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Search 69,459 Camino Questions

St Jean to Burgos in 2 weeks?

HolaElle

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
September 2023
Hello,
Starting my first ever Camino in September but can’t get enough time off work to do it all. I decided on starting in SJPP and would ideally finish in Burgos but not sure if I will make it. I’m starting on 24 Sept and need to be back in London by 9th Oct. Does it seem possible to make it to Burgos by 8th?
I’m planning to then bus or train to Madrid to fly home - also not sure if there is a better option. Or somewhere earlier in the route I could easily get transport to Madrid or possibly Bilbao to fly back to London.

I’m 36, female, normal level of fitness. I love walking a lot in general but not really a hiker and it will be my first attempt at something like this, not used to having a backpack etc.

I am planning to stay in orisson to break up the first section and haven’t got much of a plan after that at the moment. Any advice welcome!! Thanks!
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
Sounds like you'll have time to look around Pamplona, Burgos and Madrid for a day each too! Do enjoy your trip1
 
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I started in SJPP about 14:00 on the afternoon of September 1, 2021, and spent the night of Sepember 12th in Villafria (a Burgos suburb, basically). So I was in Burgos before 10:00am on the 13th. Oh, I was 67 in 2021 and a little overweight. Larry Elsken
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
12 days is standard if you are following Brierley or Gronze stages.
 
288 kilometers do the math and figure out how many k you want to walk each day and see if it fits with towns that have albergues. You should be able to swing it. Barring injury, illness or bad blisters. Buen Camino
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Hello,
Starting my first ever Camino in September but can’t get enough time off work to do it all. I decided on starting in SJPP and would ideally finish in Burgos but not sure if I will make it. I’m starting on 24 Sept and need to be back in London by 9th Oct. Does it seem possible to make it to Burgos by 8th?
I’m planning to then bus or train to Madrid to fly home - also not sure if there is a better option. Or somewhere earlier in the route I could easily get transport to Madrid or possibly Bilbao to fly back to London.

I’m 36, female, normal level of fitness. I love walking a lot in general but not really a hiker and it will be my first attempt at something like this, not used to having a backpack etc.

I am planning to stay in orisson to break up the first section and haven’t got much of a plan after that at the moment. Any advice welcome!! Thanks!
@HolaElle,
despite so many or all of the Plgrims said that you can do it in two weeks to Burgos .
I walked last year (May/June 2022) from SJPP , at 72( widower) and reasonably healthy.
in my opinion, it is not that easy, like walking in the park,

climbing the Pyrenees was hard ( stayed one night at albergue Borda )then again few places you have to climb up quite a bit, ( Alto de Pardon etc. And then downhill )
not mean to discourage you , in any way shape or form, but keep an eye on your feet for developing hot spots for blisters, tiredness, fatigue and some places those protruding the shales, slippery stones ,and rocks on your Walk, that
you will be walking downhill , needs extra caution. I saw sever injury from the falls on them .
I got to Burgos under two weeks , ( wanted to take it a bit easy and stayed extra day in Pamplona ,Logrono and Burgos….. beautiful cities , did not want to miss it.
My Extra two days off at Sahagun and Sarria were not necessary, by that time body, mind, physical and mental strength start to aligned up.
But no regrets.
yes , you can do it , you know your body better than anybody.
Please pay attention and listen to it.
(it took me total of 13 days ( including two extra days off )
but,
my Two Cents,
Try to enjoy each moment, each step on your Walk, who knows how many more chances we all get to go and do it again.
I missed the Camino so much and would love to do it again by taking extra longer, time . God willing.
Wishing you the best, Good luck
BUEN CAMINO. 🇨🇦
 
Last edited:
Hello,
Starting my first ever Camino in September but can’t get enough time off work to do it all. I decided on starting in SJPP and would ideally finish in Burgos but not sure if I will make it. I’m starting on 24 Sept and need to be back in London by 9th Oct. Does it seem possible to make it to Burgos by 8th?
No problem. You can do it in 10 days no sweat. You might not think so after the first day - but the walk to Roncevalles is definitely the worst on the walk to Burgos. When you get to Burgos you take the bus directly to Madrid airport where it stops at terminal 4. Book bus with Alsa when you are sure about arrival time in Burgos - the ride takes max 3 hours. The bus terminal in Burgos is about 8-10 minute walk from the cathedral in the old town where the pilgrims are. Check map.
 
The first edition came out in 2003 and has become the go-to-guide for many pilgrims over the years. It is shipping with a Pilgrim Passport (Credential) from the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Hello,
Starting my first ever Camino in September but can’t get enough time off work to do it all. I decided on starting in SJPP and would ideally finish in Burgos but not sure if I will make it. I’m starting on 24 Sept and need to be back in London by 9th Oct. Does it seem possible to make it to Burgos by 8th?
I’m planning to then bus or train to Madrid to fly home - also not sure if there is a better option. Or somewhere earlier in the route I could easily get transport to Madrid or possibly Bilbao to fly back to London.

I’m 36, female, normal level of fitness. I love walking a lot in general but not really a hiker and it will be my first attempt at something like this, not used to having a backpack etc.

I am planning to stay in orisson to break up the first section and haven’t got much of a plan after that at the moment. Any advice welcome!! Thanks!
2 weeks will give you time to enjoy some delightful towns along the way. Be sure to overnight in Estella. We blew through it the first time we walked the Frances. We came back on another camino and loved it. We just spent 10 days there in May this year, hosted by the local Amigos Association, and were treated to a perfect blend of culture, cuisine, art, architecture and history. Please spend more time "smelling the roses," less time worrying about getting where you are going and where you will be going after that. The camino is not a race!
 
Hello,
Starting my first ever Camino in September but can’t get enough time off work to do it all. I decided on starting in SJPP and would ideally finish in Burgos but not sure if I will make it. I’m starting on 24 Sept and need to be back in London by 9th Oct. Does it seem possible to make it to Burgos by 8th?
I’m planning to then bus or train to Madrid to fly home - also not sure if there is a better option. Or somewhere earlier in the route I could easily get transport to Madrid or possibly Bilbao to fly back to London.

I’m 36, female, normal level of fitness. I love walking a lot in general but not really a hiker and it will be my first attempt at something like this, not used to having a backpack etc.

I am planning to stay in orisson to break up the first section and haven’t got much of a plan after that at the moment. Any advice welcome!! Thanks!
Easy peasy, and you have a month to get used to hiking with a pack; thats plenty of time.
 
Hello,
Starting my first ever Camino in September but can’t get enough time off work to do it all. I decided on starting in SJPP and would ideally finish in Burgos but not sure if I will make it. I’m starting on 24 Sept and need to be back in London by 9th Oct. Does it seem possible to make it to Burgos by 8th?
I’m planning to then bus or train to Madrid to fly home - also not sure if there is a better option. Or somewhere earlier in the route I could easily get transport to Madrid or possibly Bilbao to fly back to London.

I’m 36, female, normal level of fitness. I love walking a lot in general but not really a hiker and it will be my first attempt at something like this, not used to having a backpack etc.

I am planning to stay in orisson to break up the first section and haven’t got much of a plan after that at the moment. Any advice welcome!! Thanks!
I did it 10 days in July but did not stop in Orrison and went straight to Roncesvalles. I’m 62 so at 32 you will easily do it in 2 weeks. Enjoy and Buen Camino
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
Hello fellow first time pilgrim from London. I am a 72 year old married gent who will be walking the Camino for the first time. I take my first step on September 20th from SJPP. My wonderful wife has 'granted' me 49 days for my walk, plus five days travel time from Texas and back. Like other folks, I have built in days simply to enjoy the experience, the small and larger towns and villages along the way. I do have the advantage over you in that I am retired. Perhaps I will bump into you along the way, as I hope to meet new friends from all over the world. Buen Camino.....Ken
 
Hello fellow first time pilgrim from London. I am a 72 year old married gent who will be walking the Camino for the first time. I take my first step on September 20th from SJPP. My wonderful wife has 'granted' me 49 days for my walk, plus five days travel time from Texas and back. Like other folks, I have built in days simply to enjoy the experience, the small and larger towns and villages along the way. I do have the advantage over you in that I am retired. Perhaps I will bump into you along the way, as I hope to meet new friends from all over the world. Buen Camino.....Ken
Ken, you’re going to have a great time. You have plenty of it to take it nice and easy. If you progress a bit slower you’ll need to be open to meeting a lot of different folks instead of staying with one group but I think that’ll add to the experience. I’m starting from SJPP on the 9th of October so we probably won’t cross paths but if we do it‘ll be my pleasure to say ‘Buen Camino’ over a vino tinto.
 
Hello fellow first time pilgrim from London. I am a 72 year old married gent who will be walking the Camino for the first time. I take my first step on September 20th from SJPP. My wonderful wife has 'granted' me 49 days for my walk, plus five days travel time from Texas and back. Like other folks, I have built in days simply to enjoy the experience, the small and larger towns and villages along the way. I do have the advantage over you in that I am retired. Perhaps I will bump into you along the way, as I hope to meet new friends from all over the world. Buen Camino.....Ken
Ken,
take your time, enjoy and savor each moment, I did my Camino (from SJPP) last year, ( May/June 2022) at age 72 , solo, ( widower) , try to took my time for 34 days of walking the Camino PLUS 6 extra days for rest and sight seeing etc., (Pamplona,Logrono,Burgos Leon, Sahagun and Sarria ) the last two did not need, but enjoyed them. , you have plenty of time for the Camino , but you will feel tiredness fatigue etc, ,keep an eye on the developing hot spots on your feet for not have too sever blisters etc.
Wishing you the best of Luck,
Buen Camino amigo, 🇨🇦
 
3rd Edition. More content, training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc
As others have said, you have sufficient time to complete. I have learned that it is best to start slow, your mind will tell you that you can do your starting pace for the next two weeks, but your body has never done back to back to back long hikes. Also, if you realize you will not make it to Burgos on time there is no need to worry as you would take the bus or taxi from where your at to get to Burgos on time in order to catch your flight. Knowing that you do not have to rush to get to Burgos will hopefully allow you to enjoy your camino.

Buen Camino!
 

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