Guardo
Camino Olvidado
Guardo is a former mining town and the largest settlement between Cervera de Pisuerga and Cistierna. The Real Hotel and the albergue are both outside the center and up a hill, at least 1.5 km from town — bring what you need unless you want to walk back down. The albergue is good and takes groups as well as individual pilgrims.
If you're taking the Caminayo mountain alternative (longer but more scenic), you'll need to go through the center of town to pick up that route. If you're taking the direct route to Puente Almuhey, the hotel and albergue are right on the camino.
Guardo has all services — supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, banks, and a pharmacy.
Two routes lead from Guardo to Puente Almuhey. The direct route (16 km) is flat and straightforward.
The mountain alternative via Caminayo (32 km, 500-600 m elevation gain) is beautiful. It descends to the river in Guardo, passes through an abandoned mining town outside Velilla del Rio Carrion, and climbs into spectacular mountain scenery. In Velilla, the ancient Tamaricas Fountains are worth seeing — according to Pliny the Elder, if the fountains are dry, you should be dead within a week. Hostal Stop in Velilla or Casa Moura (+34 979 861 098) can break up this longer route.
Comments