- Time of past OR future Camino
- Francés, Norte, Salvador, Primitivo, Portuguese
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Oloron-Sainte-Marie - Sarrance | 23 km |
Sarrance - Urdos | 27 km |
Urdos - Canfranc | 24 km |
Canfranc - Jaca | 20 km |
Jaca - Santa Cilia (via San Juan de la Peña) | 29 km |
Santa Cilia - Artieda | 28.4 km |
Artieda - Undués de Lerda | 21.4 km |
Undués de Lerda - Lumbier | 22 km |
Lumbier - Monreal | 19.2 km |
Monreal - Muruzábal | 26 km |
Try this, which is pretty much what we did (except we didn't go to Lumbier). Just a few variations on your plan, but breaks up the longer stages:I've been working on stages from Oloron-Sainte-Marie, and have come up with this plan.
I'm hoping that those experienced with this route can chime in on whether these stages sound reasonable, or suggestions for better stages. Maybe a way to cut the longer stages down to less than 25 km?
Oloron-Sainte-Marie - Sarrance 23 km Sarrance - Urdos 27 km Urdos - Canfranc 24 km Canfranc - Jaca 20 km Jaca - Santa Cilia (via San Juan de la Peña) 29 km Santa Cilia - Artieda 28.4 km Artieda - Undués de Lerda 21.4 km Undués de Lerda - Lumbier 22 km Lumbier - Monreal 19.2 km Monreal - Muruzábal 26 km
Jaca - Santa Cilia (via San Juan de la Peña) | 29 km |
Santa Cilia - Artieda | 28.4 km |
Artieda - Undués de Lerda | 21.4 km |
Muruzábal is off the camino. You might as well stay in Óbanos, which as at least on the camino.Monreal - Muruzábal
Oloron-Sainte-Marie - Sarrance | |
Sarrance - Urdos | |
Urdos - Canfranc PUEBLO | |
Canfranc PUEBLO - Jaca | |
Jaca - Santa CRUZ SANTA CRUZ - SANTA CILIA (via SJdP) | |
Santa Cilia - ARRES | |
Artieda - RUESTA | |
RUESTA - SANGUESA (via Javier) SANGUESA - Lumbier | |
Lumbier - Monreal | |
Monreal - TIEBAS TIEBAS - PUENTE LA REINA |
I believe it is seasonal.Incidentally, Gronze says the pilgrim albergue in Sanguësa is closed temporarily. Does anyone know why?
That´s a relief. I just hope it´s open by May because we´re going to be in Sanguësa.I believe it is seasonal.
I've been working on stages from Oloron-Sainte-Marie, and have come up with this plan.
I'm hoping that those experienced with this route can chime in on whether these stages sound reasonable, or suggestions for better stages. Maybe a way to cut the longer stages down to less than 25 km?
Oloron-Sainte-Marie - Sarrance 23 km Sarrance - Urdos 27 km Urdos - Canfranc 24 km Canfranc - Jaca 20 km Jaca - Santa Cilia (via San Juan de la Peña) 29 km Santa Cilia - Artieda 28.4 km Artieda - Undués de Lerda 21.4 km Undués de Lerda - Lumbier 22 km Lumbier - Monreal 19.2 km Monreal - Muruzábal 26 km
You´ve given yourself a massive haul from Jaca to Santa Cilia, gruelling in itself, and this involves spending the time you need in what is one of the greatest Romanesque gems in Spain.
I strongly agree with both Dick and Laurie. As I just mentioned in an earlier post, I watched a video before my first Aragones by I think it was "Nadine Walks". She can walk long distances and she said that the way up to the monastery was really tough and you had to be really careful. She didn't recommend doing it. I didn't go there on my first Aragones because when I got to Jaca there was a big local festival. I went to the tourist office for information. They told me that there would be no buses going up to the monastery the next day because of the festival. She suggested that I should ask other pilgrims in the municipal if they wanted to split a cab as she said it would be at least 50 Euros minimum to get up there on a festival day. But I was the only person there. I am going again this October and will go to the tourist office again this year to get the schedule and where the bus picks me up. I will probably just stay in Santa Cilia that night at the albergue. It is a really wonderful camino. Why kill yourself and not be able to enjoy the walk and the monastery. Some of the best municipal albergues and donativos i have ever stayed at are on the Aragones. Buen CaminoI think that even if you aren’t going to spend much time in San Juan de la Peña, some forum members have commented that the route from Jaca to San Juan is not a good one.
It's listed on both the Buen Camino and Wise Pilgrim apps, though it's a bit of a backtrack:never heard of Muruzabel, and as far as I know, Tiebas is the only stopping place between Monreal and Obanos
Jaca - Santa CRUZ
SANTA CRUZ - SANTA CILIA (via SJdP)
Santa Cruz de la Serós has nice accommodation and a few nice churches!
Oloron-Sainte-Marie - Sarrance | 23 km |
Sarrance - Urdos | 27 km |
Urdos - Canfranc | 24 km |
Canfranc - Jaca | 20 km |
Jaca - Santa Cruz de la Serós (via San Juan de la Peña) | 22.4 km |
Santa Cruz de la Serós - Arrés | 16.8 km |
Arrés - Ruesta | 26.34 km |
Ruesta - Sangüesa | 21.5 km |
Sangüesa - Monreal | 27.49 km |
Monreal - Tiebas | 13.2 km |
I just made a reservation there.We stayed at Hotel Rural El Mirador de lost Pirineos two years ago. It is a luxury place there in Santa Cruz.
Yeah, I think that I'll skip that! My husband and kids wouldn't be too happy thinking about me hanging on to a cable to keep from falling off the mountain!the Camino route is very steep, rocky, and involves hanging on to a cable to keep you from falling off the mountain at one point
Thank you for this information. Fortunately, I won't be doing this stage on a Sunday, when the bus doesn't go until the late afternoon!This was the bus schedule from Jaca to Santa Cruz from summer 2022. It may have changed, but at least you can see the bus company. There was no bus to the monastery that summer. I believe there was last summer (2023) as several have mentioned it. You may need to go to the tourist office or ask your hospitalera in Jaca.
You left out the simplest: just walk! Walk Jaca to Santa Cruz, drop,your bag at the hotel, continue up to the monasteries, tour, and the walk down to your hotel. Or walk up and down prior to heading to Arres the next day. Or if that also sounds too long of a day, after staying the night in Santa Cruz, walk up to the monasteries and tour, then walk down and onto Santa Cilia for a night.I'm trying to make the day to the Santa Cruz and the monastery clear in my mind.
It sounds like I'm looking at three options (after reading @J Willhaus' description of the hike to the monastery I have decided that's out)
1. Take a bus or taxi from Jaca to the monastery, then walk down to Santa Cruz. So basically a rest day without much walking, except to Santa Cruz?
2. Take a bus or taxi to Santa Cruz, drop off my pack then visit the monastery.
3. Walk the standard Camino to Santa Cilia, then take a bus or taxi to Santa Cruz or the monastery.
If it's helpful, this was my post for the day from Jaca - San Juan de la Peña - Santa Cruz - Santa Cilia last September which includes the transport information for the employee bus from Jaca to San Juan. I checked in with the tourist office to confirm the bus was running and they phoned the monastery to confirm the departure time for me. If I walk the Aragonés again, I think I would stay in Santa Cruz after the hike down from the monastery as it sounds like you'll be doing!I'm trying to make the day to the Santa Cruz and the monastery clear in my mind.
You left out the simplest: just walk! Walk Jaca to Santa Cruz, drop,your bag at the hotel, continue up to the monasteries, tour, and the walk down to your hotel.
No taxi in Santa Cruz.I think that I will look at walking to Santa Cruz via the standard Camino route through Santa Cilia, then up to Santa Cruz where I can drop off my backpack at my hotel before walking up to the monasteries. Or maybe there's a taxi that I can take up there and walk down?
Another option would be to bus to Santa Cilia, then walk up to Santa Cruz.
I'll wait until I get there to decide which option will be best for me.
View attachment 167551
OK, here is the path down from the old monastery. You can me me creeping my way down with poles and just past where I am there can see that there is a cable attached to the side of the mountain so you can hang on to keep you from sliding down to your death. The other photos are of the actual path down. Very steep and rocky like this all the way down.
View attachment 167552 View attachment 167553
Yes! So true. Lovely and bucolic in the beginning...
View attachment 167555
...and then suddenly... (photo taken in the same spot as yours I think!)
View attachment 167556
Ultimately I was happy I did it, the views were stunning but it was certainly joint challenging and dangerous in spots.
Except nobody mentioned anybody springing nimbly up and down the mountain or that it was only a moderate challenge, quite the opposite.Ok, I am old and fat. I don't practice yoga or anything to help me with balance or flexibility. I am afraid of heights. I know my limits and kudos to all of you who sprang up and down the moutainside nimbly with only a moderate challenge.
Respectfully, for what it's worth and all opinions being subjective, I do feel some of the descriptions, especially the downhill stretch after the monasteries, are a bit exaggerated:
Well of course all opinions are subjective. A question is asked and an answer is given based on a personal experience. I don't see any reason to doubt or identify the answer as "a bit exaggerated." I made my decision to take those paths after reading several different accounts of this route that described it in different seasons, years, weather conditions, physical ability etc. There were a whole range of very different experiences, all shared I'm sure, in good faith.
Thank you!There are several options.
You can walk fromJaca and then up from Santa Cruz as you suggest, but make sure you check the hours that the Monasteries are open so you don't miss the times. We spent about 2 hours (1 hr at the old and one at the new). You can also eat lunch at the new Monastery. You could also walk to Santa Cilia and spend the night and walk up the next day to give yourself more time. They allow you to stay two nights at Santa Cilia if you want to visit the monasteries.
Santa Cruz is also a pretty little town with some interesting churches. There is also a bus to Santa Cruz so you could take a bus there in the morning, walk up, then take the bus back to Jaca in the afternoon if you want to spend an extra day in Jaca.
Or just skip the walk to Santa Cruz take the bus and walk up to the monasteries and then walk on from there the next day. There is no albergue in Santa Cruz, but there is lodging. We stayed in a luxury place, but there is at least one other hotel/hostel.
View attachment 167680
I’m struggling to figure out how to see the monasteries without killing myself on the dangerous path!
I think you should take less notice of exaggerated reports. Pilgrims have walked the path and survived.What do you think?
I'll be interested to know what you end up doing, as this section posts the biggest dilemma to me! I do have a reservation at a hotel in Santa Cruz.I’m on the Aragonés now and I’m struggling to figure out how to see the monasteries without killing myself on the dangerous path!
When are you walking the Aragonés? I will be in Jaca tomorrow. Right now the plan is to walk to Santa cilia Saturday and spend the night. Then walk to the monastery and back on the road. And maybe spend another night at in Santa cilia.I'll be interested to know what you end up doing, as this section posts the biggest dilemma to me! I do have a reservation at a hotel in Santa Cruz.
Not until mid May. I'll start from Oloron-Sainte-Marie on May 14th.When are you walking the Aragonés? I will be in Jaca tomorrow
Hi. I'll be walking from Canfranc Estacion to Jaca May 1st. Was the bridge below the dam passable? Theatragel posted recently "that there was a board placed for crossing. Easy!" last August.When are you walking the Aragonés? I will be in Jaca tomorrow. Right now the plan is to walk to Santa cilia Saturday and spend the night. Then walk to the monastery and back on the road. And maybe spend another night at in Santa cilia.
I’ll let you know what happens!
I would just ask at the tourist office in CE if it is open when you arrive. I don't know how you are arriving, but an alternative would be to start at Canfranc Pueblo. The Mountain Bus goes several times a day and you can either go up from Jaca and get off at CP or take the bus one stop down from CE to CP if you don't want to walk on the road.Hi. I'll be walking from Canfranc Estacion to Jaca May 1st. Was the bridge below the dam passable? Theatragel posted recently "that there was a board placed for crossing. Easy!" last August.
Hi. I'll be walking from Canfranc Estacion to Jaca May 1st. Was the bridge below the dam passable? Theatragel posted recently "that there was a board placed for crossing. Easy!" last August.
Hi Cat - I'm one of those who loves the Aragones Way. For various reasons, it took until my third time on the path to visit the Monasteries. Wonderful - but they are not going anywhere. They'll be there when you return. Enjoy tomorrow's walk to and stay in Ruesta.Your experience sounds perfect and maybe I’ll be back someday and it will all work out.
Okay, not to be a gossip and we don’t need the prurient details, but spill a little bit of tea on what the main disagreement was!!!!feuding hospitaleros
Same! And how lucky we were last time not only to visit the monasteries - but also to stay in the Canfranc peublo albergue (not yet open on our previous visits) and to have lovely (non-feudingLovely days every one!
I am sure it doesn't happen often - at least publicly- but I can understand. Not excusing, but I am sure it's not an easy gig - and I'd imagine Arres could have more challenges than most.I think it was near the end of their stay; the albergue was packed (!!) and they were nearing their melting point.
We always have one or two minor disagreements when serving, but not in ear shot of pilgrims and we almost never argue at home. It is usually about pilgrims wanting to leave their bags for us to watch while they go off and do something (like before check in or after we are closed in the morning).I am sure it doesn't happen often - at least publicly- but I can understand. Not excusing, but I am sure it's not an easy gig - and I'd imagine Arres could be have more challenges than most.
We liked it there, too.Just finished dinner at the albergue in Artieda. I had one of the best dinners I’ve had on any camino. And the service was excellent. I recommend it. And the view! Wow!
I've been a little apprehensive after reading about the trail to the monasteries, but you are making me excited to be there in May!Just finished dinner at the albergue in Artieda. I had one of the best dinners I’ve had on any camino. And the service was excellent. I recommend it. And the view! Wow!
That’s for sure. I’ve only had good experiences there. Glad it was for you tooInteresting place in the ruins of a town. Nothing like it.
I've reserved a private room there.I paid 8E extra for a private room
We enjoyed the Foz immensely. It was cultural shock when we hit Puente la Reina.I have met other pilgrims, yes. Almost every albergue has had one or two others, but they seem to walk faster than me and I don’t see them again. The last few days, though, I have been keeping pace with a sweet French family. They were in the albergue with me last night (and two nights prior) but today they walked on to Monreal and I am in Lumbier.
Today was fabulous. The landscape through the Foz de Lumbier nature preserve is so beautiful. So glad I came this way. The first part of the walk is along a road with cars and trucks zooming by, so that’s not so good. But then the turn off and finally the River and the gorge and it’s out of this world beautiful.
The downside is there is no albergue so I’m wrecking my budget with a hotel room. But it’s fancy, and the staff is nice, and it has a balcony with a view so it’s all good.
Cat
We were there 10 days ago, 6 Pilgrims total and very chill. Sorry if your experience was different, Arrés for us was a highlight.I am sure it doesn't happen often - at least publicly- but I can understand. Not excusing, but I am sure it's not an easy gig - and I'd imagine Arres could have more challenges than most.
I think you have misunderstood my comment or confused my post with another's. I enjoyed and appreciated my stay in Arres when we were there on 2016. You can see from the thread that my comment was in response to a post by another member mentioning some problems between the hospitaleros when she was in Arres. I commented that being a hospitalero is not an easy gig and I could understand Arres could be particularly challenging, given the relatively small space and fairly isolated environment.We were there 10 days ago, 6 Pilgrims total and very chill. Sorry if your experience was different, Arrés for us was a highlight.
Did you get a room there with a giant bathtub?The downside is there is no albergue so I’m wrecking my budget with a hotel room. But it’s fancy, and the staff is nice, and it has a balcony with a view so it’s all good.
I DID get the room with the giant bathtub! It turned out to be a bit disappointing, though, because the water pressure was so low that I couldn’t fill it with hot water. Still, I loved the giant bathroom with all the windows, and the view from the main room. And food really was good! I had duck! Not your typical pilgrim menu!Did you get a room there with a giant bathtub?. It’s one of my wife’s favorite stops on that route! Pilgrim discount and really, really good food, too.
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