- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances 2007,
Via Francigena Italy, 2008,
Jakobsweg Austria 2010,
Camino Frances 2011,
Le Puy to Lourdes 2012,
Via de la Plata 2013,
Future:
Ökumenischer (Via Regia), Germany,
Lycian Way, Turkey
Another member asked me about baggage and local bus transportation along the Via de la Plata and since i am getting first hand experience given my wife's knee issue, i though i share what i have learned so far.
From Sevilla to Merida the primary bus line is Leda. it has the most frequent service and offers the most stops in most towns (but not all towns) along this section. Alsa also operates here ( Leda is owned by Alsa) but offer less times and stops less often.
From Merida to Caceres the primary service is Alsa bus lines. Leda has a morning bus and late afternoon bus but it stops only a few towns along the way. The mid morning Alsa bus stops at most towns but again not all.
Special note: Yon can not always buy a ticket even the schedule suggests you can. For example we wanted to buy a ticket from Merida to Caceres for the 10:10 morning bus but were told we could buy a ticket to Plasencia, whereby we could then simply get off at Caceres. Don't ask why.
From Salamanca north to Ourense and then on to Santiago the situation is extremely challenging. There are direct buses to Zamora from Salamanca for example but I am unsure if they stop anywhere along the way. After Zamora you can only go to Leon for example. There is a late/ afternoon evening bus from Zamorra to Ourense which does stop at one or two places only.
From Ourense to Santiago there are more options via bus but not many.
Also to add to the challenge the little regional train service is stopping as of this June.
Personally if you want or need baggage or alternate local transportation services, north of Salamanca on the via de la plata is a major challenge.
From Sevilla to Merida the primary bus line is Leda. it has the most frequent service and offers the most stops in most towns (but not all towns) along this section. Alsa also operates here ( Leda is owned by Alsa) but offer less times and stops less often.
From Merida to Caceres the primary service is Alsa bus lines. Leda has a morning bus and late afternoon bus but it stops only a few towns along the way. The mid morning Alsa bus stops at most towns but again not all.
Special note: Yon can not always buy a ticket even the schedule suggests you can. For example we wanted to buy a ticket from Merida to Caceres for the 10:10 morning bus but were told we could buy a ticket to Plasencia, whereby we could then simply get off at Caceres. Don't ask why.
From Salamanca north to Ourense and then on to Santiago the situation is extremely challenging. There are direct buses to Zamora from Salamanca for example but I am unsure if they stop anywhere along the way. After Zamora you can only go to Leon for example. There is a late/ afternoon evening bus from Zamorra to Ourense which does stop at one or two places only.
From Ourense to Santiago there are more options via bus but not many.
Also to add to the challenge the little regional train service is stopping as of this June.
Personally if you want or need baggage or alternate local transportation services, north of Salamanca on the via de la plata is a major challenge.