Madrid to Hontanas - travel advice welcomed

[Glenshiro]

I am due to fly to Madrid on Wednesday 24 April, which coincides with a scheduled nationwide strike of ground handling staff, so my flight may be cancelled.

I had intended starting from Burgos to walk to Leon and have booked accommodation along the way.

As a precaution, I have booked a seat on the first flight from Gatwick to Madrid on Thursday 25 April. If I have to take up this option I will lose my first night's accommodation in Burgos and my accommodation for Thursday 25 April is in Hontanas.

Any advice on reaching Hontanas from Madrid airport? (Where I will be arriving at about 11 AM)

Thanks

 

[Felipe]

This is a section of the Camino that is not well communicated by bus.
I would go from Madrid airport (T4) to Burgos by bus (ALSA company, ticket online possible) and then ask directly in Burgos bus terminal, as you usually do in Spain.
Rome2Rio mentions a little local company that goes to Hontanas, autosotoyalonso.es but I would not trust too much this info.
A taxi from Burgos is possible, but it will be expensive (tariffs here)
It things get too complicated and stressful, you may follow a "zen" option: consider your reservation in Hontanas lost (if you can´t cancel it), enjoy a a day in Burgos, decide calmly your transportation options, and the following day take the bus to your starting point. Hey, it is supposed to be a pleasant walk, not a duty or a task.

 

[Glenshiro]

Thanks, Felipe.

This is a section of the Camino that is not well communicated by bus

How very true! Alonso do provide a service from Burgos to Hontanas - one bus a week on Friday evening.

I already have a ticket for Burgos on Wednesday - I will just have to wait and see what happens.

Any other suggestions?

 

[Felipe]

Uhm....Autobuses Amaya leaves daily from Burgos to Fromista at 17:30. It goes by Tardajos (that is in the Camino) and later to Castrojeriz, where you can walk "in reverse" to Hontanas, just 9 km, about 2 hrs. If it is getting late and dark, you can follow the paved road -as I remember it, there is not too much traffic.
There is apparently a taxi in Castrojeriz, +34 947 37 77 03 (in villages, it is better to reserve beforehand, as there are not too many customers).
Buen camino!

 

[Glenshiro]

Yes, I have looked at that route. I think the nearest point on it to Hontanas is Castrillo de Murcia, just under 6k from Hontanas so, yes, easily walkable. However, I will bear Castrojeriz in mind.

 

[RENSHAW]

Your plans seem too ambitious to me. Spend the night in Burgos and take a bus to Castrojeriz the next day. Most people in Hontanas do their business in Castrojeriz so getting a lift is quite feasible. - perhaps you can move your booking one day ahead. The camino road from Burgos to Hontanas is partly a dirt road used by farm vehicles so a Taxi may not be keen to take you the direct route.

 

[Kathor1]

I think @Felipe has explained all the options quite well. It's awkward and time consuming to get there. There's the daily - expect Sundays - bus Fromista-Burgos, leaving early in the morning in one direction and late in the afternoon in the other direction but it skips Hontanas. Both Fromista and Burgos have reasonable connections to Madrid by bus and train.

I'd take a taxi from Burgos - the price seems to be in the region of 50€. Perhaps contact Jacotrans - they say that they do not transport persons but can organise a taxi.

And the taxis from Burgos to Hontanas will of course use the roads to Hontanas and not the Camino track ☺.

 

[Glenshiro]

Your plans seem too ambitious to me.

With respect, I don't think so. The bus from Burgos arrives in Castrillo de Murcia at 18:10, and sunset in that area on 25 April is not until 21:07, so plenty of time to walk to Hontanas (assuming I take the right road!)

I'd take a taxi from Burgos

Thanks for the suggestion, Kathar1na, but taxis are against my religion - I'm Scottish.......

 

[Kathor1]

Thanks for the suggestion, Kathar1na, but taxis are against my religion - I'm Scottish.......

LOL.

Well, where I come from, they are allowed on the condition that there is no public transport available to get there or back.

 

[naplesdon]

I think @Felipe has explained all the options quite well. It's awkward and time consuming to get there. There's the daily - expect Sundays - bus Fromista-Burgos, leaving early in the morning in one direction and late in the afternoon in the other direction but it skips Hontanas. Both Fromista and Burgos have reasonable connections to Madrid by bus and train.

I'd take a taxi from Burgos - the price seems to be in the region of 50€. Perhaps contact Jacotrans - they say that they do not transport persons but can organise a taxi.

And the taxis from Burgos to Hontanas will of course use the roads to Hontanas and not the Camino track ☺.

Your mention about riding on Jacotrans reminds me of a guy who showed up on Jacotrans at the albergue in Atapuerca on one of my Caminos. He was an elderly guy, as well as a total pain in the butt. When he arrived at the albergue on the van around 2 pm, after the rest of us pilgrims were out hanging our laundry in the trees and waiting for the albergue to open and give us bed assignment; he put his backpack at the front of the queue because he said he had traveled the longest distance. There was a very heat confrontation in Spanish which nearly came to blows. Bottom line was there were enough beds for everyone that night but.......

 

[t2andreo]

You NEED to download the app "Rome2Rio" to your smartphone. You can also get to www.rome2rio.com on the internet.

This app allows you to figure how to get from and to nearly any two named points on the planet.

This WILL help.

 

[Glenshiro]

You NEED to download the app "Rome2Rio" to your smartphone

Thanks, Tom, but I don't own a smartphone. I am aware of Rome2Rio, and it's a good starting point, but not definitive.

 

[Glenshiro]

The threatened strikes of ground handling staff at Spanish airports, scheduled for 21 and 24 April, have been called off. So I can proceed as planned, after all! Thanks to all for your suggestions. See you on the Camino.

 

[RENSHAW]

Thanks to all for your suggestions. See you on the Camino.

Let us know what the outcome was Scotty. Just as a matter of interest to you , Hontanas nestles in a hollow and you will not see the town until you are literary on top it.

 

[camino-david]

I have travelled by bus from Burgos to Castrojeriz and the bus left Burgos at 17.30 and arrived at Castrojeriz about 6.45pm so plenty of time to walk in daylight back to Hontanas.

 

[alexwalker]

The threatened strikes of ground handling staff at Spanish airports, scheduled for 21 and 24 April, have been called off. So I can proceed as planned, after all! Thanks to all for your suggestions. See you on the Camino.

Very good to hear! I arrive in Madrid 16.00, a few hours behind you, and my bus leaves for Burgos at 18.45,, in Burgos 21.15, as scheduled....

 

[Kathor1]

The threatened strikes of ground handling staff at Spanish airports, scheduled for 21 and 24 April, have been called off. So I can proceed as planned, after all!

Super! When I replied earlier, I didn't realise that you are probably going to continue from where you last stopped. I'm pleased to see that now, with the strike called off, you are not going to miss one single step of the way!

 

[Glenshiro]

I arrive in Madrid 16.00, a few hours behind you,

Alex, let's hope we meet somewhere on the trail. You'll recognise me easily - I'll be carrying a rucksack, leaning on a trekking pole and swearing softly.

 

[alexwalker]

Alex, let's hope we meet somewhere on the trail. You'll recognise me easily - I'll be carrying a rucksack, leaning on a trekking pole and swearing softly.

Sounds like me...

 

[Glenshiro]

Arrived on time at Madrid without any problems. It's raining heavily, which reminds me of home (and why I left it.)
Now waiting for the bus to Burgos. They have changed the route of the shuttle bus, which now leaves T1 from the departure floor. I will post about it separately.

 

[RENSHAW]

@Glenshiro - Wow Bud , did you ever think you may have to factor SNOW into the equation?

 

[RENSHAW]

When Chapman Billies leave the street ................

 

[Glenshiro]

In Burgos. Several drouthy neighbours, but no snow. Was raining hard when I arrived, but stopped now. Forecast is for a slow improvement.

 

[RENSHAW]

In Burgos. Several drouthy neighbours, but no snow. Was raining hard when I arrived, but stopped now. Forecast is for a slow improvement.

Did you make it Hontanas without incident?

 

[Glenshiro]

Yes, thanks, not at the airport, anyway. The weather between Burgos and Hontanas was pretty foul - rain and hail, with a biting wind, but I had a great evening there and no rain since. I am now in Bercianos, after four days of warm sunshine.

 

[Former member 49149]

Arrived on time at Madrid without any problems. It's raining heavily, which reminds me of home (and why I left it.)
Now waiting for the bus to Burgos. They have changed the route of the shuttle bus, which now leaves T1 from the departure floor. I will post about it separately.

your comment about the rain reminds of one fine wet and very windy day when my eldest (Scottish) brother swore not so softly that he had been reminded about the reason why he would never come back to live where we were born.. now he lives in sunny Surrey. Traitor.

 

[Former member 49149]

When Chapman Billies leave the street ................

Tam O 'Shanter

When chapman billies leave the street, And drouthy neebors neebors meet, As market-days are wearing late, And folk begin to tak the gate; While we sit bousin, at the nappy, And gettin fou and unco happy, We think na on the lang Scots miles, The mosses, waters, slaps, and stiles, That lie between us…

www.poetryfoundation.org

Just in case anybody feels like checking out the reference

 

[Former member 49149]

Yes, thanks, not at the airport, anyway. The weather between Burgos and Hontanas was pretty foul - rain and hail, with a biting wind, but I had a great evening there and no rain since. I am now in Bercianos, after four days of warm sunshine.

In the lovely old albergue? I was so lucky there, some Italian women who were cooks took over... and that is where I first saw the notice on the dining table: what you give, feeds tomorrow’s pilgrims.

 

[Glenshiro]

No, it's a brand new one on the edge of the village. (La Perala) Very comfortable.