San fermin (running of the Bulls)

[Wildling]

Hello all,

I'm setting off from SJPP on 3rd July (all being well), I know my arrival in Pamplona will therefore coincide with San Fermin - I know this means crowds etc but that doesn't bother me, in fact I've always wanted to experience San Fermin. What is worrying me though is potential lack of beds - do pilgrims have problems finding albergue beds at this time ? Are the prices much higher (I'll be on a tight budget!)??

Any feedback welcome! Thank you

 

[Jo Jo]

We started almost the same date July 2014. The big alburgues were closed for San Fermin (Jesus and Maria, and I cannot remember the name of the other big one). Not sure about the smaller ones. The only pilgrims who we knew that were able to stay in Pamplona itself were those with reservations in a hotel or pension of some sort. I'm afraid to report that the prices were very high. Everyone else had to either stop on the outskirts or walk past to Cizur Minor (and then the young kids walked back for a night of partying).

FYI, actually walking through Pamplona turned out to be intense--the crowds in the inner city made walking impossible, especially with a pack. We ended up abandoning the arrows and walking around the north side of Pamplona before cutting in at a later gate.

Buen Camino,
Jo Jo

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Are the prices much higher (I'll be on a tight budget!)??

Yes. A fifty Euro room will be priced at three hundred or more. I made the mistake of leaving Pamplona on the first day of San Fermin, and the least expensive room was a college dorm room near the airport at about 100E. The crowds, behavior, and vomit are an acquired taste...

 

[Americanperegrino]

IMO, book a room with a couple of beds. You WILL find fellow peregrinos to fill the empty space in the room. Split the cost. Also, you may only pass this way once...

 

[peregrina2000]

Here is a non-traditional suggestion that LTfit and I learned of while walking the Aragones last summer. https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/our-camino-aragonés-june-2015.36782/

On the stage between Monreal and Puente la Reina, there is an albergue in Tiebas. Municipally run, I believe, and though we didn't go inside it seemed to be in good conditions. The hospitalero said he is happy to let pilgrims stay there for several days while they hop on the frequent municipal buses in and out of Pamplona. If you look at a map, you'll see Tiebas is about 14 km directly south of Pamplona. The Aragones is a really lovely alternative to the first days from SJPP, traffic seems to keep dropping so there's unlikely to be a crunch, and you have a place to sleep in San Fermin (with no price gouging)!

Buen camino, Laurie

 

[SYates]

... I know my arrival in Pamplona will therefore coincide with San Fermin - I know this means crowds etc but that doesn't bother me, in fact I've always wanted to experience San Fermin. What is worrying me though is potential lack of beds - do pilgrims have problems finding albergue beds at this time ? Are the prices much higher (I'll be on a tight budget!)??

Any feedback welcome! Thank you

The albergue in Trinidad de Arre 'should' be open, I personally would try to stay there and cross Pamplona at high speed very early the next morning to avoid the 'festivities', but that is just me ... Buen Camino, SY