Via de la Plata
Self-Guided Tour 1
Seville ⇒ Mérida
This pilgrimage brings you from Seville, the magnificent former colonial city situated in Andalusia to Mérida, where you can still admire many sights from Roman times.
Tour Type: Self-Guided
Duration: 12 Days Total / 10 Days Walking
Total Distance: 214 km. (133 mi.)
Difficulty: moderate
Average distance: 21.4 km. (13.3 mi.) / Day
Prices (per person):
Double Room:
Starting from € 590
Single-Occupancy Room:
Starting from € 860
What’s Included:
11 nights in single / double room
En-suite facilities
English-speaking emergency assistance
Your full digital Travel Info Package
Details ⇒
We are proud to be working together with hand-picked, high quality and mostly locally owned and operated service providers.
Your journey will be booked through, and your Travel Package will include all the information you will need to access your lodging locations and to process your check-in.
Optional Add-ons:
Breakfasts (subject to availability)
Lodging for additional night(s) stays
Airport transfers (by taxi)
Details ⇒
Breakfasts are not available everywhere, and they are often served late, starting around 8 am. However, if you wish to include brekfasts, we will be happy to do so, where possible.
Spending an extra night in a given town throughout your journey is often a good idea: you give your body a rest, relax and enjoy exploring the town. In Santiago, two nights are included in most of our Tours by default as we believe it’s the least a Pilgrim would need to enjoy the City; however, you have the option to opt out of it.
We will be happy to arrange for an airport shuttle transfer for you from your airport of arrival to the starting point of your journey. The same goes for the departure, unless you end your journey in Santiago and fly out of Santiago Airport. In that case, a taxi can be easily arranged for the time of your choice directly at the Reception Desk at your Hotel.
What’s not Included:
Flights
Luggage transfer on walking days
Travel Insurance
Tour guide
Meals
Details ⇒
We do not book flights, nor organize any rail or commercial bus-line travel. However, if you need assistance in deciding how to get to and back from your Camino Tour, we will be happy to assist you with tips and ideas!
There are no companies that provide luggage transfers on the Vía de la Plata. If you wish to make use of this service, you can organize it directly on site through a local taxi company. The accommodations will be happy to help you with the organization.
We strongly recommend to all our travelers to get a Travel Insurance; however, we do not sell any such policies. For our international clients, it is best to get a policy in their country of residence, as some countries offer insurances only to their own residents.
This is a date-flexible tour; therefore, it is self-guided – no Tour Guide will be accompanying you. If you are interested in joining a Group Tour with a Tour Guide, please check our Guided Tours page. (Note: our Guided Tours take place on set dates that are planned ahead.)
Highlights
You start this pilgrimage tour in Seville, the magnificent former colonial city situated in Andalusia. Once, one of the richest cities in the world, Seville has retained its charm. From here, you will start in the sparsely-populated, autonomous community of Extremadura and hike through impressive, vast landscapes, whose Roman past you can experience today. Even if you rarely come across people, the encounters are often even more significant.
The stage destination Mérida played an important role in Spain’s politics and culture throughout almost every period. Today, you can still admire many sights from Roman times. It is always worth spending a day here.
It is advisable to take plenty of provisions with you for this trip.
Impressions from the Camino
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Seville
Independent arrival in Seville. We already booked your hotel room. Proceed to your room, explore Seville, and prepare mind and body for the Camino.
Day 1: Arrival in Seville
Independent arrival in Seville. We already booked your hotel room. Proceed to your room, explore Seville, and prepare mind and body for the Camino.
Day 2: Seville – Guillena • 22.4 km. (13.9 mi.)
During your first pilgrimage stage on the Vía de la Plata, you will mainly pass through the urban metropolitan area of Seville, the capital of Andalusia. Do not miss the ruins of Itálica just past Santiponce, the first Roman remains along the Vía de la Plata.
Distance: 22.4 km. (13.9 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy
Day 3: Guillena – Castilblanco de los Arroyos • 17.9 km. (11.1 mi.)
Near Guillena begins the Sierra Norte Natural Park, where you will get, for the first time, an impression of the huge pastures, covered with cork oaks, where cattle, pigs, and sheep graze, the so-called dehesas. They will be a familiar and constant companion until shortly before Salamanca.
Distance: 17.9 km. (11.1 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy
Day 4: Castilblanco de los Aroyos – Almadén de la Plata • 29.4 km. (18.3 mi.)
The first part of today’s stage initially leads along a not-so-frequented country road. You will be rewarded by the beautiful landscape of the natural park Monte Las Navas-Berrocal for the last kilometers/miles. Before you reach today’s destination, there is the difficult ascent to the Calvary, the Cerro del Calvario.
Distance: 29.4 km. (18.3 mi.) | Difficulty: Longer, moderately difficult stage. Difficult at the end
Day 5: Almadén de la Plata – El Real de la Jara • 14 km. (9 mi.)
You leave Almadén de la Plata in the morning and its highly visible red clock tower of the city hall and the yellow steeple of the Iglesia de Santa María de Gracia. A short and scenic stage with another dehesa brings you to beautiful El Real de la Jara, nestled in the foothills of Sierra Norte and Sierra Morena. Use the remaining time to enjoy, for example, a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding area from the Mudéjar-style castle fortress (Castillo).
Distance: 14 km. (9 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy/ Moderate, with some short steep ascents
Day 6: El Real de la Jara – Monesterio • 21.2 km. (13.2 mi.)
You leave Andalusia today and enter the community of Extremadura. At the border, the remains of the castle Castillo de las Torres rise scenically on the right. The landscape becomes more open and offers a gorgeous view of the vast countryside until, just before Monesterio, some elevations offer a new sight.
Distance: 21.2 km. (13.2 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy/ Moderate. Flat, but long ascent
Day 7: Monesterio – Fuente de Cantos • 20.8 km. (12.9 mi.)
Passing fields and dehesas, pastures covered with cork oaks, the landscape becomes increasingly brittle and even the last plant stands eventually yield to a rather barren landscape. Remember to bring enough water and provisions. Your destination for the day is Fuente de Cantos, known for the famous baroque painter Francisco de Zurbarán.
Distance: 20.8 km. (12.9 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy/ Moderate
Day 8: Fuente de Cantos – Zafra • 24.9 km. (15.5 mi.)
Through a region with almost no shadow, covered with fields, you will hike through Tierra de Barros and, among others, through the village of Calzadilla de los Barros. If open, visit the village’s church, whose Renaissance altar made of Seville tiles is said to be well worth seeing. Your destination for the day is the small town of Zafra and its medieval winding old town that captivates with its Andalusian flair.
Distance: 24.9 km. (15.5 mi.) | Difficulty:Moderate
Day 9: Zafra – Villafranca de los Barros • 19.4 km. (12.1 mi.)
Shortly past Zafra, you will hike through the town of Los Santos de Maimona. The only hall church in the region, the Iglesia Parroquial de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, has a Gothic portal decorated with scallops. Passing cereal and vine fields, olive and almond orchards, you will finally reach Villafranca de los Barros, located in the Ribera del Guadiana wine region.
Distance: 19.4 km (12.1 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy/ Moderate
Day 10: Villafranca de los Barros – Torremejía • 25.6 km. (15.9 mi.)
Before you start today’s stage, remember to bring enough water and provisions. The route will take you past agricultural land, olive plantations, and vineyards. It offers little shadow.
Distance: 25.6 km. (15.9 mi.) | Difficulty:Moderate, as there is almost no shadow
Day 11: Torremejía – Mérida • 18.2 km. (11.3 mi.)
Today’s stage will take you out of Tierra de Barros and, passing by the national road and highway, will bring you to the Guadiana basin, shaped by agriculture and viticulture. You should use the rest of the day to explore the ancient Roman city and capital of Extremadura, Mérida, and its numerous sights.
Distance: 18.2 km. (11.3 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy
Day 12: Departure from Mérida
Farewell, Mérida; farewell, Camino – and safe travels on your journey back home or to your next adventure! Or, here is another option well-worth considering: to continue onto our next Part 2 of the Via de la Plata, from Mérida to Carcaboso.
¡Buen Camino!
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Tour Combination Options
Our Via de le Plata: Self-Guided Tour 1 can be easily combined with:
Via de la Plata:
Self-Guided Tour 2
Mérida ⇒ Carcaboso