We’re walking the Camino Frances Day 4 today and after a really entertaining night in this lovely town we are walking from Puente la Reina to Azqueta.
Read along to follow our hike and learn about this great stage on the Camino de Santiago.
Camino Frances Day 4 Overview
- Distance – 29.7km
- From – Puente la Reina
- To – Azqueta
- Min/Max Elevation – 338m/597m
- Elevation gain – 740m
- Steps – 45,000
We were up early and left the albergue at 6.30am with the sound of birds singing, a lovely gurgling brook and a soft breeze blowing through the air.
We left town and walked over the Queens bridge with the Rover Agar flowing underneath it. It really is an amazing bridge and the architecture is a sight to behold.
Todays stage is just short of 30km and takes us through the medieval villages of Maneru and Cirauqui and we hope to get lunch in Estella. We also have a couple of steep hills to walk up as well.
We have put some miles in so far and its Day 4 already. My feet are starting to hurt a little but I am feeling like they are starting to get used to the constant daily walking.
I definitely believe your feet do get used to walking 25km-30km per day, it just takes a while.
Tips for Pilgrims walking the Camino
Todays walk is pretty much head down and walking in the sunshine most of the day. We stopped for breakfast in Maneru which is a nice pretty little village.
The Cafe con Leche was really nice and one of the guys even managed a cold beer as well. Too early for me.
We finally arrived in Estella and decided to have lunch. It’s a typical Spanish working town and bustling with life.
We picked up supplies and decided to have a Tapas lunch by the river and chill in the sunshine.
We got some Chorizo, cheese and big tomatoes from the local supermarket and had it in a fresh bread roll.
These supplies are really inexpensive in Spain when you buy them in a local store and also gives Pilgrims a great opportunity to practise there Spanish as well. If you need some help with conversational Spanish check out the Spanish for the Camino website.
The locals will always help you if you get into trouble.
We chilled by the river and had a feast. There is something special about eating outdoors with some fresh food and letting your feet dangle in a cool river. An amazing camino experience in Estella.
We had walked nearly 26km so far and we had a conversation about staying in Estella and having an easier day.
Pilgrim Bob then reminded us that the Wine fountain at Irache was only a few km away and the wine is apparently free !
So we packed up and set off again on route to Azqueta, in search of wine….
We arrived at the Irache winery and it was true. There is a free wine fountain and Pilgrims can have as much as they want.
I knew I had brought my travel cup for something. I had a cup full and then tasted it from my scallop shell as tradition dictates.
Most Pilgrims walk with a scallop shell attached to their backpack identifying them as pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago.
I have all my scallop shells hanging up in my garage as a permanent reminder of each Camino I have walked.
The Irache winery and Pilgrim wine fountain is one of the Camino’s most photographed sites.
Azqueta
We finally arrived in Azqueta after walking about 30km. We found an albergue called La Perla Negra but the hospitalero was still preparing the beds so we couldn’t access it until after 3pm.
We relaxed in a local bar before showering and getting ready for dinner later on.
Our albergue host, Elena, is really friendly and she has prepared dinner for all the pilgrims staying who are from Brazil, the Netherlands, Denmark and the UK.
Our host served our meal and and we all ate together and had a really nice meal washed down with some of that wine from Irache.
We chatted as Pilgrims before our host came back to spend some time with us, telling us her story about the Camino and why she had bought a house to help Pilgrims on the Way.
She talked to us about how beginners could easily walk the Camino Frances with some training and we agreed as that exactly what we had done.
It was a good Pilgrim experience and an Albergue I recommend staying at.
Albergue La Perla Negra
- 9 beds
- €12 per person
- Amenities - Shared Bathrooms
- 15th April to 15th October
- Show on Map
I hope you enjoyed reading about the walking stage on the Camino Frances Day 4 from Puente La Reina to Azqueta.
To follow our journey read about our travels on Day 5 – Azqueta to Torres del Rio.
