2024 edition: Walking La Via de la Plata and Camino Sanabres (W/FREE Passport)

Each book ordered will include (at no extra cost):

• 1 "Camino Passport" (from the Cathedral in Santiago)  

The Camino de Santiago from Seville to Santiago de Compostela and Astorga

By Nicole Bukaty

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.

Seasons
Walkable at any time of the year but ideally in Spring and Autumn, especially when leaving from Sevilla. Winters are mild in the south but can be harsh after Mérida.

Centres
Sevilla, Zafra, Mérida, Cáceres, Salamanca, Zamora, Benavente, La Bañeza, Astorga, Puebla de Sanabria, Ourense and Santiago de Compostela.

Difficulty
Suitable for all walkers. Prior Camino experience is helpful to walk at the very least 20km self-sufficiently in difficult weather conditions at any given time. Stages are graded from Easy to Very hard.

Must See
Five UNESCO World Heritage cities plus Zafra, Zamora, Astorga and Ourense. Innumerable national heritage sites and Roman ruins. Vast, empty landscapes: meadows, hills, farms, rivers, forests. Travel through four autonomous regions: Andalucía, Extremadura, Castilla y León and Galicia.

Overview

A guidebook to walking La Via de la Plata and Camino Sanabres pilgrimage route through Spain. The 995km route between Seville and Santiago de Compostela is detailed along with an extension to Astorga for those wishing to join the Camino Frances as well as alternative routes options via Laza or Verin. Designed for reasonably fit walkers, the guidebook offers a six-week itinerary best suited for walking in Spring or Autumn.

Detailed descriptions of each stage, accompanied by 1:100,000 maps, ensure easy navigation and a seamless experience along the route. In addition to route guidance, the guidebook offers valuable information on pilgrim lodging, facilities, and preparation equipping you for a comfortable and well-supported journey.

The route itself takes you through notable towns and cities such as Zafra, Mérida, Cáceres, Salamanca, Zamora, and Ourense, allowing you to immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Spain. Prepare yourself for an extraordinary pilgrimage, where history, spirituality, and natural beauty converge.

My talk with Nicole in December of 2023. 

Table of Contents

• Map key
• Map of the Spanish Caminos
• Overview map
• Overview profile
• Route summary tables
• Foreword
• General introduction
• A brief history of the Camino de Santiago
• The Vía de la Plata and the Camino Sanabrés
• Landscape, economy, cultures and languages
• Planning your Camino: before and during
• The pilgrim experience
• Route and schedule options
• Getting there and backWhen to go
• Planning your day to day on the Camino
• Accommodation
• Food
• Budget planning
• Preparation and training
• What to pack
• Baggage and storage services
• Local facilities and practical information
• Waymarking, shells and symbols
• Safety and health
• How to use this guide
• GPX download
• Section 1: Sevilla to Mérida
• Stage 1 Sevilla to Guillena
• Stage 2 Guillena to Castilblanco de los Arroyos
• Stage 3 Castilblanco de los Arroyos to Almadén de la Plata
• Stage 4 Almadén de la Plata to El Real de la Jara
• Stage 5 El Real de la Jara to Monesterio
• Stage 6 Monesterio to Calzadilla de los Barros
• Stage 7 Calzadilla de los Barros to Zafra
• Stage 8 Zafra to Villafranca de los Barros
• Stage 9 Villafranca de los Barros to Torremejía
• Stage 10 Torremejía to Mérida
• Section 2: Mérida to Granja de Moreruela
• Stage 11 Mérida to Aljucén
• Stage 12 Aljucén to Alcuéscar
• Stage 13 Alcuéscar to Valdesalor
• Stage 14 Valdesalor to Casar de Cáceres
• Stage 15 Casar de Cáceres to Cañaveral
• Stage 16 Cañaveral to Galisteo
• Stage 17 Galisteo to Carcaboso
• Stage 18 Carcaboso to Hotels Asturias and Jarilla
• Stage 19 Hotels Asturias and Jarilla to Puerto de Béjar (Colonia la Estación)
• Stage 20 Puerto de Béjar (Colonia la Estación) to Fuenterroble de Salvatierra
• Stage 21 Fuenterroble de Salvatierra to San Pedro de Rozados
• Stage 22 San Pedro de Rozados to Salamanca
• Stage 23 Salamanca to Calzada de Valdunciel
• Stage 24 Calzada de Valdunciel to El Cubo de Tierra del Vino
• Stage 25 El Cubo de Tierra del Vino to Zamora
• Stage 26 Zamora to Montamarta
• Stage 27 Montamarta to Granja de Moreruela
  
  
• Section 3: Extension to Astorga
• Extension Granja de Moreruela to Astorga and the Camino Francés
• Section 4: Camino Sanabrés to Ourense
  
  
• Stage 28 Granja de Moreruela to Tábara
  
• Stage 29 Tábara to Santa Marta de Tera
• Stage 30 Santa Marta de Tera to Rionegro del Puente
• Stage 31 Rionegro del Puente to Asturianos
• Stage 32 Asturianos to Requejo
• Stage 33 Requejo to Lubián
• Stage 34 Lubián to A Gudiña

A Gudiña to Ourense via Laza

• Stage 35 A Gudiña to Laza
• Stage 36 Laza to Alberguería
• Stage 37 Alberguería to Xunqueira de Ambía
• Stage 38 Xunqueira de Ambía to Ourense

A Gudiña to Ourense: variant via Verín

• Stage 35A A Gudiña to Verín
• Stage 36A Verín to Xinzo de Limia
• Stage 37A Xinzo de Limia to Allariz
• Stage 38A Allariz to Pereiras (connection with Stage 38 to Ourense)
  
  
• Section 5: Ourense to Santiago de Compostela
• Stage 39 Ourense to OseiraStage 40 Oseira to Botos (Estación de Lalín)
• Stage 41 Botos (Estación de Lalín) to Dornelas
• Stage 42 Dornelas to Deseiro (Sergude)
• Stage 43 Deseiro (Sergude) to Santiago de Compostela

Appendix A Stage planning tables
Appendix B Spanish–English glossary of key terms
Appendix C Useful contacts and links
Appendix D Bibliography