Flu, rain, and A Group of senior tourists who thought I was a superhero. Day 8 was not what I planned — but sometimes the bravest Camino decision is taking the bus. Don’t @ me.
📊 Stage Quick Facts:
- Distance: ~22 km (if walking) or a quick 30-minute bus ride!
- Time: 30 mins by bus / ~6 hours on foot
- Difficulty: Very Easy (Bus version) / Moderate (Walk version)
- Terrain: Smooth highway asphalt from the bus window, followed by lovely cobblestone exploration in Estella
The Pilgrim’s Dilemma: Stubbornness vs. Common Sense
The next morning, I woke up facing a classic double-whammy: a light flu and heavy, unforgiving rain. I stood at a crossroads and faced a major dilemma. Option A: force myself to walk the stage in the downpour, knowing with absolute certainty that I would end up seriously ill and lose several precious days for recovery. Option B: swallow my pride and take a bus to Estella.
I quickly checked the route profile for the day and saw that the trail mostly tracked along the busy highway anyway. Decision made! It was an easy choice, and honestly, the smartest one. Remember: your Camino, your rules.
Since I had trouble buying the bus tickets online, I headed over to the Tourist Information Office, which is conveniently located right next to the famous medieval bridge. The lady working there was incredibly kind and helpful, guiding me through the process and helping me secure my ticket.
🚌 Logistics Checklist: If you ever need to hop on a bus on this stretch, the regional company is ALSA or La Estellesa. You can check schedules and book tickets directly on their website: https://www.alsa.com/en.
Since I had some time before my bus departure, I explored the Tourist Information Office itself. To my surprise, it houses a small but deeply charming exhibition featuring paintings of pilgrims, intricate wood carvings, and historical traditional clothes. It’s small, cute, and absolutely worth a look!
Getting Praised by Senior Tourists
With my departure time still ahead, I went for a short walk around the wet, quiet streets of Puente la Reina.
⛪ Puente la Reina Highlights:
- Iglesia de Santiago: Don’t miss this beautiful church right in the town center. It features a stunning Romanesque portal with distinct Moorish influences and holds a famous medieval wooden statue of Saint James.
While ducking into another local church to escape the damp air, I ran into a large group of senior tourists (all 70+) who had been brought to the town by a tour bus. When they realized I was a pilgrim, they looked at me like I was a superhero. They were completely amazed by the fact that people actually walk the full 800 km of the Camino. Hearing their compliments made me feel incredibly proud of myself-while simultaneously causing me to deeply question my life choices!
Estella: A Gothic Masterpiece and “Lizarding” by the River
The bus dropped me off in Estella, which welcomed me with cloudy but blessedly dry weather. After checking into my accommodation and dropping off my heavy backpack, I immediately went out to explore.
Estella turned out to be much bigger than Puente la Reina, packed with cozy medieval streets, lively squares, and an impressive number of ancient churches.
🏰 The Jewel of Estella: You absolutely cannot miss the chance to climb up to the Iglesia de San Pedro de la Rúa. Built way back in the 12th century, it sits high on a cliff overlooking the town. To get there, you have to climb a grand, sweeping staircase, and the heavily decorated stone entrance alone completely blew me away.
By the time I finished my architectural tour, the weather was actively getting better, the Ega river was flowing beautifully through the center, and my flu-ish body was screaming for food. I headed to a local tavern for a hearty lunch to restore my energy.
If you still have some power left in your legs after arriving in Estella, I highly recommend getting lost in its old Jewish quarter and taking a peaceful stroll through Los Llanos Park-a gorgeous, lush green park wrapped around the river bend.
Time to rest up, drink some hot tea, nurse my flu, and quietly congratulate myself for making the smartest decision of the week.
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