Travel from CDG to SJPP and return from Muxia/Finisterre - Questions

[joe g texas aggies]

Hi. This will be my first Camino. Planning on arriving at CDG in early to mid-April from the US (LAX), via Air France at about 1135. No problem with that arrival time. My complication arises from the fact that my son will be arriving CDG from Tokyo, Japan, later the same day at about 1545 via ANA in Terminal 2. Neither of us will have checked luggage, unless AF or ANA will not allow a 42L back pack in the overhead.
Here are my questions:
1. Would we have time to make an EasyJet flight to Biarritz departing CDG about 1825? We would spend the night in Biarritz and take the first train to SJPP the next day. I believe that train would arrive in SJPP about 0937.
2. Would we have time to attend to the necessary formalities in SJPP and begin our Camino obviating the need to spend the night in SJPP? I read somewhere that one should depart SJPP no later than 1000.
3. Would appreciate recommendations on a) the best mode of transportation and b) from where my son can return to CDG to fly back to Tokyo after about 5 to 7 days on the Camino. (He is an airline pilot and has two weeks on and two weeks off.)
4. I plan to continue on to SDC and then on to Muxia/Finisterre. Would appreciate a similar recommendation on the best mode of transportation to return to CDG. If required, I would spend a night in Paris prior to departing for LAX.
Thanks for any input and sorry for the long post.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Here are my questions:
1. Would we have time to make an EasyJet flight to Biarritz departing CDG about 1825? We would spend the night in Biarritz and take the first train to SJPP the next day. I believe that train would arrive in SJPP about 0937.
2. Would we have time to attend to the necessary formalities in SJPP and begin our Camino obviating the need to spend the night in SJPP? I read somewhere that one should depart SJPP no later than 1000.
3. Would appreciate recommendations on a) the best mode of transportation and b) from where my son can return to CDG to fly back to Tokyo after about 5 to 7 days on the Camino.

1. That is enough time if everything is on schedule!
2. There are no real formalities in SJPdP. If you do not have a credential, or want to pick up a basic map, stop by the Pilgrim Office. That takes about five minutes. The 10 a.m. departure time is for those headed for Roncesvalles. It takes many pilgrims at least 10 hours to get there.
3. There are few ground transportation options from Spain to France along the camino. There are airports in Pamplona, Leon, Burgos, and Santiago (and some a few hundred kilometers lateral to the route). They do not have many flights except Pamplona, and most connect through Madrid to your final destination. You might be in Logrono after 5 to 7 days. You can get a bus from there to Pamplona or Madrid.

Buen camino.

 

[joe g texas aggies]

Thanks, Falcon, for the quick reply. In regards to my Item No. 4, do you have any recommendations on the best mode of transportation to return to CDG from Muxia/Finisterre? I realize that it might be a combination of two or three modes of transportation - bus, train and plane.

 

[whariwharangi]

2. Falcon gives a reasonable time appreciation of 10 hours to walk from SJPdP to Roncesvalles. The issue isn't about the time of departure; its about when it gets dark. In April there would be about 13 -14 hours daylight. You'll want to be off the camino by dark as the hillside down to Roncesvalles is under trees and darkness (and poor weather) will make route finding difficult.

3. The way back to Paris is probably best achieved by going from Pamplona or Logrono to Irun by bus (via San Sebastian) or Renfe train. Irun/Hendaye is the break of gauge station where you can catch SNCF trains to Biarritz or Paris. TGV trains leave from Irun and Hendaye. TER trains only leave from Hendaye.

Chronoplus bus C connects Gare Biarritz to Biarritz Airport.

La Estellesa operates buses between Pamplona and Logrono if you are somewhere between. La Estellesa provides bus service from Logrono to San Sebastian, and Estella to Irun.

ALSA provides bus service through its subsidiary Conda from Pamplona to San Sebastian almost hourly and twice daily to Biarritz Airport. ALSA also operates some buses from San Sebastian to Irun Renfe Station.

Renfe operates trains from San Sebastian to Irun every half hour. Euskotren provides trains from San Sebastian Amara station (700 meters from bus station) to Irun and Gare d'Hendaye.

4. Monbus operates buses from Fisterra and Hermanos Ferrin operates buses from Muxia to Santiago. Vueling operates flights from Santiago SCQ to CDG. Air France operates flights from Vigo to Paris (You'd have to check if it goes to Orly or CDG).

AENA manages airports in Spain
http://www.aena-aeropuertos.es/csee/Satellite/HomeAenaAeropuertos/en/Home.html

Biarritz Airport (BIQ)
http://en.biarritz.aeroport.fr/

Renfe
http://www.renfe.com/

SNCF
http://www.sncf.com/en/passengers

Euskotren connects from Bilbao to Hendaye France
http://www.euskotren.es/

adif manages Renfe tracks. Website has a map.
http://www.adif.es/es_ES/conoceradif/conoceradif.shtml

La Estellesa (hub Estelle)
http://www.laestellesa.com/

ALSA
http://www.alsa.es/en/

Monbus (Galicia)
http://www.monbus.es/index2.htm

Hermanos Ferrin has no website

Muxia Concello - See Noticias for link to bus schedule
http://www.concellomuxia.com/ca/web/index.php?dep=2&mod=not

Santiago bus station
http://www.tussa.org/web/interior.php?txt=arbore_web5&lg=cas

Pamplona bus station
http://www.estaciondeautobusesdepamplona.com/Inicio.aspx

 

[Deleted member 3000]

In regards to my Item No. 4, do you have any recommendations on the best mode of transportation to return to CDG from Muxia/Finisterre?

No! I wouldn't go through Paris...

You could check for flights from Coruna and Santiago after a bus ride to either. There is nothing in Muxia and Fisterra except buses and taxis.