SJPDP to Logroño, skipping Pamplona advice needed

[Apalter]

Hi everyone!

Ok so I’m last minute jumping on the Camino for a week. It’s been on my mind forever and I figured I would do a bit and see how it feels. I’m packed a bit heavy but I’m trained up pretty well (I just did rim2rim2rim in Grand Canyon with a full pack). My plan is to start at SJPDP and end at Logroño then take bus or train to Bilbao and fly back to Paris where my return flight home is from.

With my original plan, sounds like I’ll be passing through Pamplona right during Sanfermines, where I planned to stay. I’m trying to avoid that. I don’t mind walking through the city, I’m just not sure I’m keen on staying there.

Here is my original plan:

1. SJPDP to Roncesvalles
2 Roncesvalles to Zubiri
3 Zuburi to Pamplona
4. Pamploma to Puente la Reina
5. puente la reina to estella
6 Estella to los arcos
7 Los Arcos to Logroño

Alternative 1

1. St Jean to Roncesvalles
2. Roncesvalles to Larrasoaña
3. Larrasoaña to Zariquigui
4. Zariquigui to Villatuerta
5. Villatuerta to Sansol
6. Sansol to logronño

Alternative 2 combines the two:

1. St Jean to Roncesvalles
2. Roncesvalles to Larrasoaña
3. Larrasoaña to Zariquigui
4. Zariquigui to Puente la reina
5. puente la reina to estella
6 Estella to los arcos
7 Los Arcos to Logroño

Thoughts? Any other ideas? Will Larrasoaña or Zariquigui also be crowded?

Also, does anyone have pointers on getting from Logroño to Bilbao? Train? Bus? How often?

Thank you!! I hope one day to complete the entire Camino and join those who have done it!!

 

[J Willhaus]

Really anything near Pamplona is likely to be crowded. Why don't you think of starting in Logroño? Or maybe in Somport and walk the Aragones which is considered the other way from the Pyrenees to reach Santiago.

 

[markie6]

St Jean to Pamplona and Sarria to Santiago would be considered to be the busiest , most noticably crowded sections of the Camino Frances

If you are wanting to start in St Jean and walk for a week then Logrono would have decent links to get home from

St J to Roncesvalles ( needs booking )
Roncesvalles to Zabaldika
Zabaildika to Puente La Reina
Puente La Reina to Villamajor de Monjardin
Villamajor to Azofra
Azofra to Logrono

That was my last trip and I only booked St Jean and Roncesvalles plus carried my pack. Much depends on how far you want to walk, whether you are happy to play it by ear where you stay. Anything near Pamplona during their biggest festival will get booked up early.

Rome to Rio website lists a few options to get you back to Paris

in the past I have gone back to Paris via Hendaye / Irun train

 

[jerbear]

Welcome to camino. Where I learn patience. Which is a big key for my camino. .02

 

[jungleboy]

Alternative 2 combines the two:

1. St Jean to Roncesvalles
2. Roncesvalles to Larrasoaña
3. Larrasoaña to Zariquigui
4. Zariquigui to Puente la reina
5. puente la reina to estella
6 Estella to los arcos
7 Los Arcos to Logroño

I like this option as PlR and Estella (especially) are classic camino towns and staying overnight will allow you to explore them a bit and experience the Camino ‘atmosphere’ more.

Also, does anyone have pointers on getting from Logroño to Bilbao? Train? Bus? How often?

Per Rome2Rio, buses are quicker and more frequent (a few times a day with ALSA and Alava):

 

[Pafayac]

I like this option as PlR and Estrella (especially) are classic camino towns

Estrella is a classic camino beer.
The town is rather named Estella.

 

[jungleboy]

Estrella is a classic camino beer.
The town is rather named Estella.

Indeed. I blame autocorrect:

 

[Sarge63]

I walked the full route last year and the only difference for me was that I stopped in Orrisson to add a short day and then walked to Burguete on day 2. Your plan looks solid from my perspective and starting from SJPP and crossing the mountains is pretty magical so I wouldn’t change that. I stayed in Pamplona and while it wasn’t my favorite I enjoyed it since I’d never been there prior to my Camino. If you do stay in Pamplona get up early to avoid the crowds and get to a higher elevation for a beautiful sunrise. Good luck on your journey! It’s an awesome experience.

 

[Flog]

There is the (usually!!) peaceful albergue Casa Paderborn in a nice quiet location right on the river, away from the madness of San Fermin, yet just 10 minutes walk from it. They don't take reservations, so if you arrive early enough in Pamplona, you'd get a bed there.. I've stayed there twice, friendly and attentive hospis, good experience both times.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

You might be able to walk through Pamplona and spend a night at the albergue in Tiebas. Tiebas is on the Camino Aragonese and is a day's walk from Puente la Reina. You would pass by the marvelous Church of Santa Maria de Eunate.

Here is information found about this by using the forum's search feature using the terms Tiebas and Fermine (searches create a temporary file):

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/search/7056369/?q=tiebas+fermine&o=date

 

[Anhalter]

There is the (usually!!) peaceful albergue Casa Paderborn in a nice quiet location right on the river, away from the madness of San Fermin, yet just 10 minutes walk from it. They don't take reservations, so if you arrive early enough in Pamplona, you'd get a bed there.. I've stayed there twice, friendly and attentive hospis, good experience both times.

I love Casa Paderborn, but it is small. So i would guess, there is a good chance of it filling up very fast since i guess the albergues that take reservations will be filled with San Fermin visitors.
Personally i'd rather stay in Arre or Zabaldika.

But can't say how i would schedule my walk there. Maybe SJPDP-Burguete-Zabaldika, but thats something that needs a decent fitness level.

 

[Cowboy99]

Hi everyone!

Ok so I’m last minute jumping on the Camino for a week. It’s been on my mind forever and I figured I would do a bit and see how it feels. I’m packed a bit heavy but I’m trained up pretty well (I just did rim2rim2rim in Grand Canyon with a full pack). My plan is to start at SJPDP and end at Logroño then take bus or train to Bilbao and fly back to Paris where my return flight home is from.

With my original plan, sounds like I’ll be passing through Pamplona right during Sanfermines, where I planned to stay. I’m trying to avoid that. I don’t mind walking through the city, I’m just not sure I’m keen on staying there.

Here is my original plan:

1. SJPDP to Roncesvalles
2 Roncesvalles to Zubiri
3 Zuburi to Pamplona
4. Pamploma to Puente la Reina
5. puente la reina to estella
6 Estella to los arcos
7 Los Arcos to Logroño

Alternative 1

1. St Jean to Roncesvalles
2. Roncesvalles to Larrasoaña
3. Larrasoaña to Zariquigui
4. Zariquigui to Villatuerta
5. Villatuerta to Sansol
6. Sansol to logronño

Alternative 2 combines the two:

1. St Jean to Roncesvalles
2. Roncesvalles to Larrasoaña
3. Larrasoaña to Zariquigui
4. Zariquigui to Puente la reina
5. puente la reina to estella
6 Estella to los arcos
7 Los Arcos to Logroño

Thoughts? Any other ideas? Will Larrasoaña or Zariquigui also be crowded?

Also, does anyone have pointers on getting from Logroño to Bilbao? Train? Bus? How often?

Thank you!! I hope one day to complete the entire Camino and join those who have done it!!

Avoid the bus if you can. Viruses are everywhere and air flow on buses is not great. If you must, use a mask

 

[naplesdon]

The OP is smart to try to avoid SF during the Fete and as J Willhaus has stated anything nearby is likely to be completo. It might be worthwhile to find transport to as far as PlR from where ever you can walk the day you get near Pamplona. Yes, there is a bus from Logrono to Bilbao and there is a new bus depot in Logrono.

 

[C clearly]

Avoid the bus if you can.

Not a piece of advice I agree with.

 

[J Willhaus]

The bus station in Pamplona was very busy when we made transit through there 2 years ago during San Fermin. They had about 7 buses all going to San Sebastian at the same time!

 

[hikentravel1234]

Hi everyone!

Ok so I’m last minute jumping on the Camino for a week. It’s been on my mind forever and I figured I would do a bit and see how it feels. I’m packed a bit heavy but I’m trained up pretty well (I just did rim2rim2rim in Grand Canyon with a full pack). My plan is to start at SJPDP and end at Logroño then take bus or train to Bilbao and fly back to Paris where my return flight home is from.

With my original plan, sounds like I’ll be passing through Pamplona right during Sanfermines, where I planned to stay. I’m trying to avoid that. I don’t mind walking through the city, I’m just not sure I’m keen on staying there.

Here is my original plan:

1. SJPDP to Roncesvalles
2 Roncesvalles to Zubiri
3 Zuburi to Pamplona
4. Pamploma to Puente la Reina
5. puente la reina to estella
6 Estella to los arcos
7 Los Arcos to Logroño

Alternative 1

1. St Jean to Roncesvalles
2. Roncesvalles to Larrasoaña
3. Larrasoaña to Zariquigui
4. Zariquigui to Villatuerta
5. Villatuerta to Sansol
6. Sansol to logronño

Alternative 2 combines the two:

1. St Jean to Roncesvalles
2. Roncesvalles to Larrasoaña
3. Larrasoaña to Zariquigui
4. Zariquigui to Puente la reina
5. puente la reina to estella
6 Estella to los arcos
7 Los Arcos to Logroño

Thoughts? Any other ideas? Will Larrasoaña or Zariquigui also be crowded?

Also, does anyone have pointers on getting from Logroño to Bilbao? Train? Bus? How often?

Thank you!! I hope one day to complete the entire Camino and join those who have done it!!

I love Pamplona, just not during a holiday, especially if the holiday is on the weekend.

 

[GraemeHall]

Your Alternative 2 is almost exactly what I did for my first "taster" Camino, what seems now to be way back when! And I got back to Paris by bus Logroño to Irun then train to Paris.
Buen Camino!!

 

[Apalter]

Hi everyone!

Ok so I’m last minute jumping on the Camino for a week. It’s been on my mind forever and I figured I would do a bit and see how it feels. I’m packed a bit heavy but I’m trained up pretty well (I just did rim2rim2rim in Grand Canyon with a full pack). My plan is to start at SJPDP and end at Logroño then take bus or train to Bilbao and fly back to Paris where my return flight home is from.

With my original plan, sounds like I’ll be passing through Pamplona right during Sanfermines, where I planned to stay. I’m trying to avoid that. I don’t mind walking through the city, I’m just not sure I’m keen on staying there.

Here is my original plan:

1. SJPDP to Roncesvalles
2 Roncesvalles to Zubiri
3 Zuburi to Pamplona
4. Pamploma to Puente la Reina
5. puente la reina to estella
6 Estella to los arcos
7 Los Arcos to Logroño

Alternative 1

1. St Jean to Roncesvalles
2. Roncesvalles to Larrasoaña
3. Larrasoaña to Zariquigui
4. Zariquigui to Villatuerta
5. Villatuerta to Sansol
6. Sansol to logronño

Alternative 2 combines the two:

1. St Jean to Roncesvalles
2. Roncesvalles to Larrasoaña
3. Larrasoaña to Zariquigui
4. Zariquigui to Puente la reina
5. puente la reina to estella
6 Estella to los arcos
7 Los Arcos to Logroño

Thoughts? Any other ideas? Will Larrasoaña or Zariquigui also be crowded?

Also, does anyone have pointers on getting from Logroño to Bilbao? Train? Bus? How often?

Thank you!! I hope one day to complete the entire Camino and join those who have done it!!

Thank you everyone for the reply’s! So it’s sounding like the albergue in Zariquigui is closed? Trying to figure out an alternative now