General Description: The solitary Camino de Levante rivals the Ruta de la Lana for length, stretching some 1300 km from Valencia on the Mediterranean coast to Santiago. 900 km starting in the city of Valencia then passing through Almansa (where it crosses the Ruta de la Lana), Toledo, Ávila and Medina del Campo to Zamora where it joins the Vía de la Plata. This route except beginning in Alicante is sometimes called El Camino de Santiago del Sureste.

Waymarking: Waymarked by yellow arrows, generally ample but very sparse in some areas. In these poorly marked areas it will be necessary to be able to read in great detail the Spanish text of the only guidebook.

Terrain: The terrain itself is for the most part not difficult but the long distances involved in some stages, combined with the heat of much of the year, can be exhausting. There will be many days with little or no shade. The passage through La Mancha is particularly barren with long stages. There is a steep ascent approaching Ávila where the path climbs about 400 m in about 4 km, an 8 to 10% grade.

When to go: This is not a route to be attempted in July and August, at least not between Valencia and Zamora. But by then you are on the Vía de la Plata. Even in the "shoulder" months it can be hot. At least in the fall months of September and October the harvests of grapes and fruit will be coming in. Climate tables for Valencia, Toledo amnd Zamora.

Accommodation: Lodging is certainly not organized with the peregrino in mind on this route. Nonetheless even most of the smaller villages will have some type of commercial hotel, hostal or hospedería and there are a scattering of casas rurales. And there are albergues in many places although many of these are labeled albergues juveniles (youth hostels). There are however long sections without the latter - there appears to be only one fromToledo to well beyond Ávila.

Guidebooks: chemin-compostelle.fr: Sur le Chemin de Saint Jacques de Compostelle: Le Chemin du Levant (Camino de Levante) (2008). (French)

Internet links: The Confraternity of Saint James has an overview of the Camino de Levante. The Associación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago en Alicante has information (Spanish), including a detailed description of the route in a PDF file of more than 40 pages covering from Alicante all the way to Santiago. There is also a PDF file with stages and distances from Alicante to Santiago and another containing all albergues from Valencia to Astorga on the Camino francés. The Asociación Amigos del Camino de Santiago en Ávila has a great deal of information including a file with a list of albergues from Alicante through Benavente where the Camino de la Plata is joined. (Spanish) The Asociación de Amigos del Camino de Santiago de la Comunidad Valenciana has extensive stage by stage information from Valencia through Toledo and Zamora then via the Camino Sanabrés to Santiago. (Spanish) Finally there is a site covering El Camino de Santiago del Sureste from Alicante to Santiago with a list of albergues, maps, recent route modifications and warnings, a bibliography of books and articles, YouTube videos, an extensive list of website links and finally an 80-page guide. (Spanish)

Video links: From the Camino video series produced by the Spanish television channel TVE:
     Camino de Levante, part 1, 0:26:41, Spanish, 2004
     Camino de Levante, part 2, 0:25:28, Spanish, 2004

Other remarks: The Camino de Levante is described as being a route not to be undertaken by the faint of heart! There are some stages of up to 50 km with no bars, no accommodation, sometimes even no fresh water. Very few pilgrims undertake this route, numbering perhaps only in the single or double digits each year. On the other hand villages are described as generally being aware of the Camino and are very hospitable. Very good Spanish language skills are an essential.