Starting Via de la Plata beginning of may (somewhat flexible)

[Daphne McDaid]

Hello Everyone, I am planning to start the Via de la Plata from Sevilla at the beginning of May. I fly into Madrid on April 27th and will spend several days there and then make my way to Sevilla. Is anyone else planning a start date around then? It would be nice to start off with someone. I did the Camino Frances in Sept of 2016 and am now hooked on walking and I adore Spain. I look forward to seeing the Roman ruins and having a somewhat more challenging experience. I am drawn to the solitude of this camino but I am also interested in meeting people from all over. I speak spanish fairly well. I would also appreciated any tips. Thanks so much!

 

[C clearly]

You do need to very aware of the summer heat and the need for enough water. I walked in March-April when it was not such an issue. If I were so brave as to walk in May, I would get one of the hands-free reflective umbrellas, and I would be very careful to plan each day with consideration of the distance, the heat and the water supply. Speaking Spanish will be a help, and be sure to have a phone, preferably (in my opinion) with GPS so that you know where you are if you run into difficulties.

If that is taken care of, you will enjoy the VDLP thoroughly. It is a fascinating route.

 

[Daphne McDaid]

Thank you C cleary. I realize May is a bit late to start and would have preferred to start in march or april but things didn't work out. I have a 3 liter water bladder and I will look for a hands-free reflective umbrella!

 

[Daphne McDaid]

And will get a spanish sim card. What was your favorite part of the via de la plata?

 

[Geert VE]

Hello Everyone, I am planning to start the Via de la Plata from Sevilla at the beginning of May. I fly into Madrid on April 27th and will spend several days there and then make my way to Sevilla. Is anyone else planning a start date around then? It would be nice to start off with someone. I did the Camino Frances in Sept of 2016 and am now hooked on walking and I adore Spain. I look forward to seeing the Roman ruins and having a somewhat more challenging experience. I am drawn to the solitude of this camino but I am also interested in meeting people from all over. I speak spanish fairly well. I would also appreciated any tips. Thanks so much!

Hi Daphne, I will be a couple of days before you , I start on the 27 th of april in Seville. buen camino !

 

[Daphne McDaid]

Hi Daphne, I will be a couple of days before you , I start on the 27 th of april in Seville. buen camino !

Thank you Vremde! Buen Camino to you too!

 

[Barbara06]

I did it in may, alone. It was just great, i had no rain, meet many people, never got lost because well indicated. Didn't have water bladder just a normal water bottle and no umbrella. Just go, don't overthink everything..

 

[ranthr]

Daphne, if you are interrested in Roman ruins, do not miss Santiponce some 10 km on the way out of Seville. There is a small hotel just by the Roman village, cheaper than any hotel in Seville, nice rooms and ok food. A lot to see in the village, an amfitheatre as well as the Roman city and a cloister as well. I stayed there instead of a second night in Seville and did not regret that. Gives you a shorter day to Guillena passing the two arroyos that may be overflown in spring. There is also a bus to Santiponce if you prefer walking through Roman foreign cities than through industrial areas on asfalt roads.
Merida is another great Roman city, be aware that the roman museum as well as other museums in Spain is closed on Mondays.

 

[Daphne McDaid]

Daphne, if you are interrested in Roman ruins, do not miss Santiponce some 10 km on the way out of Seville. There is a small hotel just by the Roman village, cheaper than any hotel in Seville, nice rooms and ok food. A lot to see in the village, an amfitheatre as well as the Roman city and a cloister as well. I stayed there instead of a second night in Seville and did not regret that. Gives you a shorter day to Guillena passing the two arroyos that may be overflown in spring. There is also a bus to Santiponce if you prefer walking through Roman foreign cities than through industrial areas on asfalt roads.
Merida is another great Roman city, be aware that the roman museum as well as other museums in Spain is closed on Mondays.

Thank you for the tip about Santiponce, Ranthr!

 

[Daphne McDaid]

I did it in may, alone. It was just great, i had no rain, meet many people, never got lost because well indicated. Didn't have water bladder just a normal water bottle and no umbrella. Just go, don't overthink everything..

Thank you so much Barbara. That really puts my mind at ease. Since doing the Camino Frances I realize it is not necessary to overthink too much but I was a little worried about the Via de la Plata because I did not want to be too alone. It is really drawing me though so I have to do it.

 

[C clearly]

And will get a spanish sim card. What was your favorite part of the via de la plata?

In broad terms, I'd say the part from Merida to Salamanca, but there were some wonderful days both before and after that stretch. I walked north to Astorga so I haven't done the Sanabres yet.