Via de la Plata unboxed

What you see is what you get:

+-995 ...kilometres between Seville and Santiago de Compostela

+-45 ...days to walk the entire route

+-350 ...kilometres actually within Extremadura (walk-able in roughly 2 weeks)

The Vía de la Plata (sometimes called the 'Silver Way' in English) is one of the most challenging - and fascinating - routes of the many Caminos that lead to Santiago de Compostela. Much of it follows ancient Roman roads and nomadic migration paths that were around long before the first pilgrims ever set foot on the trail. And some of the most exciting and adventurous sections lie entirely within Extremadura.

Of course, historic cities like Seville, Salamanca, and Mérida (with its iconic Roman aqueduct) are highlights of the Vía de la Plata, but there are also lesser-known urban gems like Cáceres, Aljucén, Cañaveral and the charming town of Zafra that are very often overlooked by road-tripping tourists who rush through the region.

While the towns and villages are enticing, it’s the huge stretches of untouched wilderness - vast plains, rolling hills and peaceful dehesa woodlands - that, more than anything, transform the Vía de la Plata from a regular long-distance hike into an adventure that fits into the category of the world’s great walking adventures.

Galisteo

At one point, between Castilblanco de los Arroyos and Almadén de la Plata, pilgrims walk almost 30km through totally deserted land - there’s literally nothing but a single fountain at a forgotten chapel to keep you going. And aside from the crazy long stretches without water, the climate is what really makes the Vía de la Plata tough. Locals joke about their 'eight months of winter and four months of hell', and it’s not uncommon for the mercury to reach the 44°C mark between June and September. Spring and autumn are the prime times to set out on this hike, but at any time of the year you should be prepared for anything that the Vía de la Plata might throw at you.

A sturdy pair of boots is crucial...and a hammock is worth its weight in gold during those moments when you really want to 'take the weight off your feet'.

The trail officially runs from Seville (Andalucia) to Astorga (Castilla y León), but even during peak season, only a handful of pilgrims actually complete the final 95km. Instead, most people turn west in Granja de Moreruela to join the Camino Sanabrés (or, less often, in Zamora to take the Camino Zamorano Portugués), eventually making their way to Santiago de Compostela (Galicia).

Click the pic!