Via de la Plata - which part?

3 places you don't want to miss. Seviila, Merida and Zamora. Maybe slightly more than 500 km. Closer to 600 km.

Sofia said:

Hi all! I am planning to walk the via de la plata in May though will only have enough time to do part of it... i reckon I can make 500km, that's about half of it, and thus I'm wondering which part would be the best? should I start at the beginning, the middle or somewhere in-between? (btw walking into santiago is not important)

what is the environment like in the different parts? is there albergues along the way?

Best wishes,

Sofia

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Hi Sofia,
I plan to walk the complete route to Santiago starting in Seville on 24th May 2016.

Brian

Sofia said:

Hi all! I am planning to walk the via de la plata in May though will only have enough time to do part of it... i reckon I can make 500km, that's about half of it, and thus I'm wondering which part would be the best? should I start at the beginning, the middle or somewhere in-between? (btw walking into santiago is not important)

what is the environment like in the different parts? is there albergues along the way?

Best wishes,

Sofia

Click to expand...

Mérida, Caceres, Salamanca, Zamora - though unfortunately that omits Zafra.

Sofia said:

Hi all! I am planning to walk the via de la plata in May though will only have enough time to do part of it... i reckon I can make 500km, that's about half of it, and thus I'm wondering which part would be the best? should I start at the beginning, the middle or somewhere in-between? (btw walking into santiago is not important)

what is the environment like in the different parts? is there albergues along the way?

Best wishes,

Sofia

Click to expand...

I have walked it 3 times pus the Mozarabe, my answer is very simple start at the beginning in Seville, that allows you freedom for the future to easily continue where you have finished. There is beauty in it all enjoy an amazing journey, if you have any further questions just pm me or serch this excellet forum. if you want to get a pictorial view what is in store you can have a look at this http://dermotdolan.blogspot.ie/2016/03/via-de-la-plata-february-1-to-february.html and http://dermotdolan.blogspot.ie/2014/04/via-de-la-plata-2014-photographs-work.html

Regards Dermot (Nalod)

Sofia said:

Hi all! I am planning to walk the via de la plata in May though will only have enough time to do part of it... i reckon I can make 500km, that's about half of it, and thus I'm wondering which part would be the best? should I start at the beginning, the middle or somewhere in-between? (btw walking into santiago is not important)

what is the environment like in the different parts? is there albergues along the way?

Best wishes,

Sofia

Click to expand...

Sofia
There are plenty Albergues along the way. The vdlp has only about 5% of pilgrims compared to the Northern Camino. It is relatively quiet. There is no correct answer to your other question about where to start. I would certainly start at the beginning in Seville for a number of reasons.
(1) If you really like the Vdlp, you will want to come back another time to finish it.
(2) Heat is an important factor. If you like heat, then, again, start in Seville. If you intensively dislike heat, then you have no choice (in May) but to do the last 500 klm. The first 500klm is much hotter than the last 500 klm, Seville temperatures in May 2015 were: May 11th 35c, May 12th 38c, May 13th 41c, May 14th 39c. The first few hundred kilometres are very hot. Most people would find these temperatures difficult, if not impossible on the Camino. But 2015 was exceptionally hot, even by local standards.
(3) There are some beautiful cities / towns if you start at the beginning in Seville. (Merida, Caceres, Salamanca, Zamora).
(4) I am about half way, I go back in May to do another section. I have found the first half of the vdlp to be fantastic.
Buen Camino
Dave