Salamanca – Via de la Plata

59 km/37 miles 450↑m to Guijuelo

The route starts with 20 km on a Vía Verde, a previous railway turned into cycle path. It takes you to Alba de Tormes, a small pilgrimage town with many convents and churches and a nice central square to have a rest. 

You cycle further on quiet roads along a river, then a reservoir lake with great views all the way to Guijuelo, an original kind of place with no tourists but well known as the Spanish ‘capital’ of cured ham and chorizo from the Iberian ‘pata negra’ pigs.

57 km/36 miles 640↑m to the Sierra de Francia

The first part of this stage goes through the most characteristic landscape of western Spain: the ‘dehesas’ These are open forests of mainly holm oaks where cattle, sheep and Iberian pigs graze and snout about. At the same time, the dehesas are an excellent environment for wildlife, namely many sorts of  birds.

In the second part of the stage, the plateau rises towards the sierra’s and the vegetation changes also to species favoring a bit cooler and more humid climate, like Portuguese oaks, ashes and ferns. On a twisting little road over a middle mountain range you reach a beautiful area: the Sierra de Francia, with its charming old villages hidden in oak and chestnut forests which you are going to explore the coming days.

Rest day, walk ‘Bosque de los Espejos’ or round stage to the ‘Peña de Francia’ 44 km/27 miles 1080↑m

From your rural hotel, with great views on a scenic valley, you can today have a very nice walk. It leads to three lovely villages: San Martín del Castañar, Casas del Conde and Sequeros. In the forest you see now and then small works of art that make the experience even more entertaining. The total walk is 16 km and you’ll most likely want to enjoy all of it, but it can be shortened if you feel like having more of a rest.

A cycling enthousiast may alternatively fancy the challenge of climbing to the mountain top ‘Rock of France’, so called, as the whole area, for  the French colonists that populated this area in the 12th century. 

22 km/14 miles 550↑m to La Alberca

In this short but steep stage you descend into the valley-gorge of the río Francia and climb out again to reach yet two more beautiful villages: Mogarraz and La Alberca, where you spend the rest of the day. Their popular architecture, with a combination of ashlar and dry stone on the ground floor and half-timbered on the upper floors, and the seamless transition between village and forest makes these places attractive and very pleasant to wander around.

66 km/41 miles 930↑m to Hervás

This is the queen stage, with spectacular cycling across the sierra’s between Salamanca and Extremadura. The landscape is a combination of forests, prairies and rocky outcrops, with great views of the higher mountains in the background. Past the town of Béjar, you ride again on the Vía Verde de la Plata, with a panoramic descent at the end of the stage.

Hervás is a nice little town in a valley with cherry orchards. Its old Jewish quarter is small but it looks very pretty during a short evening walk. 

40 km/25 miles 150↑m to Plasencia

A fairly easy ride almost all the time on the Vía Verde de la Plata and in general light descent. The Vía enters Plasencia through a gorge and and a high former railway bridge over the river Jerte. You end with a little uphill through the old town to your Parador hotel.

For the rest of the day, you can choose between the comfort of your accommodation or exploring Plasencia, a town with exactly the distances and points of interest for a pleasant walk; for example along its medieval walls, old and new cathedral, palatial houses, aqueduct and Plaza Mayor.

65 km/40 miles 720↑m to Monfragüe  (or40 km/25 miles 420↑m direct route)

Today there is the choice between longer cycling and seeing more with a detour, or the direct road to your overnight address. Both have as highlight the national park of Monfragüe, a nature reserve of international fame, especially among bird watchers. 

Except for feeling tired we advise taking the detour as it makes the stage much more interesting: you ride through partially abandoned tobacco plantations and then next to the river Tiétar, already in the park. On a small, quiet road with great views you pas several bird observation points, with plenty of deer along the way. 

Both options go through the village/information centre in the middle of the park and past its most well known viewpoint, facing the rock face ‘Peña Falcón’ The last part of the stage goes through a particular pretty stretch of dehesa. 

40 km/25 miles 500↑m to Trujillo

The last stage is a home run: you just follow the same road straight ahead through open countryside with no other features than the crossing of a couple of river valleys. It does have its muscular component given that you gain height stepwise up to the plateau where Trujillo stands on a hill.

The straightforward ride leaves plenty of time for exploring your destination: Trujillo, a little town which bloomed in the 16th century with the treasures brought home by several of America’s conquistadores. Its defensive walls, ancient mansions, palaces and garden areas leading up to its castle provide for a very enjoyable walk, and sitting for dinner at its wonderful Plaza Mayor is an great way to celebrate the completion of this beautiful cycling trip.  

Depart: taxi to Cáceres (train to Seville/Madrid) or to Navalmoral (train to Madrid)

The previous day you agree on an hour for your taxi transfer (included) The taxi takes you to your choice of:

Cáceres, either train station or hotel of your own booking. Of course, an overnight stay to explore its impressive, 15th century renaissance centre is a very good idea. From Cáceres depart several trains a day to Seville and Madrid. Both take about 4 hours and cost around € 35 per person. 

Or the train station of Navalmoral de la Mata, with several departures a day to Madrid. About 2 hours and € 25 per person.