Independent arrival in Córdoba. We booked your hotel. Proceed to your room, explore Córdoba, and prepare mind and body for the Camino.

In the morning, the first kilometers/miles on the Camino Mozárabe will take you out of the urban area of Córdoba until you cross the Arroyo River over an old Roman stone bridge. Flat at first, you will finally reach the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Linares, but here is where the demanding ascent to today’s destination takes place, Cerro Muriano, at the foot of the Sierra Morena.

Distance: 17.8 km. (11.1 mi.) | Difficulty:Moderate with a demanding climb in the last kilometers/ miles

During today’s stage, on flat paths always parallel to the country road, you will initially pass a military area and continue your pilgrimage all the way to Villaharta. Just before reaching the destination, a short detour invites you to visit the hexagonal brick house of the Fuente del Cordel.

Distance: 21.3 km. (13.2 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

On secluded paths, you will walk alternating partly uphill and downhill through an extremely scenic Mediterranean landscape, characterized by oak and olive trees, and the Guadalbarbo. Somewhat off the route, a taxi (not included in the price, approximately 15 euros each way) will take you from Puerto del Calatraveño to the nice municipality of Alcaracejos, where you will spend the next two nights.

Distance: 18 + 0.8 km. (11.2 + 0.5 mi.) | Difficulty: Moderate

You will take a taxi back to Puerto del Calatraveño in the morning (not included in the price, approximately 15 euros each way). The now-flatter route takes you further through the lonely nature to Alcaracejos, where you already spent the last night.

Distance: 0.8 + 17.5 km. (0.5 + 10.9 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

Sometimes more, sometimes less distant from the country road, you will hike past landscaped fields and meadows, and through the villages of Villanueva del Duque and Fuente la Lancha to the small town of Hinojosa del Duque, the destination of today’s stage.

Distance:21.5 km. (13.4 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

This long but fairly easy stage takes you most of the way through a remote landscape of fields and pastures, including a river crossing of the Zujar. For the last 9 kilometers/5.6 miles approximately, you will follow the paved country road that takes you from the autonomous region of Andalusia to Extremadura and Monterrubio de la Serena.

Distance: 32.3 km. (20.2 mi.) | Difficulty:Moderate, long stage

You have the option to take a taxi to cover the last kilometers/miles along the country road (not included in the price, approximately 15 euros for the route).

The relatively-short stretch follows a little-used, paved country road through olive groves and pasture areas all the way to the municipality of Castuera and its typical Spanish white houses and red roofs.

Distance: 18.4 km. (11.4 mi.) | Difficulty: An easy, but asphalted road

Also today, fields and pastures are again your constant companions on the lonely stretch of the Camino Mozárabe. In the lovely municipality of Campanario, you will pass by the church, well worth seeing, before you follow the route a bit further out of town to take the train to Don Benito (not included in the price, approximately 3 euros per person/route), where you will spend the next two nights.

Distance: 22.5 + 3 km. (14 + 1.9 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

The train between Campanario and Don Benito runs three times a day (morning, noon, and evening. This is, however, subject to change). Alternatively, this stretch can be covered by taking a taxi.

By train or taxi, you will initially return to Campanario to continue your pilgrimage on the Way of Saint James. Once again, on mainly flat and rural paths, you will see the municipality of Magacela from afar and its white houses on the slope of a mountain. You have a choice here: the path will take you both up the village and around it. However, we recommend that you take the path into the village to enjoy the magnificent view of the Extremadura landscape. Afterwards, you will continue through the small municipality of La Haba and its beautiful village square until you reach the larger town of Don Benito.

Distance: 3 + 25.9 km. (1.9 + 16.1 mi.) | Difficulty: Moderate

Parallel to the country road, you will initially hike to Medellín, whose medieval castle is enthroned above the village. You will cross the Guadiana over the Roman bridge and shortly after, you will leave the little-frequented country road on an old cattle drive route past olive groves and fields to reach your destination for the day, Santa Amalia.

Distance: 19 km. (11.8 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

The first kilometers/miles will still take you on remote paths along the Búrdalo. Until just before Torrefresneda, you will cover the rest of the distance on the highway all the way to San Pedro de Mérida.

Distance: 20 km. (12.4 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy, but longer along the highway

The last short stage of the Camino Mozárabe takes you further along the highway. Shortly after Truillanos, you finally turn your back on the highway in order to reach your destination, Mérida, passing fields and farmlands. Use the rest of the day to visit the old Roman city and its many sights.

Distance: 16.6 km. (10.3 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

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!