LIVE from the Camino Walking on the Camino Frances

[Jagdev D.]

Hello Pilgrims , I start walking the Camino April 27th after staying two days in SJPP , April 26th and 27th were beautiful days sunny clear and warm . I walked to Auberge Borda on Tuesday and enjoy the beautiful clear and wide view of the Pyrenees, went back to SJPP by cab and came back to Borda on Wednesday , walk to Roncesvalles Thursday and the fog was so thick that you could cut it with a knife, could not see anything more than few feet all day till few kms away from Roncesvalles .it was cold and light raining .Guy with the truck on the French side before Spain was there with the goodies. The Albergue at Roncesvalles was full of pilgrims. Today I’m in Zubiri and there is not a single bed available for those who do not have reservations In any Albergues In Zubiri.
The path to Zubiri if it was not paved , was quite muddy and slippery. Tomorrow’s temp should be around 19/20c on the way to Pamplona.
wishing all the pilgrims safe journey.
Buen Camino to all.

 

[naplesdon]

Bodes poorly for pilgrims this summer who have not reserved ahead, sad!

 

[J Willhaus]

Bodes poorly for pilgrims this summer who have not reserved ahead, sad!

Yes, really a pinch point on this route.

 

[Former member 92300]

Bodes poorly for pilgrims this summer who have not reserved ahead, sad!

Yes - making me nervous! I have the first week reserved. I really want to be able to wing it - but not sure I should! Bayonne - Orisson - Roncesvalles - Zubiri - Pamplona (on the way out of town) and then going beyond the stages the next 2 days (but can't remember the town names).

@Jagdev D. Please keep us posted as to what the next few days look like as far as lodging in concerned!

Buen Camino!

 

[Jagdev D.]

Bodes poorly for pilgrims this summer who have not reserved ahead, sad!

it certainly look that way.. but .. hoping all will work out well for all the pilgrims.

 

[Jagdev D.]

Yes - making me nervous! I have the first week reserved. I really want to be able to wing it - but not sure I should! Bayonne - Orisson - Roncesvalles - Zubiri - Pamplona (on the way out of town) and then going beyond the stages the next 2 days (but can't remember the town names).

@Jagdev D. Please keep us posted as to what the next few days look like as far as lodging in concerned!

Buen Camino!

Im sorry , I did not have any wifi in albergue Borda and Roncesvalles, … nothing,… but in albergue in Zubiri it seems like normal.
Will be in Pamplona tomorrow , and will try to post from there ,
but I don’t have the answers.
Just pragmatic and optimist.
Wishing you well,
Cheers !

 

[Former member 92300]

Im sorry , I did not have any wifi in albergue Borda and Roncesvalles, … nothing,… but in albergue in Zubiri it seems like normal.
Will be in Pamplona tomorrow , and will try to post from there ,
but I don’t have the answers.
Just pragmatic and optimist.
Wishing you well,
Cheers !

I saw on facebook that Pamplona is booked for tomorrow. I did look and only see some more expensive accommodation on booking.com. You might want to get an early start to get into a municipal. They have 180 beds I think. Plus there is the German run albergue. You might want to call the municipal and see if they are taking reservations. Normally they don't - but I seem to recall they asked if I had a reservation when I walked last year (due to COVID they may have made exceptions).

 

[J Willhaus]

We always stay at the AC Hotel in Pamplona, but I see online that they are permanently closed!!!

 

[Richard of York]

You have to get to places early to be (pretty) sure to get a bed if you're winging it. A few days ago a Danish guy in his 60's saw me outside in Vilachá at around 6, taking stuff out to the car. One albergue was having a day off and the other isn't open for the season yet. He begged me for a lift to Portomarin so I took him.

 

[Former member 92300]

You have to get to places early to be (pretty) sure to get a bed if you're winging it.

It is funny because I usually got to all the towns early - often before check-in and certainly early after check-in started - but I am stressing this year and I have nearly 4 weeks before I even start! Haha

 

[Kathar1na]

I saw on facebook that Pamplona is booked for tomorrow

Wow, indeed, only a few hotel rooms left in Pamplona for this weekend on booking.com and prices mostly above €200! Of course, this doesn’t mean that the albergue dormitories are full.

This weekend is a long weekend in some regions of Spain (Monday 2 May is a substitute public holiday for Sunday 1 May) so an increase of leisure travel within Spain is not surprising.

Also, the first two weeks of May are well known for being the most popular weeks of the year with the highest number of international pilgrims starting from SJPP, and the section of the Camino Francés SJPP-Pamplona is a well known bottleneck as far as cheap beds directly on the CF are concerned.

 

[Charles Ross]

This is a holiday weekend everywhere in Spain. May Day, Labor Day. It’s not representative of the month of May experience along the Camino.
The above reads like every day must be booked on your Camino.
We are in Naverrete tonight and have had no problem with no reservations so far beyond Pamplona.

 

[Jagdev D.]

I saw on facebook that Pamplona is booked for tomorrow. I did look and only see some more expensive accommodation on booking.com. You might want to get an early start to get into a municipal. They have 180 beds I think. Plus there is the German run albergue. You might want to call the municipal and see if they are taking reservations. Normally they don't - but I seem to recall they asked if I had a reservation when I walked last year (due to COVID they may have made exceptions).

Jeanine.. I’m in Pamplona, had the reservation, it was such a good day , warm and reasonable sunny , will stay one ,more day before start walking towards Punta La Reina On Monday morning. There is lot going on, seems like in Pamplona today over the long weekend in Spain.
On another note,..
In front my hostel someone tried to pick cell phone from my pocket. Be careful and be aware of your surrounding Pilgrims.
Cheers to all, Buen Camino.

 

[Former member 92300]

try to pick cell phone from my pocket. Be careful and be aware of your surrounding Pilgrims.

Oh no! I was grateful not to have to worry last year - everyone was social distancing LOL! The only people who would come near you would be other pilgrims haha

Glad you said "try" and not that it was stolen!

 

[david g]

I wonder if this shortage of beds early on will lead some pilgrims to try new paths. It would certainly help spread the tourist income to more places. The route from Somport is beautiful, less crowded and ties In to the Frances at Puenta La Reina I believe. There's also the route from Bayonne to, I think, Pamplona (Baztaan?) So many paths, there’s no need to suffer through the stress and worry of not finding a bed and you’ll still have plenty of time to meet and form bonds with other pilgrims.

 

[JesperK]

I could really do without all the bed racing. Starting in Burgos on thursday the 5.may - and it's not my first camino. I'm going to sleep outside a lot if it becomes necessary and use hotels 2-3 times a week. Not that big of a deal. If anyone sees me I'm the big guy with military boots and big military backpack that's racing past you.

 

[Sandra R]

Hello Pilgrims , I start walking the Camino April 27th after staying two days in SJPP , April 26th and 27th were beautiful days sunny clear and warm . I walked to Auberge Borda on Tuesday and enjoy the beautiful clear and wide view of the Pyrenees, went back to SJPP by cab and came back to Borda on Wednesday , walk to Roncesvalles Thursday and the fog was so thick that you could cut it with a knife, could not see anything more than few feet all day till few kms away from Roncesvalles .it was cold and light raining .Guy with the truck on the French side before Spain was there with the goodies. The Albergue at Roncesvalles was full of pilgrims. Today I’m in Zubiri and there is not a single bed available for those who do not have reservations In any Albergues In Zubiri.
The path to Zubiri if it was not paved , was quite muddy and slippery. Tomorrow’s temp should be around 19/20c on the way to Pamplona.
wishing all the pilgrims safe journey.
Buen Camino to all.

I am in Pamploma. Last night in Zubiri was booked out and tonight in Pamploma is booked out. We met a man who did not have a bed and every seemed booked out- late afternoon with long weekend of public holiday coming up. Good luck everyone. Bookings recommended

 

[maryloufrommadison]

Hello Pilgrims , I start walking the Camino April 27th after staying two days in SJPP , April 26th and 27th were beautiful days sunny clear and warm . I walked to Auberge Borda on Tuesday and enjoy the beautiful clear and wide view of the Pyrenees, went back to SJPP by cab and came back to Borda on Wednesday , walk to Roncesvalles Thursday and the fog was so thick that you could cut it with a knife, could not see anything more than few feet all day till few kms away from Roncesvalles .it was cold and light raining .Guy with the truck on the French side before Spain was there with the goodies. The Albergue at Roncesvalles was full of pilgrims. Today I’m in Zubiri and there is not a single bed available for those who do not have reservations In any Albergues In Zubiri.
The path to Zubiri if it was not paved , was quite muddy and slippery. Tomorrow’s temp should be around 19/20c on the way to Pamplona.
wishing all the pilgrims safe journey.
Buen Camino to all.

We are on the same schedule, it seems! Zubiri was full because there was a super-marathon by bicycle on Saturday. One group of pilgrims I talked with had to taxi back to Burgete to find allergies beds. But I saw them today in Pamplona and they had found accommodations. I think it will be easier from here on, but I must say I’m glad I have reservations.

 

[Schamber]

You have to get to places early to be (pretty) sure to get a bed if you're winging it. A few days ago a Danish guy in his 60's saw me outside in Vilachá at around 6, taking stuff out to the car. One albergue was having a day off and the other isn't open for the season yet. He begged me for a lift to Portomarin so I took him.

So nice of you!!