Swimming on the Via?

[LesBrass]

Someone asked this question earlier on the Portuguese route... but will I need a swimming costume on the VdlP?

In my head I seem to think that there is a spa somewhere en route and also hot springs? Did I dream this? I'm only taking a costume for these.

 

[peregrina2000]

Someone asked this question earlier on the Portuguese route... but will I need a swimming costume on the VdlP?

In my head I seem to think that there is a spa somewhere en route and also hot springs? Did I dream this? I'm only taking a costume for these.

Hi, LesBrass, there are baths in Aljucen http://www.aqualibera.com/ I had a fun hour or so with three walking pals, and none of us had swimsuits. We all used shorts and bras and no one seemed to be scandalized. There is also a spa in Baños de Montemayor http://www.balneariomontemayor.com/
I can't remember when you are beginning to walk but if the temps are anything like they are now, you might want a proper bathing suit for using municipal pools along the way. Though I bet most of them close once school starts.

 

[grayland]

I am not sure that carrying a swim costume for the off chance you will use it would be worth it.
I think Laurie's advice would be a better choice.
It was about 47c when I was in the hotspring area (mid August)....they did not sound like something I would want to do. There were tourists in town, but they were also skipping the opportunity for the most part.

 

[Magwood]

I went to the hot springs in Ourense - no costume but wore pants (underwear) and vest top. Also, there is a huge dam on the stage between Santa Croya de Tera to Rionegro where I would have been very tempted to take a dip from the sandy shores of the reservoir if the weather had been a little warmer.

 

[Latecomer]

If going VdlP onto Camino Sanabrés, a couple of options in Ourense..

https://www.tripadvisor.es/Attracti...rgas-Ourense_Province_of_Ourense_Galicia.html

http://termalismo.ourense.es/ruta-termal-mino/

¡Buen Camino!

 

[jirit]

Highly recommend while in Ourense, taking the little tourist train out to this spa

http://termalismo.ourense.es/en/portfolio/estacion-termal-outariz/

Some form of swimsuit is required.

And you can rent towels

 

[mmm042]

I second Jirit's recommendation. Also, don't miss the spa in Aljucen, Aqua Libera. It's operated by a lovely couple and you get the entire spa (three pools) to yourself for just a few euros, and for an hour or 90 minutes. http://www.aqualibera.com/en/facilities/thermae.html

 

[LesBrass]

Well thank you folks for so much great information! I think it was both the spa and the hot baths that I had heard about. I am still undecided about the bathers... I bought a light (130gms) costume and it's been in and out of my pack several times in the last week

I was hoping to keep my pack at around 7.5 kg but it's grown to 8.6 kg. I've added things like the costume, and a UV Umbrella and a few more electrolyte tablets and some emergency rations and before you know it I'm at 8.6 kg! It's so hot at the moment I want to be sure I stay healthy.

I think I'm just going to accept this weight and hope that as the days pass so the weight reduces... I've walked with it all and 3L of water and I could feel the weight on my back but it really wasn't too bad... I wish I could remember what my pack weight was when I first walked the CF... And I'm 25kg lighter so that must count for something

 

[FelixBC]

I can vouch for the baths in Banos de Montemayor. Lovely hillside town, with the proper spas. One of them has a pilgrim rate. For 3.50 euro each we got terry towel robes, slippers, towels, changing cabin, and two hours in the warm pool. They even found a swimsuit for me that fit. Not the hot tub, unfortunately. (I went in April/May, spent most of my time trying to keep warm, especially in the hills.) The whole experience was heavenly after a day's walk. The main pool has parts of it from Roman times, and some display areas with ancient bits.

 

[LesBrass]

Thanks @FelixBC ... I've been sent details of another spa in Sevilla too... As there are now at least three chances of something wonderful, I think the costume will stay in my pack now. This way I will have to make use of all these wonderful facilities so as not to waste carrying it!

I'll be in Sevilla this time next week and I am beyond excited

 

[Kanga]

The thermal baths at Ourense were a marvellous excuse for me to buy a very chic made-in-Spain swimming costume.

 

[FelixBC]

Thanks @FelixBC ... I've been sent details of another spa in Sevilla too... As there are now at least three chances of something wonderful, I think the costume will stay in my pack now. This way I will have to make use of all these wonderful facilities so as not to waste carrying it!

I'll be in Sevilla this time next week and I am beyond excited

The Baños Arabe in Sevilla! One of the best two hours of my life. Really. And it was quiet enough that I got some of its beautiful pools to myself.

 

[Magwood]

@LesBrass, right this very minute we are experiencing the first significant rain for months here in my part of Andalucia, and it is very welcome indeed. Hopefully this will mark the end of the very high temperatures we have been experiencing over the summer and walking the VdlP will be a more pleasant experience as a result.
Wishing you a very Buen Camino with much use of your new costume!

 

[Donna Sch]

I made sure I had underwear that could double up as swimwear if needed and included a pair of running shorts if my knickers were potentially inappropriate. I went swimming in Banos, the Embalse on the way to Rio Negro, Castro Dozon and Ourense.