Travelling from Canada

[Todd McNaughton]

Hi there,

My future wife and I will be travelling from Canada in May of 2016 to start our walk most likely in Pamplona. We are thinking about getting round trip tickets to Barcelona and then taking the bus or train to Pamplona. After completing we would again bus/train or fly from Santiago de Compostela to Barcelona and spend whatever remaining time we have until our flights there in Barcelona. We are curious if this would work or if anyone has a better plan for booking flights/travelling to and from the Camino.

Thanks a lot,

Todd

 

[Happy-walker-MN]

In looking at flight options for my upcoming walk (starting in a few weeks!) I'm finding that prices are similar to fly in and out of different places (from the US). Into Paris or Barcelona, out of Madrid or Lisbon all seem to be within $80 in price. I just wanted to mention this so you know you may have other options to consider. Happy planning!

 

[Christian Hiriart]

I'm also going from Canada and will be flying to Paris, will go and see the sites then take the train. Mainly because I wanted to see Paris and the train ride apparently is magnificent.
Buen Camino

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Hi there,

My future wife and I will be travelling from Canada in May of 2016 to start our walk most likely in Pamplona. We are thinking about getting round trip tickets to Barcelona and then taking the bus or train to Pamplona. After completing we would again bus/train or fly from Santiago de Compostela to Barcelona and spend whatever remaining time we have until our flights there in Barcelona. We are curious if this would work or if anyone has a better plan for booking flights/travelling to and from the Camino.

Thanks a lot,

Todd

Todd, check out Airtransat for flightto BCN, and trains on the Renfe site, and buses on Alsa. This will give you a good idea of what could be, or not.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I'm also going from Canada and will be flying to Paris, will go and see the sites then take the train. Mainly because I wanted to see Paris and the train ride apparently is magnificent.
Buen Camino

If you want to see the sites then by all means, but the train ride has little to offer, especially at the speed of the TGV.

 

[IngridF]

2012, I flew Paris, train to Bayonne (well actually I flew to Biarritz, because I missed the train - too long a story) then train to SJPDP Coming home I flew Santiago to Barcelona - Canada

 

[Hope0925]

Hi there,

My future wife and I will be travelling from Canada in May of 2016 to start our walk most likely in Pamplona. We are thinking about getting round trip tickets to Barcelona and then taking the bus or train to Pamplona. After completing we would again bus/train or fly from Santiago de Compostela to Barcelona and spend whatever remaining time we have until our flights there in Barcelona. We are curious if this would work or if anyone has a better plan for booking flights/travelling to and from the Camino.

Thanks a lot,

Todd

Hi Todd,
My first suggestion would be to try CAA for flights. I'm leaving from Ottawa on May 4, 2016, to begin my first Camino in SJPdP. CAA got me a deal (Ottawa-Montreal by bus, Montreal-Paris (non-stop - essential for me so nothing gets lost), and then I return Madrid-Paris-Montreal and bus to Ottawa for $580!! Plus a $45 CAA fee. I still can't believe it. I'm sure it would cost more to fly to Calgary! I wasn't aware that a return flight would let you return from a different city, so that might be something that would interest you.
Buen Camino,
Jane

 

[movinmaggie]

Todd not sure where you are in Canada, but I just returned from the CF. I flew British Airways from Vancouver to Madrid then took the Renfe train to Pamplona. I did go on to St.Jean Pied de Port with the Corazon Puro folks, but if Pamplona is your final destination for walking, it was pretty straight forward and I did want to work in a short train trip. Prices are all over the place, but I'm sure if you book early enough you could find something. Happy planning. I'm sure you'll get lots of suggestions here….

 

[Todd McNaughton]

Hi Todd,
My first suggestion would be to try CAA for flights. I'm leaving from Ottawa on May 4, 2016, to begin my first Camino in SJPdP. CAA got me a deal (Ottawa-Montreal by bus, Montreal-Paris (non-stop - essential for me so nothing gets lost), and then I return Madrid-Paris-Montreal and bus to Ottawa for $580!! Plus a $45 CAA fee. I still can't believe it. I'm sure it would cost more to fly to Calgary! I wasn't aware that a return flight would let you return from a different city, so that might be something that would interest you.
Buen Camino,
Jane

Thanks Jane and everyone this has been a big help!

 

[jpflavin1]

Hi there,

My future wife and I will be travelling from Canada in May of 2016 to start our walk most likely in Pamplona. We are thinking about getting round trip tickets to Barcelona and then taking the bus or train to Pamplona. After completing we would again bus/train or fly from Santiago de Compostela to Barcelona and spend whatever remaining time we have until our flights there in Barcelona. We are curious if this would work or if anyone has a better plan for booking flights/travelling to and from the Camino.

Thanks a lot,

Todd

Todd:

I am not sure if you have purchased your tickets or not. I think Madrid is the best port of entry for the Camino unless you have another reason for going to Barcelona or Paris. It is also, imo, the easiest and least expensive to return from Santiago. Currently there are great fares, Around $600. RT from some Canadian cities to Madrid with one stop, usually in the States. I am not sure which city you will be departing from but most have very low fares. I looked at the time frame of May 3rd through June 15th.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[Deanpf]

Hi Todd,
My first suggestion would be to try CAA for flights. I'm leaving from Ottawa on May 4, 2016, to begin my first Camino in SJPdP. CAA got me a deal (Ottawa-Montreal by bus, Montreal-Paris (non-stop - essential for me so nothing gets lost), and then I return Madrid-Paris-Montreal and bus to Ottawa for $580!! Plus a $45 CAA fee. I still can't believe it. I'm sure it would cost more to fly to Calgary! I wasn't aware that a return flight would let you return from a different city, so that might be something that would interest you.
Buen Camino,
Jane

Hi Jane,
I am leaving from Montreal at the end of May. Wondering if you went into a CAA centre or did it over the internet? That's a great price.

 

[PIER-GIORGIO BASSI]

Hi Todd, I am leaving on the Toronto-Barcelona flight with Air Canada on May 7. I am having trouble finding easy connections from Barcelona to STJPDP. The trouble is that
I am hoping to go from Barcelona airport to STJPDP in one day. This is a challenge. I can take the train to Pamplona but by the time I get there, I may miss the only bus to St. Jean
which leaves at 17:30. (Can anybody confirm this?) Otherwise I may have to take a taxi which is costly - 100 euros. I am hoping I meet someone to share the cost. However,
if you are planning to start in Pamplona, you can take the RENFE train that leaves Barcelona Sants station at 12:10 and arrives in Pamplona at 16:06. There are also bus options if you prefer.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Canada has fantastic prices on airfare right now!
If you are close enough to get a connection via Canada you can really save.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Hi Todd, I am leaving on the Toronto-Barcelona flight with Air Canada on May 7. I am having trouble finding easy connections from Barcelona to STJPDP. The trouble is that
I am hoping to go from Barcelona airport to STJPDP in one day. This is a challenge. I can take the train to Pamplona but by the time I get there, I may miss the only bus to St. Jean
which leaves at 17:30. (Can anybody confirm this?) Otherwise I may have to take a taxi which is costly - 100 euros. I am hoping I meet someone to share the cost. However,
if you are planning to start in Pamplona, you can take the RENFE train that leaves Barcelona Sants station at 12:10 and arrives in Pamplona at 16:06. There are also bus options if you prefer.

Ryanair will fly you from Barcelona to Irun. Getting to SJPP by bus/train is easy from there.

 

[whariwharangi]

Hi Todd, I am leaving on the Toronto-Barcelona flight with Air Canada on May 7. I am having trouble finding easy connections from Barcelona to STJPDP. The trouble is that
I am hoping to go from Barcelona airport to STJPDP in one day. This is a challenge. I can take the train to Pamplona but by the time I get there, I may miss the only bus to St. Jean
which leaves at 17:30. (Can anybody confirm this?) Otherwise I may have to take a taxi which is costly - 100 euros. I am hoping I meet someone to share the cost. However,
if you are planning to start in Pamplona, you can take the RENFE train that leaves Barcelona Sants station at 12:10 and arrives in Pamplona at 16:06. There are also bus options if you prefer.

Last bus from Pamplona to SJPdP on the schedule is 1730. Not sure that there will be a bus sooner than 1430 (as per the schedule so far) by 7 May so you may end up in Pamplona for up to 22 hours.

If you've arrived in Barcelona too late to make Pamplona by 1730 then your only other options is to try and find a flight to San Sebastian. EAS airport is located 5 km from Gare d'Hendaye. Take SNCF train to Bayonne and Bayonne to SJPdP. Note the last train from Bayonne to SJPdP leaves 1806 most days.

It is possible to take SNCF train from Barcelona to Toulouse and Toulouse to Bayonne. There is a morning train from Bayonne to SJPdP.

You need to watch for holidays. There is a major holiday in France 5th May and 8th May 2016. There will be reduced transportation schedules.

 

[Deanpf]

I was able to get a montreal to Madrid (return from Porto) for $800 even. It would have been cheaper to fly to and from Madrid but for just a bit more I liked the idea of Porto being so close to Santiago and getting to see it.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I was able to get a montreal to Madrid (return from Porto) for $800 even. It would have been cheaper to fly to and from Madrid but for just a bit more I liked the idea of Porto being so close to Santiago and getting to see it.

Dean, was this with Airtransat? I need to book my flight but there are so few options at this time on their website. And what dates did you find that price for?

 

[Deanpf]

Dean, was this with Airtransat? I need to book my flight but there are so few options at this time on their website. And what dates did you find that price for?

Sorry I forgot to give that info. I fly out of montreal end of May and come back June 24th. It is with KLM. I booked it straight through the KLM site but used skscanner.ca for a week or two to check prices. Air transat never got that low for price and they only have one flight a week.
Klm was good and a combo of swiss air and air canada had some options but i did book almost two weeks ago. My apologies for waiting so long to post it.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Sorry I forgot to give that info. I fly out of montreal end of May and come back June 24th. It is with KLM. I booked it straight through the KLM site but used skscanner.ca for a week or two to check prices. Air transat never got that low for price and they only have one flight a week.
Klm was good and a combo of swiss air and air canada had some options but i did book almost two weeks ago. My apologies for waiting so long to post it.

Thank you for this info. I was hoping you had found a direct flight.

 

[Deanpf]

Thank you for this info. I was hoping you had found a direct flight.

No sorry. The only direct flight I saw was the transat flight. Good luck!

 

[Anemone del Camino]

No sorry. The only direct flight I saw was the transat flight. Good luck!

Thanks!

 

[PIER-GIORGIO BASSI]

Last bus from Pamplona to SJPdP on the schedule is 1730. Not sure that there will be a bus sooner than 1430 (as per the schedule so far) by 7 May so you may end up in Pamplona for up to 22 hours.

If you've arrived in Barcelona too late to make Pamplona by 1730 then your only other options is to try and find a flight to San Sebastian. EAS airport is located 5 km from Gare d'Hendaye. Take SNCF train to Bayonne and Bayonne to SJPdP. Note the last train from Bayonne to SJPdP leaves 1806 most days.

It is possible to take SNCF train from Barcelona to Toulouse and Toulouse to Bayonne. There is a morning train from Bayonne to SJPdP.

You need to watch for holidays. There is a major holiday in France 5th May and 8th May 2016. There will be reduced transportation schedules.

Thank you! I may just take a taxi from Pamplona. Expenses be damned!
The only other option I see is to take a taxi to Pension Corazon Puro and benefit from their service to StJean in the morning.

 

[movinmaggie]

Thank you! I may just take a taxi from Pamplona. Expenses be damned!
The only other option I see is to take a taxi to Pension Corazon Puro and benefit from their service to StJean in the morning.

Have you made a reservation? Corazon Puro gets booked up fairly quickly…..hope you do make it. They are wonderful hosts.

 

[PIER-GIORGIO BASSI]

Have you made a reservation? Corazon Puro gets booked up fairly quickly…..hope you do make it. They are wonderful hosts.

No, I have not. I will contact them. Thank you.

 

[movinmaggie]

Try corazonpuro@corzonpuro.es

 

[PIER-GIORGIO BASSI]

I just booked with Corazon Puro for pickup at the Pamplona train station at 16:06 on Sunday May 8. I read somewhere that they do not provide pickup after 3pm.
Istvan confirms that this is not true. I can also confirm that trying to book from the RENFE website is frustrating if not impossible. I got fed up
and booked with www.loco2.com; much easier and in English. I feel better now; everything is booked.

 

[movinmaggie]

I just booked with Corazon Puro for pickup at the Pamplona train station at 16:06 on Sunday May 8. I read somewhere that they do not provide pickup after 3pm.
Istvan confirms that this is not true. I can also confirm that trying to book from the RENFE website is frustrating if not impossible. I got fed up
and booked with www.loco2.com; much easier and in English. I feel better now; everything is booked.

Glad this worked out for you. Yes, Renfe service can be frustrating. I ended up booking with Rail Europe it was so bad.
Then there has been a change since last year with Corazon Puro. My instructions from Istvan, were that I must book the train in Madrid that arrives 2:30p in Pamplona (which did not arrive until 3pm) because that would be their last pickup. Had I known that, I would have booked my flight to Madrid to arrive in the morning in time to get the train, so I had to overnight in Madrd. It would be helpful for others to know just how late they can arrive at the Pamplona station for pickup. I personally have recommended CP to many new pilgrims based on my info from Istvan.