Coordinates to cool off in Zamora
We start our route in Benavente, the largest municipality and visited in the area, where we will find all kinds of services with which to prepare our trip.
also a nice urban walk through its center , full of churches, squares and bars where we can have a few “shorts” of beer . It is advisable to park without going into the center and approach on foot if we don't want to complicate ourselves too much with the car.
One of the most pleasant places are the Mota Gardens , with panoramic views of the Parkland that extend On the banks of mills channel , the monument to Condado de Benavente and its Parador (a rehabilitated 12th century royal castle) , Among many other things.
Benavent Parador
From there we will also see the appetizing municipal swimming pool , whose giant slide will delight the little ones. back to the center We will eat at El Pícaro, the most requested inn-seafood restaurant , specializing in fish and Castilian cuisine with a daily menu.
Leaving Benavente and going through the fields of Zamora we will see endless poplar forests , intended for timber harvesting. also paths corn and sunflower plantations.
About twenty minutes by car we will discover the Vecilla de la Polvorosa river beach , which is accessed by a dirt road (duly marked with a sign) that goes to the left shortly before reaching the town. Offers a picnic area , a small esplanade where to plant our towels and **a refreshing swim in the waters of the Órbigo river. **
suits wear sandals or booties , since its floor is made up of rounded stones (we will make foot in almost the entire bathing area if we do not go too far). Also, and as in the rest of our trip, mosquito repellent especially when it starts to get dark.
Taking a walk through its small urban nucleus we will see its church, rebuilt in 1998 with the typical bell tower of the region crowned by a stork's nest. Also, next to its park, the retired people's bar, where we can have a drink and a snack on your terrace or inside.
Grilled octopus from Las Candelas
On the way to Vecilla two things will have caught our attention. The huge bridge that saves the highway from the waters of Órbigo, ideal for photography lovers . And the constructions dug into the mountains of Pobladura del Valle , the former municipality, which may well remind hobbiton houses to any follower The Lord of the rings.
On the way back we go through them in a circular route to discover what they are wineries, whose chimneys give the place a most peculiar skyline. Most are private, but there are several converted into bars and restaurants. Las Candelas has a large terrace where you can try their specialty: Buffalo meat.
We have, however, reserved for dinner at the Grotto , whose labyrinthine corridors will make us feel like in Bilbo Baggins's house . In addition to their wine, we will taste their breaded mushrooms with alioli , its grilled mushrooms and its specialty: Tortilla Stewed.
The next day we got up early to go to the Sanabria Lake Natural Park , one of the most famous enclaves of Zamora. We first go to the small town of Sotillo de Sanabria , where various mountain routes suitable for hikers of all ages run. Of all of them, the one that leads to its waterfall is the busiest.
Sanabria Lake
To start it, you just have to park in the vicinity of its square and follow its signs (it is indicated with the number 6). It is a three-hour circular route that runs through the Trout river valley . Their oak, birch, chestnut, hazel and holly They will give us shade at all times, although we will have to be careful at some times of the year with their slippery stones.
Before leaving the town, we will see a shop and a bar where you can buy water or provisioning, as well as a couple of picnic areas with fountains. However, what justifies the tour is the spectacular waterfall that gives our walk its name.
To satisfy our appetite we headed to the Sanabria Lake . We have booked a table there. Los Robles campsite restaurant , where we can eat watching the privileged panoramic views of this enclave that offers its terrace.
It has all kinds of a la carte dishes, although vegetarian options are limited (gazpacho, Toro asparagus, cheese board and three types of salad). Midweek also offers menu of the day.
In either case, the goal is taste the famous broad beans of Sanabria , local stew based on white beans and meat. To reduce the intake we went to taste the water of the largest glacial lake in the Iberian Peninsula.
Sotillo de Sanabria Waterfall
We have left the car in the free parking next to the campsite, on the other side of the road. From there we can plant ourselves in just ten minutes walking on the viquiella beach . You can also bring the car, but paying the parking meter (it is a blue zone). The environment has a sandy beach and a meadow where to hang our towels.
Also a chiringuito-bar with terrace on the seafront . And of course the warm waters of the Tera river , which we will taste enjoying the views of this natural enclave. Its popularity makes it one of the most visited places in Zamora , so if we don't want to be overwhelmed with the amount of people it is convenient to get up early Go midweek or out of season.
We do not want to finish our trip without descending the waters of the Órbigo river, although for this we have to leave Zamora for a moment and approach the town of Veguellina de Órbigo, already in León.
There, various companies such as Difereventos organize the canoe excursions . It's about a walk of about two hours (not counting the break halfway) where we will row in the shade of its eternal poplars.
The current of the river makes just have to row , making the way more relaxed. Although we will have to wake up to save the rapids and thus avoid capsizing or colliding with the bushes on the banks.
Viquiella Beach
When you reach the end, a bus will return us back to the starting point (the sports center on the outskirts of town), where we in turn will take our car to head home.