left, turn left at the first street and left again at the first street. The albergue is to the left of the staircase.
They will provide you with a bed for 5 euros and will also set you up with a credencial for 1 euros.

Pass my regards to the folks at the albergue and at the bar LA BARUCA. I have officiated there as hospitalero in the past.

Cheers!
Jean-Marc

 

[cyril]

Hi Cyril,

Here is the address of the Albergue de Peregrinos in Santander:

Calle Rúa Mayor, 9-11, Santander, Cantabria.

Google it and you should be fine. In any case, if you start at the Cathedral and follow the indications on the sidewalk, you are just a very short walk to the albergue. If you reach the town by bus, it is located two minutes away from the bus terminal. Walk out of the terminal, go straight to your left, turn left at the first street and left again at the first street. The albergue is to the left of the staircase.
They will provide you with a bed for 5 euros and will also set you up with a credencial for 1 euros.

Pass my regards to the folks at the albergue and at the bar LA BARUCA. I have officiated there as hospitalero in the past.

Cheers!
Jean-Marc

Much thanks, it is most appreciated

 

[TerryB]

Hi Cyril, Sorry you have had to change your plans. Terry is about 2 weeks ahead of you on the Camino del Norte and hopefully the Primitivo. He printed out a list of albergues on those routes and I am sure he found them on the forum somewhere. If you are going on the northern route he stayed in the Arco Iris near Santillana, and in Llames was told of a good place by the lady in the little supermarket.
God bless you on your camino.
Tio Tel and Tia Valeria

 

[cyril]

Thanks for the reply, , now i have that address in Santiago hopefully i shall find my way when i start the morning after. Once on the route then i can get some info. I will be arriving in Santander in late afternoon and did not want to be looking for accomodtion in the late hours, thanks again.

 

[Canuck]

hopefully i shall find my way when i start the morning after. Once on the route then i can get some info.

Cyril,

Don't sweat it! As you step out of the albergue the morning after, you will see a plaque on the sidewalk pointing you in the right direction. All you have to do is follow these plaques leading you all the way out of town. Once out of town, you will pick up the yellow arrows easily and shouldn't have any problems all the way to Santiago, except for a couple of places in Asturia.

If you wish, you can purchase a guide book written in four languages from the hospitalero. It's not the best, but better than nothing...

By the way, make sure to ask the hospitalero in Santander to explain the two shortcuts (atajos) you have to take the first day, to save quite a few kilometres and be able to sleep that night in Polanco-Requejada for an easy day to start with.

See this site for all the necessary info (Stages, albergues and more) on the Camino del Norte: http://www.mundicamino.com/

Have a good one!
Ciao!
Jean-Marc

 

[NaKwendaSafari]

HI Cyril,

The refugio in Santander is on a narrow steep street a few minutes from the bus station as mentioned by the other forum members, the hospitalero will gladly issue you with the credential and give you the first stamp.

You can phone him or her as they are very helpful, he will give you directions and guide books, these guide books are sometimes beautiful glossy productions which you can photocopy the relevant maps and post the guide home to save weight, and to keep it as a memento. There are maps pinned to the walls, messages from other walkers, pictures, it is a good place to start the camino. The sidewalk has a permanent yellow shell marker, the people on the busy street are very helpful and will happily show you where the refugio is. Some Spanish would be helpful but most shops and eating places will understand English.

You will not be short of cheap lodgings as the refugio is surrounded by modest traveller places to stay if it is full. We stayed at a clean quiet double room with bath and TV for 30E, a few minutes from the bus station. The only thing we found initially strange was the late eating hours of eating places in Santander, few open before 8pm. There is also a good tourist information booth at the bus station but may not open when you arrive late.

Have a good trip, starting from Santander may be a blessing in disguise. Give our regards to the hosptalero (we are an Asian couple in their late 60's), we really appreciated the welcome we had from the hospitalero.

Kwaheri