# Vía de la Plata, Spain: what it is and when to go > The second section of the Vía de la Plata route, between Mérida and Salamanca, following the old Roman road that linked Mérida with Astorga. You walk through Extremaduran dehesa and the Campo Charro, with long, thinly populated stages and Roman remains on the path itself. The best time to visit is April to June and September to October. In June there are 14 h 49 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 11. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/via-de-la-plata-hiking-02-merida-to-salamanca/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Ancient commercial and pilgrimage path · Hiking - **Where:** Spain - **Best time:** April to June and September to October. - **Nearest airport:** MAD Madrid, 221 km as the crow flies - **Trail network:** National - **Distance:** 289 km - **From:** Merida - **To:** Salamanca - **Coordinates:** 39.94003, -6.06936 ## What you will see here - The start from Mérida over the Roman bridge across the Guadiana - The milestones and the arch of Cáparra, in the Ambroz valley - The climb from Baños de Montemayor onto the Meseta - The entry into Salamanca over the Roman bridge, facing the cathedral > It's a route with long stages and spread-out services: carry plenty of water and confirm the next day's hostels, as several villages have only one. ## What it is and where Vía de la Plata is an ancient commercial and pilgrimage path in Spain. 02 Merida to Salamanca Its coordinates are 39.94003, -6.06936; the nearest main airport is Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD, Madrid), 221 km as the crow flies. How to get around Spain (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=39.940032%2C-6.069359) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=39.940032%2C-6.069359) - **Trail network:** National - **Distance:** 289 km - **From:** Merida - **To:** Salamanca It is one of the [Hiking](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/senderismo/) places in Spain. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go The best time to visit Vía de la Plata is **April to June and September to October**. Spring and autumn. In summer the Extremaduran dehesa goes above 40 degrees and there are long stretches without shade or springs. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 9 h 28 | | February | Possible | 10 h 29 | | March | Possible | 11 h 41 | | April | Best time | 13 h 04 | | May | Best time | 14 h 12 | | June | Best time | 14 h 49 | | July | Possible | 14 h 34 | | August | Possible | 13 h 35 | | September | Best time | 12 h 15 | | October | Best time | 10 h 55 | | November | Possible | 9 h 45 | | December | Possible | 9 h 11 | In June there are 14 h 49 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 11. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. When to go to Spain in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to Spain To enter Spain there are 6 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid ID card or passport”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Spain checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Euro (EUR); plugs: Type C and F · 230 V · 50 Hz; emergencies: 112. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [Vía de la Plata](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/via-de-la-plata-hiking/): Ancient commercial and pilgrimage path · 2.3 km - [Camino de Monfragüe - Etapa 2](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/camino-de-monfrague-etapa-2/): Hiking · 3.0 km - [Camino Natural Via Verde de Monfragüe](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/camino-natural-via-verde-de-monfrague/): Hiking · 5.4 km - [Camino de Monfragüe - Etapa 1](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/camino-de-monfrague-etapa-1/): Hiking · 7.0 km - [Ermita de Santo Tomé, Plasencia](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/yacimiento-romano/): Archaeological site · 9.9 km Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Spain guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/). ## More in Spain: Hiking - [Camino de Santiago](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/camino-sanabres-este/): Catholic pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain - [Vía de la Plata](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/via-de-la-plata-hiking-03-salamanca-to-astorga/): ancient commercial and pilgrimage path - [French Way](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/camino-frances-01-san-juan-pie-de-puerto-a-logrono/): pilgrims' way, part of Santiago Way - [E3 European long distance path](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/ruta-europea-caminar-e3/): walking path - [Northern Way](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/camino-del-norte-galicia/): cultural property in Municipios del Camino, Spain - [E9 European long distance path](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/european-long-distance-path-e9/): walking path, Europe Every Spain place under Hiking, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/senderismo/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Vía de la Plata? It is an ancient commercial and pilgrimage path in Spain. ### When is the best time to visit Vía de la Plata? April to June and September to October. In June there are 14 h 49 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 11. ### How do you get to Vía de la Plata? The nearest main airport is Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD), 221 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=39.940032%2C-6.069359) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Spain is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Spain map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [Vía de la Plata](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/via-de-la-plata-hiking/), [Camino de Monfragüe - Etapa 2](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/camino-de-monfrague-etapa-2/), [Camino Natural Via Verde de Monfragüe](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/camino-natural-via-verde-de-monfrague/). The rest is in [the Spain guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/16949977), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1754499), CC0. More about Vía de la Plata on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%ADa_de_la_Plata). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).