Villafranca Montes de Oca

Camino Frances

To end of camino
522.0
Altitude
942

Espinosa del Camino

3.40

Villafranca Montes de Oca

11.90

San Juan de Ortega

Services
Bar
Yes
Bus
Yes
Grocery
Yes
Medical Center
Yes

To the right of the main road when entering are a pair of bars that serve food to a mix of pilgrims and long road truck drivers, the Meson Alba being the most authentic dive of the two. The bustle of the road can make Villafranca feel a bit cramped, to escape that head to the Albergue San Anton Abad where the large garden and bar/restauran will quickly take your mind to a better place.

Notice

From Villafranca, there are 12km of camino without a water supply. 

Fiesta

San Antón is celebrated on the 17th of January, and a Romería to the Ermita de Oca is held on the second Sunday of August.

The Road

Villafranca Montes de Oca, named for the nettle-filled mountains to the west, sits at the foot of the Pedraja pass. If you have become accustomed to the gently rolling hills behind you, brace yourself for a climb. Between here and San Juan de Ortega lay 12km of fountain-less hiking. It is however a beautiful forest full of flowers, views, and endemic oak trees.

There are no shops in San Juan, but there are now two bars that serve food. Pack accordingly. To follow the camino, turn right uphill towards the church.

City Map

Comments

Camino de Sant… (not verified)

Such a great albergue! Loved the single beds with a small wall. First time it felt like there was privacy in an albergue. The showers were good. The grounds are beautiful. Great place to sit and rest after the day’s walk. The pilgrim dinner was good as well. Great wine and stuffed eggplant!

Camino de Sant… (not verified)

Go to Bar Jomer (get a sello it’s Homer Simpson) and order the chicken wings. Also ask for extra picante if you’re having spicy food withdrawals like us. Possibly the best chicken wings I’ve ever had!

We enjoyed staying at Bar Jomer, mostly because of the friendly and entertaining gentlemen that checked us in and served us food and drinks all night. But be warned that if you get a room on the street side of the pension you might as well be sleeping on the highway because the trucks fly by all night and shake the walls. However the lack of sleep will help you get an early start up the mountain in the morning at least. The hotel/albergue in town also looked great.

Camino de Sant… (not verified)

We stayed and ate dinner here (pilgrim menu) and can confirm it is amazing. Really fantastic food and neat, clean, tidy accomodation.

Camino de Sant… (not verified)

This is a find of a place, great welcome, a lovely bar , we ate the pilgrim meal here , it was very tasty & you had a choice in the meals, the little supermarket was across the Rd, we stocked up for the next day here,
We were amazed while waiting for the others from our group, at the amount of Hugh trucks that passed at speed through this little village. The hostel is definitely 5 stars from our group

Camino de Sant… (not verified)

Meson Alba (turn right as you approach town) was open for lunch and dinner. Good selection of food. A little further up the road is a well stocked supermarket.

Camino de Sant… (not verified)

I disagree with the description of featureless hiking. The pine forest is lovely, there are some pretty views, and meadows of flowers. The wide road is shade-less for a few Km after the Alta, but this was a very nice walk into San Juan de Ortega and then Ages

Camino de Sant…

Very good supermarket now open in villafranca

Camino de Sant…

There is no Farmacia in Villafranca

Camino de Sant…

Store was open until 2 pm then again after siesta from 5-7 pm.

Camino de Sant…

Nice little town. I took a “walking rest day” from Belorado. Slept in, super late start, and I still got into Villafranca quite early. I stayed at Casa Rural La Alpargateia. Charming place, great hot shower, clean, and the owner Christina is super welcoming and helpful.