Trip ID :

Via de la Plata - Section 3 - 6 Days/5 Nights - 75 km - From €410 -
From Merida to Caceres

This Walking Holiday explores the 3rd section of the 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 Andalousian 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.

On this section, the Camino heads North, through the Extremadura Province, a land of dry and gently hilly landscapes that sometimes seems to be more inhabited by cerdos ibericos (dark brown pigs typical of the region) than by people. Indeed, there can be long enough gaps between villages, giving you time to enjoy open landscapes of crop fields and vines, corkwoods and wild flowers all year round. We know the long stretches with little shade can make the Via de la Plate route challenging, so we have split most stages into short enough walking days so anybody with an average level of fitness can make it to Caceres.

Via de la Plata - Section 3 - 6 Days/5 Nights - 75 km - From €410 -
From Merida to Caceres

Day 1 : Merida
Day 2 : Merdia to Aljucen (16km)
Day 3 : Aljucen to Alcuescar (21km)
Day 4 : Alcuescar to Aldea del Cano (15km)
Day 5 : Aldea del Cano to Caceres (23km)
Day 6 : Caceres, end of the walking holiday

View Via de la Plata in a larger map

DAY BY DAY

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Day 1 – Merida Merida was founded in 250 BC and the Roman inheritage is still well visible at every corner of the city nowadays. More than a UNESCO World Heritage site, this human-size city as plenty to offer, and tourists always enjoy its lively buzz, hopping from tapas bars to wonderful restaurants. Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Day 2 – Merida to Aljucen (16km, 4h15, +50m) Leave Merida crossing the over the river via a Roman bridge (over 2000 years old), from which there are beautiful views of the impressive Roman Acqueduct. Then, we head towards the Prosperina dam which once was the biggest water reservoir in the Mediterranean Roman empire. The red-earth landscape become hillier and there are also more oal trees to provide you with shelter from the sun. After a short day walking, we reach Aljucen from where we will be transfered back to our hotel in Merida. Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Meals: Half Board Day 3 - Aljucen to Alcuescar (21km, 5h15, +250m) Transfer back to Aljucen. Shortly after Aljucen, we enter the National Park of Cornalvo, a landscape of scrubland, red earth tracks, pasture and olm oaks. Then, the farmlands alternates between cork trees, vines, olives trees and livestock until you reach the first and last village of the day: Alcuescar. Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Meals: Half Board

Day 4 – Alcuescar to Aldea del Cano (15km, 4h15, +25m, -125m) From Alcuescar, it is first an easy and peaceful walk to Las Casas de Don Antonio and its well restored Roman bridge. Later, we walk on the original Roman road as we passed by what is known as miliario (Roman milestone) and cross one more Roman bridge before reaching Aldea del Cano. Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Meals: Half Board Day 5 – Aldea del Cano to Caceres (23km, 5h45, +100m -100m) On this last day, we leave Aldea del Cano and continue through the flat and dry lands of Extremadura. We later cross a long Roman arched bridge at the entrance of Valdesalor. It is then a hilly landscape with little and scattered shade all the way to Caceres and its old town, perched on top of a hill. Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Meals: Half Board Day 6 - Caceres After breakfast, we bid you farewell. Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Meals: Breakfast

WEATHER

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Via de la Plata - Section 3 - 6 Days/5 Nights - 75 km - From €410 -
From Merida to Caceres

FLY IN AND OUT

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It is best to fly to Seville or Madrid.

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

• To Madrid

With almost every company.

2)    FLY OUT

See above.

GETTING AROUND

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1)    GETTING THERE

• From Seville Airport

By buses : First bus 1, then bus 2 :

First, Bus 1 : Shuttle bus from Seville airport to Seville bus station :
- 25min journey

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

• From Madrid airport

By buses : First bus 1, then bus 2 :

First, bus 1 : From Madrid airport to Madrid bus station :
- Shuttle bus
- 20min journey

Then, bus 2 : From Madrid bus station to Merida :
- 4h30 journey
- 7 departures a day
- See timetable : www.avanzabus.com

2)    GETTING BACK

• To Seville airport

By buses : First bus 1, then bus 2.

First, bus 1 : From Caceres to Seville bus station :
- 7 departures a day
- 4 hours journey
- See timetable : www.alsa.es

Then, bus 2 : From Seville bus station to Seville airport :
- Shuttle bus
- 25 min. journey

• To Madrid airport

By buses : First bus 1, then bus 2.

First, bus 1 : From Caceres to Madrid bus station :
- 7 departures a day
- 4 hours journey
- See timetable : www.avanzabus.com

Then, bus 2 : From Madrid bus station to Madrid airport :
- Shuttle bus
- 20 min. journey

MORE INFORMATION ON FLIGHTS

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• 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 3 - 6 Days/5 Nights - 75 km - From €410 -
From Merida to Caceres

HOTEL AND GUESTHOUSE GRADES - HOW WE CHOOSE YOUR ACCOMMODATION

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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 3 - 6 Days/5 Nights - 75 km - From €410 -
From Merida to Caceres

Via de la Plata - Section 3 - 6 Days/5 Nights - 75 km - From €410 -
From Merida to Caceres

 

 

LIST OF PRICES AND OPTIONS

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	Base Price	Double/Twin Room (pps)	Single Room	Solo Departure
	High Season Apr, May, Jun, Sep	550	671	750
	Mid Season Jul, Aug, Oct	490	594	670
	Low Season Jan, Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec	410	596	590

 

Options	Picnic Lunches	€40 (per person)	includes all walking days
	Airport Transfer 2 - 8 people	€98 (per person)	Transport to Merida from Seville Airport For information on transfers for more passengers or from other airports, please ask us.

 

	Extra nights (€) Merida / Seville / Carceres	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.