Transport back to Pamplona?

[russellg99]

My wife and I are doing the first 12 days of the Camino starting in SJPP, and probably ending somewhere between Logroño and Burgos. We'd like to finish the last day's walking and then find transportation back to Pamplona the same day. The next morning, we'll take a train back to Madrid and fly out that same afternoon.

Unfortunately the train has to be from Pamplona - the trains from Logroño and Burgos are too late that day for us to make our flight, so we would have to stop walking a day earlier and stay a night in Madrid.

If all goes according to plan, the last day of walking will put us somewhere between Logroño and Burgos - maybe Santo Domingo de la Calzada. I found a web site for PLM Autocares (in Spanish), which seems to be a bus that goes that route at 18:25, and might work out well. Anyone familiar with transportation in this area?

BTW, the train would get us in to Madrid Atocha at 09:45 and our flight is at 13:00. Is that too close?

Thanks!
Russell
http://www.farofflands.com/camino/

UPDATE: I've decided the timing is too tight, and the cost of missing the return flight is too high (over $2000 each!), so we'll be spending the night before in Madrid now. Details in my post below. Thanks anyway.

 

[whariwharangi]

This page is information about Estation de Autobuses Logroño. It shows a schedule of buses from Logroño to Pamplona and from Santo Domingo de la Calzada to Logroño. The page includes phone numbers and since the page has no dates ... I'd recommend checking at the bus stations. http://www.riojanosenlared.com/AUTOBUSES.htm

The Metro will get you from Atocha to Barajas airport in about an hour. Your timings are way too tight for my tastes ... but, ... provided there are no delays ... it should work.

I'd suggest a more relaxed schedule that gets you to Madrid the night before your flight leaves.

 

[nreyn12]

Hi Russell,

I have recently done exactly what you are doing, and there are plenty of buses along that route. You didn't mention what day of the week you will be traveling, and that makes a difference. There are fewer buses on Saturdays, and fewer still on Sundays and holidays.

Your best bet is to visit the tourist information office (directly on the trail) or bus station (15 minutes walk off the trail) in Logrono as you pass through, and pick up a listing of the latest bus times.

From what I gathered, you can't use PLM like a local service - it's meant for people doing the whole haul from Madrid to Pamplona or vice versa, so look for the local buses.

You will need to take two buses - Jimenez from Santo Domingo to Logrono (buy your ticket on the bus), then La Estellesa from there to Pamplona (buy your ticket at the window inside the station). Website for La Estellesa: http://www.laestellesa.com/servicios/index.asp

I will be traveling this route again this weekend (back to Logrono for tapas!) and I will get back to you if I learn anything else. Hope that helps!

Nancy

 

[KiwiNomad06]

I caught a bus onward along the CF from Santo Domingo de la Calzada last year, and there were a lot of longer distance buses passing through and leaving from there. I think I remember that some people were taking a bus from there to Madrid. Maybe if you can find the schedules, you might not need to go back to Pamplona- perhaps you can even leave from Santo Domingo, if that is where you end up.
Margaret

 

[fynbos s.a]

Hi i came across this site which will give all the options from different stages on the Camino.Change the destinations and departures.I hope you find your answers.Buen Camino.


http://www.rome2rio.com/s/Logro%C3%B1o- ... /Barcelona

 

[russellg99]

Thanks everyone, for the helpful info.

I started thinking about the complications here, and the timing involved, and started getting more concerned about missing the flight. So I called American Airlines to see what the price difference would be if we had to re-book the flight for the next day. It wasn't pretty.

$200 change fee, plus the difference between what we originally paid back in January, and what a one-way (not round-trip) ticket would cost the next day. At the moment, we'd have to pay an additional TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS. Each.

So, uhhh.... nevermind. we'll be finishing a day early and staying the night before in Madrid.

Thanks anyway tho,
Russell