Camino Francés Stage 14: Burgos to Hornillos

Trail Notes

Camino Francés Elevation

Today is the first day on the Meseta. It is flat, and hot with no shade. Many Pilgrims skipped the Meseta and extended their camino to include Finesterre.

• Quick Snapshot

  • Distance: Approx. 20–21 km(12.8 - 13.1 miles

  • Elevation Gain:818m/921m /(3021 ft)

  • Difficulty: Moderate

  • Time: 4-5 hours

  • Alternative Transportation: The bus from Rabe de las Calzadas does not stop in Hornillos.

• Food, Water & Stops

  • Tardajos: Cafes and water

    Rabe de las Calzadas: water and cafe:

• Where to Stay

  • El Alfar De Rosalia 15€

  • La Casa de Abuelo 50-60€

  • Personal recommendation: El Alfar De Rosalia

  Nearby essentials:There are some cafes

• Tips for Future Pilgrims

  • There’s not much to see in Hornillos. They don’t have a market day.

  • This is where layering merino wool is handy.  It's cold in the mornings and hot in the afternoons. You will be peeling off your layers as the day gets progressively hotter..

  • You may think flat is easy; for me, the daily repetitive motion on the same set of muscles was surprisingly harder on my body than the mixed-elevation trails on the Camino Frances.

  • Kinesiology tape (K-Tape): This tip is for all ages- not just the over-50 travelers.If you have a foot, knee, or Achilles heel that is bothering you, buy Kinesiology tape (K-Tape). It’s available in every pharmacy on the Camino Francés. You need to know how to use it for specific problems. Google or search YouTube for instructions. I promise—it will save you!

Camino Francés That Eva! On the Trail

Camino Francés Pilgrims Walking Through Hornillos

Camino Francés Trail

JOURNAL

I’m back in the smaller villages, staying in rustic albergues. There is an unspoken etiquette in the albergues. The pilgrims move quietly in the dorm rooms.  There are pilgrims napping before dinner; others are showering, hanging wet laundry. They whisper so as not to disturb others. I am starting to appreciate the traditional albergues for their simplicity and sense of tranquility.  It’s dusk, my favorite time of day. I'm sitting on an old handmade bench in the backyard, barefoot, freshly showered, hair still wet. It’s quiet except for the soft murmur of mixed languages in the distance as I watch the sun go down. -That Eva!

• Your packing list post

• Your “Start Here” post