Hi, I was wondering if anyone has done both the Levante and Seville-Zamora section of the Plata routes ?
Apart from the distances what are the major differences in terrain, availability of Alberges, annoyances , road vs path walking etc. between these ? While all routes are different ( I have done Norte, Portugese and Primitivo routes ). Any preferences ? Am thinking of starting just after Easter.
Thanks
Oops, just seeing this now, but I agree with what’s been said. I think I liked the Levante more than @LT did, but I agree that the Vdlp is probably a better fit for what you are looking for. The Levante is a camino of wide open spaces, beautiful expanses of shockingly bright green in springtime, which is definitely the best time to walk the Levante. Lots of castles on hilltops, a surprising number of towns with very interesting castles, plazas, churches, etc. Albergues on about half the stages, so fewer than on the Vdlp. The Levante has a few drop-dead-gorgeous mountain sections, which you won’t get on the Vdlp (I’m thinking mainly between Toledo and Ávila). But the Vdlp has about the best amalgamation of interesting cities of any camino (Sevilla, Mérida, Cáceres, Salamanca, Zamora, Ourense— wow!), but Toledo and Ávila on the Levante are very nice. The arrival point into Toledo, when you come up to the El Greco view over the river with the city in the background, is one of those moments that takes your breath away.
Probably my favorite terrain on the Vdlp is what they call “dehesa” in Spanish. Kind of a rocky, scrubby, marshy terrain, sounds awful but is spectacular in the springtime. Wikipedia has a
good description of what it is
And while I am plugging the Vdlp, if you do go, and if you love ancient churches, one of my favorites is there, a slight detour between Aljucén and Alcuéscar— Santa Lucía de Trampal. Alan Sykes gave great info on how to get there on
this thread
Starting just after Easter is perfect for either Camino. I would walk either happily. Buen camino, Laurie