Stage of the Camino
Burgos to Hornillos del Camino
From Burgos To Hornillos del Camino
Plan your CaminoOrigin
Destination
Distance
20.60 km
Duration
7.00 h
Difficulty
Moderate
Descent
30 m
Stage of the Camino
Stage Description
As he left behind the monumental Burgos, the pilgrim dives headfirst into the essence of the Castilian Plateau. This 20.6 km stage is one of the most representative of the steppage landscape: endless plains, infinite horizons and a dirt road that gets lost in the distance. It's a day of great introspection, with few intermediate towns and scarce shade, which requires good preparation for the sun and wind. The route passes through small localities like Tardajos and Rabé de las Calzadas, the last town before a long stretch without services. The arrival at Hornillos del Camino, a small Jacobean village nestled in a valley, is an authentic oasis and perfect refuge after being immersed in the vastness of Castile.
The exit from Burgos marks a before and an after in the French Way. The 20.6 km stage to Hornillos del Camino is the gateway to the Meseta in its maximum expression. After the effort of leaving the city, the landscape transforms radically into a steppe of cereal fields that stretch as far as the eye can see.
The path runs on wide dirt roads with good traction, in a predominantly flat terrain, although with gentle undulations that break up the monotony. It passes through Tardajos and then Rabé de las Calzadas, two villages that preserve traditional Castilian architecture. Rabé is the last point with services before facing an 8-kilometer stretch without a single source or shade. This sector, known as the páramo, is a mental challenge where the pilgrim faces solitude and the vastness of the landscape.
The feeling of walking under an immense sky, with only the sound of your own footsteps and the wind, is one of the most profound and defining experiences of the Way of St. James. It's a time for meditation and introspection.
The path runs on wide dirt roads with good traction, in a predominantly flat terrain, although with gentle undulations that break up the monotony. It passes through Tardajos and then Rabé de las Calzadas, two villages that preserve traditional Castilian architecture. Rabé is the last point with services before facing an 8-kilometer stretch without a single source or shade. This sector, known as the páramo, is a mental challenge where the pilgrim faces solitude and the vastness of the landscape.
The feeling of walking under an immense sky, with only the sound of your own footsteps and the wind, is one of the most profound and defining experiences of the Way of St. James. It's a time for meditation and introspection.
Last updated: 12/08/2025
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