Transport from mid-way jump off point to Madrid

[deanfromoz]

Hola peregrinas!

I am starting the Camino Frances from SJPP on 5 October, and will be walking until around 24 October, when I need to be back in Madrid.

What experiences or options have you found when getting transport from a point where you leave the CF track back to Madrid? Do advance plans need to be made, or is transport readily available? Any advice for the most cost effective option, and how can I prepare myself so that I don't pay through the nose?

Depending on how well I go, this may be anywhere from Burgos to Terradillos de los Templarios. I would have liked to have made it to Leon with the time that I have, but am thinking that it's not realistic. Nice to take the time to enjoy the journey rather than focus on a destination.

Gracias

 

[André Walker]

Hi Dean,

Well, according to the dates you mention, you've got 19 days of walking. From SJPP to Burgos it would mean a daily average of a little over 15 km. To Terradillos: a little over 21 km. average.

From both Burgos and Terradillos you could take the bus to Madrid, with Alsa.
Or the train. The train is (when you choose the cheapest option) just a little more expensive. The bus from Burgos takes almost 3 hours, the train 2,5 hours. There is no train connection between Terradillos and Burgos, so you'd have to rely on a bus and see which connection is possible. Check the links and images below:

Checkout - Alsa

www.alsa.com

Checkout - Alsa

www.alsa.com

Renfe - Mi Más Renfe

PAGINAS OFICIALES DE RENFE, HORARIOS, RESERVA, VENTA, BILLETES, ALQUILER

venta.renfe.com

Hope this helps. Enjoy your Camino!

 

[deanfromoz]

From both Burgos and Terradillos you could take the bus to Madrid, with Alsa.
Or the train. The train is (when you choose the cheapest option) just a little more expensive.

Thanks André. Any idea whether early bookings on the bus or train are needed?

Given that I'll be off peak, I was hoping to see how I go and make a booking a few days out.

 

[Anamya]

Hi Dean, Ana from Oz here as well

As you said, you will be off season. From Burgos there are a few buses/trains every day, so you may be able to leave it to be decided closer to your departure date. Depending on how much you walk, you may reach Castrojeriz/Fromista, where it is not too hard to get a bus/taxi/train back to Madrid either.

Keep an eye on the Alsa (buses) and Renfe (train) websites and you should be fine.

 

[Scotty100]

Thanks André. Any idea whether early bookings on the bus or train are needed?

Given that I'll be off peak, I was hoping to see how I go and make a booking a few days out.

Hi Dean
Would definitely suggest making a booking in advance for the train from Burgos as it can be fully booked as it was earlier this week. Although, as you say, you will be traveling out of the peak period.

 

[mmmmartin]

Download the Alsa app, you can check every bus they run and buy tickets on the app. Buses go everywhere in Spain and are regular, reliable and not expensive. You will be able to take a bus from a village to a larger village and then take an Alsa bus.
So, from Burgos direct to Madrid airport they run several times a day, €11 cheapest but I prefer the €20 option which has better seats. This is how the locals get about.

 

[deanfromoz]

Thanks for all of the great suggestions!! I wasn't aware of the Alsa busses, so will make good use as I near my jump-off point. The perils of having to return to the real world (work).

 

[deanfromoz]

Well, according to the dates you mention, you've got 19 days of walking. From SJPP to Burgos it would mean a daily average of a little over 15 km. To Terradillos: a little over 21 km. average.

Having done a bit of research, the below link shows a 31 day walking route to Santiago de Compostela. I figure that if I follow this I should be able to have at least one rest day (Burgos), and make it to Leon, before taking a bus/train to Madrid by 24 October.

https://santiago.forwalk.org/en/m/1...-to-santiago-de-compostela/stage-list/#stages

I'm not thrilled by the near 30km days in the last stretch, but am thinking that some of the shorter days could be extended out a bit to even the load.

 

[Telboyo]

Having done a bit of research, the below link shows a 31 day walking route to Santiago de Compostela. I figure that if I follow this I should be able to have at least one rest day (Burgos), and make it to Leon, before taking a bus/train to Madrid by 24 October.

https://santiago.forwalk.org/en/m/1...-to-santiago-de-compostela/stage-list/#stages

I'm not thrilled by the near 30km days in the last stretch, but am thinking that some of the shorter days could be extended out a bit to even the load.

You could reach Leon in 19 days easily, when I walk I plan for 32 km or 20 miles per day. that is 7 to 8 hrs walking including coffee. To reach Leon in 19 days you need to walk only 25km a day. Trust me, after a few days you will regard 20 to 25 days as rest days.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Nice to take the time to enjoy the journey rather than focus on a destination.

Nice thought. I like it. But on the other hand you may be able to make it to Sahagun where there is a train station. The train is likely to connect to Leon and maybe Madrid. You can also get a halfway certificate for the Camino Frances there.

 

[deanfromoz]

Nice thought. I like it. But on the other hand you may be able to make it to Sahagun where there is a train station. The train is likely to connect to Leon and maybe Madrid. You can also get a halfway certificate for the Camino Frances there.

Thanks Rick, that's good to know. I'll keep that in my reserve chute in case it's needed!

Never heard of a halfway certificate before. Is this common or official?

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Never heard of a halfway certificate before. Is this common or official?

Sahagun made itself the center of the CF. It is close if you make the start Roncevalles or Pamplona (I forget which). There is a church/ermita just before town immediately followed by two statues facing each other across the camino. Very Tolkienesque, I think they are supposed to mark the mid-point.

The certificate is issued by the town, not the church, and is picked up at a slight cost at the far end of town. An old church on a hill a short walk from the camino has been converted into a museum and the certificate can be gotten at the admission desk. The hours are like those of a museum, i.e. closed Mondays, late morning opening with a long siesta before opening again.

The church/museum is the Iglesia de la Peregrina. See more here: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/midway-certificate.35124/