• Remove ads on the forum by becoming a donating member. More here.

Search 74,075 Camino Questions

Suitcase Transport to SdC

Streetfood

Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Frances (Finisterre) 2017. Via dl Plata 2018. Portuguese 2019.
We're arriving at Biarritz Airport at the end of April 2023. We intend to walk out of the airport to the French town of Bidart on the coast. From Bidart we'll walk the Voie Littorale to Irun to commence the Camino Del Norte.
My question is: How can we get our post-Camino suitcase to Santiago? Plan A is to ask Express Bourricot to meet us at Biarritz Airport, collect the suitcase & transport it, first to St John & then, to SdC. But if anyone can suggest an alternative I would be grateful.
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
We're arriving at Biarritz Airport at the end of April 2023. We intend to walk out of the airport to the French town of Bidart on the coast. From Bidart we'll walk the Voie Littorale to Irun to commence the Camino Del Norte.
My question is: How can we get our post-Camino suitcase to Santiago? Plan A is to ask Express Bourricot to meet us at Biarritz Airport, collect the suitcase & transport it, first to St John & then, to SdC. But if anyone can suggest an alternative I would be grateful.
If it were not for the issue of your luggage crossing from France to Spain there would be numerous alternatives, but from a start in Biarritz (or more frequently SJPDP) the only recommendation I’ve seen on here has been Express Bourricot.
 
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
I THIRD the opinion. Despite severtal decades of attempted harmonization, the EU is still a "pipe organ" of 27 individual postal and parcel delivery systems. Shipping anything, especially luggage across national borders, should be avoided. Even shipping from Portugal to Spain is fraught with delays and problems.

However, once you are in Spain, sending a suitcase from the local Correos (post office) is easy and relatively cheap. The Correos will provide tracking information too.

IMHO, the Express Bourricot solution is the "best" one, albeit the mnost expensive. They can take the suitcase at Biarritz Airport and deliver it to secure storage at Santiago. It may go via Saint Jean Pied de Port, but it will likely arrive at Santiago well before you do. You pick it up there when you arrive, whenever that is.

The trick here is to be able to be flexible with their shipping routes and patterns. But they do make runs from SJPdP to and from Biarritz, as needed.

They also make more regular runs to transport luggage from SJPdP to Santiago. Contact them at: https://www.expressbourricot.com/ for more information. Consider than, at this time of year, they may not be working every day - be patient.

The best best thing is to take a train across the border to Irun - Spain. Go to the local Correos there and ship the suitcase to Ivar at Santiago. He will receive and store the suitcase or whatever else you send to him, securely, until you arrive to fetch it.

Over the years, I have done it both ways. I have even used one country's postal system to ship parcels ahead to Santiago. My experience was not good. Thus, I recommend either of the two processes I described above.

Hope this helps,

Tom
 
if you arrive in Pamplona instead, you can send the luggage from there, then take the bus to Biarritz/Bayona to start your Camino (Rome2rio).
 
Ideal pocket guides for during & after your Camino. Each weighs only 1.4 oz (40g)!
There is a DHL office in Bidart. If the suitcase is small and not too heavy, this may be an option too.
 
Might as well round out the options list. Land in Biarritz, then catch a train to Hendaye. From there, you can walk to the Correos office in Irun, or catch the Feve train one stop, and mail the suitcase to Ivar. The walk from the Hendaye station to Correos is about a half hour - I've done this. Then head back to Biarritz via train, and begin your walk. A final option is to stick the suitcase in a locker in Biarritz, then when you get to Irun, take a train back to the locker and get the suitcase.
 

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Most read last week in this forum

Greeting Peregrinos! The good news: I've created "bookends" for my next trip to Spain....in SJPP, working for the Reception office in May, and then in SdC in July, with a planned departure...

Featured threads

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Featured threads

Forum Rules

Forum Rules

Camino Updates on YouTube

Camino Conversations

Most downloaded Resources

This site is run by Ivar at

in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon
Official Camino Passport (Credential) | 2024 Camino Guides
Back
Top