Almeria to Santiago

[Erik Anderson]

I've walked from SJPP to Santiago three times, always in Spring, and am now planning to hike from Almeria to Santiago, starting in mid March 2017. I'd like to hear from anyone who has done the route and any recommendations for kit to include in the pack, particularly good places to camp or stay, and any relevant guides or mapping. Thank you.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

I recently walked from Córdoba to Cáceres - excellent route, well signposted, good accommodation. Forum member Alan Sykes walked from Almería and I'm sure would be glad to advise.

 

[Erik Anderson]

Thank you; it's good to read encouraging reports. I've read a few reports of the route from Granada northwards but there is little on the route from Almeria. I'm primarily interested in the Alpujarras and crossing Sierra Nevada in later March. Any information will be gratefully received.

 

[KinkyOne]

@alansykes posted his observations in the thread which should be either in Mozarabe subforum or in Live from the Camino.
Also @Magwood wrote blog from Mozarabe but I don't remember whether she started in Almeria.

Both sources are great read BTW!

 

[Erik Anderson]

Thank you for your reply and this information. I'll check out the site which I'm still to find my way around.

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi Erik. Scrolling through the posts on the Mozarabe sub-forum where you are posting, you'll find a couple of "pinned to the top" threads. Kevin obrien's guide from Almeria as well as Alan's recent reports are both there. https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/camino-mozárabe.101/

You're right that there aren't many forum members who have walked from Almeria (Maggie has walked from Malaga) but there are a few with plans to walk it this spring. And then there are the real dreamers like me, who have April 2018 pegged as the starting date from Almeria.

Buen camino, and happy planning. hope you will regale us with stories and advice once you set out in March!

 

[Magwood]

Hi Erik. As stated above I walked the Mozárabe from Malaga last year. The routes from Malaga and Almeria converge just before Córdoba. I blogged every day from my camino and you might find the info from Córdoba to Santiago and Finisterre of interest. You are welcome to take a look at my blog, see link in signature line below.
Buen Camino

 

[Erik Anderson]

Hi Erik. Scrolling through the posts on the Mozarabe sub-forum where you are posting, you'll find a couple of "pinned to the top" threads. Kevin obrien's guide from Almeria as well as Alan's recent reports are both there. https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/camino-mozárabe.101/

You're right that there aren't many forum members who have walked from Almeria (Maggie has walked from Malaga) but there are a few with plans to walk it this spring. And then there are the real dreamers like me, who have April 2018 pegged as the starting date from Almeria.

Buen camino, and happy planning. hope you will regale us with stories and advice once you set out in March!

Hi Peregrina, I'll try to post things while en route. I'm supposedly planning but now I've got Wikiloc and Oruxmaps I just want to start. I'll use the interim period to try and get properly hill fit again. Buen Camino to you too.

 

[Erik Anderson]

Thank you Magwood; I'll definitely check out your blogs from your Camino. At this stage I have the concept but no firm plan and your information will be most welcome. Buen Camino.

 

[Carel5]

Hi Erik. On this forum you will find some information from me in a few topics. I walked in April from Almeria to Merida. A very good time as it was not too hot. It is a splendid route. The last year more albergues were opened. Still in some towns there are only hostals. Be prepared for cold weather, a few river crossings and above all for meeting no other pilgrims. The interest for this Camino is growing but if someone starts two days before you, then you will not see him or her. Good Camino.

 

[Carel5]

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...fo-on-the-camino-mozarabe-from-almeria.40969/

Some info is outdated. Abla has an albergue now. Hopefully it is still useful.

 

[Erik Anderson]

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...fo-on-the-camino-mozarabe-from-almeria.40969/

Some info is outdated. Abla has an albergue now. Hopefully it is still useful.

Many thanks for your kind wishes and the information. It's heartening to read such positive views. I shall start in late March, aiming to do VdlP then Sanabres for SdC sometime in May. On your way to Merida, what did you find as a comfortable daily distance and did you have rest days?

 

[Erik Anderson]

I just read your report which is most informative. Thank you again.

 

[peregrina2000]

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...fo-on-the-camino-mozarabe-from-almeria.40969/

Some info is outdated. Abla has an albergue now. Hopefully it is still useful.

Thanks so much for posting this link, Carel5. I hadn't seen your Mozarabe report because I was walking when you posted it. It is a very helpful bit of info for anyone setting out, so I've made it a "sticky", so it won't fall back down into oblivion again! Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Carel5]

Well Erik. I had no rest days but I split some longer stages in two. The stages between Almeria and Granada are fine, with two exceptions 20 - 25 kilometer.

As I was at the Alhambra two times before and you have to book before on internet, I used the free time in Granada for other sightseeing.

I tried to avoid stages of above 30 km, and if possible I walked them in two days. Castro del Rio - Cordoba is above 40 but you can take the alternative via Santa Cruz.

Two times I had a very long stage of nearly 40 km but they were after Cordoba so I was very fit. I can imagine that after some weeks 35 is no probleem.

 

[peregrina2000]

I've walked from SJPP to Santiago three times, always in Spring, and am now planning to hike from Almeria to Santiago, starting in mid March 2017. I'd like to hear from anyone who has done the route and any recommendations for kit to include in the pack, particularly good places to camp or stay, and any relevant guides or mapping. Thank you.

Hi, Erik, The Almeria Association has just published an updated list of accommodation from Almeria to Granada. I think this link will take you to it. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6y5pMfqcK4Rc3NlcmdOWndHQVE/view

Buen camino, Laurie

 

[KinkyOne]

Good maps also. Thank you, Laurie!

 

[jpflavin1]

Good maps also. Thank you, Laurie!

KinkyOne:

Gronze.com has some suggested Etapas. I am starting to look at this walk also for 2018.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[KinkyOne]

KinkyOne:

Gronze.com has some suggested Etapas. I am starting to look at this walk also for 2018.

Ultreya,
Joe

Saw that. But I usually do my own document with all accommodations, bars, stores etc. listed, distances added and then allow myself wing it according to my laziness and/or weather on given day

But definitely on to-do-list!

 

[Erik Anderson]

Hi, Erik, The Almeria Association has just published an updated list of accommodation from Almeria to Granada. I think this link will take you to it. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6y5pMfqcK4Rc3NlcmdOWndHQVE/view

Buen camino, Laurie

Hi Laurie, Thank you. I'm booked, starting third week in March, and will be posting progress on this site. Having walked CF using Brierley's guide, it will be interesting to use this document as reference. BC

 

[AlanSykes]

I'm primarily interested in the Alpujarras and crossing Sierra Nevada in later March. Any information will be gratefully received.

The route from Almería only fringes the Alpujarras and the Sierra Nevada rather than going right through the national park. I was briefly tempted to detour off the camino and onto one of the GRs that go through right through the park, but stuck to the camino. I recorded the way from Almería to Guadalupe on wikiloc, day one is here: https://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=15154165

The albergue network from Almería to Granada is excellent (public or private albergues every night if you want them). After Granada there are fewer until you get back to the Vía de la Plata, but many hostals, pensións etc. As @JohnnieWalker says, the signage is excellent.

The landscapes in Andalusia are spectacular, especially when Mulhacén's snowcapped peak is frowning down on you, but if you don't like olive trees in bulk, the 3-4 days north of Moclín can feel a little monotonous.

 

[Carel5]

When I prepared my Camino Mozarabe I came across this Wikilocs file, from a southern route through the Alpujarras.

https://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=483729

The official Camino takes a more northern route. It is indeed a spectacular walk, especially the first leg between Almeria and Granada. I even liked the olive groves, with sweeping views over the hills between Moclin and Baena. There were only a few tedious parts. An industrial area along the TGV line near Granada, the last kilometers into Baena, and the long walk into Cordoba, only peanuts in an unforgettable camino.

 

[Erik Anderson]

The route from Almería only fringes the Alpujarras and the Sierra Nevada rather than going right through the national park. I was briefly tempted to detour off the camino and onto one of the GRs that go through right through the park, but stuck to the camino. I recorded the way from Almería to Guadalupe on wikiloc, day one is here: https://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=15154165

The albergue network from Almería to Granada is excellent (public or private albergues every night if you want them). After Granada there are fewer until you get back to the Vía de la Plata, but many hostals, pensións etc. As @JohnnieWalker says, the signage is excellent.

The landscapes in Andalusia are spectacular, especially when Mulhacén's snowcapped peak is frowning down on you, but if you don't like olive trees in bulk, the 3-4 days north of Moclín can feel a little monotonous.

Thank you for this. I've downloaded your trail and had a look at it on the phone. Out of interest, did you have any hard copy backup in case the phone went u/s?

 

[Erik Anderson]

When I prepared my Camino Mozarabe I came across this Wikilocs file, from a southern route through the Alpujarras.

https://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=483729

The official Camino takes a more northern route. It is indeed a spectacular walk, especially the first leg between Almeria and Granada. I even liked the olive groves, with sweeping views over the hills between Moclin and Baena. There were only a few tedious parts. An industrial area along the TGV line near Granada, the last kilometers into Baena, and the long walk into Cordoba, only peanuts in an unforgettable camino.

Thank you, again. I'm unsure which exact route I shall take but it's good to know there are options.

 

[Carel5]

Thank you for this. I've downloaded your trail and had a look at it on the phone. Out of interest, did you have any hard copy backup in case the phone went u/s?

When I arrived at Charleroi airport I discovered that I could not switch on my telephone without electric connection. In Guadix I bought a cheap Spanish phone for urgent cases high in the mountains. However, I had loaded the GPS tracks from the Amigos in Almeria. For Granada - Merida I had GPS files from the Peter Robins site. (I think it is gone now).

 

[Erik Anderson]

When I arrived at Charleroi airport I discovered that I could not switch on my telephone without electric connection. In Guadix I bought a cheap Spanish phone for urgent cases high in the mountains. However, I had loaded the GPS tracks from the Amigos in Almeria. For Granada - Merida I had GPS files from the Peter Robins site. (I think it is gone now).

OK. I have Wikiloc and Oruxmaps loaded which, I'm hoping, will give me the mapping I need. It seems the signposting is good now and, with luck, I shall be following them and not need maps much at all. I also have the Camino Mozarabe guide loaded. Thanks for your input; its all gratefully received.