New Bus Service from Pamplona to St Jean Pied de Port

[geraldkelly]

I just received the following information from Jacoboe.net newsletter.

Bus from Pamplona to Roncesvalles and Saint Jean Pied de Port

"The bus company Conda is providing a new bus route from 18 June until 11 September. It connects Pamplona with Roncesvalles and St Jean Pied de Port. It's a service intended for pilgrims. It leaves Pamplona (presumably from the main bus station) at 14h and from St Jean at 16h. Cost €15."

So good news for people who need to get from Pamplona to St Jean!


Original text:
Autobús de Pamplona a Roncesvalles y Saint Jean Pied de Port
Un nuevo servicio de autobús se une a autocares Artieda desde el lunes 18 de junio al 11 de septiembre. Se trata de la empresa Conda y conecta Pamplona con Roncesvalles y, como novedad, también con Saint Jean Pied de Port. Es un servicio enfocado prácticamente con exclusividad a los peregrinos. Sale de Pamplona a las 14 h y de Saint Jean a las 16 h. Cuesta 15 €.

[pgras]

Do you have any idea of this bus route will still work in november? I doubt it but I wonder if there will be any other bus routes.otherwise how do we get from Pamplona to St. Jean de Pied in the winter?

[geraldkelly]

From what I can see the service has stopped for the winter. I think Express Bourricot run all year. I suggest you contact them through their website Express Bourricot

Otherwise, it's a bus to Irun/Hendaye, a train to Bayonne and another train to St Jean.

Where are you coming from? You might be better off going by another route.

[pgras]

Helo, Gerald, do you have any idea where I can get info on times for the bus to Irun and then the train to Bayonne and then the train to St. Jean de Pied? I contacted Expresss Bourricot but it does not look like they are open at that time. I also have no idea how far Pamplona is from St. Jean/ Thank you so much for your help. Respectfuly,

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Pgras ~
You could also take the train from Pamplona to Irun. There's a line that runs from Barcelona to Irun via Pamplona, and the Pamplona to Irun portion takes about 2 hours with departures 1-2 times per day depending on your November date. If you have some Spanish you can use the Spanish rail site (Renfe) or if not you can use the American site for European railways (www.raileurope.com).

FYI the distance from Pamplona to St. Jean by car is about 75 kilometers and by going via train I'm guessing that you're just about doubling that distance. However, there is a mountain range in between the two towns, which accounts for the distance around via train.

Given the November date and unavailability of Express Bourricot I'd say your options are either train (cheaper) or taxi (more expensive). If you have someone to share a ride with the taxi might become the cheaper option.

Buen camino!

[John Hussey]

Conda Autobus does indeed seemed to have ceased the service Pamplona-SJPdP

Conda S.A. - Disfruta de tu viaje todo irá sobre ruedas

But it does list service via ALSA autobus Madrid-Irun:

Conda - La Roncalesa


Personally, I still believe Espress Bourricot may be picking up in Pamplona and I have emailed a request for the 19th or 20th October and am awaiting their reply. We'll see.

[geraldkelly]

Hi

I'm a bit slow off the mark tonight so I can only second everything everybody else has said

I'll just add Movelia is an excellent site for booking buses in Spain. They work with most major companies so you don't have to guess who runs which line.

There's a joke we tell sometimes in Ireland about an American tourist who gets lost and stops to ask directions off an old man in a flat cap loitering at the side of the road smoking his pipe. The American says, (imitate American accent) "Sir, can you tell me how to get to Kilarney from here?" The old man chews on his pipe and thinks for a long time before replying, "Well, now, if I was you I wouldn't start from here."

Now there's a point to this and I know for some of you it's already too late but there will be other people reading who are just at the planning stage. The point is this: It's much easier to get to St Jean from the French side of the border than from the Spanish. If you fly into Bayonne you can be there in a couple of hours, ditto Bordeaux. Even flying into Paris you'll get a direct train to Bayonne and if you book in advance from Voyages-sncf.com : Voyage en train, en avion, réservation d'hôtels et séjours you can often get a cheap ticket.

Sorry I can't be more helpful.

One more thing. During the summer at the end of the Camino I spent a few days in Finisterre hanging out on Hippie Beach with the hippies, surfers, beach bums, bikini babes, recluses and assorted other inhabitants of that place. Anyway, I discovered that the taxi drivers in Finisterre will drive up to four people to Santiago for €80. That's 100km. So it's a good indication of what the price of long taxi rides are. From Pamplona to St Jean should cost about the same and take less than two hours. Going by train/bus would probably cost about €40 and take most of a day.

Buen Camino a tod@s!
Gerald

[HuskyNerd]

Very cute, GK! Thanks for sharing the American story, and I like the image of your time at the beach in Finisterre. I'd like to make one point -- not for you since you already know this -- but for newer pilgrims who may read this thread and wonder how to make this all work:

For many of us (especially those from non-European continents) the choice of whether we'll try to access SJPP through Spain or France is actually dictated by the answer to the question, "how do we get back home with an economical roundtrip ticket from Santiago?" This usually means choosing a large, European hub airport (the bulk of the ticket cost from overseas), then finding a one-way flight to somewhere near SJPP, followed by another one-way flight from Santiago back to the hub when our camino is done. I've walked three different caminos and have traveled three different ways to and from the camino: through London, through Madrid, and through Paris. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, costs and conveniences:

• Through London -- International flights from and to the US go through Heathrow. Flights to Bordeaux or Biarritz often depart from another London airport. On the return from Santiago, RyanAir flights go to Stanstead Airport while flights overseas go through Heathrow. This means a cross town trip on both legs of the journey, sometimes even an overnight in London to get back to the US. For this reason London is not necessarily a great choice.
• Through Paris -- Getting to SJPP from Paris CDG requires only an easy flight into Biarritz or Bordeaux, as you mention, a transfer to Bayonne, and a train to SJPP (not all that easy, to be honest). But now getting back to Paris from Santiago isn't that easy. The choices usually boil down to flights to Madrid, Barcelona, even London, then on to Paris. This option requires at least three one-way flights.
• Through Madrid -- A moderately complicated transfer to SJPP is required here, as you also mention, though the train to Pamplona and then a van or taxi to SJPP isn't actually too bad. Returning from Santiago is very simple, though, with choices between planes, trains and buses taking one directly to Madrid's Barajas airport, and the many flights from there overseas.

So . . . . I guess I'm saying that choosing an easy way to get to SJPP may seem like the smartest thing to do, but a person needs to balance that against how he/she is going to get back home. If getting home from Madrid is easier that may make the inconvenience of a journey from Madrid to SJPP the more logical choice.

This year I flew into Paris CDG, took the flight to Biarritz, then Express Bourricot to SJPP with two other pilgrims. I walked a wonderful camino, then when it was done I flew directly from Santiago to Barcelona (wanted to explore it for the first time), spent two great nights there, then flew on to Paris for an overnight just for some fun in one of my favorite cities before flying back home. It worked because of a great Seattle to Paris fare. Next time I might do Madrid again . . . . depends on fares, time availability, etc.

[Di Stow]

hi and how do we get from Barcelona to St Jean Pied de Port and how long does that journey will take ? - thanks

[HuskyNerd]

I think I detailed it in my post above: the easiest is to take Renfe (the Spanish train system) to Pamplona then take a bus or van from Pamplona to SJPP. Renfe's website is Renfe (alternatively you can use the English-language www.raileurope.com). The van service is Express Bourricot (you can Google it). Buen camino!

[Di Stow]

I think I detailed it in my post above: the easiest is to take Renfe (the Spanish train system) to Pamplona then take a bus or van from Pamplona to SJPP. Renfe's website is Renfe (alternatively you can use the English-language www.raileurope.com). The van service is Express Bourricot (you can Google it). Buen camino!

thanks and how many hours on the train ? - I read 3.5 hours from timetable with various train changes and that just doesn't seem enough time + have you any suggestions footwear ? - much appreciatd this is awesome Forum !

[HuskyNerd]

Hi Di ~
Actually, there are no train changes from Barcelona to Pamplona. This is a single line that runs from Barcelona-Sants station all the way to the French border at Irun. Pamplona is the next to the last stop.

Footwear? Everyone has their own opinion, from hiking sandals to heavy boots. Personally, I'm a boot guy and I wear the boot with the thickest sole and the highest top that has breathable (GoreTex) uppers. Thankfully new technology is making these boots much lighter than ever before. I've had low top hiking shoes in the past and found them to be unsatisfactory, however others swear by them. I've never tried hiking sandals, but some people love them for ventilation, mostly.

Buen camino!

[geraldkelly]

Just a quick update on travelling between Pamplona and Roncesvalles and St Jean: There is one bus a day from Pamplona to Roncesvalles leaving from Pamplona central bus station (Estación de Autobuses de Pamplona). The bus companies is Autocares Artieda. See www.autocaresartieda.com. The buses leave Pamplona Monday to Friday at 1800 and Saturdays at 1600. No service on Sundays. Cost 6€. (source: De Pamplona a Roncesvalles | Guía del Camino de Santiago | EROSKI CONSUMER)

The same site gives taxi fares from Pamplona as follows:
to Roncesvalles: M-F 57€, weekends 70€
to St Jean: M-F 96€, weekends 120€
A few euros extra from the airport.

The Pamplona taxi website has a nice taxi share feature. It's only in Spanish but it's quite visual so easy to figure out (compartir = to share). You book where you're starting (bus station, airport, etc.) and where you're going, whether you want to share or have your own taxi, the date and time and then your contact details and hoe many people you are. Presumably they will then send you the details.

See: Teletaxi San Fermín

[BHinSanDiego]

Heres another bit of Irish/American humor.

Back in 1998 I had the following actually happen to me so it is difinitly true. I was on a cycling trip through the central and western part of the country, I cant' remember exactly where I was but I was somewhere between Ennis and Spanish Point, we had a map and knew where we wanted to go but couldn't find the sign for the road we were looking for. Finally we came upon a couple of ladies walking down the road we stopped to ask them where the sign was and they told us "oh, we take that sign down so we can get you cyclists to stop and talk to us"! Another memorable part of the ride was on a backroad on the way to the Cliffs of Moher, we came upon a farmer and his helper pushing a herd of cattle along the road, he was in a car just gently urging them on, he was a nice enough fella but to be honest the only thing we understood while we rode alongside his car talking to him was him saying "have you tried the Guinness"! Gotta love Ireland!

[AnneToft]

Hi!
Just wanting to pop by and tell ya'll that Conda Busservice from June 18 2012 to September 30th 2012 have a service leaving from Pamplona at 14 (2 pm) everyday to St. Jean Pied De Port in France. The trip takes 2 hours and cost 15€.

Buen Camino from Denmark



Conda S.A. - Disfruta de tu viaje todo irá sobre ruedas

[Bill Walker]

That's great news. Because in 2010, it was much more complicated to get from Pamplona to St. Jean Pied de Port. But now you can catch a bus up from Madrid to Pamplona, then a straight shot to St. Jean Pied de Port. And if you already have applied for your pilgrims passport, you can save money on lodging by staying at the big, new albergue in Pamplona. Buen camino.