Camino de Levante

[Michael fletcher]

I am planning to walk The Camino de Levante starting in April 2017, I have just bought the guide book, I will be walking solo. The daily walking distances seam quite long with accommodation thin on the ground.On previous Caminos I have stayed in Albergues as apposed to Casa Rurals or Hostals, which keep the cost down.The guide was printed in 2009, have things got better?, I really want to do this, I am not young but I have got the will to do it. Any advice especially re accommodation and route marking would be appreciated.

 

[KinkyOne]

I am planning to walk The Camino de Levante starting in April 2017, I have just bought the guide book, I will be walking solo. The daily walking distances seam quite long with accommodation thin on the ground.On previous Caminos I have stayed in Albergues as apposed to Casa Rurals or Hostals, which keep the cost down.The guide was printed in 2009, have things got better?, I really want to do this, I am not young but I have got the will to do it. Any advice especially re accommodation and route marking would be appreciated.

Hi, Michael,

I walked Levante in 2015 apart from Toledo-Avila stretch (due to extreme heat and lots of other technical problems) and didn't find it short on accommodation. Here is the list of my stages with distance but you can cut them down for 5-10% as they were measured with Endomondo. Last year I was using Endomondo AND Wikiloc and later is much more accurate. It's a wild guess but I believe up to 10% is a mistake. So here it goes:
01: Silla, 26,4km (from the beach in Valencia, approx.3km to Cathedral), pension, 20€,
02: Algemesi, 26,95km, albergue, don€,
03: Manuel, 26km (had an info about possible overnight stay in polideportivo but that changed and I've slept at disused train station because there's a supermercado in the town and the weather was nice and warm), 0€
04: Xativa, 11,25km (short one due to rain), Albergue Juvenil "El Cigroner" (reported much nicer than the other one and I was the only guest), 19€,
05: Moixent, 32,05km, albergue muni, don€,
06: La Font de la Figuera, 22,7km, albergue muni (very basic), free€,
07: Almansa, 32,05km, albergue in Convento, 7€,
08: Alpera (on Camino de la Lana, short detour), 25,65km, albergue muni, 7€,
09: Higueruela, 26,55km, albergue muni, free€,
10: Hoya Gonzalo, 14,3km (short one because of the next day and also 5star albergue with public pool across the street), albergue muni, 10€,
11: Chinchilla de Monte Aragon, 20km, Hostal "El Penon", 15€,
12: Albacete, 21,4km, Pension "Victoria", 22€ (pilgrim discount),
13: La Gineta, 29km (with some zig-zaging ), polideportivo, free€,
14: La Roda, 20,75km, albergue muni (not to be missed, it's in bull-fighting arena), don€,
15: San Clemente, 39,15km, albergue muni, free€,
16: Las Pedroneras, 27,5m, Casa Mauricio, 20€,
17: Mota del Cuervo, 22km, Hostal "Plaza", 26€,
18: La Puebla de Almoradiel, 34km, albergue parrochial (a classroom actually but with shower), free€,
19: Villacanas, 22,7km, Hotel "Europa", 30€ (pilgrim price in cash!!!),
20: Tembleque, 20km (estimated because I ran out of the battery and GPS stopped few kms before the town), Hotel "A Posada", 30€ (reccomended),
21: Mora, 20+kms (similar problems as the day before), Hostal "El Toledano", 17€,
22: Almonacid del Toledo, 13,85km, changing room by the public pool, free€,
23: Toledo, 23,7km, albergue "Los Pascuales" (in the center), 14€,

24: Avila, albergue muni, don€,
25: Gotarrendura, 25,2km, albergue muni, don€,
26: Arevalo, 32,65km, polideportivo, free€,
27: San Vicente del Palacio, 25km, classroom, free€,
28: Medina del Campo, 23,95km, albergue parrochial, 10€,
29: Siete Iglesias de trabancos, 28,6km, changing room in cultural center (with showers & small kitchen), 3€,
30: Castronuno, 10,7km, albergue muni, 5€,
31: Toro, approx.25,4km, albergue parrochial, don€,
32: Villalazan, 19,8km, albergue muni in classroom (with showers), free€,
33: Zamora, 18,8km, albergue muni, don€.

I continued on Sanabres to SdC. If you need any more or specific info just fire away.

Ultreia!

 

[george.g]

Hi Michael
Have you picked up on a detail in Laurie's post ref the left turn by the farm, about an hour out of San Clemente, I combined elements of the Sureste and Levante in 2014 and would have missed this turn without Laurie's warning.
Regards
George

 

[Michael fletcher]

Hi, Michael,

I walked Levante in 2015 apart from Toledo-Avila stretch (due to extreme heat and lots of other technical problems) and didn't find it short on accommodation. Here is the list of my stages with distance but you can cut them down for 5-10% as they were measured with Endomondo. Last year I was using Endomondo AND Wikiloc and later is much more accurate. It's a wild guess but I believe up to 10% is a mistake. So here it goes:
01: Silla, 26,4km (from the beach in Valencia, approx.3km to Cathedral), pension, 20€,
02: Algemesi, 26,95km, albergue, don€,
03: Manuel, 26km (had an info about possible overnight stay in polideportivo but that changed and I've slept at disused train station because there's a supermercado in the town and the weather was nice and warm), 0€
04: Xativa, 11,25km (short one due to rain), Albergue Juvenil "El Cigroner" (reported much nicer than the other one and I was the only guest), 19€,
05: Moixent, 32,05km, albergue muni, don€,
06: La Font de la Figuera, 22,7km, albergue muni (very basic), free€,
07: Almansa, 32,05km, albergue in Convento, 7€,
08: Alpera (on Camino de la Lana, short detour), 25,65km, albergue muni, 7€,
09: Higueruela, 26,55km, albergue muni, free€,
10: Hoya Gonzalo, 14,3km (short one because of the next day and also 5star albergue with public pool across the street), albergue muni, 10€,
11: Chinchilla de Monte Aragon, 20km, Hostal "El Penon", 15€,
12: Albacete, 21,4km, Pension "Victoria", 22€ (pilgrim discount),
13: La Gineta, 29km (with some zig-zaging ), polideportivo, free€,
14: La Roda, 20,75km, albergue muni (not to be missed, it's in bull-fighting arena), don€,
15: San Clemente, 39,15km, albergue muni, free€,
16: Las Pedroneras, 27,5m, Casa Mauricio, 20€,
17: Mota del Cuervo, 22km, Hostal "Plaza", 26€,
18: La Puebla de Almoradiel, 34km, albergue parrochial (a classroom actually but with shower), free€,
19: Villacanas, 22,7km, Hotel "Europa", 30€ (pilgrim price in cash!!!),
20: Tembleque, 20km (estimated because I ran out of the battery and GPS stopped few kms before the town), Hotel "A Posada", 30€ (reccomended),
21: Mora, 20+kms (similar problems as the day before), Hostal "El Toledano", 17€,
22: Almonacid del Toledo, 13,85km, changing room by the public pool, free€,
23: Toledo, 23,7km, albergue "Los Pascuales" (in the center), 14€,

24: Avila, albergue muni, don€,
25: Gotarrendura, 25,2km, albergue muni, don€,
26: Arevalo, 32,65km, polideportivo, free€,
27: San Vicente del Palacio, 25km, classroom, free€,
28: Medina del Campo, 23,95km, albergue parrochial, 10€,
29: Siete Iglesias de trabancos, 28,6km, changing room in cultural center (with showers & small kitchen), 3€,
30: Castronuno, 10,7km, albergue muni, 5€,
31: Toro, approx.25,4km, albergue parrochial, don€,
32: Villalazan, 19,8km, albergue muni in classroom (with showers), free€,
33: Zamora, 18,8km, albergue muni, don€.

I continued on Sanabres to SdC. If you need any more or specific info just fire away.

Ultreia!

Hi, Michael,

I walked Levante in 2015 apart from Toledo-Avila stretch (due to extreme heat and lots of other technical problems) and didn't find it short on accommodation. Here is the list of my stages with distance but you can cut them down for 5-10% as they were measured with Endomondo. Last year I was using Endomondo AND Wikiloc and later is much more accurate. It's a wild guess but I believe up to 10% is a mistake. So here it goes:
01: Silla, 26,4km (from the beach in Valencia, approx.3km to Cathedral), pension, 20€,
02: Algemesi, 26,95km, albergue, don€,
03: Manuel, 26km (had an info about possible overnight stay in polideportivo but that changed and I've slept at disused train station because there's a supermercado in the town and the weather was nice and warm), 0€
04: Xativa, 11,25km (short one due to rain), Albergue Juvenil "El Cigroner" (reported much nicer than the other one and I was the only guest), 19€,
05: Moixent, 32,05km, albergue muni, don€,
06: La Font de la Figuera, 22,7km, albergue muni (very basic), free€,
07: Almansa, 32,05km, albergue in Convento, 7€,
08: Alpera (on Camino de la Lana, short detour), 25,65km, albergue muni, 7€,
09: Higueruela, 26,55km, albergue muni, free€,
10: Hoya Gonzalo, 14,3km (short one because of the next day and also 5star albergue with public pool across the street), albergue muni, 10€,
11: Chinchilla de Monte Aragon, 20km, Hostal "El Penon", 15€,
12: Albacete, 21,4km, Pension "Victoria", 22€ (pilgrim discount),
13: La Gineta, 29km (with some zig-zaging ), polideportivo, free€,
14: La Roda, 20,75km, albergue muni (not to be missed, it's in bull-fighting arena), don€,
15: San Clemente, 39,15km, albergue muni, free€,
16: Las Pedroneras, 27,5m, Casa Mauricio, 20€,
17: Mota del Cuervo, 22km, Hostal "Plaza", 26€,
18: La Puebla de Almoradiel, 34km, albergue parrochial (a classroom actually but with shower), free€,
19: Villacanas, 22,7km, Hotel "Europa", 30€ (pilgrim price in cash!!!),
20: Tembleque, 20km (estimated because I ran out of the battery and GPS stopped few kms before the town), Hotel "A Posada", 30€ (reccomended),
21: Mora, 20+kms (similar problems as the day before), Hostal "El Toledano", 17€,
22: Almonacid del Toledo, 13,85km, changing room by the public pool, free€,
23: Toledo, 23,7km, albergue "Los Pascuales" (in the center), 14€,

24: Avila, albergue muni, don€,
25: Gotarrendura, 25,2km, albergue muni, don€,
26: Arevalo, 32,65km, polideportivo, free€,
27: San Vicente del Palacio, 25km, classroom, free€,
28: Medina del Campo, 23,95km, albergue parrochial, 10€,
29: Siete Iglesias de trabancos, 28,6km, changing room in cultural center (with showers & small kitchen), 3€,
30: Castronuno, 10,7km, albergue muni, 5€,
31: Toro, approx.25,4km, albergue parrochial, don€,
32: Villalazan, 19,8km, albergue muni in classroom (with showers), free€,
33: Zamora, 18,8km, albergue muni, don€.

I continued on Sanabres to SdC. If you need any more or specific info just fire away.

Ultreia!

Hi KinkyOne, thanks for info, distances and places to stay,useful.I too will continue on the Sanabres but no worries on that one as I did along with the VdLP. Did you find the signage adequate on the Levante, Michael

 

[Michael fletcher]

Hi KinkyOne, thanks for the info places to stay and distances most useful.I too will be joining up with the Sanabres, no worries on that one as I added it on when walking the VdLP. Just one more question, was the signage adequate on the Levante?. Michael.

 

[nalod]

I enjoyed the Le Levante you might like to have a look at this, Photographic record of Levante done in April May 2015 http://dermotdolan.blogspot.ie/2015/06/recent-spanish-trip-camino-de-levante.html

 

[KinkyOne]

Hi KinkyOne, thanks for info, distances and places to stay,useful.I too will continue on the Sanabres but no worries on that one as I did along with the VdLP. Did you find the signage adequate on the Levante, Michael

A lot might have changed since 2015 but I found markings on first 4 days quite poor. With some guessing (I do have good sense of orientation), on-line GPS checks and asking locals it wasn't so bad just a bit annoying at times. Later on it was much better but overall impression is that Associacion of Sureste Amigos (Alicante) have done their marking job much better than the Levante (Valencia) ones. Of course I can say that only for the stretches where Levante and Sureste overlapse.
@george.g is spot on about warning after San Clemente but if you pay attention it's no big deal. Here's the photo of two houses on the ridge some 50mts to your left where you should turn left uphill and you're good:



There was also some confusion with arrows exiting Albacete. Just follow the tracks to your left after crossing the overpass and do not turn right into a gravel tree avenue soon after overpass because you'll end up in maze of highways

After Castronuno the hospitalera/o might suggest you take Senda de los Almendros instead. It's completely flat because it follows Duero on its left bank almost all the way to Moro. Here's the start of it:



No other difficult spot I can remember right now.

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, Michael,
I've walked the Levante and loved it. I did have the Spanish language guidebook put out by the Amigos in Valencia, and it was very helpful, especially going through towns where the marking is not always so terrific. Like Kinky, I wrote up a report https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/my-stages-on-the-levante.19142/. So did Nalod, you can easily find it.

I was surprised to find that I actually was able to stay in albergues about half the time. In addition, there were several times when mats on the floor of the polideportivo were available and I opted out and went to a pension or casa rural.

I started in early May and spring was in full bloom most of the way. Looking forward to hearing how it goes for you. Buen camino, Laurie

 

[KinkyOne]

Ah, one other spot you might want to be warned. Laurie's post reminded me of it. Maybe you've already seen it in other threads but can't hurt if emphasized once again.
On last day into Zamora there's this so-called "cotton-wood forest mistery". After this shed in the photo you should turn left and not right over the small and overgrown irrigation canal:

 

[Michael fletcher]

Hi, Michael,

I walked Levante in 2015 apart from Toledo-Avila stretch (due to extreme heat and lots of other technical problems) and didn't find it short on accommodation. Here is the list of my stages with distance but you can cut them down for 5-10% as they were measured with Endomondo. Last year I was using Endomondo AND Wikiloc and later is much more accurate. It's a wild guess but I believe up to 10% is a mistake. So here it goes:
01: Silla, 26,4km (from the beach in Valencia, approx.3km to Cathedral), pension, 20€,
02: Algemesi, 26,95km, albergue, don€,
03: Manuel, 26km (had an info about possible overnight stay in polideportivo but that changed and I've slept at disused train station because there's a supermercado in the town and the weather was nice and warm), 0€
04: Xativa, 11,25km (short one due to rain), Albergue Juvenil "El Cigroner" (reported much nicer than the other one and I was the only guest), 19€,
05: Moixent, 32,05km, albergue muni, don€,
06: La Font de la Figuera, 22,7km, albergue muni (very basic), free€,
07: Almansa, 32,05km, albergue in Convento, 7€,
08: Alpera (on Camino de la Lana, short detour), 25,65km, albergue muni, 7€,
09: Higueruela, 26,55km, albergue muni, free€,
10: Hoya Gonzalo, 14,3km (short one because of the next day and also 5star albergue with public pool across the street), albergue muni, 10€,
11: Chinchilla de Monte Aragon, 20km, Hostal "El Penon", 15€,
12: Albacete, 21,4km, Pension "Victoria", 22€ (pilgrim discount),
13: La Gineta, 29km (with some zig-zaging ), polideportivo, free€,
14: La Roda, 20,75km, albergue muni (not to be missed, it's in bull-fighting arena), don€,
15: San Clemente, 39,15km, albergue muni, free€,
16: Las Pedroneras, 27,5m, Casa Mauricio, 20€,
17: Mota del Cuervo, 22km, Hostal "Plaza", 26€,
18: La Puebla de Almoradiel, 34km, albergue parrochial (a classroom actually but with shower), free€,
19: Villacanas, 22,7km, Hotel "Europa", 30€ (pilgrim price in cash!!!),
20: Tembleque, 20km (estimated because I ran out of the battery and GPS stopped few kms before the town), Hotel "A Posada", 30€ (reccomended),
21: Mora, 20+kms (similar problems as the day before), Hostal "El Toledano", 17€,
22: Almonacid del Toledo, 13,85km, changing room by the public pool, free€,
23: Toledo, 23,7km, albergue "Los Pascuales" (in the center), 14€,

24: Avila, albergue muni, don€,
25: Gotarrendura, 25,2km, albergue muni, don€,
26: Arevalo, 32,65km, polideportivo, free€,
27: San Vicente del Palacio, 25km, classroom, free€,
28: Medina del Campo, 23,95km, albergue parrochial, 10€,
29: Siete Iglesias de trabancos, 28,6km, changing room in cultural center (with showers & small kitchen), 3€,
30: Castronuno, 10,7km, albergue muni, 5€,
31: Toro, approx.25,4km, albergue parrochial, don€,
32: Villalazan, 19,8km, albergue muni in classroom (with showers), free€,
33: Zamora, 18,8km, albergue muni, don€.

I continued on Sanabres to SdC. If you need any more or specific info just fire away.

Ultreia!

Hi Michael
Have you picked up on a detail in Laurie's post ref the left turn by the farm, about an hour out of San Clemente, I combined elements of the Sureste and Levante in 2014 and would have missed this turn without Laurie's warning.
Regards
George

Hi Michael
Have you picked up on a detail in Laurie's post ref the left turn by the farm, about an hour out of San Clemente, I combined elements of the Sureste and Levante in 2014 and would have missed this turn without Laurie's warning.
Regards
George

 

[Michael fletcher]

Thanks George,good bit of info.regards Michael

 

[Michael fletcher]

Hi, Michael,
I've walked the Levante and loved it. I did have the Spanish language guidebook put out by the Amigos in Valencia, and it was very helpful, especially going through towns where the marking is not always so terrific. Like Kinky, I wrote up a report https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/my-stages-on-the-levante.19142/. So did Nalod, you can easily find it.

I was surprised to find that I actually was able to stay in albergues about half the time. In addition, there were several times when mats on the floor of the polideportivo were available and I opted out and went to a pension or casa rural.

I started in early May and spring was in full bloom most of the way. Looking forward to hearing how it goes for you. Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Michael fletcher]

Thanks Laurie. I have quite a few of your posts, always interesting, Michael

 

[george.g]

Hi Michael.
I suppose you have looked at the Mundicamino pages for the Levante?
It looks fairly up to date i.e. In Villacanas there was not a lot of accommodation known about but now I see the hostel for "transients" is mentioned.Don't worry I've stayed there it's fine, No51 Calle San Roache.
Also good cheap cafe, CafeMari at the bottom of Calle Mayor, it has "casino" on the wall outside, it's not.
Regards
George

 

[KinkyOne]

Hi Michael.
I suppose you have looked at the Mundicamino pages for the Levante?
It looks fairly up to date i.e. In Villacanas there was not a lot of accommodation known about but now I see the hostel for "transients" is mentioned.Don't worry I've stayed there it's fine, No51 Calle San Roache.
Also good cheap cafe, CafeMari at the bottom of Calle Mayor, it has "casino" on the wall outside, it's not.
Regards
George

George I think you mean "Albergue de Transeuntes" (which stands for bums, drunks, homeless etc.). I was there and it opened only very late in the afternoon, 6PM??? First I went to Policia Local and they showed me the way but also made few remarks about who would be there. OK, I'm not really fond of prejudices and was thinking more of how late I'd be able to wash my clothes etc. with which I wasn't really happy. But I went to a supermercado and city park down by the railroad and almost all of the benches were taken by previously mentioned occupants, all heavily drunk. I'm no angel when it gets to beer, wine or liquors but that was simply something I wasn't ready to deal with.

 

[george.g]

When I stayed there, there was only myself and a spanish guy I was walking with in residence! We were taken there by people from the local church, and I was given to understand it was sometimes used by local people who had fell on hard times. It sounds as if it may have changed, so scrub round that bit of info Michael, drunks are not the safest people to be around!
Plus I'm a little surprised it features on Mundicamino as a possible place to stay.
Regards.
George

 

[andy.d]

There was one in Mota del Cueva too in 2009. The Guidebook listed it as an albergue. I got a bit lost that day and walked to a road to reorientate. The Guarda appeared and ID'd me. When they asked where I was headed, they said I was not to stay there as I would be depriving a homeless person of a bed. But they helpfully pointed me in the direction of the good and cheap Casa Rural La Mota

 

[margareta söderberg]

I am planning to walk The Camino de Levante starting in April 2017, I have just bought the guide book, I will be walking solo. The daily walking distances seam quite long with accommodation thin on the ground.On previous Caminos I have stayed in Albergues as apposed to Casa Rurals or Hostals, which keep the cost down.The guide was printed in 2009, have things got better?, I really want to do this, I am not young but I have got the will to do it. Any advice especially re accommodation and route marking would be appreciated.

Hi, I plan to do the same camino in May so I would very much appreciate any updates, if you fell like doing that.
Best,
Margareta

 

[Michael fletcher]

Hi, I plan to do the same camino in May so I would very much appreciate any updates, if you fell like doing that.
Best,
Margareta

Hi Margareta , sorry to take so long to get back to you, I have been looking in detail at Laurie's report on the Levante, good advice on stages, accommodation etc I have copied some of her information into my guide book for future reference.I am hoping the mapping is up to date as there has been some changes in the infrastructure due to massive road and rail works which I experienced three years ago on that stretch after the VdlP. Will keep you updated on anything I think relevant. Regards Mike

 

[Michael fletcher]

Hi, Michael,
I've walked the Levante and loved it. I did have the Spanish language guidebook put out by the Amigos in Valencia, and it was very helpful, especially going through towns where the marking is not always so terrific. Like Kinky, I wrote up a report https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/my-stages-on-the-levante.19142/. So did Nalod, you can easily find it.

I was surprised to find that I actually was able to stay in albergues about half the time. In addition, there were several times when mats on the floor of the polideportivo were available and I opted out and went to a pension or casa rural.

I started in early May and spring was in full bloom most of the way. Looking forward to hearing how it goes for you. Buen camino, Laurie

Hi, Michael,
I've walked the Levante and loved it. I did have the Spanish language guidebook put out by the Amigos in Valencia, and it was very helpful, especially going through towns where the marking is not always so terrific. Like Kinky, I wrote up a report https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/my-stages-on-the-levante.19142/. So did Nalod, you can easily find it.

I was surprised to find that I actually was able to stay in albergues about half the time. In addition, there were several times when mats on the floor of the polideportivo were available and I opted out and went to a pension or casa rural.

I started in early May and spring was in full bloom most of the way. Looking forward to hearing how it goes for you. Buen camino, Laurie

Hi Laurie, I have found your Levante report most informative, my proposed daily distances almost identical to yours so I have made notes in my guide book of the places you stayed and where not to stay, good coffee stops and places where I could go wrong. I am planning to start from Valencia late April and have allowed myself 50 days to include lay days and two days to look around in both Valencia and Santiago. The daily distances, although more than I have usually done don't bother me nor being a solitary walker but I must confess that information I am getting that there are some route changes due to road and rail works on a rather large scale does bother me as I am not the best orientation wise, I have also found in the past that getting albergue keys from policia local and ayuntamientos is never without hitches, so I am hoping for good signage and open Albergues!!. All this aside I am really looking forward to the challenge and by the time comes will have put any fears to one side. Wish me luck, thanks once again, Michael.

 

[gracethepilgrim]

Michael, are you still in the planning stages? Still heading off for the Levante in April? I’ll be heading that way in late May so would love to hear any comments you may have. Buen Camino