Transport from either Pamplona or San Sebastian airport to Saint Jean pied de Port

[Liggy]

Hola, any members have any good info re above, it will be Oct 2021, so not sure if some transport services close for winter? Train preferred, but bus also. Thank you.

 

[mspath]

Check the transport possibilities cited on RomeTo Rio.com
Happy planning and Buen camino.

 

[Liggy]

Check the transport possibilities cited on RomeTo Rio.com
Happy planning and Buen camino.

Gracias!!!

 

[Rick M]

You will find choices, but here is what I would do.......

Fly into San Sebastion airport, its actually in Irun on the French border, which, incidentally, is actually the start for Camino Norte. Your Camino starts at the baggage claim. You can walk from the airport into Irun, and across the border to the Hendaye TGV Station, where you can catch a train. Its also possible to catch the Feve train from Irun to Hendaye, but why bother when the walk through town is short and scenic. The walk is about 90 minutes or so, I've done it. From the Hendaye station, catch a train north to Bayonne, I think its two or three stops, then get off and transfer to the TER train for the one hour trip from Bayonne to SJPP.

A more intrepid pilgrim could walk the whole way in three days, but I'm not that intrepid.

Buen Camino

 

[Liggy]

You will find choices, but here is what I would do.......

Fly into San Sebastion airport, its actually in Irun on the French border, which, incidentally, is actually the start for Camino Norte. Your Camino starts at the baggage claim. You can walk from the airport into Irun, and across the border to the Hendaye TGV Station, where you can catch a train. Its also possible to catch the Feve train from Irun to Hendaye, but why bother when the walk through town is short and scenic. The walk is about 90 minutes or so, I've done it. From the Hendaye station, catch a train north to Bayonne, I think its two or three stops, then get off and transfer to the TER train for the one hour trip from Bayonne to SJPP.

A more intrepid pilgrim could walk the whole way in three days, but I'm not that intrepid.

Buen Camino

Thank you, that great advice. I was a bit concerned that the trains perhaps stopped in the winter months,, as when searching on line, it says none available, but i think that's because im searching too far ahead (next October). Thanks again.

 

[Terry Callery]

I took high speed rail to Pamplona from Madrid when I flew in from JFK ---NY City

The first stage on the French Camino is extremely hard- ascending the Pyreness Mountains.
It is not only long to Roncesvalles 25 km --but the steepest climb on the entire Camino - it kills most folks
.
It is a 1,000 meter climb -that is like walking up the stairs of a 70 floor building (14 feet per floor)
When was the last time you even walked up 10 flights in a building?

My advice is to take the 3 pm bus from Pamplona ---to the top of the Pyrenees and start in Roncesvalles.
Is is just like 50 minutes.

You will only miss one stage of the entire 33 - that is if you follow the Brieley guide book - which I do not really follow the stops --- no--- it is great guide book - maps are terrific - Just do not follow the "official" stages like all the other crowds. Stay in the lest traveled places between the traditional stops.

For train and bus info----- go to https://www.rome2rio.com/

 

[Liggy]

I took high speed rail to Pamplona from Madrid when I flew in from JFK ---NY City
View attachment 88068
The first stage on the French Camino is extremely hard- ascending the Pyreness Mountains.
It is not only long to Roncesvalles 25 km --but the steepest climb on the entire Camino - it kills most folks
.
It is a 1,000 meter climb -that is like walking up the stairs of a 70 floor building (14 feet per floor)
When was the last time you even walked up 10 flights in a building?

My advice is to take the 3 pm bus from Pamplona ---to the top of the Pyrenees and start in Roncesvalles.
Is is just like 50 minutes.

You will only miss one stage of the entire 33 - that if you follow the Brieley guide book - which I do not really recommed - no--- it is great guide book - maps are terrific - Just do not follow the "official" stages like all the other crowds. Stay in the lest traveled places between the traditional stops.

For train and bus info----- go to https://www.rome2rio.com/

Thats so kind of you to reoly, but I'm a stubborn girl, and want to do the whole thing. I'm lucky that i live in southern Spain, so have several options. Thank you so much.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

ALSA/CONDA to St. Jean Pied de Port
The bus service between Pamplona to St. Jean Pied de Port is provided by CONDA, a bus company serving Navarra.

You may see in various place on the web that ALSA is the bus line serving Pamplona to St. Jean and in other places that CONDA is the provider of this service. CONDA is partially owned by ALSA, a larger Spanish bus company (which, in turn, is a subsidiary of the UK company National Express). So whether the bus line is called ALSA or CONDA you get the same schedule, fare and service.

There is daily service from Pamplona to St. Jean when in season and no service at all during the winter months (daily includes Sundays and holidays.) For 2018 the season of service was from March 3 to October 21. During the season extra trips are added and removed depending on historical demand.

The trip takes one hour and 45 minutes and costs 22€.

Roughly the ALSA/CONDA schedule has been:

Jan No service
Feb No service
Mar 14:30
Apr 14:30 17:30
May 14:30 17:30
Jun 10:00 14:30 17:30
Jul 10:00 12:00 14:30 17:30
Aug 10:00 12:00 14:30 17:30
Sep 10:00 14:30 17:30
Oct 14:30 17:30
Nov No service
Dec No service
The ALSA website in English is at URL https://www.ALSA.es/en/ and the CONDA schedules are incorporated there. Besides getting the schedule CONDA tickets can be bought online ahead of time from the ALSA website as well.

Note 1: When using the ALSA website to book transportation to St. Jean Pied de Port you must spell out St. in full as Saint or the town will not be found.

Note 2: ALSA does not load its full schedule into the website all at once. I think they publish the schedule only for the next two months. This means that if you try to book a trip through the website for a date later in the year (e.g., trying to book an October 2019 trip in July 2019) the schedule may not be found. This also means that during the winter months the website will make it look as if there is no service at all.

Note 3: ALSA may refuse to accept non-Spanish issued credit cards. In that case the tickets can be paid for using PayPal. Alternatively they could be bought from a reseller.
Note 4: CONDA has a webpage with a schedule. Do not trust this schedule. The last time I checked it had the 2015 schedule. When the webpage is served up it is labelled at the bottom with the date that the webpage was served (not the creation date or date of validity) thus making the information appear to be current. This page is at http://www.CONDA.es/eventos.php?tipo=3&id=438 See appendix xxx below.

Note 5: The ALSA/CONDA website can be used to buy a Pamplona to St. Jean ticket or a Roncevalles to St. Jean ticket but you cannot buy a ticket for just the Pamplona to Roncevalles portion of the trip. The Artieda bus company has the license for that.

 

[Terry Callery]

Check the transport possibilities cited on RomeTo Rio.com
Happy planning and Buen camino.

https://www.rome2rio.com/ is the correct web address
It not RomeToRio.com

Very useful when traveling in Spain
Obviously you have used it!
Great informatiom offered to beginners.
Very helpful advice
T

 

[SabsP]

Thats so kind of you to reoly, but I'm a stubborn girl, and want to do the whole thing. I'm lucky that i live in southern Spain, so have several options. Thank you so much.

Of course you can do that! In fact most people I know ( young and older, fit or less fit ) walked from Saint-Jean to Roncesvalles in one go. Only a minority stops in Honto or Orisson!

 

[lt56ny]

ALSA/CONDA to St. Jean Pied de Port
The bus service between Pamplona to St. Jean Pied de Port is provided by CONDA, a bus company serving Navarra.

You may see in various place on the web that ALSA is the bus line serving Pamplona to St. Jean and in other places that CONDA is the provider of this service. CONDA is partially owned by ALSA, a larger Spanish bus company (which, in turn, is a subsidiary of the UK company National Express). So whether the bus line is called ALSA or CONDA you get the same schedule, fare and service.

There is daily service from Pamplona to St. Jean when in season and no service at all during the winter months (daily includes Sundays and holidays.) For 2018 the season of service was from March 3 to October 21. During the season extra trips are added and removed depending on historical demand.

The trip takes one hour and 45 minutes and costs 22€.

Roughly the ALSA/CONDA schedule has been:

Jan No service
Feb No service
Mar 14:30
Apr 14:30 17:30
May 14:30 17:30
Jun 10:00 14:30 17:30
Jul 10:00 12:00 14:30 17:30
Aug 10:00 12:00 14:30 17:30
Sep 10:00 14:30 17:30
Oct 14:30 17:30
Nov No service
Dec No service
The ALSA website in English is at URL https://www.ALSA.es/en/ and the CONDA schedules are incorporated there. Besides getting the schedule CONDA tickets can be bought online ahead of time from the ALSA website as well.

Note 1: When using the ALSA website to book transportation to St. Jean Pied de Port you must spell out St. in full as Saint or the town will not be found.

Note 2: ALSA does not load its full schedule into the website all at once. I think they publish the schedule only for the next two months. This means that if you try to book a trip through the website for a date later in the year (e.g., trying to book an October 2019 trip in July 2019) the schedule may not be found. This also means that during the winter months the website will make it look as if there is no service at all.

Note 3: ALSA may refuse to accept non-Spanish issued credit cards. In that case the tickets can be paid for using PayPal. Alternatively they could be bought from a reseller.
Note 4: CONDA has a webpage with a schedule. Do not trust this schedule. The last time I checked it had the 2015 schedule. When the webpage is served up it is labelled at the bottom with the date that the webpage was served (not the creation date or date of validity) thus making the information appear to be current. This page is at http://www.CONDA.es/eventos.php?tipo=3&id=438 See appendix xxx below.

Note 5: The ALSA/CONDA website can be used to buy a Pamplona to St. Jean ticket or a Roncevalles to St. Jean ticket but you cannot buy a ticket for just the Pamplona to Roncevalles portion of the trip. The Artieda bus company has the license for that.

Having some experience with ALSA myself you did a great job explaining ALSA and their website.

 

[Rick M]

i think that's because im searching too far ahead (next October).

Exactly so. SNCF, the French rail operator, does not provide any schedules beyond about 90 days, and for some routes, even less. Rest assured, the main TGV line from Hendaye to points north runs year round, its one of the main lines, and there are many trains per day. The "Pilgrim Train" from Bayonne (its a local low speed "TER" service, walk up and buy a ticket) to SJPP also runs year round, but be aware, the tracks are frequently under repair, and when you look for the platform in the station, the people who work in the Bayonne station are experts at shuffling any confused people with backpacks out to the replacement bus in the parking lot.

If you prefer to go through Pamplona, you have received excellent (and thorough!) advice there as well. I have never used the bus service from Pamplona, but many pilgrims do.

On a personal note, I want to thank you for asking this question. I haven't really seen many questions like this on the forum since, well, you know. I feel as if we can all now dare to plan a Camino again. This is the first time in months that I have actually visualized the mechanics of getting to SJPP along with a cohort of hopeful, rather than fearful faces. It feels very, very good.

Buen Camino

 

[Liggy]

Exactly so. SNCF, the French rail operator, does not provide any schedules beyond about 90 days, and for some routes, even less. Rest assured, the main TGV line from Hendaye to points north runs year round, its one of the main lines, and there are many trains per day. The "Pilgrim Train" from Bayonne (its a local low speed "TER" service, walk up and buy a ticket) to SJPP also runs year round, but be aware, the tracks are frequently under repair, and when you look for the platform in the station, the people who work in the Bayonne station are experts at shuffling any confused people with backpacks out to the replacement bus in the parking lot.

If you prefer to go through Pamplona, you have received excellent (and thorough!) advice there as well. I have never used the bus service from Pamplona, but many pilgrims do.

On a personal note, I want to thank you for asking this question. I haven't really seen many questions like this on the forum since, well, you know. I feel as if we can all now dare to plan a Camino again. This is the first time in months that I have actually visualized the mechanics of getting to SJPP along with a cohort of hopeful, rather than fearful faces. It feels very, very good.

Buen Camino

Thank you so much for your advice, it has helped me so much.

 

[Liggy]

ALSA/CONDA to St. Jean Pied de Port
The bus service between Pamplona to St. Jean Pied de Port is provided by CONDA, a bus company serving Navarra.

You may see in various place on the web that ALSA is the bus line serving Pamplona to St. Jean and in other places that CONDA is the provider of this service. CONDA is partially owned by ALSA, a larger Spanish bus company (which, in turn, is a subsidiary of the UK company National Express). So whether the bus line is called ALSA or CONDA you get the same schedule, fare and service.

There is daily service from Pamplona to St. Jean when in season and no service at all during the winter months (daily includes Sundays and holidays.) For 2018 the season of service was from March 3 to October 21. During the season extra trips are added and removed depending on historical demand.

The trip takes one hour and 45 minutes and costs 22€.

Roughly the ALSA/CONDA schedule has been:

Jan No service
Feb No service
Mar 14:30
Apr 14:30 17:30
May 14:30 17:30
Jun 10:00 14:30 17:30
Jul 10:00 12:00 14:30 17:30
Aug 10:00 12:00 14:30 17:30
Sep 10:00 14:30 17:30
Oct 14:30 17:30
Nov No service
Dec No service
The ALSA website in English is at URL https://www.ALSA.es/en/ and the CONDA schedules are incorporated there. Besides getting the schedule CONDA tickets can be bought online ahead of time from the ALSA website as well.

Note 1: When using the ALSA website to book transportation to St. Jean Pied de Port you must spell out St. in full as Saint or the town will not be found.

Note 2: ALSA does not load its full schedule into the website all at once. I think they publish the schedule only for the next two months. This means that if you try to book a trip through the website for a date later in the year (e.g., trying to book an October 2019 trip in July 2019) the schedule may not be found. This also means that during the winter months the website will make it look as if there is no service at all.

Note 3: ALSA may refuse to accept non-Spanish issued credit cards. In that case the tickets can be paid for using PayPal. Alternatively they could be bought from a reseller.
Note 4: CONDA has a webpage with a schedule. Do not trust this schedule. The last time I checked it had the 2015 schedule. When the webpage is served up it is labelled at the bottom with the date that the webpage was served (not the creation date or date of validity) thus making the information appear to be current. This page is at http://www.CONDA.es/eventos.php?tipo=3&id=438 See appendix xxx below.

Note 5: The ALSA/CONDA website can be used to buy a Pamplona to St. Jean ticket or a Roncevalles to St. Jean ticket but you cannot buy a ticket for just the Pamplona to Roncevalles portion of the trip. The Artieda bus company has the license for that.

Very helpful, thank you.

 

[Gary Martin]

If you have the time and are comfortable walking alone a great option is just start walking in San Sebastian. There is an obscure but marked route connecting Bayonne and St Jean that you could walk in reverse. You would be in better shape to tackle that pesky hill but wouldn’t have all the help from other pilgrims when you are first starting your Camino. Another possible route is the GR 10 but it can be challenging. Two years ago in May I switched to the lower route because of “interesting weather”.
Gary

 

[Liggy]

If you have the time and are comfortable walking alone a great option is just start walking in San Sebastian. There is an obscure but marked route connecting Bayonne and St Jean that you could walk in reverse. You would be in better shape to tackle that pesky hill but wouldn’t have all the help from other pilgrims when you are first starting your Camino. Another possible route is the GR 10 but it can be challenging. Two years ago in May I switched to the lower route because of “interesting weather”.
Gary

I did think about that, but, time is of essence for me (unpaid leave etc), so, its from SJPDP for me... I love a challenge, thanks for your response.

 

[cherie]

Many years ago I was picked up at Pamploma bus station by the following Pension, Corazon Puro (948 392 113) Euro 36, dinner, breakfast and pickup/drop off corazonpuro@corazonpurs.es www.corazonpuro.es. I stayed the night and in the morning they dropped off guests at SJPDP. It's closed at present but may be open again by the time you're wanting to walk your Camino. Cherie

 

[trecile]

Many years ago I was picked up at Pamploma bus station by the following Pension, Corazon Puro (948 392 113) Euro 36, dinner, breakfast and pickup/drop off corazonpuro@corazonpurs.es www.corazonpuro.es. I stayed the night and in the morning they dropped off guests at SJPDP. It's closed at present but may be open again by the time you're wanting to walk your Camino. Cherie

I also had a wonderful experience with them, but I really doubt that Istvan and Barbara will be returning to Corazon Puro.
The building was rented by another party.
This post from 2017 has more information https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/corazon-puro-closing.45297/#post-476880

 

[cherie]

I also had a wonderful experience with them, but I really doubt that Istvan and Barbara will be returning to Corazon Puro.
The building was rented by another party.
This post from 2017 has more information https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/corazon-puro-closing.45297/#post-476880

Thanks for the update Trecile, I'm obviously very much out of touch. My stay was in 2014.

 

[Liggy]

Many years ago I was picked up at Pamploma bus station by the following Pension, Corazon Puro (948 392 113) Euro 36, dinner, breakfast and pickup/drop off corazonpuro@corazonpurs.es www.corazonpuro.es. I stayed the night and in the morning they dropped off guests at SJPDP. It's closed at present but may be open again by the time you're wanting to walk your Camino. Cherie

Thank you

 

[Liggy]

Having some experience with ALSA myself you did a great job explaining ALSA and their website.

Very helpful thank you. I use Alsa alot here in Malaga,, good service. Your info above is very much appreciated.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I should have mentioned this earlier. If you are going in late October after the Conda service ends there is another bus line that will get you most of the way (you walk 8 km to SJPdP in reverse on the camino). PLM goes to Pekotxeta, Spain which is a village just across a small river from Argenuy, France.

Pamplona to Valcarlos and Arnéguy with PLM coaches

PLM Autocares has a Pamplona-Valcarlos-Arnéguy bus that runs all year with service on Tuesdays and Fridays (but not if a holiday.) The bus leaves Pamplona at 11:00 and is scheduled to arrive in Valcarlos at 12:30 and Arnéguy at 12:45.

The PLM homepage and the Pamplona to Arnéguy schedule are at:

PLM homepage: https://plmautocares.com/
Webpage with schedule: https://www.plmautocares.com/horarios/
PDF of schedule: https://plmautocares.com/Horarios_PLM.pdf
JPG of 2017 schedule: https://www.plmautocares.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Nuevos_Horarios_2017.jpg

 

[Liggy]

I should have mentioned this earlier. If you are going in late October after the Conda service ends there is another bus line that will get you most of the way (you walk 8 km to SJPdP in reverse on the camino). PLM goes to Pekotxeta, Spain which is a village just across a small river from Argenuy, France.

Pamplona to Valcarlos and Arnéguy with PLM coaches

PLM Autocares has a Pamplona-Valcarlos-Arnéguy bus that runs all year with service on Tuesdays and Fridays (but not if a holiday.) The bus leaves Pamplona at 11:00 and is scheduled to arrive in Valcarlos at 12:30 and Arnéguy at 12:45.

The PLM homepage and the Pamplona to Arnéguy schedule are at:

PLM homepage: https://plmautocares.com/
Webpage with schedule: https://www.plmautocares.com/horarios/
PDF of schedule: https://plmautocares.com/Horarios_PLM.pdf
JPG of 2017 schedule: https://www.plmautocares.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Nuevos_Horarios_2017.jpg

Fantastic info, muchas gracias.

 

[Terry Callery]

The other option is take high speed rail (220 km per hour) to Pamplona from Madrid -RENFRE

The take the 50 minute bus-from Pamplona--- 3pm that leaves each day to Roncesvalles.

Start at the top of the mountain!!!!! ----Stay at the former--- Monestary Real Colegitata de Roncesvalles at the top of the mountain..

It will lock you into the Catholic nature of the Camino - even if you don't practice- like I do not - more Zen approach

Particually in the winter--you do not want to walk up that mountain first day.

Then you do not have to do the killer 1,000 meters elevation up the Pyrenees Mountains. It is brutal--- especially your first day! Just missing the 1 stage of 33 - accodring to Brierely

Spent a day ot two in Pamplona= to recover from jet lag - get some sleep before you start.

Single room at Hotel Eslava is 38 Euros in Pamplona - get some rest from the long travel most of us make - Do not stay at crowed abergues every day - get a single room to sleep better like every other day/

I drove 3 hours to Portland Maine ---then long flight to JKF ----waited for hours in the Airports--- then 7 hour flight to Madrid - then four hour train to Pamplona. Did not sleep for 38 hours.

You really want to start walking he next day?

Go to Cafe Iruna on the famous Plaza del Castillo, in the old quarter of Pamplona.

All of Pamplona’s historic charm with its bricked roadways, small narrow cobbled streets built for horses, and stone buildings hundreds of years old is encapsulated in this cafe.

Café Iruna is spacious inside with arabesque pillars rising to a ceiling 30 feet high, and with enormous stained glass windows through which an abundant amount of Spanish sunlight spills in.

This café glitters with the gilded architectural detail so common to the nineteenth century.

Café Iruna was one of Hemingway’s favorite places in Pamplona, a city he visited every year from 1923 to 1927 for the Fiesta de San Fermin, the running of the bulls.

 

[SabsP]

Very helpful thank you. I use Alsa alot here in Malaga,, good service. Your info above is very much appreciated.

Good to know you have easily access from Malaga! No jetlag for you then...

 

[Liggy]

Good to know you have easily access from Malaga! No jetlag for you then...

Yes, im very fortunate.

 

[Kristie]

Hola, any members have any good info re above, it will be Oct 2021, so not sure if some transport services close for winter? Train preferred, but bus also. Thank you.

A cab from the Pamplona train station to SJPP is about 100 euros. You probably can find another Pilgrim or two to share the ride. They’ll be wearing backpacks, so you’ll recognize them.

 

[Jim]

Thank you, that great advice. I was a bit concerned that the trains perhaps stopped in the winter months,, as when searching on line, it says none available, but i think that's because im searching too far ahead (next October). Thanks again.

Yes, the TGV from Hendaye to Bayonne runs year round. Tracks are not usually hampered by any snowpack.
I did experience some problems in that area (I was going to Lourdes that year instead of SJPDP) when a river with proximity to the tracks overran its banks due to sudden snow pack melt. That was in 2013. The French train company arranged busses for all passengers to get to our final destination— no problems whatsoever.

 

[Thornley]

Thats so kind of you to reoly, but I'm a stubborn girl, and want to do the whole thing. I'm lucky that i live in southern Spain, so have several options. Thank you so much.

Most Spanish we have encountered commenced in Spain , that’s Roncesvalles.
The whole thing starts in Paris, Le Puy , or from your front door..

When we got a sweater in SDC 13 yrs ago it never had StJPP on it , just the Spanish side

 

[trecile]

Most Spanish we have encountered commenced in Spain , that’s Roncesvalles.
The whole thing starts in Paris, Le Puy , or from your front door..

The whole thing starts in Paris, Le Puy , or from your front door..