Italy’s Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara offers adventure, natural beauty, and—yes—some steep savings
I hiked for days through an untamedSardinianlandscape , where limestone cliff jutted from azure waters . I wound along immense sand dune and followed suspicious paths thick with the scent of juniper and eucalypt trees . Sometimes the wild broke , offering a glimpse of flyspeck village , red roof dotted upon hillsides . By night , I post up in clean , secure hostels — and because I was travel as part of theLeg ’s Go In Cammino cause , some of my fitting were free .
In the past , a trip to this remote region of southwesterly Sardinia might have establish hard — and expensive — but it ’s becoming increasingly accessible . In October 2023 , the Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara Foundation set up the Leg ’s Go In Cammino campaign , which offers hiker under 35 up to three innocent night of fitting in affiliate posadas ( family - run inn ) , hostel , B&Bs , and campgroundsalong the Cammino Minerario Di Santa Barbara ( CMSB ) trail . This program run from January 15 to June 15 and from September 15 to December 15 , perfect timing to experience Sardinia ’s sunlight - rob appeal .
How to start your CMSB journey
Named after Saint Barbara , the supporter saint of mining , the Santa Barbara Mining Trail is a 311 - mile journey that traces a former mining route . It traverses stunning landscapes , archaeological ruins , and about 150 abandon excavation sites . The 30 - point trip , which open in 2017 , takes home across trails trodden with loose rocks , mule tracks , dirt paths , and occasionally on paved urban roads . The stages average about 10 miles each , and range in difficulty — with some varying wide in elevation and others with a flatter terrain . Tackling all 30 in a single head trip is n’t the norm for most , but those who do come forth with a trophy made by a local craftsperson , plus hard - earned boast privileges .
The booking operation to secure your comped accommodations is slightly unintelligible . First you ’ll pay a € 5 on-line donation to stop up your CMSB certificate , also call a Pilgrim Father ’s recommendation , which identify you as a player and deem you eligible for discounts at certain accommodations along the way — specially utile if you plan on traveling for retentive than the three nights covered by the Leg ’s Go programme . The credentials can be picked up in the foundation ’s headquarters in Iglesias , the CMSB ’s prescribed starting point . If you plan on starting on a weekend , do n’t make the same mistake I did . The office staff is come together on weekends ( and keep circumscribed hour during the week ) , so have it mailed to your home prior to departing .
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After batten your credentials , you ’ll indicate whether you ’re traveling for one , two , or three night and quest vouchers through the organization ’s internet site . The computer programme requires you to select from one of the organisation ’s 13 itineraries , make a monetary donation , and input information like trip dates and whether you plan to travel by bike or by invertebrate foot . After you receive the vouchers via electronic mail , you may begin contacting the affiliated accommodation to make your reservations .
singultus are an understandable reality for any fresh project . In August , when I reached out to make reservation with my vouchers , I learned that there were no longer any affiliated accommodation in Portixeddu for my second night , which mean I had to pay out of scoop to detain there . The lesson to be hear here is that it ’s always useful to make those calls before you finalize your design . However , I did stay in an affiliated hostelry , Ostello Henry , on my first Nox of the trek , and found it fresh , round-eyed , and comfy .
What to pack for the CMSB
Packing is always personal , but my goal on a multi - day hike is to backpack as lightly as possible in hopes of sparing my back ( and articulatio humeri and hips and foot . ) It was predictably warm and sunny during my mid - September trip , with temperature reaching up to 82 degrees Fahrenheit during the sidereal day , so I did n’t macerate space on layers . Instead I focused on the requisite : wearable , sunlight protection , snack , and water . I carried a 32 - cubic decimetre backpack with a hydration pack . For footwear , I wore trail track shoe . All this worked pretty well for me , but it ’s up to each traveler to fix what they personally need . I saw hiker with trekking terminal and without , as well as wear upon an mixture of shoes and other gear . However , in my opinion , an capable creative thinker and a healthy dose of determination are among the most important things any tramp can contain .
Hit the trail
There ’s no heavy and quick rule when it comes to choose your itinerary and which portion of the trail to hike up . The CMSB websitedescribesthe high spot of each stage , as well as the difficultness . I opted to boost a clod of Itinerary 302 , a path that I started in Masua , trek 12 miles to Buggerru . The coastal trail was reasonably straining , with a switchback - filled ascent that chair to unobstructed views of Pan di Zucchero , a mammoth rock encircle by deep risque urine . The path got easy as I traveled through Oasi Beach , pause to scarf down a Magnum bar , and take a break on the sand alongside sunbathing nonnis . I spent the night in Buggerru , before walking a lovely seven miles to Portixeddu , where I end my journey . It was a beautiful wage increase , but there are many others to choose from .
Once you ’ve chosen your course , it will take some patience to reach your starting point , whether that ’s the official first stage in Iglesias or a different point of your choosing . Sardinia has three main airdrome , with the chief hub being Cagliari Elmas Airport , locate in the capital city to the southward , as well as a power train and bus system . However , despite the island ’s comparatively compact size of it , the most efficient modality of transferral is still a vehicle like a machine , bike , or bike . It ’s potential , and sure cheaper , to gain any of the starting points through a combination of double-decker , gearing , and cab — and the CMSB has data about how to do so — but be trusted to dedicate multiple hours if you decide to go that route .
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A precedence for any hiker , experienced or otherwise , should be to download theofficial CMSB app . It includes a stage - by - stage interactional map with historical points of interest and affiliated facility . More critically , the mapping can be downloaded for offline usage , as you may recede cell divine service along the salary increase . At times , the winding trails can be confusing and strenuous , making periodic disorientation almost a given . Beyond consulting the app , keep your centre undress for down and yellow plaques with the organization ’s logo to confirm you ’re manoeuver in the right direction . If you ca n’t spot an official sign , do n’t fret . itinerary are also stigmatise with an assortment of biased markers that indicate you ’re on cart track , often in the form of a nebuliser painted rock , trees , or fencing .
Whichever path you take , just be indisputable to make the experience your own . Take breaks when you want , see the spate that cheer you , and — regardless of your hiking floor — always take enough water .
Photo by Grace Bernard
Photo by Grace Bernard
Photo by Grace Bernard
Photo by Grace Bernard
