Currently on the Aragonés?

[Adelina]

Leaving the US tomorrow to walk the Aragonés, and wondering if anyone is currently walking in the area. Please send insights regarding weather, pilgrims, stays, Jaca to San Juan Monasteries, and anything else you would like to share.

Will be returning to serve at Albergue Elías Valiña in Canfranc from May 15-31 & hoping to see some of you there.

Buen camino to all present and future pilgrims!

 

[Former member 104756]

Leaving the US tomorrow to walk the Aragonés, and wondering if anyone is currently walking in the area. Please send insights regarding weather, pilgrims, stays, Jaca to San Juan Monasteries, and anything else you would like to share.

Will be returning to serve at Albergue Elías Valiña in Canfranc from May 15-31 & hoping to see some of you there.

Buen camino to all present and future pilgrims!

Hi @Adelina - I think we will see you at Canfranc. We expect to be stopping there during your time as hospitalero. Look forward to meeting you. I have walked the Aragones twice before, but I don't have any current information - other than it's a beautiful path! Enjoy.

 

[AZtor]

Leaving the US tomorrow to walk the Aragonés, and wondering if anyone is currently walking in the area. Please send insights regarding weather, pilgrims, stays, Jaca to San Juan Monasteries, and anything else you would like to share.

Will be returning to serve at Albergue Elías Valiña in Canfranc from May 15-31 & hoping to see some of you there.

Buen camino to all present and future pilgrims!

I too will be there during your time at Canfranc! I hope you have a lovely camino and I look forward to meeting you!

 

[J Willhaus]

We will be at Arrés as hospitaleros further down the Camino from June 1-15. I did see that although Sanguesa and Monreal albergues were closed earlier that they are back open now. @FireDragon has been on this route in the last week or so.

 

[naplesdon]

I am serving in Canfranc from July 1 to 15. Currently bumping into issues with local transportation, i.e. buses and trains; I assume because of the number of tourists in the region for the start of the Tour de France in Bilbao. I definitely would recommend a visit to St. Juan de la Pena, but the walk there from Jaca or St. Cilia is a killer. My recommendation is to book a taxi.

 

[lt56ny]

Leaving the US tomorrow to walk the Aragonés, and wondering if anyone is currently walking in the area. Please send insights regarding weather, pilgrims, stays, Jaca to San Juan Monasteries, and anything else you would like to share.

Will be returning to serve at Albergue Elías Valiña in Canfranc from May 15-31 & hoping to see some of you there.

Buen camino to all present and future pilgrims!

Wonderful albergue and wonderful Camino. Walked last October so I can't give you any updates but you can always check a weather app. I could not go to the Monastery because there was a festival going on in Jaca. Buses weren't running the next day. Went to the tourist office and they told me a taxi was 50-60 Euros. Do not know if that is the normal price or it was because there was a festival. They suggested I split a cab with other pilgrims. Problem was no other pilgrim came into the tourist office that day and I was the only pilgrim in the albergue that night. The only other pilgrims I met was a married couple from Germany. A few nights they slept in the albergue with me and other nights in pensions. Late October just before virtually all the albergues close is a wonderful but solitary time on the Aragones. First night in Canfranc was a treat. Wonderful walk that first day.

 

[Adelina]

Gracias por la información!! Espero que no haiga tanta gente ya que es primavera.

 

[lt56ny]

Gracias por la información!! Espero que no haiga tanta gente ya que es primavera.

From what I gathered from albergue owners it didn't start to get "crowded" (Pretty relative term) until later in the summer and early September.

 

[J Willhaus]

We were there in the last half of July '22 as hospitaleros at Canfranc Pueblo and it was never "crowded". I think the most we had total was only 7. Maybe 8? It was crowded in the town and in the area and plenty of non-pilgrim tourists/hikers who would have loved to stay at the albergue. I know that @FireDragon walked this way a couple of weeks ago. He did say the albergue at Sanguesa was full the night he stayed there.

 

[J Willhaus]

@Adelina, although several pilgrims from past years have mentioned a bus up to the San Juan Monasteries , we were told last summer that there were no buses. We took a cab up to visit (well worth it) and then walked down to Santa Cruz de los Seros. I would discourage you from taking the Camino path down. It is very rocky and steep. At one point there is a cable on the cliff face for you to hang onto as you shuffle along the narrow passage. The road is a little longer, but less traveled.

Also make sure you have plenty of water with you after Arrés. No functioning potable fountains on the Camino pathway.

Lots of cool stuff on this Camino. If you detour to Javier before Sanguesa, the castle and basilica are very cool. If you go to Yesa, maybe make a trip up to the Monasterio de Leyre for Mass with Gregorian Chanting? There is a hotel up there which is nice and the views are beautiful. There is also the Lumbier Gorge which we missed last year.

 

[Adelina]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful responses! This helps me a lot (as did your previous PMs regarding the albergue). I truly appreciate this forum's responsiveness and resourcefulness. Como simper, gracias.

 

[Adelina]

I wonder if anyone attempts going to sta cruz and San Juan from start cilia?

 

[Vacajoe]

The roundtrip from Santa Cilia to San Juan de la Peña and back makes a nice day trip on foot. In the past, the Santa’s Cilia albergue has allowed pilgrims to stay two nights if you are visiting the monastery.