Transportation Ideas Between Astorga and Ponferrada

[Valleygirlhikes]

Hello everyone! Due to my bad knees, I can't walk the Camino Santiago. Instead of going home, I have found that going from Albergue to Albergue to catch up with friends is the camino I have chose to do. This brings me happiness. My problem is finding transport for the next few stages. I am looking for suggestions and maybe someone who is already using a transpotation service and wouldn't mind splitting the costs.
Thank you.

 

[Bradypus]

ALSA run buses from Astorga to Ponferrada. 11 listed for tomorrow for example. Takes between an hour and 90 minutes depending on time of day.

 

[Valleygirlhikes]

ALSA run buses from Astorga to Ponferrada. 11 listed for tomorrow for example. Takes between an hour and 90 minutes depending on time of day.

Going from Astorga to Ponferrada is an option, if I can't get to the stages in between.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I am disappointed for you because this stretch is one of my top favorites on the Camino Frances, particularly from Foncebadon all the way to Molinaseca. I'm not sure if the bus route includes any of those villages or that area.
Either way, what you have planned seems better than going home early. It sounds like you have been enjoying some new friendships and found a way to continue enjoying their company.
I am meeting two camino girlfriends I met on my first Camino in 2015 next week for a yearly mini-reunion two night getaway. A similar thing could be in your future; who knows!

 

[Valleygirlhikes]

I am glad to be here, even though my knees gave out. I have been grateful more than disappointed. I have found something be happy about every single day. Hopefully I have helped a couple of pilgrams continue their journey here on the camino, by not giving up, to heal and find their own happiness. I may be a bit boken but there is power in that as well. Thank you and enjoy being with your camino family next week.

 

[Joynz]

I took the bus from Astorga to Ponferrada- it was convenient and cheap. If you are staying at the municipal albergue in Ponferrada, you can get off at the ‘University’ stop (a stop as you come into town) and walk to the Albergue from there (I think you can get that stop as a destination on your ticket too). From the main bus station, it’s is a longer walk to the albergue -but you could get a taxi.

I highly recommend visiting the Knights Templar Castle. There are some steps if you want to see all levels, but you will still enjoy it if you can’t do steps at the monument. It’s closed Mondays, from memory.

 

[hhw]

In a similar situation, we didn’t find affordable travel options so instead stayed 2 nights in Astorga and 2 in Camponaraya to fill in the stages in between we couldn’t get to.

If you need more support past that, you can get a few more Camino stops with Alsa between Ponferrada and Pedrafita do Cebreiro. Then switch to Monbus, which has a route from Pedrafita to O Cebreiro and continuing (mostly) along the Camino to Santiago. Looks to be just one a day, late afternoon.

https://www.monbus.es/?route=/src/net/monbus/horarios/trigger/download-schedule.php&originId=10354&destinationId=10960

 

[Valleygirlhikes]

I will be researching this option, thank you.

 

[AlainC]

This is an excellent suggestion from Joynz. I was a volunteer hospitalero in the albergue San Nicolás in Ponferrada for 2 weeks last Fall. During that time I had the opportunity to get to know the city and there is lots to see. You can spend a couple of days there while waiting for your friends walking from Astorga to catch up with you.

 

[AlainC]

If you visit the Knights Templar Castle in Ponferrada, they will stamp your pilgrim credentials and you get a discount on the entrance fee.

 

[Valleygirlhikes]

Hello everyone! Due to my bad knees, I can't walk the Camino Santiago. Instead of going home, I have found that going from Albergue to Albergue to catch up with friends is the camino I have chose to do. This brings me happiness. My problem is finding transport for the next few stages. I am looking for suggestions and maybe someone who is already using a transpotation service and wouldn't mind splitting the costs.
Thank you.

Update: Found teansport to Rabanal and my Albergue host has arranged a taxi friend to pick me up tomorrow morning onto Ponferrada. He will stop at the Cuz de Ferro so I can place a stone for a friend. I will stay in Ponferrada two nights and will definitely visit the castle. I am open to hear of any other places to visit or foods to try.
I also will be looking into volunteering in Santiago since my return date is in July. Thank you all for helping me get this far, many hugs!

 

[Joynz]

If you visit the Knights Templar Castle in Ponferrada, they will stamp your pilgrim credentials and you get a discount on the entrance fee.

And last year - from the Information Centre (turn right at the ramp that goes up to the castle entrance, and follow the moat around for 50 metres or so) - I got a really lovely little free, illustrated map of the Camino that folds out like a credential. A lovely keepsake on nice heavy weight paper. There’s a nice cathedrel if you keep walking in the same direction too.

 

[Joynz]

In a similar situation, we didn’t find affordable travel options so instead stayed 2 nights in Astorga and 2 in Camponaraya to fill in the stages in between we couldn’t get to.

If you need more support past that, you can get a few more Camino stops with Alsa between Ponferrada and Pedrafita do Cebreiro. Then switch to Monbus, which has a route from Pedrafita to O Cebreiro and continuing (mostly) along the Camino to Santiago. Looks to be just one a day, late afternoon.

https://www.monbus.es/?route=/src/net/monbus/horarios/trigger/download-schedule.php&originId=10354&destinationId=10960

Last year there was a bus early in the morning too - around 7am or so that went to Sarria. The municipal Albergue has info. on this.