activities for extra days on the Camino

[traveler]

My wife and I will be starting on the Camino next Wednesday. We've set aside 53 days to walk from SJP to Santiago de Compostela. We're in good shape and expect this will give a slower pace for a bit meditation and prayer. And we're also wondering if there are some places we should plan on spending additional time or some places within walking distance of the Camino that would be worth the extra walk.

Thanks

 

[KinkyOne]

Hola!

Bigger towns like Pamplona, Logrono, Burgos, Leon ... with wide range of cathedrals, museums etc. came to mind first.
In addition to that I remember octagonal church in Eunate (detour just before Obanos), Abadia Cisterciense in Canas on the detour between Azofra and Ciruena (famous alabaster windows and avoiding walking through huge almost empty complex of houses on recommended route), short day with stay at Acacio & Orietta's albergue in Viloria de la Rioja just before Belorado (interesting couple - winter pilgrims - and Paulo Coelho being the godfather of this refugio), Atapuerca archeological site (organised tours from Burgos were recommended), taking slow on the Meseta and enjoy every moment of this zen stretch between Burgos and Leon, staying at San Anton refugio (you can find recent thread about that one in New Posts), detour from Sahagun some 6kms to the South to Grajal de Campos (last village on Camino de Madrid) with magnificent Palacio & fortress, swimming in Rio Maruelo in Molinaseca, tasting Maragato cuisine and Bierzo wines in Villafranca del Bierzo region, splurge on pulpo gallego in or near Melide, and there you are in Santiago.

Also try to put aside at least four days to walk from Santiago to Muxia and/or Fisterra, you won't regret it

Ultreia!

 

[KinkyOne]

Ahhh, how could I forgot La Rioja wine, tapas crawl on Calle Laurel in Logrono, morcillas (black puding sausages) in Burgos??? Shame on me

Buen provecho

 

[Al the optimist]

Maragato cuisine! Maybe a misnomer? Having undertaken the adventure I found that I needed the help of a ravenous young German girl (who had already finished her meal) to avoid insulting the cook by leaving most of it. I think the expression is "gut busting".

 

[KinkyOne]

Maragato cuisine! Maybe a misnomer? Having undertaken the adventure I found that I needed the help of a ravenous young German girl (who had already finished her meal) to avoid insulting the cook by leaving most of it. I think the expression is "gut busting".

That's just what a tired peregrino needs

 

[Pelegrin]

Hola!

" tasting Maragato cuisine and Bierzo wines in Villafranca del Bierzo región".

Excelent guide Kinki as usual. Only one comment. The best places for Maragato cuisine, that is basically the Cocido Maragato, are Castrillo de Polvazares and Astorga which are in the Maragatería region. Villafranca del Bierzo is ncluded in the Bierzo region, and there the most known food is the botillo, very strong too.
]

 

[KinkyOne]

Of course, Pelegrin, VdB isn't in Maragateria. I didn't do proof reading, sorry if that info was misleading and thanks for clearing it

 

[Al the optimist]

That's just what a tired peregrino needs

Not this one! I'm don't want to replace the weight I have saved from my pack to carry it in front instead!

 

[Margaret Butterworth]

Check out the website for Hacienda El Val, near Ponferrada. Jorge can take you on a fantastic tour of the Valley of Silence and Las Medulas.

 

[JohnMcM]

My wife and I will be starting on the Camino next Wednesday. We've set aside 53 days to walk from SJP to Santiago de Compostela. We're in good shape and expect this will give a slower pace for a bit meditation and prayer. And we're also wondering if there are some places we should plan on spending additional time or some places within walking distance of the Camino that would be worth the extra walk.

Thanks

Hello traveler and wife,

Some good suggestions already from other pilgrims and I have no ther place names or destinations exotic to add to that list.

I would however prompt you to remember the joy, love, company and happiness you can find in each other's arms, so, in your search to find things to do with any extra time, try not to overlook the simple joy of being alone with the one you love.

Buen Camino

 

[SanFranLinda]

I am not writing from experience. I have no personal knowledge of the following, only that I bookmarked this thread from last year, because I wanted to save it for future reference...

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...n-splendor-from-ponferrada-or-el-acebo.27697/

 

[traveler]

Hola!

Bigger towns like Pamplona, Logrono, Burgos, Leon ... with wide range of cathedrals, museums etc. came to mind first.
In addition to that I remember octagonal church in Eunate (detour just before Obanos), Abadia Cisterciense in Canas on the detour between Azofra and Ciruena (famous alabaster windows and avoiding walking through huge almost empty complex of houses on recommended route), short day with stay at Acacio & Orietta's albergue in Viloria de la Rioja just before Belorado (interesting couple - winter pilgrims - and Paulo Coelho being the godfather of this refugio), ...

Ultreia!

Kinki - Thanks! this is an amazing list! I'm really looking forward to unpacking this tonight and getting on the plan for our Camino.

 

[traveler]

... tapas crawl on Calle Laurel in Logrono, morcillas (black puding sausages) in Burgos??? Shame on me

Buen provecho

tapas crawl!? did someone say tapas crawl??! We're in!
but only in Burgos???

 

[peregrina2000]

tapas crawl!? did someone say tapas crawl??! We're in!
but only in Burgos???

Hi, traveler, if you're looking for sites worth visiting close to the Camino, accessible either by bus or taxi, you're going to find a LOT. Near Burgos is the monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos. If you search through the forum, you'll see that many have recommended a side trip there. Given the bus schedules, you're likely to need at least two nights there to be able to visit the church/cloister and attend vespers. With your schedule, that'll be very easy to accomplish.

If you like ancient churches, about 25 kms from Leon is the amazing San Miguel de la Escalada. Public transportation may be tough, but it is an absolutely beautiful mozarabic church.

Near Belorado is the monastery where I believe the Castilian language was first written, Yuso and Suso (can't remember which is the older one). I assume you could more easily get there from Santo Domingo de la Calzada, but we met a guy walking to Belorado who was out for his daily constitutional and he volunteered to pick us up in the afternoon after we had arrived and settled in the albergue and take us there in his car.

The excavations/remains at ATapuerca have also been described a lot in this forum, and many recommend a visit as a day trip from Burgos. These are just the ones that jump to mind, but I'm sure there are lots more that I'm not thinking of. With your timeframe, you will be able to take advantage of a lot of visits!

But I do echo Kinky's recommendation about making sure to save 3 or 4 days to be able to walk to Finisterre or Muxia (actually, the absolute best is to walk to Finisterre AND Muxia, so that would be 4 or 5 days!)

Buen camino, Laurie

 

[KinkyOne]

tapas crawl!? did someone say tapas crawl??! We're in!
but only in Burgos???

YESSSS - Tapas crawl
In my experience most famous on Calle Laurel in Logrono or in Barrio Humedo in Leon. In Burgos I was so much taken by the beauty of the cathedral that I didn't noticed tapas bars at all