Patchnomad
World nomad
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino del Norte (September 2018)
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Hi @PatchnomadHi everyone. I am another one of those "last minute, winging it" type of pilgrims. I have a flight to Barcelona in two days. Could anyone help me with a few questions?
Where's the best place to start the camino del Norte? I've heard Irún among other places. Can you pick up your pilgrim credentials there?
What's the best way to get from Barcelona to Irún (or other starting places)?
Where can I buy a guidebook for Norte?
Also I've heard it's best to spend a day or two resting after your flight to adjust to the time zone, so I'm looking for cheap places to stay in barcelona as well as some must see tourist attractions.
Thank you all for your help. Feel free to fire any other tips at me.
If you decide to start in Bilbao, Vueling has flights several times each day for $35 or so....Hi everyone. I am another one of those "last minute, winging it" type of pilgrims. I have a flight to Barcelona in two days. Could anyone help me with a few questions?
Where's the best place to start the camino del Norte? I've heard Irún among other places. Can you pick up your pilgrim credentials there?
What's the best way to get from Barcelona to Irún (or other starting places)?
Where can I buy a guidebook for Norte?
Also I've heard it's best to spend a day or two resting after your flight to adjust to the time zone, so I'm looking for cheap places to stay in barcelona as well as some must see tourist attractions.
Thank you all for your help. Feel free to fire any other tips at me.
Hi everyone. I am another one of those "last minute, winging it" type of pilgrims. I have a flight to Barcelona in two days. Could anyone help me with a few questions?
Where's the best place to start the camino del Norte? I've heard Irún among other places. Can you pick up your pilgrim credentials there?
What's the best way to get from Barcelona to Irún (or other starting places)?
Where can I buy a guidebook for Norte?
Also I've heard it's best to spend a day or two resting after your flight to adjust to the time zone, so I'm looking for cheap places to stay in barcelona as well as some must see tourist attractions.
Thank you all for your help. Feel free to fire any other tips at me.
Yes to trekking poles!Thanks for the very informative replies everyone! It has helped a lot.
I've come up with two more questions:
- rain gear. I've got a lightweight rain jacket which will double as a warmth layer, and a disposable poncho. Also some garbage bags to cover my pack if needed. Will this be sufficient?
- are trecking poles necessary on the camino del Norte?
Thanks again!!
Thank you for this reply. I'm starting from Bilbao on Wednesday and have the most recent publication of the Wise Pilgrim guide, which I don't like anywhere near as much as the Brierley I had for the Portuges. I've downloaded the app and it looks great, thanks!I started the Norte in Irun. Many people started in San Sebastian and Bilbao. If you start in Bilbao you will miss most of the hardest and hilliest days. You can use Rome2Rio.com to find transportation options.
You can use Gronze.com to plan stages, find albergues, etc.
I used the Editorial Buen Camino app for the Norte. It worked great. It has offline mapping, and you can always see where you are on the route, or how to get back on it if you stray. It also shows and describes the different alternate routes that you can take, along with listing albergues. The website is in Spanish, but you choose your own language for the app. The app is free, but each guide costs a few Euros/dollars.
There are quite a few places with an alternate bicycle route.Curious to the experienced Walkers of the Norte is it possible to bike this route??
I, too, started in San Sebastian which is a great city. I spent about 3 days there before leaving and well worth itI started in San Sabastian and loved it as it was much easier to get to than Irun, which I'd been reading was not particularly interesting or special anyway. I know I missed a day or two of great views by doing that, but I got my fill along the way in many other beautiful places. I spent an extra day in San Sabastian touring around, eating tapas and climbing the big hill to the fort. Such amazing views looking back on the city and coastline below!
I started the Norte in Irun. Many people started in San Sebastian and Bilbao. If you start in Bilbao you will miss most of the hardest and hilliest days. You can use Rome2Rio.com to find transportation options.
You can use Gronze.com to plan stages, find albergues, etc.
I used the Editorial Buen Camino app for the Norte. It worked great. It has offline mapping, and you can always see where you are on the route, or how to get back on it if you stray. It also shows and describes the different alternate routes that you can take, along with listing albergues. The website is in Spanish, but you choose your own language for the app. The app is free, but each guide costs a few Euros/dollars.
We saw several cyclists while doing our Norte the summer of 17, one of which struggled with staying on the same path as the Pilgrims on foot; especially the sections which feature long stretches on the beach or the hills leading one to the beach. They persevered and made it though. The ferrymen along the way didn't seem to have an issue with the bikes either.Curious to the experienced Walkers of the Norte is it possible to bike this route??
Yes yes yes to the poles. They do save your knees. Once with really wet slippery cobblestones, I don't thinkI could have negotiated the path without them. Ill be starting again at Castro-Urdiales on 18 Sept and who knows how far the trip will go as I unfortunately have very little time. It was too hard to resist the chance to return.Thanks for the very informative replies everyone! It has helped a lot.
I've come up with two more questions:
- rain gear. I've got a lightweight rain jacket which will double as a warmth layer, and a disposable poncho. Also some garbage bags to cover my pack if needed. Will this be sufficient?
- are trecking poles necessary on the camino del Norte?
Thanks again!!
Hi again @PatchnomadThanks for the very informative replies everyone! It has helped a lot.
I've come up with two more questions:
- rain gear. I've got a lightweight rain jacket which will double as a warmth layer, and a disposable poncho. Also some garbage bags to cover my pack if needed. Will this be sufficient?
- are trecking poles necessary on the camino del Norte?
Thanks again!!
Curious to the experienced Walkers of the Norte is it possible to bike this route??
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