Trip ID :

Via de la Plata - Section 2 - 7 Days/6 Nights - 111 km - From €490 -
From Monesterio to Merida

This Walking Holiday explores the 2nd section of Via de la Plata, the longest of all Camino routes to Santiago de Compostela! It runs through the whole country from South to North, from the hot Andalusian plains to the green mountains of Galicia, from Arabian influenced buildings to traditional stone farmhouses and much more! This Camino in its whole offers most of Spain’s rich and mixed culture.

From Monesterio, the Camino stretches through the South of Extremadura, a region of dry and sparsely populated farmlands. Walking through dry lands with little shade can be seen as challenging but we have split most stages in short enough days and the geography of the flat ground presents no particular difficulty so it only requires an average level of fitness. Olive tree orchards, vine plots and wild flowers add patches of colours to the dominated red earth landscape. Roman influence is still predominant in the area as you will notice, either with the many bridges crossed along the days, either in cities such as Zafra or Merida where there is plenty to see and enjoy!

Via de la Plata - Section 2 - 7 Days/6 Nights - 111 km - From €490 -
From Monesterio to Merida

Day 1 : Monesterio
Day 2 : Monesterio to Fuente de Cantos (22km)
Day 3 : Fuente de Cantos to Zafra (25km)
Day 4 : Zafra to Villafranca de los Barros (20km)
Day 5 : Villafranca de los Barros to Almendralejo (14km)
Day 6 : Almendralejo to Merida (30km)
Day 7 : Merida, end of the walking holiday

View Via de la Plata in a larger map

DAY BY DAY

---

Day 1 – Monesterio Monesterio is strongly linked to the history of the Camino de Santiago when Templars from the Order of Santiago brought wealth to the town back in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Nowadays, few remains witness of this heritage and Monesterio is a quiet Extremadura town. Town: ATM, Internet, shops, all facilities Day 2 – Monesterio to Fuente de Cantos (5h30, 22km, +100m -300 m) Today the Camino can be quite exposed, walking on long undulated tracks, even though scatered oak holms and fig groves provide you with shelter from the sun here and there. Few kilometres after Monesterio, don't miss the 5000 years old megalithic, 10 metres off the track. Gazing pigs will probably be the only inhabitants you will see along the way, as the Camino here doesn't pass through any village before reaching Fuente de Cantos, a pretty village. Town: ATM, shops, all facilities. Meals: Half Board Day 3 - Fuente de Cantos to Zafra (6h30, 25km, +100m -200m) When leaving Fuente de Cantos, we follow an ancient Roman route and we start to see the first vines of this section, a sign of changing soil. Few kilometres further on, we pass through Calzadilla de los Barros. Then, it is an isolated and peaceful stroll along undulated dirt tracks, bordered by vine plots and olive tree orchards. The walking day ends up in Zafra, a charming old town. Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities

Day 4 – Zafra to Villafranca de los Barros (5h15, 20km, +100m -200m) The first few kilometres after Zafra gently climb up before zigzaging down to the whitewashed town of Los Santos de Maimona. Then, it is an enjoyable up and down walk through farmlands, vines and olive trees with nice views over the surrounding countryside. Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Meals: Half Board Day 5 – Villafranca de los Barros to Almendralejo (4h15, 14km, -100m) Leavin Villafranca de los Barros, we find ourselves surrounded mainly by vines as the area produces a well-known wine. The flat ground and short distance to Amendralejo makes today an easy and nice stroll through the countryside. Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Meals: Half Board. Day 6 - Almendralejo to Merida (6h30, 30km, -100m) After Almendralejo, we start to see mountains in the distance to our right and the crops also diversify as sunflower and cereal field alternate with vines and olive tree orchards. Toremegia is the only town we pass through before continuing through the countryside before getting back to civilisation when approaching Merida and its rich historical heritage. Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Meals: Half Board Day 7 – Merida After breakfast, we bid you farewell. Town: ATM, Internet, shops, all facilities Meal: Breakfast

WEATHER

Via de la Plata - Section 2 - 7 Days/6 Nights - 111 km - From €490 -
From Monesterio to Merida

FLY IN AND OUT

---

It is best to fly to Seville.

1)    FLY IN

• To Seville

See with Aer Lingus, Iberia, Vueling and Ryanair, amongst other companies :
- Ryanair : flights from Dublin, London, Liverpool and Bristol.
- Iberia : flights from Dublin and the UK
- More infos : www.sevilla-airport.com

2)    FLY OUT

• From Seville

See above.

• From Madrid

With almost every company.

GETTING AROUND

---

1)    GETTING THERE

• From Seville Airport

By buses : First bus 1, then bus 2.

Bus 1 : From Seville Airport to Seville city centre :
- 25min journey

Bus 2 : From Seville city center to Monasterio :
- 1 hour journey
- 9 departures a day
- See timetable : www.leda.es

2)    GETTING BACK

• To Seville airport

By buses : First bus 1, then bus 2 :

Bus 1 From Merida to Seville bus station :
- 2h30 journey
- 7 departures a day
- See timetable : www.alsa.es

Bus 2 : From Seville bus station to Seville airport :
- Shuttle bus
- 25 min journey

• To Madrid airport

By bus :
- 4h30 journey
- See timetable : www.avanzabus.com

MORE INFORMATION ON FLIGHTS

• see our Flight Search Map

• www.skyscanner.net

Searches most Airlines for best available connections and prices

• www.spanish-airport-guide.com

Via de la Plata - Section 2 - 7 Days/6 Nights - 111 km - From €490 -
From Monesterio to Merida

HOTEL AND GUESTHOUSE GRADES - HOW WE CHOOSE YOUR ACCOMMODATION

---

Our accommodation is selected based on a number of criteria, including location, comfort, services, price and character. We always try to book accommodation that is both on/near the Camino and also close to the historical quarter or centre of the town/city. This is facilitated by the fact that the Camino usually goes through the heart of each town and/or city.

In larger towns, which are usually at the beginning and end of each section, we book hotels of a 3* standard. In smaller towns/villages/hamlets in between the larger towns, we choose hotels or guesthouses of a 2* standard. However, there could be some exceptions to this rule, for example, in some small villages, our selection depends on local infrastructure and it may happen that the only possibility is a non-rated guesthouse. This does not mean it is not up to our standards only that it does not have an official classification, which is usually due to the rural and remote nature of parts of the Camino.

Given the reasons stated above, we do believe that a 2* hotel located in the historical centre is a better choice than a 3* hotel located in the outskirts of the town at a distance from the Camino. If our first choice is not available, we will use another accommodation of the same standard and price. If there is no such accommodation available, we may contact you to offer either an upgrade at a premium, or a downgrade with a refund, again based on local infrastructure in each area.

We are determined in our motto: to provide our customers with the best available on the Camino.

Via de la Plata - Section 2 - 7 Days/6 Nights - 111 km - From €490 -
From Monesterio to Merida

Via de la Plata - Section 2 - 7 Days/6 Nights - 111 km - From €490 -
From Monesterio to Merida

 

 

LIST OF PRICES AND OPTIONS

---

 

	Base Price (€)	Double/Twin Room (pps)	Single Room	Solo Departure
	High Season Apr, May, Jun, Sep	650	790	890
	Mid Season Jul, Aug, Oct	580	700	800
	Low Season Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec	490	590	690

 

Options	Picnic Lunches	€50 (per person)	includes all walking days
	Airport Transfer 2 - 8 people	€50 (per person)	Transport to Monesterio from Seville Airport For information on transfers for more passengers or from other airports, please ask us.

 

	Extra nights (€) Merida / Monesterio	Double/Twin Room (pps)	Single Room
	2* Hotel B&B	44	60
	3* Hotel B&B	65	95

Special rates for group of 6+

INCLUDED Luggage transferred from hotel to hotel Rooms en-suite Half Board during the hike Detailed Walking Notes Map Pilgrim passport

NOT INCLUDED Flights Insurance (recommended) Drinks Dinner first and last nights Transfer from/to airport

 

If you have any questions about prices, please consult our FAQ's or Contact us.