Albergue at Santa Marta de Tera

[Simon B]

Seems some confusion from various sources when the Municipal Hostal opens. I am planning to arrive at end of Feb. Some guides say open all year, some say Easter onwards and some say March onwards. Anybody have the right answer??

Thank you in anticipation.

Simon

 

[Raggy]

I've come across mistakes and out-of-date information even in the most reliable guides. When two trustworthy sources differ, you might have to go to the source to verify. The number for the albergue is on Antonio Retamosa's site:

SANTA MARTA DE TERA - Albergue de Peregrinos en el Camino Sanabrés

Camino de Santiago por la Vía de la Plata y Sanabrés. Todo lo que necesitas saber para tu Camino: Etapas / Mapas / Albergues / Consejos

viadelaplataelcamino.blogspot.com

Whatever information you get today, the situation might change between now and February if a pipe bursts or someone's health fails. If you stop at Tabara on your way to Santa Marta, you can be sure that the hospitalero there (Jose Almeida) will offer you the most up-to-date information and advice about the next stage.

In the event that Santa Marta is closed, you could divert to Camarazana de Tera, where there's a hotel or you could continue along the Camino to Calzadilla de Tera, which makes for a somewhat long stage. Fortunately the path from Santa Marta to Calzadilla de Tera is quite gentle and flat. (Unfortunately, the walk from Tabara to Santa Marta is quite strenuous). After that gentle walk, you might feel like continuing another couple of kilometers as far as the albergue La Trucha in Olleros. It is run by a delightful old lady who serves home-made sausage in her bar, but the single-walled cinderblock dormitory is as cold as the North Pole.

 

[KinkyOne]

Seems some confusion from various sources when the Municipal Hostal opens. I am planning to arrive at end of Feb. Some guides say open all year, some say Easter onwards and some say March onwards. Anybody have the right answer??

Thank you in anticipation.

Simon

Usually Gronze has most up to date info: https://www.gronze.com/castilla-y-leon/zamora/santa-marta-tera/albergue-peregrinos-santa-marta-tera
and it says it's opened whole year but to check beforehand in the wintertime.

If it is of great inportance for you to sleep there simply ring the phone number in the link or send e-mail to the municipality.

Happy planning!

 

[DeansFamily]

We stayed there a couple of weeks ago and I thought that it was open all year. When we arrived the front gate and entry to the alburgue were open but no hospitalario came to take any money or stamp the credentials. There is a donation box on the table just inside the entry corridor and the notice on the board that is on your RHS said to go to the church between 4 and 6 pm to get your sello. I believe the alburgue is run by a Camino society affiliated to the Church and is very nice with great kitchen and bathroom facilities, good heating, but no blankets. There is a very small tienda close by that opens at 5 pm, but we chose to walk back across the river 1.5 kms to a good carnicería and larger tienda for our dinner supplies. For very detailed and accurate alburgue info go to Gronze and utilise their VdlP section with the various stages. Definitely an alburgue to plan a stop at, hope this helps you

 

[KinkyOne]

We stayed there a couple of weeks ago and I thought that it was open all year. When we arrived the front gate and entry to the alburgue were open but no hospitalario came to take any money or stamp the credentials. There is a donation box on the table just inside the entry corridor and the notice on the board that is on your RHS said to go to the church between 4 and 6 pm to get your sello. I believe the alburgue is run by a Camino society affiliated to the Church and is very nice with great kitchen and bathroom facilities, good heating, but no blankets. There is a very small tienda close by that opens at 5 pm, but we chose to walk back across the river 1.5 kms to a good carnicería and larger tienda for our dinner supplies. For very detailed and accurate alburgue info go to Gronze and utilise their VdlP section with the various stages. Definitely an alburgue to plan a stop at, hope this helps you

Great to hear they got rid of those piles of blankets because couple of years ago that's where the bedbugs were crawling from during the night...
Very nice albergue though and if the small tienda is closed you can ring the bell and the Senora will come and open it. Instructions in the corridor by the kitchen if I remember correctly.

 

[Raggy]

I think municipal albergues in Galicia have gotten rid of blankets as a matter of policy now.

 

[SYates]

I think municipal albergues in Galicia have gotten rid of blankets as a matter of policy now.

And very few of them had them anyway ...
BC SY

 

[DeansFamily]

We never expect Xunta alburgues to have blankets (or cooking and eating utensils) but surprisingly when registering and paying at the Emergency Services office at Laza the officer asked if we would like a blanket and that he would deliver them to the alburgue later that evening. We were very impressed by the quality of the Xunta alburgues on the Sanabres.

 

[wildrover]

Seems some confusion from various sources when the Municipal Hostal opens. I am planning to arrive at end of Feb. Some guides say open all year, some say Easter onwards and some say March onwards. Anybody have the right answer??

Thank you in anticipation.

Simon

Hi mate, I've walked the VDLP 3 times in the last four yrs. the first occasion it was open at the very end of February. The other two occasions, it was closed.... at the end of January. The stage from tabara is relatively long at about 34k. It is mainly flat with a few stiff, but short inclines! You could walk about 12k to the first village and beautiful albergue with a pellet stove in a full size living room and a big tv. Spotlessly clean, well stocked kitchen. Key from the local restaurant £15. No guide book... can be 100 percent accurate . Incidentally, the albergue after tabara at 34k... is braw, but no heating or kitchen. It is adjacent to a shop which opens for pilgrims, as the lady lives next door. I'll be off again on the 15/12. Can't wait. Cheers wild

 

[Vince1958]

Seems some confusion from various sources when the Municipal Hostal opens. I am planning to arrive at end of Feb. Some guides say open all year, some say Easter onwards and some say March onwards. Anybody have the right answer??

Thank you in anticipation.

Simon

My guide says open from Easter to December. I came through there on December 3rd and it was closed.

 

[Mel Camino]

Hi mate, I've walked the VDLP 3 times in the last four yrs. the first occasion it was open at the very end of February. The other two occasions, it was closed.... at the end of January. The stage from tabara is relatively long at about 34k. It is mainly flat with a few stiff, but short inclines! You could walk about 12k to the first village and beautiful albergue with a pellet stove in a full size living room and a big tv. Spotlessly clean, well stocked kitchen. Key from the local restaurant £15. No guide book... can be 100 percent accurate . Incidentally, the albergue after tabara at 34k... is braw, but no heating or kitchen. It is adjacent to a shop which opens for pilgrims, as the lady lives next door. I'll be off again on the 15/12. Can't wait. Cheers wild

Not sure if it's the same one, but I was recovering from an infection when I left Tábara, so I couldn't manage 34k and stopped in a lovely albergue in Villanueva de las Peras, just 14K from Tábara. The next day, I took an alternate route to Rionegro that was 30km (shaved 7 km off). I wish I could tell you what I did (I have no record), but if you're interested, I'm sure other pilgrims or locals could explain what to do.

Whatever you do, don't forget to eat at Me Gusta Comer in Rionegro - hands down the best meal of my Camino!

Buen camino!

 

[DeansFamily]

Whatever you do, don't forget to eat at Me Gusta Comer in Rionegro - hands down the best meal of my Camino!

Can highly back up this recommendation. We ate there recently and it was our best pilgrim meal (best meal ever) on any of our Caminos. It was 10€ and he was preparing each course in front of us. It was a degustation style menu and amazing. Do yourself a favour and plan to eat there when staying at Rio Negro, you won’t regret it

 

[SYates]

Can highly back up this recommendation. We ate there recently and it was our best pilgrim meal (best meal ever) on any of our Caminos. It was 10€ and he was preparing each course in front of us. It was a degustation style menu and amazing. Do yourself a favour and plan to eat there when staying at Rio Negro, you won’t regret it

Couldn't agree more, that place is NOT to be misssed! Sometimes I am dreaming just traveling down there, only for the food! BC SY

 

[Peregrinopaul]

Couldn't agree more, that place is NOT to be misssed! Sometimes I am dreaming just traveling down there, only for the food! BC SY

You probably speak for all of us who have experienced Teo's hospitality.

 

[Simon B]

Thank you to everybody for the most welcome advice. Might revert to plan A and just walk and see what happens.

Buen Camino, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Simon B