The trail to El Rocío: deep sand and hours of marshland

Four trails to the same village

Every year, on the Whit weekend, more than a hundred brotherhoods travel four historic trails to the village of El Rocío, in Almonte (Huelva), next to the Doñana National Park: the Camino de Sevilla, the best known, at around 80 kilometres; the Camino de Sanlúcar, which crosses the Guadalquivir from Cádiz; the Camino de Almonte, the shortest and oldest; and the Camino de Moguer, which crosses a eucalyptus forest from Huelva.

Depending on the starting point, the trail can take between one and five days, covered on foot, on horseback or by carriage across sand and marshland.

Why deep sand is the most demanding terrain

Unlike a compact forest surface, the loose sand of Doñana gives way under each wheel: the carriage sinks slightly with every step, which multiplies the traction effort needed to advance, hour after hour, under the heat of late May. A heavy carriage sinks more and demands more; a light one, with wheels able to absorb the uneven terrain, reduces that extra effort accumulated over the course of the day.

What 65 kg changes in sand

The Navarro's optional wide-track axle is designed precisely for soft-rolling terrain like this, distributing weight better over the sand. Combined with the 65 kg structure, the result is a carriage that demands less constant traction effort on terrain where every extra kilo is felt twice as much.

See the wide-track axle option · See the welfare argument for long days

Trail data

If you'd prefer mountain terrain over sand, you can see the crossings of the Fuenfría Roman Road or the Garganta del Río Moros.

Is your next crossing on sandy terrain? Request your quote with a wide-track axle, or go back to all the crossings.