Vía de la Plata: Stage 10

You will leave Mérida crossing the reservoir called Albarregas walking towards the Embalse de Prosperina reservoir. Firstly, you will have to walk through an avenue called Vía de la Plata and the go through the Avenida del Lago avenue, after a roundabout. After 500 metres you will see a road in the right side that goes straight forwards to the reservoir, this paths crosses the dual carriageway after crossing the reservoir you will get to a neighbourhood that you will have to cross. Then you will have to go through a path to the right. Then you will get to the national road for approximately three kilometres, then you will have to go to the left through a path. You will have to walk through the same path for a while and you will cross a pig’s farm that is located one kilometer from El Carrascalejo. This small village is the one with less inhabitants in Badajoz. Here you will find a lovely church from the end of the 14 century, the church is devoted to Santa María del Camino. We will walk by its Renaissance façade, towards an area full of vineyards. Then you will continue wakling and you will cross the dual carriageway through an underpass to get tot Aljucén where the Cruz de Santiago cross is located. This symbol was the main representation of the Military Religious Order of Santiago, founded in order to protect both holy places and pilgrims. Some want to divide this stage into two and pass the night at the hostel of this city, where they will also find other services and a funny rural establishment that reminds of the old Roman springs. If you decide to continue your way you have to know that there are 20 kilometres left to Alcuéscar. You will leave Aljucén through the Avenida de Extremadura avenue and then you will have to walk through a road that will lead you to the national road. Then you will walk through a path that will lead you to the Parque Natural de Cornalvo park. You will walk near the river and here you will see another cross. Leaving the river little by little and after crossing some crop fields, we will reach the frontier between Badajoz and Cáceres provinces, where we will leave the natural park and start a new ascending until a cross of Saint Juan. After a few kilometres you will finally get to the hostel.

Bear in mind

If this stage is too long for you, you can divide it into two and stay the night in Aljucén. Once you have leaved Aljucén you have to take into account that there is no more services until get to Alcuécar. This stage does not pose any additional difficulties for cyclists or people with reduced mobility.