Travelling from Pamplona to St Jean de PP

[msafiri]

Hi -- new to the forum, but looking forward to doing the first part of the Camino Frances late this month. It looks like the ALSA bus finishes on the 20th and we plan to leave Pamplona (having arrived the previous day from Barcelona) on October 24th. I am assuming that there are no other buses to St Jean (only to Roncevalles daily and Valcarlos twice) so figure best to take a taxi, unless any other suggestions? If anyone wants to share the ride ... thanks!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

ALSA changes it mind/schedule when demand is strong. They may continue a bus through October. Stay in touch with them by phone or email.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Hi -- new to the forum, but looking forward to doing the first part of the Camino Frances late this month. It looks like the ALSA bus finishes on the 20th and we plan to leave Pamplona (having arrived the previous day from Barcelona) on October 24th. I am assuming that there are no other buses to St Jean (only to Roncevalles daily and Valcarlos twice) so figure best to take a taxi, unless any other suggestions? If anyone wants to share the ride ... thanks!

Hi, msafiri, and a Warm Welcome to the Forum.

When looking at transport options from Pamplona to SJPdP, check out this taxi company in Pamplona. They specialize in transporting pilgrims from Pamplona to Saint Jean Pied de Port.

You make your reservation online. You tell them your arrival location for pick up. During the reservation process, you can choose an option stating that you want to share a taxi with others going to SJPdP. The fare is shared by all the passengers. The company will then work to schedule a full taxi for you.

If they already have a taxi scheduled to travel to SJPdP near your time of arrival in Pamplona, and that taxi still has a seat available, they can reserve a seat on that taxi for you.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

PLM Autocares runs buses to the border twice a week. The terminal point is a Valcarlos neighborhood but it is essentially the French town of Arneguy. Valcarlos is maybe a 3 hour walk from SJPdP but you could just start walking from Valcarlos.


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:

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

 

[Trishagale]

I have travelled by bus from SJPDP to Pamplona and return in June this year. I will never forget it because I was SO travel sick traveling through the mountains. I used this company

Pamplona to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port Bus Tickets | Conda | Busbud

Book your bus ticket from Pamplona to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port with Busbud. You can expect to pay $29 with an average trip length of 1 hour 45 minutes.

www.busbud.com

 

[Beeks]

Hi, msafiri, and a Warm Welcome to the Forum.

When looking at transport options from Pamplona to SJPdP, check out this taxi company in Pamplona. They specialize in transporting pilgrims from Pamplona to Saint Jean Pied de Port.

......

This taxi company is great. I think the only wrinkle I had was the online reservation form, as it will ask for a "NIF number" which is a tax ID number.

I couldn't hack my way around this, as it is required information. Do you put 9 zeros? 9 nines? 867-5309?

I ditched the online reservation form and just emailed them directly. Great communication, driver waiting for us at the Pamplona train station exactly when and where we were told he would meet our group of 6. He used his Tetris skills to get our 4 suitcases in the smallish-looking van. The kids ended up with their backpacks on their laps. Very nice and professional driver. Mrs Beeks is prone to car sickness and it's a curvy mountain drive in parts on the way to St. Jean. She did fine.

 

[labuzienski]

So I took the bus from Pamplona to St. Jean in August and it was very nice and only 22 euros. I took the 515pm bus and got to St. Jean at 715pm. If you arrive in Pamplona via train just take the number 9 city bus to the NEW underground bus station and you get that city bus from in front of the train station. http://www.estaciondeautobusesdepamplona.com/Inicio.aspx.html. I think it is a scenic ride, you meet fellow pilgrims about to start their journey and it is very cost efficient.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

So I took the bus from Pamplona to St. Jean in August and it was very nice and only 22 euros. I took the 515pm bus and got to St. Jean at 715pm. If you arrive in Pamplona via train just take the number 9 city bus to the NEW underground bus station and you get that city bus from in front of the train station. http://www.estaciondeautobusesdepamplona.com/Inicio.aspx.html. I think it is a scenic ride, you meet fellow pilgrims about to start their journey and it is very cost efficient.

The problem is that the normal bus runs are stopped or are limited during the time of year that the OP was concerned about in late October.

 

[Donjek]

Take the Renfe train from Barcelona, via Pamplona, to Irun/Hendaye.

Take Euskotren, aka Metro Donostialdea, from Irun Colon to SNCF Gare d,Hendaye. Euskotren is commuter trains from Irun to Gare d'Hendaye. Colon station is across the railway bridge from North end Irun Renfe station

Euskotren https://www.euskotren.eus/

Given that there are few trains from Pamplona to Irun, consider taking ALSA/CONDA bus from Pamplona to San Sebastian bus and train station and then Renfe Cercanias to Irun.

ALSA https://www.alsa.com/en/web/bus/home

Renfe http://www.renfe.com/

Bus station Pamplona http://www.estaciondeautobusesdepamplona.com/Inicio.aspx.html

Take SNCF train from Gare d'Hendaye to Gare Bayonne.

Take SNCF train (four times most days all year) from Bayonne to St Jean Pied de Port.

SNCF https://www.sncf.com/fr

You can go via France on SNCF from Barcelona to Bayonne too.

Pamplona direct to SJPdP is like swimming uphill.