Via de la Plata
705 km – 26 stages
The Via de la Plata is sometimes (incorrectly) called The Silver Route or Silver Way. “Plata” is translated as “Silver” but in this case it is actually a corruption of the Arabic word BaLaTa, meaning paved road.
The Via de La Plata (once a Roman causeway starting in Emérita Augusta (Mérida) and ending in Asturica Augusta (Astorga) starts in Seville from where it goes north to Zamora via Zafra, Cáceres and Salamanca.
It is much less frequented than the French Way or even the Northern Way.
After Zamora there are three options. The first route, or Camino Sanabrés heads west and reaches Santiago via Ourense.
Another route (original Via de la Plata) continues north to Astorga, from where pilgrims can continue west along the Camino Francés to Santiago.
A third, seldom traveled route, crosses into Portugal and passes through Bragança, rejoining the Camino Sanabrés near Ourense.
The Camino Mozárabe route from Granada or Malaga, passes through Córdoba and later joins up with the Via de La Plata at Mérida.
Most pilgrims start either in Sevilla or Mérida when their choice is less restricted by time.
Salamanca is also a very popular starting point.
“Doing the last 100 km to Santiago” is not possible on this Camino. Mainly because the last 100 km belong to a different Camino: either the Camino Francés, which you will follow from Astorga onwards, or the Camino Sanabrés (starts in Granja de Moreruela).
Stage 1 Sevilla - Guillena
22,7 km – 4 albergues
Km 0: Sevilla (All services)
Km 9,5: Santiponce (All services)
Km 22,7: Guillena (All services)
Stage 2 Guillena - Castilblanco de los Arroyos
17,5 km – 1 albergue
Km 0: Guillena (All services)
Km 15,7: San Benito Abad
Km 17,5: Castilblanco de los Arroyos (All services)
Stage 3 Castilblanco de los Arroyos - Almadén de la Plata
29,3 km – 2 albergues
Km 0: Castilblanco de los Arroyos (All services)
Km 16,5: Parque Natural los Berrocales
Km 29,3: Almadén de la Plata (All services)
Stage 4 Almadén de la Plata - Monesterio
34,5 km – 4 albergues
Km 0: Almadén de la Plata (All services)
Km 14,7: El Real de la Jara (All services)
Km 29,5: Camping Tentudía
Km 34,5: Monesterio (All services)
Stage 5 Monesterio - Fuente de Cantos
21,6 km – 1 albergue
Km 0: Monesterio (All services)
Km 10,7: El Cerrillo
Km 17,4: Villa Camino de Santiago
Km 21,6: Fuente de Cantos (All services)
Stage 6 Fuente de Cantos - Zafra
24,6 km – 4 albergues
Km 0: Fuente de Cantos (All services)
Km 6: Calzadilla de los Barros (Albergue outside the village, Hostal, Bars, Shops ATM, Pharmacy, Info centre)
Km 20,3: La Puebla de Sancho Pérez (Albergue, Hostal, Bars, Shops ATM, Pharmacy, Info centre)
Km 24,6: Zafra (All services)
Stage 7 Zafra - Almendralejo
36,7 km – 5 albergues
Km 0: Zafra (All services)
Km 3,9: Los Santos de Maimona (All services)
Km 19: Villafranca de los Barros (All services)
Km 36,7: Almendralejo (All services)
Stage 8 Almendralejo - Mérida
29,6 km – 3 albergues
Km 0: Almendralejo (All services)
Km 14: Torremejía (All services)
Km 29,6: Mérida (All services)
Stage 9 Mérida - Alcuéscar
36 km – 2 albergues
Km 0: Mérida (All services)
Km 13,1: El Carrascalejo (All services)
Km 15,9: Aljucén (Albergue, Bars, Shops, Pharmacy, Spa)
Km 36: Alcuéscar (All services)
Stage 10 Alcuéscar - Valdesalor
25,7 km – 2 albergues
Km 0: Alcuéscar (All services)
Km 7,8: Casas de Don Antonio (Bar, Shop, Pharmacy)
Km 14,5: Aldea del Cano (Albergue, Bar, Shop, Pharmacy)
Km 25,7: Valdesalor (Albergue, Bar, Shop, Info center)
Stage 11 Valdesalor - Casar de Cáceres
22,8 km – 3 albergues
Km 0: Valdesalor (Albergue, Bar, Shop, Info center)
Km 11,6: Cáceres (All services)
Km 22,8: Casar de Cáceres (All services)
Stage 12 Casar de Cáceres - Cañaveral
33,2 km – 2 albergues
Km 0: Casar de Cáceres (All services)
Km 21,7: Albergue del Embalse de Alcántara (CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE)
Km 33,2: Cañaveral (Albergue, Hostals, Bars, Shop, ATM, Pharmacy, Info center)
Stage 13 Cañaveral - Galisteo
28 km – 2 albergues
Km 0: Cañaveral (Albergue, Hostals, Bars, Shop, ATM, Pharmacy, Info center)
Km 7,8: Grimaldo (Albergue, Rural house, Bar)
Follow the indication arrows to Riolobos, this is an alternative route created by the Association of Friends of the Camino de Santiago of Sevilla to solve the problem of not being able to cross a private area (the owner won in court… can you believe it…). The sign will say ‘Camino de Santiago, Riolobos – 4 km’.
Riolobos (All services, Rural house with special price for pilgrims)
Km 28: Galisteo (All services)
Stage 14 Galisteo - Cáparra
29,5 km – 2 albergues
Km 0: Galisteo (All services)
Km 5,3: Aldehuela del Jerte (Bar en el Hogar del Pensionista)
Km 10,2: Carcaboso (All services)
Km 23,3: Carretera de Oliva de Plasencia (Rural house Vía Cáparra at more than 6km)
Km 29,5: Cáparra (Info center)
Stage 15 Cáparra - Baños de Montemayor
28,5 km – 3 albergues
Km 0: Cáparra (Info center)
Km 19,2: Aldeanueva del Camino (All services)
Km 28,5: Baños de Montemayor (All services)
Stage 16 Baños de Montemayor - Fuenterroble de Salvatierra
32,9 km – 6 albergues
Km 0: Baños de Montemayor (All services)
Km 12,7: Calzada de Béjar (Albergue, Bar)
Km 21,7: Valverde de Valdelacasa (Albergues, Bar)
Km 25: Valdelacasa (Bars, Shops, Pilgrim’s Inn – Pousada del Peregrino)
Km 32,9: Fuenterroble de Salvatierra (Albergue, Rural house, Bars, Shops)
Stage 17 Fuenterroble de Salvatierra - San Pedro de Rozados
28 km – 2 albergues
Km 0: Fuenterroble de Salvatierra (Albergue, Rural house, Bars, Shops)
Km 28: San Pedro de Rozados (Albergues, Rural Tourism Center, Bars, Shop, Bakery, Pharmacy)
Stage 18 San Pedro de Rozados - Salamanca
23,4 km – 4 albergues
Km 0: San Pedro de Rozados (Albergues, Rural Tourism Center, Bars, Shop, Bakery, Pharmacy)
Km 4,1: Morille (Albergue, Rural house, Bar, Shop)
Km 10,8: Aldeanueva
Km 14: Miranda de Azán
Km 23,4: Salamanca (All services)
Stage 19 Salamanca - El Cubo de la Tierra del Vino
35 km – 3 albergues
Km 0: Salamanca (All services)
Km 6,1: Aldeaseca de Armuña (Bar, Shop)
Km 11,1: Castellanos de Villiquera (Bar, Shop, Pharmacy)
Km 15,1: Calzada de Valdunciel (All services)
Km 35: El Cubo de la Tierra del Vino (Albergues, Bar, Shop, Pharmacy)
Stage 20 El Cubo de la Tierra del Vino - Zamora
31,6 km – 3 albergues
Km 0: El Cubo de la Tierra del Vino (Albergues, Bar, Shop, Pharmacy)
Km 13,5: Villanueva del Campeán (Albergues, Rural Inn, Bar)
Km 31,6: Zamora (All services)
Stage 21 Zamora - Montamarta
18,5 km – 2 albergues
Km 0: Zamora (All services)
Km 7: Roales del Pan (Inn, Bar, Shop, Pharmacy)
Km 18,5: Montamarta (Albergue, Bar, Shop, Pharmacy)
Stage 22 Montamarta - Granja de Moreruela
22,7 km – 2 albergues
Km 0: Montamarta (Albergue, Bar, Shop, Pharmacy)
Km 12,5: Fontanillas de Castro (Inn, Bar, Shop in the Gas station)
Km 16,2: Riego del Camino (Albergue, Bar, Shop)
Km 22,7: Granja de Moreruela (Albergue, Bar, Shop)
From here, you may choose to take the Camino Sanabrés, or continue on to Astorga to take the Camino Francés. Another option would be to find your way to Ponferrada and do the Camino de Invierno – also a very nice alternative to the last part of the French Way.
Stage 23 Granja de Moreruela - Benavente
25,5 km – 2 albergues
Km 0: Granja de Moreruela (Albergue, Bar, Shop)
Km 8,5: Santovenia del Esla (Bar, Shops)
Km 14: Villaveza del Agua (Bar, Shop)
Km 16,5: Barcial del Barco (Albergue, Bar)
Km 22: Villanueva de Azoague (Bar)
Km 25,5: Benavente (All services)
Stage 24 Benavente - Alija del Infantado
22,1 km – 2 albergues
Km 0: Benavente (All services)
Km 7,5: Villabrázaro (Albergue, Bar, Shop, Pharmacy)
Km 16: Maire de Castroponce (Bar)
Km 22,1: Alija del Infantado (Albergue, Bars, Shops, Pharmacy, ATM)
Stage 25 Alija del Infantado - La Bañeza
20,5 km – 1 albergue
Km 0: Alija del Infantado (Albergue, Bars, Shops, Pharmacy, ATM)
Km 8,3: Quintana del Marco (Bars, Shop, Pharmacy)
Km 20,5: La Bañeza (All services)
Stage 26 La Bañeza - Astorga
24,2 km – 2 albergues
Km 0: La Bañeza (All services)
Km 6: Palacios de Valduerna (Bar, Shop)
Km 20,5: Celada de la Vega (Bar, Shop)
Km 24,2: Astorga (All services)
