This Walking Holiday explores the 4th 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 Andalucian plains to the green mountains of Galicia, from Moorish influenced buildings to traditional stone farmhouses and much more! This Camino in its whole offers most of Spain’s rich and mixed culture.
The well-marked Camino runs through the heart of Extremadura all the way to Carcaboso, yet this is where we observe the most-changing landscape, day after day. At the beginning, there is very little shade along the Way but as the landscape becomes a bit more undulating, woodland also starts to appear. Attractive towns with interesting heritage are also part of this section, with the likes of Caceres, Galisteo and Aldeanueva del Camino. As this section varies between very short walks and longer ones, this walking holiday is accessible to anybody with an average level of fitness.
Caceres still holds its old medieval town and walls, as if nothing has changed since the ancient times. It is a charming town where it is enjoyable to stroll around. To add to the relaxing atmosphere of the city, Caceres is also famous for being the home of numerous storks!
Leaving Caceres, we spend the first few kilometres walking along a main road, with flat crop fields on both side of the road, but with no shelter from the sun. Fortunately, this is a short walking day so you will have all afternoon to relax at your hotel in Casar de Caceres!
Soon after Casar de Caceres, we find ourselves walking along wide dirt tracks, through a flat landscape with endless skies and views. Along the Camino, we will also come across many “miliarios”, stone posts remaining from the old Roman road which the Via de la Plata follows.
Today can be seen as challenging as this is a long walk and there is also a steep climb a few kilometres after leaving Canaveral. However, this is a very enjoyable walk, as we spend most of the day walking through both woods and farmland.
Leave Galisteo by crossing the town’s beautiful fourteenth century. It is then an easy and short stroll to Carcaboso, through a greener landscape than the rest of the region, thanks to several canals cutting through the area.
*Once in Carcaboso, a short transfer to your hotel in Plasencia.
Virtually every company flies to Madrid (can book return flights).
Sevilla airport with Aer Lingus, Iberia, Vueling, Ryanair or Easyjet.
1 – Madrid Airport, bus to Madrid bus station (Approx. 20min). Then bus to Merida (Approx. 4h30), 7 departures a day.
From Placensia, Cevasa bus to Madrid (Approx. 3hrs), 2-3 departures a day.