Description
We leave the Merida hostel along the avenida de José Fernandez López until we reach the first roundabout where you turn right, then left passing over the other side of the railroad tracks. Opposite we have the aqueduct of los Milagros and before reaching it, turn left again to take the Avenida del Lago. This avenue will lead us out of Merida. Luckily we have a bike lane (photo 1 Km 3.0) which we can use to travel safely. The bike path is uphill until the 4.3 km point (photo 2) we begin the descent staying with the bike lane (photo 3 Km 4.5).
The bike path brings us out directly at the Proserpina reservoir (photos 4 and 5), one of the most beautiful parts of all the Via de la Plata. We circle the Reservoir, exiting via an old road that leads us away from it (photo 6 km 8.9). At approximately the 10 km point, abandon the old road veering sharply to the left. We then enter a landscape of cork trees and thickets (photo 7 km 11,0 and photo 8 km 12.4) until we arrive at Carrascalejo (photo 9 km 13.4), a small village with a church but no services.
Exiting Carrascalejo we cross the highway via a tunnel (photo 10 km 14.8) and after a short climb and corresponding descent we arrive in Aljucén. The road will bring us out close to a bar and a church (which are opposite each other) in la avenida Extremadura.
