Camino de los Tarajales

A route recovered in 2016 to ease congestion at the entrance to the village, running parallel to Los Llanos.

Distance: ≈ 16 km
Days: 1
Difficulty: Easy
Terrain: Sand and pine woods

Access conditions

How, when and with what permits this way can be travelled throughout the year.

Mode	Status
On foot	All year round
Bicycle	All year round
On horseback	All year round
Vehicle	Check conditions
Camping	Only in authorised areas
Fire risk	Summer restrictions (INFOCA)

How to read the statuses

✓No restriction
!Conditions or permit apply (see each row)
✕Not allowed

The interior of the Parque Nacional de Doñana can only be travelled during the pilgrimage with the brotherhood or on authorised guided visits. Outside those cases, keep to the public tracks and waymarked trails.

Permits and regulations

Protected areas it crosses: Espacio Natural de Doñana (Parque Natural)
Competent authority: Junta de Andalucía (Consejería de Sostenibilidad y Medio Ambiente). Doñana is both a National Park and a Nature Park, a Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Seasonal restriction: High fire-risk season (INFOCA Plan), usually from 1 June to 15 October: take extreme care with fire and bear in mind possible access restrictions.
Official regulations and bookings: Ventana del Visitante de Doñana (bookings) ↗Espacio Natural de Doñana ↗Parque Nacional de Doñana (MITECO) ↗Consejería de Sostenibilidad y Medio Ambiente ↗

Elevation profile

↑ Ascent

+64 m

↓ Descent

−130 m

Its name was fixed in the late 19th century; in the 16th century it was known as the "Camino de Cabezo Gordo". It was reinstated as an official route in 2016 to share the flow of pilgrims with the Camino de los Llanos, which it runs alongside.

About 16 km long, it can be travelled on foot, by bicycle, on horseback or by off-road vehicle, and is used above all by affiliated brotherhoods coming from farther away as an alternative route on the final approach.

Who walks it

Long-distance affiliated brotherhoods, as a way to ease congestion.

Day by day

The stages of the way

A representative division: each brotherhood sets its own schedule and rest stops, which vary each year depending on Doñana.

01 km
Holm-oak grove
Almonte → Cabeza Raza
The route begins in Almonte and enters a holm-oak grove more rolling than the sandy tracks of Los Llanos. The Encina de Curro Pérez is one of the first landmarks with a name of its own along the way.
Access
On foot: All year roundBicycle: All year roundOn horseback: All year roundVehicle: Check conditionsCamping: Only in authorised areasFire risk: Summer restrictions (INFOCA)
02 km
Pinar de los Pájaros
Cabeza Raza → Charco del Cura
The pine forest closes in, offering shade and coolness in the heart of May. The "Pinar de los Pájaros" evokes the birdlife richness of this strip bordering Doñana; the Charco del Cura is a seasonal watering point.
Access
On foot: All year roundBicycle: All year roundOn horseback: All year roundVehicle: Check conditionsCamping: Only in authorised areasFire risk: Summer restrictions (INFOCA)
03 km
Pasada del Rocío
Charco del Cura → Charco de las Mujeres
The Pasada del Rocío, the ford of the Santa María stream, is one of the most notable points, with protective walkways. The Charco de las Mujeres, rich in oral tradition, is the most photographed spot on the route.
Access
On foot: All year roundBicycle: All year roundOn horseback: All year roundVehicle: Check conditionsCamping: Only in authorised areasFire risk: Summer restrictions (INFOCA)
04 km
Puente del Ajolí
Charco de las Mujeres → El Rocío
The final stretch crosses Moralejo and El Vicioso, with the pine forest on one side and the marshland heralding itself on the other. The arrival comes via the Puente del Ajolí, at the very doors of the village.
Access
On foot: All year roundBicycle: All year roundOn horseback: All year roundVehicle: Check conditionsCamping: Only in authorised areasFire risk: Summer restrictions (INFOCA)

The route

The way on the map

An indicative route through its main landmarks. The ochre markers show towns with accommodation: tap to see hotels in the area.

LegendEl Rocío (destination)AccommodationDrinking waterBar / restaurant

Use two fingers to move the map; Ctrl + scroll to zoom. · Points from OpenStreetMap; check opening times and availability on site.

Download & offline navigation

Download the GPX track and open it in your hiking app (OsmAnd, Wikiloc, Locus…) to navigate without signal.

Download GPX

Where to sleep

Accommodation on each stage

Prices and availability for the pilgrimage · Pentecost, 16 de mayo de 2027

Booking.comAlmonteSee hotels Booking.comEl RocíoSee hotels

Affiliate links: booking through them costs you no more and helps keep this guide running.

Practical information

Getting there and back

Starting point: Almonte
Parking: Leave your vehicle in the town you set off from or in the village of El Rocío; the interior of Doñana has no open vehicle access.
Public transport: Public transport in the province of Huelva and the connection to El Rocío are operated by Grupo Damas. Check up-to-date routes and timetables before you travel. Buses (Grupo Damas) ↗

All the ways end in the village of El Rocío (Almonte). As these are linear routes, arrange your return to the starting point before you set off: support vehicle, pick-up or bus.

Safety and emergencies

Useful numbers

112— Emergencies (general)
061— Medical emergencies (Andalusia)
062— Guardia Civil / SEPRONA (natural environment)

Recommendations

Walk early in the morning and late in the day, and avoid midday. Carry plenty of water, sun protection and a hat: in May the heat and the sand make the going much harder.
Mobile coverage is limited in the interior of Doñana. Download the GPX track to navigate offline and let someone know your route and timings.
During the fire-risk season (INFOCA Plan, from June to October) take extreme care with fire; in any emergency, call 112.

Frequently asked questions about access

Can the Camino del Rocío be walked outside the pilgrimage, even in winter?+

Yes. The ways run along drovers' roads and public tracks that are open all year round. Outside the pilgrimage they can be travelled on foot, on horseback and, on several sections, by bicycle. The best time is from October to May, as summer is very hot.

Do I need a permit to walk through Doñana?+

No permit is needed to walk along the public tracks and waymarked trails. Only the interior of the National Park, away from those tracks, requires access on an authorised guided visit; the pilgrimage with the brotherhood is the traditional exception.

Can it be travelled by bicycle or on horseback?+

On horseback, yes, on all the ways. By bicycle, along the public tracks and paths; on the sections that cross strictly protected areas it is best to check the conditions before setting off.

Is camping allowed along the way?+

Wild camping is not permitted in Doñana. You may only stay overnight in authorised areas and campsites, and, during the pilgrimage, in the places set aside by each brotherhood.

Other ways

See all →

Camino de Sevilla Camino de Moguer Camino del Condado Camino de Cádiz

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