Walking the Salvador, starting June 26th

[Bernard000]

Buen Camino pilgrims!
I plan to walk the Del Salvador this summer, followed by the Primitivo, followed by the Portuguese (from Coimbra). What a summer I will have
I am posting my current itinerary, and am wondering if any fellow pilgrims have recommendations, advice or things to look out for. Should I anticipate issues with accomodations? I walk early in the morning and usually arrived at my destination around noon.

Day 1: Leon - La Robla (will stay in pilgrims hostel, it is open, yes?)
Day 2: La Robla - Poladura de la Tercia (pilgrims hostel, open? are there restaurants or groceries stores around?)
Day 3: Poladura - Pajares (pilgrims hostel)
Day 4: Parajes - Pola de Lena (don't know where to stay yet)
Day 5: Pole de Lena - Oviedo

Can anyone recommend places to stay? I don't mind staying in municipal or private albergues. Also, I heard that Pola de Gordon is the last grocery store for 50km.

Have a buen camino, dear pilgrims!

 

[Former member 104756]

Hi Bernard - there are quite a few options for how to stage the Salvador.

The one recommendation I would give is - if it's at all possible - rearrange your itinerary to stop at Benduenos. The albergue is very special as is the hospitalera Sandra. A little off the path, and up a hill - but worth every step. For many it's a highlight of the Salvador.

Pajares - Pola de Lena | Camino del Salvador | Gronze.com

Etapa bella, larga y exigente, que destaca por sus continuos desniveles: hoy descenderemos desde las cotas altas de la cordillera al cauce de los ríos Valgrande, Pajares y Lena. La primera parte de la jornada discurre por viejas veredas entre aldeas, siempre envueltos por bosques y prados, para...

www.gronze.com

Albergue parroquial Virgen de Bendueños | Albergue de Peregrinos en Bendueños | Gronze.com

Información del albergue de peregrinos Albergue parroquial Virgen de Bendueños, en Bendueños: Precio, plazas, características, etc...

www.gronze.com

 

[Steve900Hiker]

Buen Camino pilgrims!
I plan to walk the Del Salvador this summer, followed by the Primitivo, followed by the Portuguese (from Coimbra). What a summer I will have
I am posting my current itinerary, and am wondering if any fellow pilgrims have recommendations, advice or things to look out for. Should I anticipate issues with accomodations? I walk early in the morning and usually arrived at my destination around noon.

Day 1: Leon - La Robla (will stay in pilgrims hostel, it is open, yes?)
Day 2: La Robla - Poladura de la Tercia (pilgrims hostel, open? are there restaurants or groceries stores around?)
Day 3: Poladura - Pajares (pilgrims hostel)
Day 4: Parajes - Pola de Lena (don't know where to stay yet)
Day 5: Pole de Lena - Oviedo

Can anyone recommend places to stay? I don't mind staying in municipal or private albergues. Also, I heard that Pola de Gordon is the last grocery store for 50km.

Have a buen camino, dear pilgrims!

Your Salvador itinerary is what I did in 2019. I stayed in municipal albergues each night. For updated information on lodging check the Gronze website.

La Robla had restaurants and grocery stores. I did stock up with food to carry as there is limited support on days 2 and 3 on your itinerary. I emailed ahead to be sure I could eat in Poladura and Pajares. Poladura has one restaurant and Pajares has only one or two. Both advised making sure dinner would be available. Pole de Lena has lots of restaurants. Between Poladura and Pajares there is a nice restaurant for a late breakfast or lunch.

The Salvador traverses beautiful country and the views are breath taking. It is rugged in places, but so worth the effort. Don't miss the Santa Cristina de Lena church. Oviedo is a very nice town and a good rest day before starting the Primitivo.

Buen Camino!

 

[Bernard000]

Hi Bernard - there are quite a few options for how to stage the Salvador.

The one recommendation I would give is - if it's at all possible - rearrange your itinerary to stop at Benduenos. The albergue is very special as is the hospitalera Sandra. A little off the path, and up a hill - but worth every step. For many it's a highlight of the Salvador.

Pajares - Pola de Lena | Camino del Salvador | Gronze.com

Etapa bella, larga y exigente, que destaca por sus continuos desniveles: hoy descenderemos desde las cotas altas de la cordillera al cauce de los ríos Valgrande, Pajares y Lena. La primera parte de la jornada discurre por viejas veredas entre aldeas, siempre envueltos por bosques y prados, para...

www.gronze.com

Albergue parroquial Virgen de Bendueños | Albergue de Peregrinos en Bendueños | Gronze.com

Información del albergue de peregrinos Albergue parroquial Virgen de Bendueños, en Bendueños: Precio, plazas, características, etc...

www.gronze.com

I will do some research, thank you very much, it is appreciated!

 

[Bernard000]

Your Salvador itinerary is what I did in 2019. I stayed in municipal albergues each night. For updated information on lodging check the Gronze website.

La Robla had restaurants and grocery stores. I did stock up with food to carry as there is limited support on days 2 and 3 on your itinerary. I emailed ahead to be sure I could eat in Poladura and Pajares. Poladura has one restaurant and Pajares has only one or two. Both advised making sure dinner would be available. Pole de Lena has lots of restaurants. Between Poladura and Pajares there is a nice restaurant for a late breakfast or lunch.

The Salvador traverses beautiful country and the views are breath taking. It is rugged in places, but so worth the effort. Don't miss the Santa Cristina de Lena church. Oviedo is a very nice town and a good rest day before starting the Primitivo.

Buen Camino!

Sounds good to me. Thank you very much. I'll call a day or two before each stage to ensure I have a place to eat. Buen Camino!

 

[David Tallan]

Buen Camino pilgrims!
I plan to walk the Del Salvador this summer, followed by the Primitivo, followed by the Portuguese (from Coimbra). What a summer I will have
I am posting my current itinerary, and am wondering if any fellow pilgrims have recommendations, advice or things to look out for. Should I anticipate issues with accomodations? I walk early in the morning and usually arrived at my destination around noon.

Day 1: Leon - La Robla (will stay in pilgrims hostel, it is open, yes?)
Day 2: La Robla - Poladura de la Tercia (pilgrims hostel, open? are there restaurants or groceries stores around?)
Day 3: Poladura - Pajares (pilgrims hostel)
Day 4: Parajes - Pola de Lena (don't know where to stay yet)
Day 5: Pole de Lena - Oviedo

Can anyone recommend places to stay? I don't mind staying in municipal or private albergues. Also, I heard that Pola de Gordon is the last grocery store for 50km.

Have a buen camino, dear pilgrims!

I also walked the San Salvador in late June - last year. You can see my account in this thread. As you'll see, I added a day so that I could stay in Bendueños (Pajares - Bendueños - El Rollu - Oviedo). I echo Pelerina's recommendation. Bendueños was really a highlight of the Camino and well worth the extra 1.5 km uphill at the end of the day to get there.

 

[Bernard000]

I also walked the San Salvador in late June - last year. You can see my account in this thread. As you'll see, I added a day so that I could stay in Bendueños (Pajares - Bendueños - El Rollu - Oviedo). I echo Pelerina's recommendation. Bendueños was really a highlight of the Camino and well worth the extra 1.5 km uphill at the end of the day to get there.

Wow, thanks so much for this thread! I'll try to read some of it without spoiling the experience, I'm sure it will be a godsend!

I might just make it a 6 day Camino, then ! My flight back isn't until August 7, anyways!

 

[NinaCamina]

I'm doing El Salvador starting may 30. But I see most albergues only have capacity for 4-12 people, and not a lot of options to book somewhere else, is this capacity enough for the few pilgrims doing this camino? or should I definitely look for booking options ?

 

[cLiffordiL]

Your Salvador itinerary is what I did in 2019. I stayed in municipal albergues each night. For updated information on lodging check the Gronze website.

La Robla had restaurants and grocery stores. I did stock up with food to carry as there is limited support on days 2 and 3 on your itinerary. I emailed ahead to be sure I could eat in Poladura and Pajares. Poladura has one restaurant and Pajares has only one or two. Both advised making sure dinner would be available. Pole de Lena has lots of restaurants. Between Poladura and Pajares there is a nice restaurant for a late breakfast or lunch.

The Salvador traverses beautiful country and the views are breath taking. It is rugged in places, but so worth the effort. Don't miss the Santa Cristina de Lena church. Oviedo is a very nice town and a good rest day before starting the Primitivo.

Buen Camino!

Hi @Steve900Hiker,

How much time notice did you have to give Poladura & Pajares for the meals provision? Will the day before reaching be too late? Reason I’m asking is right at this moment I still haven’t made my mind up on how many days I’ll be at Leon before setting off.
Are you able to pass their contacts over? Thanks in advance.

 

[David Tallan]

I'm doing El Salvador starting may 30. But I see most albergues only have capacity for 4-12 people, and not a lot of options to book somewhere else, is this capacity enough for the few pilgrims doing this camino? or should I definitely look for booking options ?

I had no problems last June.

 

[David Tallan]

Hi @Steve900Hiker,

How much time notice did you have to give Poladura & Pajares for the meals provision? Will the day before reaching be too late? Reason I’m asking is right at this moment I still haven’t made my mind up on how many days I’ll be at Leon before setting off.
Are you able to pass their contacts over? Thanks in advance.

In my experience, the day before was all of the notice needed for meals on the Salvador.

 

[Bernard000]

Hi again to all pilgrims,
Here is my revised itinerary. I think the distances are correct. If anyone notices something off, please let me know.
Very excited for the summer!
Day 1: Leon - La Robla 28km (or a bit more)
Day 2: La Robla - Poladura de la Tercia 25 km
Day 3: Poladura - Pajares 14km (in David Tallan's thread, he says 19km?)
Day 4: Parajes - Benduenos (about 18-20km)
Day 5: Benduenos - Mieres del Camino (22km)
Day 6: Mieres del Camino - Oviedo (18km)

 

[David Tallan]

Hi again to all pilgrims,
Here is my revised itinerary. I think the distances are correct. If anyone notices something off, please let me know.
Very excited for the summer!
Day 1: Leon - La Robla 28km (or a bit more)
Day 2: La Robla - Poladura de la Tercia 25 km
Day 3: Poladura - Pajares 14km (in David Tallan's thread, he says 19km?)
Day 4: Parajes - Benduenos (about 18-20km)
Day 5: Benduenos - Mieres del Camino (22km)
Day 6: Mieres del Camino - Oviedo (18km)

The 19 km on Day 3 was what my tracking apps were telling me I walked. It could be that I did some detours as I tried to see a church that was closed and headed off for second breakfast, or that the route was detoured due to some construction that was going on (see other threads). Or it could be that the app that was tracking was inaccurate. Certainly, Gronze lists a lot shorter distance.

 

[Bernard000]

The 19 km on Day 3 was what my tracking apps were telling me I walked. It could be that I did some detours as I tried to see a church that was closed and headed off for second breakfast, or that the route was detoured due to some construction that was going on (see other threads). Or it could be that the app that was tracking was inaccurate. Certainly, Gronze lists a lot shorter distance.

Great, thanks for the heads up, and thanks for all the advice! I am getting the Camino butterflies already!