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Guidebook to walking La Vía de la Plata and Camino Sanabrés, a pilgrim route through Spain. A 995km route between Seville and Santiago de Compostela or Astorga (where it links with the Camino Francés). Ourense variants are also provided.
Free Royal Mail 48 postage on UK orders. European postage is £3.50 per item. Worldwide postage is £5.50 per item. If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, we'll give you a full refund.
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A guidebook to walking the Vía de la Plata and Camino Sanabrés between Seville and Santiago de Compostela. Covering 995km (619 miles), this pilgrimage route through Spain takes around 6 weeks to hike and is suitable for any reasonably fit walker.
The route is described from south to north in 43 stages, each between 11 and 35km (7–22 miles) in length. An extension to Astorga for those wishing to join the Camino Francés is detailed as well as alternative Ourense route options via Laza or Verin.
June 2024
Code
[A] | Albergue (pilgrim hostel) |
[Ho] | Hotel |
[Ca] | Camere (rooms) |
[Cm] | Camping |
[BB] | Bed & Breakfast |
[Ag] | Agriturismo |
[O] | open year round |
[Pr[ | private rooms available |
[Dr] | communal dinner available |
[Do] | dormitory room available |
[R] | advanced reservations accepted |
[K] | kitchen available |
[Br] | breakfast included |
[Cr] | credit cards |
[W] | washing machine |
[S] | bicycle storage |
[Z] | disability access |
[A] Albergue Municipal de Guillena [O][Do][R][K][Br][W][S] 3/14, €14, Av. de la Vega s/n, tel 955 785 262 or 667 727 380 or 665 068 222, pedroguillena@hotmail.com. Pilgrims are accommodated in this albergue only if the Albergue Luz del Camino is full as both are run by the same hosts.
[A] Albergue La Posada de Escardiel [O][Do][R][K][Br][W][S] 2/7, €17, cl. Pilar Nuevo 15, tel 641 024 128, email laposadadeescardiel@gmail.com. Sells the credencial €2, price includes breakfast.
[A] Albergue La Casa del Reloj [Do][K][W][S] 2/10, €13, Plaza del Reloj 9, tel 692 552 659, luisevaristoml@gmail.com. Open all year except Christmas.
[A] Albergue Municipal La Casa del Cura [O][Do][R][K][W][S][Z] 2/10, €10, cl. Real, 39, tel 633 248 505, email alberguerealjara@gmail.com. Price €15 on presentation of the credencial
[A] Albergue de peregrinos de Calzadilla de los Barros [O][Do][W][S][Z] 2/10, €10, Polígono Encarnación 3, tel 924 584 745. Keys from town hall before 15:00, otherwise phone numbers are on the door.
[A] Albergue de peregrinos de Zafra (Vincent Van Gogh) [O][Do][R][S] 6/36, €12, Av. de la Estación 17, tel 924 969 123 or 617 846 551. Sell the credencial.
[A] Albergue Convento San Francisco [Do][R][Br][W][S] 6/21, €12/-/30/-, Av. Fuente del Maestre 2, tel 680 663 806 or 924 036 245. Open all year except Christmas, sometimes take breaks at varied points of the year.
[A] Albergue Vía de la Plata de Los Santos de Maimona [O][Do][S] 2/12, €7, Cl. Maestrazgo s/n, tel 924 54 48 01 or 924 54 42 94, oficinadeturismo@lossantosdemaimona.org. Keys from tourist office or police station.
[A] Albergue Extrenatura [Do][Pr][R][Br][K][W][S] 2/10 & 4/8, €15/25/45/-/-, Cl. Carvajales 2, tel 924 986 181 or 669 964 546. Call ahead and look for updates due to unpredictable closures at variable times of the year.
[A] Albergue Rojo Plata [O][Do][R][K][S] 4/22, €16, Cl. José de Espronceda 23, tel 658 854 372, reservas@albergue-rojo-plata.com, http://albergue-rojo-plata.com
[A] Hostel Cañaveral [O][Pr][Do][R][Br][Cr][W][S][Z] 4/24 &1/3, €16/-/43/53, Av. Doctor Luis Boticario 12, tel 669 402 446 or 655 351 976, info@hostelcanaveral.com, www.hostelcañaveral.com
[H] Hostal Ciudad de Cáparra [O][Pr][R][S] 5/10, €-/30/60, Ctra. de Plasencia 35, tel 927 402 032 or 927 402 444. Check prices directly.
[A] Albergue Turístico San Blas [O][Pr][Do][R][K][S] 4/16, €21/35/50/-/-, Cl. Real 2, tel 647 563 450, pichon24@hotmail.com.
[A] Albergue de peregrinos de Aldeanueva del Camino [O][Do][W][S][Z] 2/10, €Donation, Cl. las Olivas 52. Keys from the bar Hogar del Pensionista on Cl. Gabriel y Galán 77.
[A] Albergue Turístico Vía de la Plata [O][Do][R][Br][W][S] 3/12, €15, Cl. Castañar 40, tel 655 620 515, sagrariocastelani@yahoo.es. Breakfast €3.
[A] Albergue de peregrinos de Morille [O][Do][S] 1/24, €10, Cl. Mayor s/n, tel 659 928 010. Keys from Bar Marcos.
[A] Albergue de peregrinos de Calzada de Valdunciel [O][Do][K][S] 1/8, €8, Cl. La Cilla 21, tel 717 706 637. Keys from the ACUM behind the albergue (Mon–Fri 11:30–13:00) or the library on Cl. Teresa Herrero behind the church (Mon–Fri 18:00–20:00), otherwise call them.
[A] Torre de Sabre [Pr][Dr][Do][R][Br][W][S] 3/10, €18/29/40/54/72, Tr. de la Ermita 1, tel 633 424 321, torredesabre@gmail.com. The dorm price of €32 includes a three-course dinner with drinks and plentiful breakfast with vegetarian options available. Open year-round but check ahead Nov–Jan.
[A] Albergue Las Eras [O][Do][R][K][Br][W][S][Z] 1/14, €12, Cl. las Eras 2, tel 980 640 073 or 675 550 051, barborox@hotmail.com. Register at Bar Borox.
[A] Albergue de peregrinos de Benavente [Do][K][S] 2/12, €5, Ctra. de la Estación, tel 980 634 211 or 643 800 803, turismo@benavente.es. In the old railway station. Open 1 Mar–31 Oct. Keys from the albergue (Mon–Fri 12:30–22:00), the tourist office on Plaza Mayor (Sat–Sun 10:00–14:00) and the police station on Cl. Villalpando (Sat–Sun afternoons, tel 980 63 13 49).
[A] Albergue Só Por Hoje [Pr][Dr][Do][R][Br][W][S] 1/10 & 2/4, €29/-/69/-/-, Cl. Rodríguez de Cela 30, tel 690 749 853, info@alberguesoporhoje.com, https://alberguesoporhoje.com. Open Mar–Nov. Breakfast included.
[A] Albergue/Restaurante El Roble [Pr][Do][R][Br][Cr][W][S][Z] 1/14 & 15/28, €12/30/74/66, Cl. el Prado 3, tel 650 629 969 or 980 590 300, elrobletabara@gmail.com, www.turismoruralelroble.es. Closed 24 and 25 Dec.
[A] Albergue Alameda [Pr][Do][R][K][Cr][W][S] 1/12 & 3/7, €10/20/30/45, Cl. Alameda 21, tel 696 321 223 or 980 641 799, villanuevabar@yahoo.es. Open 1 March to 31 October inclusive.
[H] Casa Julia [O][Pr][K][Br][W][S] 5/10, €-/25/50/-/-/-/-, Cl. las Eras 15, tel 660 088 620 or 630 787 997. Washing machine included. Cooked food and groceries available to purchase in the shared kitchen.
[A] Albergue de peregrinos de Lubián [O][Do][K][S] 2/16, €3, Cl. de la Cruz s/n, tel 980 624 003. €5 with heating.
[H] Pensión Casa Núñez [Pr][Br][Dr][S] 4/8, €-/35+/-/-/-/-, Rúa Campobecerros 2, tel 988 077 624 or 608 887 835.
[A] Grelo Hostel [O][Do][R][Br][W][S] 3/32, €16, Rúa Peña Trevinca 40 bajo, tel 988 614 564, info@grelohostel.com, www.grelohostel.com. Breakfast included.
[A] Albergue Augas Quentes [O][Do][R][Br][W][S] 3/36, €18, Rúa Vicente Risco 34, tel 988 061 322 or 679 958 780, info@albergueaugasquentes.com, www.albergueaugasquentes.com. Breakfast included.
[A] Albergue Allariz [Pr][Do][R][K][Br][Dr][W][S][Z] 3/22, €13-15/25//42/60/80, Estrada de Xunqueira 7, tel 604 024 328, email info@albergueallariz.com, https://albergueallariz.com/. Availability varies, reservations required at least two days in advance, group discounts.
[A] Casa Bubela [Pr][Do][R][K][Br][Dr][W][S] 3/9, €-/35+/-/-/-/-, Rúa Doutor Martínez Iglesias s/n, tel 620 542 503. Open 1 March to 31 October inclusive.
[A] Albergue Santa Olaia [O][Do][R][K][W][S] 18/70, €10, Av. del Parque 17, tel 679 508 709 or 619 521 475, alberguesantaolaia.info@gmail.com, www.alberguesantaolaia.es
[A] Albergue Turístico Silleda [O][Pr]Do][R][K][W][S] 11/28, €12/23/33/33/-, Cl. Venezuela 38, tel 643 898 693, reservas@albergueturisticosilleda.es, www.albergueturisticosilleda.es
[A] Albergue Trabazo [O][Do][R][W][S] 3/24, €15, Cl. Alfonso Trabazo 8–2o, tel 722 129 401, alberguetrabazo@gmail.com, www.alberguetrabazo.com.
[A] El Gran Albergue Silleda [O][Do][R][K][Dr][W][S] 9/20, €10, Rúa Antón Alonso Ríos 18, tel 611 286 757 or 986 580 156 , elgranalberguedesilleda@gmail.com.
[A] Albergue Reina Lupa [Pr][Do][R][W] 1/14 & 2/4, €18/-/50/-, Deseiro N-525, tel 981 511 803 or 679 842 829, info@alberguereinalupa.com, http://alberguereinalupa.com. Closed 15 Dec–15 Jan.
April 2024
The Vía Verde option (recommended) route should read: 'Go through the car park of Hotel Asturias, which is located directly across the N-630 from the hotel itself. At the far end of the car park take a path past two buildings and turn left onto the Vía Verde (disused railway track), which promptly goes under a road. Go under another road (3.8km) and pass the old Casas del Monte railway station. At a junction by a ruin (3.6km), etc...'
February 2024
The local associations for pilgrims have added new arrows and covered existing waymarkers for pilgrims to enter Zamora due to ongoing works along the usual path. Pilgrims should now follow the new arrows and ignore the old ones for the next few months. Updates will be provided.
Please see the images where the current route is marked in yellow and in purple for ease.
p.166-167 of the guidebook temporarily read as follows:
“Turn left towards a roundabout (bar) but keep to the road on the right, passing the Iglesia de San Frontis. Turn left at the next roundabout onto Ctra. Carrascal, pass a playpark on the right. Reach another roundabout and go right to cross over the Río Duero river on the bridge known as the Puente de los Poetas (bridge of the poets).
Keep ahead across the roundabout with views of the old town of Zamora to the right, turn right along a narrower lane and right at the next junction. Keep right passing a park and reaching the riverside.
Continue all the way to the Puente de Piedra stone bridge to follow signs for the albergue and tourist office. Pass by the Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes then the Iglesia de Santa María, behind which turn left. Keep left uphill then turn right up Cuesta San Cipriano to the albergue.”
February 2024
Due to persistent flooding in winter along the dirt tracks between Santiponce and Guillena on Stage 1, the pilgrim Association of Sevilla has painted new yellow arrows to mark a new and recommended route that avoids flooding by making use of bridges across the stream called Arroyo de los Molinos and other streams. The waymarking bollard has not yet been moved but should now be disregarded by pilgrims, and the yellow arrows followed instead.
The new updated GPX files for this stage are now also available to download.
Note: this very same stream can often be dried up at other times of the year.
Please consider these 5 important points therefore:
Keep to the same road towards the highway, cross over the roundabout and go under the A-66 (1.7km). Turn left on a wide dirt track and left again onto another wide track. Almost immediately ignore the waymarking bollard (old route) that keeps straight and instead fork right onto a track following yellow arrows.
Keep straight along the same track ignoring any tracks from the left and right and passing buildings before taking the bridge over the Arroyo de los Molinos (3.6km). Having passed a ruined building, at the next fork (2.3km) take the righthand track. Use a ford/bridge, then another and a third to then head left onto a wider dirt track and reach a bend with a narrower track on the right (2.0km) and two options to arrive in Guillena.
Direct route to the albergue (unwaymarked then waymarked): Keeping to the wider track by turning left leads to a cattery and kennels (0.7km) where yellow arrows from the old route are still present. Take the next track on the right, alongside the road. The path steps down onto the road into Guillena and reaches the albergue on the left.
New waymarked route: Use the narrower track by forking right and again keep straight after the next fork on narrower route over the Arroyo Galapagar (0.8km). Keep straight as the track turns into a road in Guillena to pass the cemetery (0.6km) and at the fork, now in town, keep left to take cl. Sevilla on the left. After 400m reach cl. Garcia Lorca with the albergue on the other side of the road slightly to the left.
Start Sevilla Cathedral
Finish Guillena
Distance 22.2km
Total ascent 171m
Total descent 164m
Difficulty Easy
Duration 5½hr
Percentage paved 37%
Albergues Santiponce 9.3km; Guillena 22.2km
The municipality box on p.53 which now reads: 12.9km GUILLENA
Please now instead consider the Stage Information given above for Stage number 1.
Note that the distance from the previous place for Guillena is now 12.9km, the itineraries on this stage are now 400m longer. Finally, the overall distance of the Vía de la Plata to Santiago de Compostela is 400m longer!
February 2024
We bid farewell to beautiful Diva, the Afghan hound, who passed away this week and who helped host pilgrims. Angela and Paco miss her very much but are, as ever, looking after pilgrims in the most caring way.
February 2024
Availability dates at the albergue municipal in Castilblanco de los Arroyos
As of February 2024, the albergue municipal in Castilblanco de los Arroyos (Stage 2) has changed its opening/closing schedule.
p56 - Stage 2 in Castilblanco de los Arroyos (at stage end)
Albergue de peregrinos de Castilblanco de los Arroyos [Dorm rooms] [Kitchen] [Storage for bikes] 2/30, €Donation, Av. Antonio Machado s/n, tel 955 734 811, email oficinaturismocastilblanco@gmail.com. Closed 1 December to 31 January and 1July to 31 August.
February 2024
As of January 2024, a new albergue municipal in El Real de la Jara has opened and can be considered for accommodation.
p65 - Stage 4, in El Real de la Jara (at stage end)
Albergue Municipal La Casa del Cura [Open all year] [Dorm rooms][Reservations possible] [Kitchen] [Washing and drying machine] [Storage for bikes] [Wheelchair access] 4/18, €15-18, cl. Real, 39, tel 633 248 505, email alberguerealjara@gmail.com, cost of stay €15 on presentation of the credencial
p64 – last paragraph should now read:
'other accommodation options, including a brand new albergue municipal, host pilgrims in the town centre'
January 2024
Accommodation closure from January 2024:
Very sadly, as of January 2024, the La Almazara albergue on Stage 8 has had to close due to a lack of funds from the Extremadura council.
This affects the following pages:
p46: in the Planning section, please disregard point 3.
p78: in the green route overview box, I would still suggest the recommended route passing by the building of the La Almazara albergue as it is pleasant and a safer crossing over the N-630.
P79-81: on the map and in the route description, please do not consider La Almazara as an option for drinking water, food or lodging. It has closed entirely. Therefore, the distance from Los Santos de Maimona to Villafranca de los Barros is 16.4km with nowhere to stock up in between.
Note: as stated in the book, the albergue in Villafranca de los Barros closes at short notice at unpredictable times of the year. You may wish to secure accommodation at the hotel Hostal Rural Casa Perín indicated on p.81 of the guidebook.
September 2023
Ivar Revke, who stores luggage for pilgrims in Santiago de Compostela, has changed his address to
Casa IvarATT:
[Your name goes here]
Rúa Nova 7
15705
Santiago de Compostela
España
Therefore, p.37 in the guidebook should now read:
'Casa IvarATT: [Your name goes here] Rúa Nova 7 15705 Santiago de Compostela España'
Note: for full details of services, it is worthwhile reading his webpage:
September 2023
As of September 2023, a new albergue has opened and can be considered for accommodation:
p.56 - Stage 2, in Castilblanco de los Arroyos (at stage end)
[Private albergue] Albergue La Posada de Escardiel [Open all year] [Dorm rooms] [Reservations possible] [Kitchen] [Breakfast] [Washing and drying machine] [Storage for bikes] 2/7, €15, cl. Pilar Nuevo, 15s/n, tel 641 024 128, email laposadadeescardiel@gmail.com, sells the credencial €2, price includes breakfast
Update as of 18 September 2023:
The new set price for albergues municipales in the Galicia region is €10 (it was previously €8).
P.31 of the guidebook in the Accommodation section under the sub-heading “Albergues” should read “In Galicia, albergues municipales ... and cost €10 euros”
This now affects the following albergues listed in the guidebook:
p.232 Albergue de peregrinos de A Gudiña
p.237 Albergue de peregrinos de Laza
p.242 Albergue de peregrinos de Vilar de Barrio
p.244 Albergue de peregrinos de Xunqueira de Ambía
p.249 Albergue municipal de peregrinos de Ourense Eligio Rivas Quintas
p.255 Albergue de peregrinos de Verín
p.259 Albergue de peregrinos de Viladerrei
p.261 Albergue de peregrinos de Xinzo de Limia
p.263 Albergue de peregrinos de Sandiás
p.276 Albergue de peregrinos de Cea
p.278 Albergue de peregrinos del Monasterio de Oseira
p.284 Albergue de peregrinos de A Laxe (Bendoiro)
p.287 Albergue de peregrinos de Bandeira
p.292 Albergue de peregrinos de Outeiro
Nicole Bukaty is a secondary school French and Spanish teacher in Crieff, Scotland. Originally from Kraków, Poland, she grew up in London and France, and has lived in Colombia, Spain and Russia. She has a BA Joint Honours degree in Philosophy and Hispanic Studies and an MA in Philosophy, both from King's College, London. She obsessively uses up her holidays and weekends to hike mountains or take on long-distance walks, totalling over 7000km so far, predominantly on pilgrim routes. She has even completed 450km all on asphalt from her mother's house in Ilawa, Poland, to the Polish monastery of Jasna Góra in Czestochowa. She is the author of the Vía de la Plata and Camino Sanabrés guidebook, and co-author of the Via Francigena in the South of Italy guidebook for Cicerone. Her next projects include books on Scotland and Norway.
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