10 days available. Where to start from?

[cesco]

Hi,

I'm going to do the camino for the first time and I'm thinking about doing the camino frances. Unfortunately I only have 10 (max 12) days available. Where should I start from? Should I start from Leon or is it better from Ponferrada? In this last case will it be possible to get a passport there?

Sincere thanks in advance for any help you may provide.
Francesco

[Leslie]

Hi and Welcome to the forums,

you will be able to get a passport at any of the main cities in the main albergue for that city.

Where to start I think ends up having a lot to do with how easy you can get to your start point and away back to the airport you are flying out from. I must say I much prefer the early parts of the Camino, maybe walking from Roncesvalles or Pamplona, and I don't like the end part - as it gets so busy.

Not much help!

[Covey]

If you are starting from Ponferrada then the easiest way to do it is to fly into Santiago and catch the Alsa bus from Santiago bus station to Ponferrada, and walk back to Santiago!

ALSA - Hacemos tu viaje m?s f?cil

There are usually 6-7 coaches a day to Ponferrada and the fare is ?16 one way.

The albergue at Ponferrada will issue a pilgrim passport and the albergue is a large one on the edge of a car park about 200m from the castle. There will be lots of pilgrims wandering around the town (sunburnt, baggy trousers and looking tired and hungry!!) and they will point you in the direction of the albergue. The albergue does not open until 2pm, so if you arrive earlier than that, put your rucksack in the queue and go off and get something to eat and drink.

[cesco]

Thank you so much for the replies and for welcoming me to the forum.
I actually have to fly to Madrid first for other reasons. From there I'm thinking about reaching the starting point by bus.
The 10 days will be fully available for walking (so travel from and to the airport is excluded). You may be right Leslie it's nicer the first part of the camino but I'd like to reach Santiago.
So, in this case should I start from Leon or better from Ponferrada? And should I take the ALSA bus line to get there from Madrid?

Thanks again
Francesco

[Covey]

Ponferrada is a good place to start and you will end up in Santiago with your Certificate from the Bishop to say you are no longer a sinner!!

Just catch the bus to Ponferrada. The nice thing about the Camino is you can start from wherever you want, on whatever day of the week suits you.