The First Few Days on the Camino de Madrid

[jsalt]

Hi, I’m thinking of walking the Camino de Madrid again next year. Any suggestions on budget places to stay the first few days that are not more than 15 kms apart?

 

[frbobs]

Hey,
From Madrid to Segovia, the actual pilgrim services are few, but there are a couple of places to sleep in each town. After Segovia: one day - one town - one Albergue. All rustic but good.
TRES CANTOS: Hotel VP Jardin, COLMENAR VIEJO: Gran Hostal El Chiscon, MANZARNERES EL REAL: Hostal La Pedriza, CERCEDILLA: Hostal Aribel Longinos. It was a few years ago, but none of them were over 40 euros.
The walk to Segovia is long and hard (one steep elevation up the roman road), might want to think about the detour to La Graja de San Ildefonso (a few nice, reasonably priced hostals and such, and there's a Parador too, of course not reasonably priced, but cheap for a Parador). The walk from La Graja is 12k on a side, nice walk. I also recommend Hostal Forno in Segovia, family run, clean, nice little room right by Plaza Mayor. Have Fun, Bob

 

[J Willhaus]

I might be completely wrong, but I thought I remembered a pilgrim who posted a year or two ago about walking the first 3 days and then taking the train back and forth to overnight in Madrid. Stayed in the same place so could walk with a lighter pack? Might be worth a look. Looks like C4 on the Cercanías goes that way to Tres Cantos and Colmenar Viejo? Also Madrid to Segovia on the regular line.

 

[Laurie Sanantone]

Hi Jill, 15km or less plus budget may be difficult. I don’t recall how long ago you walked the Madrid. I walked Spring ‘23. I started in Tres Cantos (took the train from Chamartín) and walked to Colmenar (10.5 km). Hostal El Chiscón gave me a small discount, paid maybe €40. Not much else to choose from.
- Colmenar to Manzanares is 14.8 km. La Pedriza has a nice dorm and good restaurant; Gronze says current price is around €22. Or there’s Ray y Rosa’s, which is donativo.
- Manzanares to Navacerrada would be just short of 15 km per Gronze, but accommodation there seems high. Cercedilla is 6 km further, The polideportivo is on the way into town, €5 but Monday-Friday only. If you continue on to one of the youth hostels in Las Dehesas, you can cut the next day’s walk by some km. I think El Aribel Longinos is a better choice (€30+?).
- I booked the OYÓ Casa Rural La Chata, a small hotel in Valsain. Booking shows a current price of US$32, breakfast included.
- Valsain to Segovia with a stop in La Granja the next day was about 13km.
Hope you get additional input from folks who walked this year! Loved the Madrid

 

[jsalt]

Many thanks for your detailed replies, much appreciated.

Where is the cheapest place to stay in Tres Cantos? I can work it out after there.

 

[Laurie Sanantone]

There are two donativos run by local parishes. Both are listed in Gronze. David Tallan stayed at Mission Emmanuel last year, so you might check with him. Buen Camino!

 

[David Tallan]

Mision Emmanuel is definitely the cheapest place. I let them know I was coming with an email to acogida.emmanuel@gmail.com. Then, there comes a point on the CM where you just follow the red arrows to the Mision.

 

[jsalt]

There are two donativos run by local parishes. Both are listed in Gronze. David Tallan stayed at Mission Emmanuel last year, so you might check with him. Buen Camino!

Mision Emmanuel is definitely the cheapest place. I let them know I was coming with an email to acogida.emmanuel@gmail.com. Then, there comes a point on the CM where you just follow the red arrows to the Mision.

Thank you both so much for this suggestion. There may be four of us, so this would be perfect, as they have space for four. We have enough funds to leave a generous donation . . .

 

[David Tallan]

Thank you both so much for this suggestion. There may be four of us, so this would be perfect, as they have space for four. We have enough funds to leave a generous donation . . .

When I asked about leaving a donation, they said it wasn't necessary, but of course, if I wanted to donate to support their mission work....

So I donated to that.