The stage, step by step
Leaving Belorado
Belorado is the best place to have breakfast and stock up, as it has several accommodation options. The first kilometres already begin to gain height gently: between km 0.5 and 9.8, the route gains 170 m before reaching Tosantos and Villambistia.
Tosantos and Espinosa del Camino
Tosantos appears early and has the Albergue-Bar Los Arancones, as well as the Albergue Parroquial San Francisco de Asís and the Hospital de Peregrinos Tosantos. You then pass through Villambistia and Espinosa del Camino, where you can find the Albergue La Campana or the Albergue la Taberna de Espinosa.
The steep climb through the Montes de Oca
From around km 10.5 to 14.8 comes the section that makes itself felt most: 229 m of ascent at an average gradient of 5.4%. Villafranca Montes de Oca lies before this section and is the logical place to rest and adjust your pace.
The descent towards San Juan de Ortega
Once you have completed the climb, the terrain descends for almost 7 km, between km 16.8 and 23.7, losing 148 m. The Camino passes through Santovenia de Oca and ends in San Juan de Ortega, where you can sleep at the Albergue Parroquial de San Juan de Ortega.
What to see on stage 11
Montes de Oca
The Montes de Oca are the defining landscape of the stage, with forest tracks and paths. Woodland accompanies the climb and makes the change in terrain noticeable after the agricultural stages earlier in the route.
Tosantos
Tosantos is the first village where you can stop after leaving Belorado. Its location and accommodation make it a useful landmark before tackling the section towards Villafranca Montes de Oca.
Villafranca Montes de Oca
The village lies just before the hardest climb of the day. It is the right place to rest, drink and begin the ascent through the Montes de Oca at a pace you can maintain.
Monasterio de San Juan de Ortega
The monastery was founded by Juan de Ortega between the 12th and 13th centuries and combines Romanesque and Gothic elements. Juan de Ortega worked with Santo Domingo de la Calzada to repair roads and bridges, and the complex was established to care for pilgrims.
Where to sleep in San Juan de Ortega
Belorado offers plenty of options for setting off, including the Albergue A Santiago, Casa Waslala, the Albergue El Caminante, the Albergue de Peregrinos Cuatro Cantones and the Albergue Municipal El Corro. Tosantos has the Albergue Parroquial San Francisco de Asís, the Hospital de Peregrinos Tosantos and the Albergue-Bar Los Arancones. In Villambistia there is the Albergue Municipal de San Roque, while in Espinosa del Camino you can choose the Albergue La Campana. There is also accommodation in Villafranca Montes de Oca and Santovenia de Oca. San Juan de Ortega has the Albergue Parroquial de San Juan de Ortega, but the choice at the end is more limited, so book if you want to secure a bed.
Where to eat and refuel
Eat and shop in Belorado, because after that you enter the least well-served section of this part of the route. Tosantos, Villambistia and Espinosa del Camino are hamlets with only a handful of houses; the Albergue-Bar Los Arancones in Tosantos is one of the few places you can count on before the climb, and even then it is unwise to put all your faith in one option. Villafranca Montes de Oca is the last reasonable opportunity before the Montes de Oca: set off with a full bottle and food for the forest, because San Juan de Ortega is tiny and offers very little choice.
Practical tips for this stage
Carry water for the forest section
Do not count on refilling in the Montes de Oca: there are kilometres of forest track with nothing along the way. There is water when you reach San Juan de Ortega, but that is the end of the stage. Leave Villafranca with a full bottle and plenty in reserve.
Book in San Juan de Ortega
There is less leeway at the finish than in Belorado. The Albergue Parroquial de San Juan de Ortega is a specific option, but if you want to sleep there, do not leave the decision until the last minute.
Save energy for km 10.5
The climb between km 10.5 and 14.8 gains 229 m and has an average gradient of 5.4%. Reach this point at a conservative pace: it is the section most likely to empty your reserves.
Do not rush the final descent
Between km 16.8 and 23.7 there is a long descent of 148 m. After the climb, your legs may be tired, so regulate your pace and use Santovenia de Oca as a landmark before the finish.
Frequently asked questions about stage 11
How much ascent is there from Belorado to San Juan de Ortega?
The stage gains 419 m and loses 184 m. It is 23.9 km long, with an average walking time of 5.3 hours.
Which section is the hardest?
The main climb is between km 10.5 and 14.8. It gains 229 m at an average gradient of 5.4%, after an earlier, gentler climb.
Where can I split the stage?
Tosantos, Villambistia, Espinosa del Camino, Villafranca Montes de Oca and Santovenia de Oca are the intermediate villages. Tosantos and Villafranca are the clearest landmarks before the climb and the final section.
Is there accommodation in San Juan de Ortega?
Yes. There is the Albergue Parroquial de San Juan de Ortega, as well as El Descanso de San Juan and the Albergue El Descanso de San Juan Ortega at the end of the stage.