Via del la Plata

[SusanO]

Hi, my husband and I are travelling from Australia and we have a spare couple of weeks beginning of February and are planning on walking the VdlP. We walked the full Camino de Santiago two years and absolutely loved it.
Unfortunately this time I haven’t been able to put in the planning. After some quick research we are thinking of starting from Merida. Was wondering how cold it will be (we did the Camino de Santiago end of Feb) are there an issue with Albergues being closed for winter and any Albergues recommended.
I also am not sure if it worthwhile buying the book, but probably will.
We thought we would catch a train/bus to Merida, is this doable and the best option. Open to suggestions if more experienced people think we should walk other sections. Really after the best choice for a 10-14 day walk.
Thanks so much
Cheers Sue

 

[Jan_D]

Hi Susan - fellow forum member Sara Dhooma did the Via de la Plata last year - she reaches Merida on Day 9, around 3 February, so you might find it very relevant! Her videos are really short, only a few minutes each, but it should give you an idea of which albergues and bars are open, what the weather might be like, etc! (Hope the link works ok)

 

[Donna Sch]

Personally I would do the Sanabres in that time frame. Otherwise I would do Sevilla to Merida or any route that includes Salamanca.

 

[happymarkos]

Hi, my husband and I are travelling from Australia and we have a spare couple of weeks beginning of February and are planning on walking the VdlP. We walked the full Camino de Santiago two years and absolutely loved it.
Unfortunately this time I haven’t been able to put in the planning. After some quick research we are thinking of starting from Merida. Was wondering how cold it will be (we did the Camino de Santiago end of Feb) are there an issue with Albergues being closed for winter and any Albergues recommended.
I also am not sure if it worthwhile buying the book, but probably will.
We thought we would catch a train/bus to Merida, is this doable and the best option. Open to suggestions if more experienced people think we should walk other sections. Really after the best choice for a 10-14 day walk.
Thanks so much
Cheers Sue

Hi Sue
Suggest you download Gronze.com and ensure it has the English translation enabled. It shows the route, places to stay, has reviews on many as well as phone numbers to call albergue etc. Works off satellites so you don’t need wifi.
I used it last year Seville to Salamanca and will do so in April when I walk from Salamanca to Santiago.
I don’t think you can walk Seville to Salamanca in the time you have so Merida is a good option.
Happymark

 

[Colette Z]

Hi Susan, I’m walking the Via Augusta (Cadiz to Seville 6.5 days) starting Feb 25th then continuing on the VDLP March 5th to Santiago. Perhaps my daily distance calendar might help you plan a bit. I only do 30-35km per day if absolutely necessary. Ultra-short days of 10-15 km are to allow half day for sightseeing or because the stage was more than 35km. The GRONZE website below shows each stage and below lists Albergues at each town. You can see what’s open. This is a private message. Buen Camino and ULTREIA

https://www.gronze.com/via-plata[/URL]

 

[amancio]

The meseta in Salamanca can be COLD, as in really, really cold, you might want to consider doing Guillena-Mérida or even Guillena-Cáceres, you will find warmer weather. The difference in altitude is quite considerable once you leave the region of Extremadura and come to Castilla y León.

 

[Colette Z]

The meseta in Salamanca can be COLD, as in really, really cold, you might want to consider doing Guillena-Mérida or even Guillena-Cáceres, you will find warmer weather. The difference in altitude is quite considerable once you leave the region of Extremadura and come to Castilla y León.

@amancio I guess “cold” is relative to one’s country of origin LOL. I just returned from Ottawa Canada and it was -39C on Monday. Spain’s “cold” is a Canadian’s dream spring

 

[Jenyat53]

Hi Susan, we are also Aussies beginning from Zamora vía Ourense on the Sanabrés on 8 February. It will be a little cold but my research suggests accommodation would be doable with only a couple of long days required to reach a bed for the night.
I believe @wildrover is doing this path currently so would have more up to date information. Buen camino whatever your chosen path.

 

[Jenyat53]

Hi Sue
Suggest you download Gronze.com and ensure it has the English translation enabled. It shows the route, places to stay, has reviews on many as well as phone numbers to call albergue etc. Works off satellites so you don’t need wifi.
I used it last year Seville to Salamanca and will do so in April when I walk from Salamanca to Santiago.
I don’t think you can walk Seville to Salamanca in the time you have so Merida is a good option.
Happymark

As a slight digression Happymark, I am struggling to find how to download Gronze and access whatever parts can be accessed just using satellite not wifi.
Perhaps you could enlighten me?
Many thanks in advance Jen

 

[Colette Z]

Hi Susan, we are also Aussies beginning from Zamora vía Ourense on the Sanabrés on 8 February. It will be a little cold but my research suggests accommodation would be doable with only a couple of long days required to reach a bed for the night.
I believe @wildrover is doing this path currently so would have more up to date information. Buen camino whatever your chosen path.

Jen I’d be interested in hearing your opinion after you walk through the hamlet of Riego del Camino. There’s a bar-cafe and a not so popular municipal,albergue and a country home for sale which was run as a donativo. I’ve condidered buying it to run as a donativo but every pilgrim says the hamlet has a negative atmosphere. It’s after Mntrmarte I think so I’m sure you’ll stop at the bar cafe. They say the owner is not very welcoming....let me know. Buen Camino. I’m there 1 month after you.,

 

[Jenyat53]

Jen I’d be interested in hearing your opinion after you walk through the hamlet of Riego del Camino. There’s a bar-cafe and a not so popular municipal,albergue and a country home for sale which was run as a donativo. I’ve condidered buying it to run as a donativo but every pilgrim says the hamlet has a negative atmosphere. It’s after Mntrmarte I think so I’m sure you’ll stop at the bar cafe. They say the owner is not very welcoming....let me know. Buen Camino. I’m there 1 month after you.,

I will be happy to get back to you after Riego del Camino Colette.

 

[Former member 31048]

Hi, my husband and I are travelling from Australia and we have a spare couple of weeks beginning of February and are planning on walking the VdlP. We walked the full Camino de Santiago two years and absolutely loved it.
Unfortunately this time I haven’t been able to put in the planning. After some quick research we are thinking of starting from Merida. Was wondering how cold it will be (we did the Camino de Santiago end of Feb) are there an issue with Albergues being closed for winter and any Albergues recommended.
I also am not sure if it worthwhile buying the book, but probably will.
We thought we would catch a train/bus to Merida, is this doable and the best option. Open to suggestions if more experienced people think we should walk other sections. Really after the best choice for a 10-14 day walk.
Thanks so much
Cheers Sue

Hi, my husband and I are travelling from Australia and we have a spare couple of weeks beginning of February and are planning on walking the VdlP. We walked the full Camino de Santiago two years and absolutely loved it.
Unfortunately this time I haven’t been able to put in the planning. After some quick research we are thinking of starting from Merida. Was wondering how cold it will be (we did the Camino de Santiago end of Feb) are there an issue with Albergues being closed for winter and any Albergues recommended.
I also am not sure if it worthwhile buying the book, but probably will.
We thought we would catch a train/bus to Merida, is this doable and the best option. Open to suggestions if more experienced people think we should walk other sections. Really after the best choice for a 10-14 day walk.
Thanks so much
Cheers Sue

How wonderful Sue. Only comment from me is to try to give yourself a day or two in Merida, a magical town. We arrived there at the end of the Camino Mozarabe, knowing little about the town. We loved every minute we spent there. Google will tell you the highlights. The little Parador hotel in Merida is charming and I recall not so expensive with the pilgrim discount. I know your time is short but you will not regret a day or two in Merida. Buen Camino

 

[amancio]

@amancio I guess “cold” is relative to one’s country of origin LOL. I just returned from Ottawa Canada and it was -39C on Monday. Spain’s “cold” is a Canadian’s dream spring

indeed, it depends! I remember being in Extremadura on a T.shirt, then 2 hours later feeling very cold, and the following morning finding a massive frost, as in massively cold, 5 or 6 below zero (celsius), compared to the 24 degree the day before in Extremadura. It is full bloom spring in Extremadura one day, then late winter the next day as you climb to Salamanca.

 

[Delphinoula]

Hi Susan, I’m walking the Via Augusta (Cadiz to Seville 6.5 days) starting Feb 25th then continuing on the VDLP March 5th to Santiago. Perhaps my daily distance calendar might help you plan a bit. I only do 30-35km per day if absolutely necessary. Ultra-short days of 10-15 km are to allow half day for sightseeing or because the stage was more than 35km. The GRONZE website below shows each stage and below lists Albergues at each town. You can see what’s open. This is a private message. Buen Camino and ULTREIA

https://www.gronze.com/via-plata[/URL]

Hi I am planing to start in Algeciras and would like to hear from your experiences since Inplan to follow up then from Cadiz towards Sevilla in April