CF13 - San Juan de Ortega - Burgos - 27,6 km
Itinerary
From San Juan de Ortega, you will have different options to get to Burgos.
You can go passing by Santovenia de Oca, Gamonal, Zalduendo, Ibeas de Juarros, San Medel, Castañares, Villayuda and Capiscol.
Another way goes through Olmos de Atapuerca, leading to Rubena and Villafría. This route is not used after Olmos, since it is hasn’t got many signs and goes mostly on the National I road, which is not safe.
The third option, is to go to Atapuerca and then to Burgos via Capiscol or Villafría.
The Friends of the Way Association in Burgos advices pilgrims to pick the third option, since it has better infrastructures with available accommodations and more safety on the road. Therefore, next we will details this route, which is the best option.
Almost 4 km separate the villages of San Juan de Ortega and Agés. You will leave the first and will get in a beautiful oak forest. You will follow this path towards Agés, a village known by its traditional architecture. The temple is from the 16th Century and it said the remains of King García of Navarre were buried here. Leaving Agés, you will see the bridge over river Vena, attributed to San Juan de Ortega.
From here, you will follow the road towards the next village, Atapuerca. This town has been declared a World Heritage Site both for its prehistoric sites and for belonging to the Way of St. James. It was also the scene of a well-known battle between the King of Castilla-León and the King of Navarra.
Leaving Atapuerca, you will take a clear ascending path. At one point, the path forks and you can take any way to get to Burgos, but we recommend the one to the right.
Keep following the yellow arrows, but be careful since some of them may have been manipulated. If you wish to stop for some refreshments, you can do so in Villalval, Cardeñuela and Orbaneja.
The Way again forks: the one on the left, goes to Castañares, Villayuda and Capiscol; the one straight, to Villafría and Gamonal.
Both routes are declared World Heritage Sites.
a) Option 1: next to the old quartering, on the left side, you will see a path that goes on bordering the limits of Burgos Airport and leads to Castañares, where you will follow the trail parallel to the national road 120. This one will take you to the borough of Villayuda, also known as La Ventilla, and from here you will keep walking towards Capiscol, where it joins the Way that comes from Gamonal.
b) Option 2: you will head towards Villafría taking a narrow road that goes parallel to the railroad. From Villafría, you will have to go on the National 1 for 4 km until you reach Gamonal. Here, you can visit the temple and the “cruceiro” next to it. Next, you will go through Calle Las Calzadas to see the historical centre.
Once you arrive in Burgos, you will be able to enjoy the city, its food and monuments. You can visit Monasterio de San Pedro Cardeña, Cartuja de Miraflores and other churches. Of course, the Burgos Cathedral is the most important building in the city.
External info sources about this route and recommended websites:
Federación Española de Asociaciones del Camino de Santiago
Very useful guide: Camino de Santiago. National Geographic
Asociación Amigos del Camino de Santiago de Burgos
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To download a route in PDF format you must be registered , this is a simple and free process also enjoy other benefits.
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