Refuel your mind walking through the peaceful Extremadura region
Discover Unesco World Heritage sites in beautiful Merida
Time travel along 2000 years of history, day after day.
Indulge yourself in en-suite rooms and with a high level of comfort all along the way.

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Departures:

>Self-Guided
Any time, all year round!

>Guided
See Guided Departures page

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.

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 (17km, 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: Breakfast, dinner

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: Breakfast, dinner

Day 4 – Alcuescar to Aldea del Cano (17km, 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: Breakfast, dinner

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 Accommodation: En-suite. 2* accommodation or equivalent. Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 6 - Caceres
After breakfast, we bid you farewell.

Town: ATM, Shops, all facilities Meals: Breakfast, dinner

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

• Flights
• Insurance (recommended)
• Drinks
• Dinners in Merida and Caceres
• Transfer from/to airport