Luka
Veteran Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Next: Camino Sanabrés (May 2024)
I just got back from Spain. Walked the first part of the VdlP (until the weather got so bad I fled back to Sevilla). These are some of my notes about stages and albergues (good and bad):
Stage 1: Sevilla - Guillena (22k)
- I walked there on the 28th of April. On the 29th another pilgrim got robbed by two men with knives just before Guillena (see somewhere else on this forum). I hope this was an incident.
- I stayed in the albergue municipal. Everything was fine there. Different rooms of about three bunks each (if I remember well), small kitchen, wifi.
Stage 2: Guillena - Castilblanco de los Arroyos (18k)
- Stayed in the donativo albergue near the gas station. Nice volunteers, but a bit of a cramped dormitory with ten bunks, only two bathrooms (toilet and shower combined, saw this a lot, unhandy) and I had a cold shower, kitchen with equipment to cook.
- The next morning I heard the bikes of two pilgrims were stolen that night. A few days later I heard that the complete backpack of another pilgrim was stolen from the dormitory in the same week.
Stage 3: Castilblanco de los Arroyos - El Real de la Jara (43k, 27k walking)
- The first 16k is roadwalk. Beautiful surroundings and not a lot of traffic, but I decided to take a taxi to the entrance of the natural park. We were with the three of us and paid 25 euros in total (so a little over 8 each). I was happy with my decision for two more reasons. First, before you reach Almadén de la Plata there is a long and steep climb. I would have found this very hard if I would have walked almost 29k already. Second, I walked on to El Real de la Jara, which makes it a total of 27k walking. Otherwise you have to choose between walking 14k or 34k on day 3 (after walking 29 on day 2).
- El Real de la Jara is quite a boring village. I stayed in the albergue municipal (7 euros) which I found a bit depressive. Very dark, low ceiling. The biggest dorm is on the second floor which you can only reach from outside. There is a private albergue just 100 meters further, this one might be better.
Stage 4: El Real de la Jara - Monesterio (20k)
- The albergue parroquial is wonderful. Twelve beds divided over three rooms, big kitchen, terrace, very nice hospitalero.
Stage 1: Sevilla - Guillena (22k)
- I walked there on the 28th of April. On the 29th another pilgrim got robbed by two men with knives just before Guillena (see somewhere else on this forum). I hope this was an incident.
- I stayed in the albergue municipal. Everything was fine there. Different rooms of about three bunks each (if I remember well), small kitchen, wifi.
Stage 2: Guillena - Castilblanco de los Arroyos (18k)
- Stayed in the donativo albergue near the gas station. Nice volunteers, but a bit of a cramped dormitory with ten bunks, only two bathrooms (toilet and shower combined, saw this a lot, unhandy) and I had a cold shower, kitchen with equipment to cook.
- The next morning I heard the bikes of two pilgrims were stolen that night. A few days later I heard that the complete backpack of another pilgrim was stolen from the dormitory in the same week.
Stage 3: Castilblanco de los Arroyos - El Real de la Jara (43k, 27k walking)
- The first 16k is roadwalk. Beautiful surroundings and not a lot of traffic, but I decided to take a taxi to the entrance of the natural park. We were with the three of us and paid 25 euros in total (so a little over 8 each). I was happy with my decision for two more reasons. First, before you reach Almadén de la Plata there is a long and steep climb. I would have found this very hard if I would have walked almost 29k already. Second, I walked on to El Real de la Jara, which makes it a total of 27k walking. Otherwise you have to choose between walking 14k or 34k on day 3 (after walking 29 on day 2).
- El Real de la Jara is quite a boring village. I stayed in the albergue municipal (7 euros) which I found a bit depressive. Very dark, low ceiling. The biggest dorm is on the second floor which you can only reach from outside. There is a private albergue just 100 meters further, this one might be better.
Stage 4: El Real de la Jara - Monesterio (20k)
- The albergue parroquial is wonderful. Twelve beds divided over three rooms, big kitchen, terrace, very nice hospitalero.