When to walk Via de Plata

[Susan B Johnson]

Hello fellow pilgrims!

I met a wonderful pilgrim last spring, and we'd like to do a short Camino next spring. My friend's schedule is limited to the last 2 weeks of May. We'd both like to spend some time in Seville, but I've heard that the Via de Plata is difficult due to limited services along the way and also the heat. Is it true that it's unbearably warm as early as mid-May? Also, how limited are the services? Does this mean no cafes or albergues for 20K at a stretch or just fewer than the Frances?

Thank you for any information you might be able to share.

Susan

 

[Lindsay53]

Hi Susan, I walked the Via last April/May. This is a good time to walk although in the southern stretches there were some very hot days with temperatures in the mid to high 30s and there are several very long stages with no services of any kind. This changes somewhat further north however there is still not the amount of services you would find on the Frances. 30km days are common, and I had a couple of 36 km days as well. Also it can be very cold in the mornings in the northern sections, warming up during the day.

Having said that, it's not impossible with a bit of planning for anyone of reasonable fitness. Buen Camino!

 

[Corned Beef]

Using Gronze as a guide, two weeks would just about get you from Seville to Caceres (has a rail link to Madrid). Services are OK for this section but after Caceres you have a gap until Seville. If you are on a strict 2 weeks, I'd suggest a shorter finish at Merida with it's wonderful Roman ruins (and rail connections to Madrid) as you might wish to take a couple of days in Seville and nearby Italica.

Vía de la Plata | Camino de Santiago | Gronze.com

La Vía de la Plata (o Camino de la Plata) es el más importante Camino de Santiago desde el sur peninsular. Hoy en día se considera Sevilla como la ciudad de inicio, y el itinerario tiene su origen en distintas calzadas romanas que en el medievo aprovecharon los peregrinos. Se caracteriza por las...

www.gronze.com

PS I see you have adopted Costa Rica's slogan

 

[Robo]

Hello fellow pilgrims!

I met a wonderful pilgrim last spring, and we'd like to do a short Camino next spring. My friend's schedule is limited to the last 2 weeks of May. We'd both like to spend some time in Seville, but I've heard that the Via de Plata is difficult due to limited services along the way and also the heat. Is it true that it's unbearably warm as early as mid-May? Also, how limited are the services? Does this mean no cafes or albergues for 20K at a stretch or just fewer than the Frances?

Thank you for any information you might be able to share.

Susan

Hi Susan, I walked the VdlP this year for 35 days starting 25 March in Seville.

Limited services? Yes. You need to assume most days that there will be zero services during the day. Obviously if you are passing through a town, you may find things open. But small villages, assume nothing. If you find something open treat it as a bonus. So plan to carry all your food and water for the day, unless you 'know' you will be able to top up somewhere.

Warm? Depends what you call warm. I was clear of the VdlP by mid-may, as I was on the Invierno by then. But mid to late April was mid to high 20s C by the hottest part of the day, that being 4-5 pm.
Pre dawn starts helped a lot. Mid May would be warm I think, but I'm sure someone who has walked mid-May will chime in.

Stages? Even though you didn't ask. I was able to keep below 25 kms / day. A couple of days were 27. But they were easy. Very flat with great walking surfaces.

Having said that, it is a wonderful route, if you like solitude, and big open landscapes.

 

[Sandra Wolf]

Hi Sue We are planning to walk the start of April. Just missing the Easter festivals in Seville. The weather site predictes cooler temperaturs. I suggest you have a look at caminoweather.com to give somewhat of an idea as to the the temperatures and precipitation. Hope this helps?

 

[John Cook]

When I left Seville on April 5 this year on the VdlP the temperature was around 30°C by midday but a week later I saw a report on the BBC website saying the temperature in Seville was 40°C.
I don't normally like the heat but I had been so depressed by the awful summer in the north of England this year that I flew to Lisbon in late September and was walking in 35°C and was so grateful to be walking in the warm sunshine that I didn't care that it would normally be too hot for me.
The normal stage on day 3 from Seville is 28 kms long, with no services. I did this bit on the same day after completing the normal second stage, a big mistake. The road is almost entirely straight and as I didn't want to finish with the big hill in the national park, I stayed on the road for the entire stretch. Mind numbingly boring!
I always carry a bit of emergency food with me but I don't remember going all day without passing some sort of services. If in doubt, check for petrol stations on the nearby road.
It's a lovely route and I'd rather walk it in the hot sunshine than the warm rain.

 

[Sandra Wolf]

Hi John,
Would you say that it was unusually hot for that time of year especially being early spring? We will have handsfree umbrellas just in case.
Regards
Sandra

 

[krystianw]

Yeah, mid-May is going to be getting hot. When I was on the VldP this spring in March, daily highs were brushing up against 30°C. Here's some statistics on weather for a mid-May start from Sevilla.

And yes, services are limited. There was one stretch where I didn't pass anything for 36km, so that was fun. (After Casar de Cáceres, watch out for that one.) But the population density increases once you pass Zamora.

 

[Babyboomergirl]

Hi John,
Would you say that it was unusually hot for that time of year especially being early spring? We will have handsfree umbrellas just in case.
Regards
Sandra

We started from Seville on April 24th this year and it was already very hot. Early morning pre dawn starts, lots of water and handsfree umbrella helped.

 

[John Cook]

Hi John,
Would you say that it was unusually hot for that time of year especially being early spring? We will have handsfree umbrellas just in case.
Regards
Sandra

Hi, I don't know if those high temperatures are common every year but the British media seems to highlight the temperature around Sevilla as evidence of how global warming is affecting southern Europe these days.
I started early each day and saw some amazing sunrises and had my head covered during the day. I carried plenty of food and water and I didn't have a problem.

 

[Sandra Wolf]

Thanks John, thats good advice as we start early to try and avoid the heat of the day on our Caminos and this time will be with umbrellas for shade as well.

 

[peregrina2000]

walked the VdlP this year for 35 days starting 25 March in Seville.

Hi, Robo,
Have you posted your stages? If so, I can’t find them. I’m trying to help a friend who wants to keep things in the low 20s and I thought your stages would be a good guide for her. Thanks, buen camino, Laurie

 

[Robo]

Hi, Robo,
Have you posted your stages? If so, I can’t find them. I’m trying to help a friend who wants to keep things in the low 20s and I thought your stages would be a good guide for her. Thanks, buen camino, Laurie

Not sure if I did Laurie, but here they are.
A couple of stages (indicated) required some 4 wheel assistance to keep the distance within capabilities

The Colour codes indicate the distance band.
Zero-Rest Day (yellow)
Under 15 kms (Green)
15-25 kms (Clear)
25 kms + (Red)