Camino Mozárabe from Granada

A route, first waymarked in 1999, which feeds into the Vía de la Plata (starting in Seville) at Mérida, and so enabling pilgrims from Granada and south-eastern Spain to continue on to Santiago de Compostela.

The Route: 406km long, starting in Granada and leading northwest via Moclín, Alacalá la Real, Alcaudete, Baena and Castro del Río to Córdoba and then on via Cerro Muriano, Villaharta, Alcaracejos, Hinojosa del Duque, Castuera, Campanario, Don Benito and Medellín to Mérida. Walking this route takes on average 15-16 days.

Waymarking: Well-waymarked throughout, with the yellow arrows familiar to those who have already walked the Camino Francés.

Terrain: Quite strenuous and hilly until Alcaracejos (3 days walk from Córdoba), much of it through olive plantations; undulating scenery often topped by forts and lookout towers dating from the time of the Arab occupation of Spain. Walking is mainly on old tracks and paths, with some very quiet minor roads. After Alcaracejos the Camino goes through pasture and agricultural land, punctuated by the hilltop fortress villages of Magacela and Medellín, where the route crosses the Río Guadiana, to Mérida.

Weather/When to go: The summer months in the south of Spain can be extremely hot and dry. March-May and September-October are recommended.

Accommodation: Hostales and pensiones in all places of any size (except Campanario) but no refugios as such at present except in Mérida. Basic R&F (roof and floor) facilities are available (e.g. in sports halls) in some places (good Spanish needed) to groups of pilgrims (good Spanish needed) but not always to individuals walking alone in towns where a hostal or pensión exists.

Distinctive features of the route/General:  A very solitary route with few pilgrims at present and daily stages that are frequently (and unavoidably) long (30-35km), due to the uninhabited nature of much of the terrain. On several parts of the route pilgrims will not encounter any towns or villages all day long and well-organised daily planning is needed. There are several shallow rivers without bridges, especially in the section after Córdoba and where, according to the weather, pilgrims may have to wade across. However, despite its physical difficulties this is a very interesting route and recommended to anyone who is already fit.

Mezquit a de Córdoba

Guide books: The CSJ guide to this route is available through our online shop.

Website: Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Córdoba. This site provides downloadable route descriptions (in Spanish) and downloadable colour maps of the daily stages, including the options of starting in Jaen and linking into the route in Alcaudete or beginning in Málaga and joining it in Baena.

Cyclists: Much of the route is accessible to very fit, energetic mountain bikers though there are sections where the cycling pilgrim will need to dismount and push his/her machine up steep hills.

Language: Pilgrims without a reasonable command of Spanish will find this route difficult.