Southern Route – From Huelva to Zafra

At a Glance

• Start / Finish: Huelva → Zafra (Extremadura)
• Length: 183.1 km
• Elevation Gain / Loss:↗ 2,524 m / ↘ 2,048 m
• The stage: 7
• Duration: about 7–8 days
• Difficulty: medium
• Official Way of St. James: Yes – eligible for the Compostela via the Silver Route
• Best time of year: April–May and September–October

Overview

The Camino del Sur is one of the least well-known official routes of the Way of St. James in Spain—which is what makes it so appealing to anyone looking to escape mass tourism. The route leads from Huelva, a port city at the mouth of the Río Odiel, in 7 days through a landscape you can’t experience like this any other way: red earth, gigantic open-pit mines, ancient holm oak forests, the province famous for its Iberian ham.

What makes this trail special is that it connects extremes. During the first three stages, you’ll hike along a former railroad line (the Vía Verde) through flat, agricultural terrain. Then comes the change of scenery—the Sierra de Aracena welcomes you with hills, gorges, and one of southern Spain’s most lush nature parks. At the end, the trail flattens out again and leads to Zafra, where it meets the Vía de la Plata.

The trail is well-marked, the stops along the way have places to stay, and aside from you, there are usually hardly any other pilgrims on the trail. The locals greet you with genuine curiosity—pilgrims are still a rarity here.

Other Names

In Spanish, the trail is officially called Southern Way of St. James or, in short, Southern Route. It is also known as the “Huelva-Zafra Route.” It is hardly known internationally; English-language sources refer to it as Southern Route or less frequently Southern Way. The path is the creation of the Huelva Association of Friends of the Camino de Santiago, which develops, signs, and maintains it.

Who This Route Is Ideal For—and Who It's Not

Ideal if you’re looking for solitude, unusual landscapes, and authentic Spain. The route is well-suited for pilgrims who have already walked a more well-known Camino and now want to experience something off the beaten path. You’ll need to know some Spanish—English isn’t widely spoken on this route, and you’ll have to fend for yourself.

This route isn't ideal if you're expecting a dense network of pilgrimage routes with albergues on every corner. Accommodations are available, but they're mostly simple hostales and guesthouses; in smaller towns, you may sometimes have to knock on the mayor's door. Even if you’re looking for company and that typical Camino campfire vibe, you’ll hardly find it here—most days you’ll be walking alone.

Route & Landscape

From Huelva, the route first leads through the flat Countryside – a vast, gently rolling agricultural landscape with olive groves, vineyards, and grain fields. The first three stages run mostly along the Greenway, an old railroad line that is now used as a hiking and biking trail. The area is quiet, and it’s easy to make good progress.

From Mines of Riotinto the landscape changes dramatically. The route winds through one of the oldest mining regions in the world—here, the Río Tinto flows a brilliant rust-red, colored by heavy metals from the ore deposits. After the climb up to the Aracena Mountains A whole new world opens up: dense chestnut and oak forests, deep valleys, and villages with medieval castles. After that, the trail levels off and crosses the Extremaduran Clearings – park-like pastures dotted with old cork oaks, where the pigs used to make Jamón Ibérico graze.

Stages, Terrain & Difficulty

The path is in Stage 7 divided into sections ranging from 15 to 31 kilometers in length. The first three days on the Vía Verde are flat and easygoing. Starting with Stage 4, there are climbs and rugged trails:

1. Huelva → Trigueros (19 km) — Flat start, mostly side roads and dirt paths through the Campiña. Very little shade.
2. Trigueros → Valverde del Camino (27 km) — Almost entirely along the Vía Verde; a gentle downhill slope, with oak and pine trees gradually replacing the fields.
3. Valverde del Camino → Riotinto Mines (27 km) — Continue along the Vía Verde; the terrain becomes increasingly varied and scenic.
4. Minas de Riotinto → Aracena (28 km) — past the famous mines and reservoirs, then a gentle climb to Aracena. The most spectacular stage.
5. Aracena → Cañaveral de León (25 km) — beautiful scenery; downhill through a lush valley before you cross the Aracena Reservoir.
6. Cañaveral de León → Valencia del Ventoso (31 km) — the longest stage; crosses the border into Extremadura. Beautiful views along trails and country roads.
7. Valencia del Ventoso → Zafra (15 km) — a short, gentle final stretch; joins the Camino de la Plata to Zafra.

Important: You’ll need to cross several streams—after rain, some sections may be temporarily impassable. Always bring plenty of water, especially on the fourth stage between the Río Odiel and Aracena.

Riotinto and the Sierra de Aracena: Spain in Miniature

The Camino del Sur is nicknamed “Spain in Miniature”—and that’s a pretty accurate description. The Mines of Riotinto is one of the oldest mining regions on Earth; copper, silver, and gold have been mined here since ancient times. The Río Tinto glows a rusty red, and the lunar landscape of the open-pit mines is of surreal beauty—NASA used it as a test site for Mars research. And yes: Spanish soccer was born here—British mining engineers founded the country’s oldest soccer club in 1889.

Just a few kilometers further on, the Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park: A 1,800-square-kilometer UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, greener than almost anywhere else in Andalusia. The Cave of Wonders Aracena is considered one of the most beautiful stalactite caves in Spain. And everywhere, pigs graze beneath the cork oaks—the foundation of the famous Acorn-Fed Iberian Ham from the region.

Highlights Along the Way

• Rio Tinto – The “Red River” shimmers a rusty red due to iron oxide; a spectacular sight as you cross it
• Mines of Riotinto – Mining Museum, surreal open-pit mining landscape, birthplace of Spanish soccer
• Aracena – A castle town with a Moorish fortress and the Gruta de las Maravillas located directly below the town center
• Sierra de Aracena Natural Park – dense mountain forests, deep gorges, villages that seem to be from another era
• Acorn-Fed Iberian Ham – The pigs you come across along the way produce some of the best ham in the world
• Harvest – an elegant small town with a Renaissance castle and a connection to the Vía de la Plata

How Pilgrims Find Their Way onto This Path

You can reach Huelva by train or bus from Seville in just over an hour—the city, located at the confluence of the Tinto and Odiel rivers, is the southwesternmost starting point of the Spanish mainland rail network.

In Zafra, the Camino del Sur joins the Silver Way– From there, the Great Silver Road takes you further north toward Santiago.

Continue the pilgrimage?

The Camino del Sur ends in Harvest, where he pointed to the Silver Route intersects with the main Way of St. James from Seville to Santiago de Compostela. From Zafra, the route continues northward through Mérida, Cáceres, and Salamanca all the way to Santiago. The Vía de la Plata is officially signposted from Zafra onward and has plenty of albergues along the way.

If you want to start the route right from the beginning, you can also begin in Seville and use the Camino del Sur as a separate feeder route: Huelva is located about 90 km west of Seville and is accessible by train.

Preparation & Practical Information

The best time to travel is April through May and September through October: Pleasant temperatures between 15–22 °C, a landscape in bloom, and not too hot. You should avoid the summer (July/August)—temperatures above 35 °C are not uncommon on the Andalusian plain. The Sierra de Aracena is wetter than the rest of the region (over 1,000 mm of precipitation per year), so be sure to pack a rain jacket.

Accommodations are available in every stop along the route, usually in the form of hostels or guesthouses. In smaller towns, the selection is limited; be sure to inquire or book well in advance, especially in the spring. Your Credencial (Pilgrim's Pass) It’s stamped in most towns—the route qualifies for the Compostela as soon as you switch to the Vía de la Plata in Zafra. The easiest way to plan your stages and accommodations is using the Camino Ninja app.

What the journey will cost you

Expect about 30–50 € per day for lodging and meals. Hostels and guesthouses usually cost 35–60 € for a single room; in Aracena and Zafra, prices are slightly higher. Restaurants in small towns offer daily set menus (Menús del Día) for €10–14. Since there are hardly any hostels, the budget is higher than on the more well-known routes of the Way of St. James—but in return, you’ll almost always have a private room. (As of July 2026)

Getting There

Huelva (Starting Point): There are direct train connections from Seville to Huelva (about 1.5 hours). From Madrid, you can take a long-distance bus or travel via Seville. Huelva is easily accessible by public transportation.

Zafra (final stop): Trains run from Zafra to Mérida, Cáceres, Seville, and Madrid. If you’re continuing on the Vía de la Plata, you don’t need to plan your return trip here—Santiago de Compostela will be waiting for you in a few weeks.

• Renfe – Train from Seville to Huelva (approx. 1:30 h, several times a day)
• Alsa / Damascus – Long-distance buses to Huelva and Zafra
• Camino de Santiago Huelva – Official website with the latest information and route maps