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Sending a non-backpack with Correos?

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mkg1284

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Time of past OR future Camino
Norte
Hello- I’m planning to walk the Norte from Irun and will be considering sending some of my gear via Correos for the harder stages in the beginning to lighten my pack and spare my knees. I’d want to still use my backpack for hydration/keeping valuables with me while hiking. Would Correos take a reusable shopping bag double-knotted in lieu of a backpack? Is it worth carrying a light duffel /something that would fully zip? The gear I’d send isn’t valuable (clothes & toiletries), but I’d obviously like it to arrive at the next stage.

Thanks for any advice!
 
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I would say that they probably would. You could also consider something like this that is lightweight.
Or maybe a dry bag that you can close fairly securely.
 
I've used Correos to ship forward. I send a 2nd pair of shoes and socks to a prearranged hotel in Leon from Madrid, when I did the CF from SJPdP.
It worked great. I also sent my little travel case to Ivars storage place from a Madrid...it was there when I finished a month later.
Correos is excellent.
I just wrap my stuff in plastic & cello tape with a label and they sent it on.
 
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I've also sent things by correos to Ivar to hold and to Correos offices as well as hotels. I love Correos! They have packing envelopes, boxes and such for a nominal fee.
 
OTH86 said:
I've also sent things by correos to Ivar to hold and to Correos offices as well as hotels. I love Correos! They have packing envelopes, boxes and such for a nominal fee.
Click to expand...
This thread isn't about shipping something to Santiago. @mkg1284 is asking if it would be okay to use a cloth shopping bag to send some of their pack contents on a day by day basis.
 
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I am not sure about official requirements, if any, but you need to be able to tie an identity label to your bag in a secure manner and it would be advisable to present it in a manner that keeps your stuff inside the bag despite some probable rough handling.

Something to consider is that the vehicles used to transport the bags regularly have a large number of different bags in them, packed closely, for a couple of hours.

In this situation, if one of the bags had managed to get infected with bedbugs then there is a good chance that the bedbugs would migrate to nearby bags that were not completely sealed.

In your situation, I would take @trecile 's suggestion and use a robust dry bag that could be completely sealed rather than a shopping bag that might have some convenient openings in it.
 
In Fall 2021, we bought a cardboard box at the correo to ship forward duffel bags we used for our backpacks for the flight to Spain. No problems at all, and they couldn't be nicer. So that might also be an option.
 
We've used an inexpensive duffle bag from IKEA and is under $10 USD. It folds completely flat when not needed and holds as much as a backpack. I know it can be transported as we used different services last year.
 
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KSimons22 said:
We've used an inexpensive duffle bag from IKEA and is under $10 USD. It folds completely flat when not needed and holds as much as a backpack. I know it can be transported as we used different services last year.
Click to expand...
We did this - bought a cheap bag and s couple of small padlocks just so that zips stayed closed. They required a secure bag as the couriers pick ip several at s time at each pickup/dropoff. We then donated it for other pilgrims to use - we only used local bag transportation services but they were excellent. In Burgos we had booked an Airbnb for a treat - and they couldn't get access - but they left it at the Municipal Albergue a few doors along for safety. They know their areas very well - and we booked online.
 
Thank you so much- these are extremely helpful considerations.
 
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