Camino Portuguese starting in Mid November?

[MKalcolm M]

I would like to walk the Portuguese camino starting in mid November from Coimbra arriving in Santiago in tme for my 65th birthday on December 3rd. Will any of the albergues be open at this time of year, or what would it be like getting budget accommodation? I've walked from Porto in the past but during the season. Any tips or suggestions for this route in November would be welcome.

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

I would like to walk the Portuguese camino starting in mid November from Coimbra arriving in Santiago in tme for my 65th birthday on December 3rd. Will any of the albergues be open at this time of year, or what would it be like getting budget accommodation? I've walked from Porto in the past but during the season. Any tips or suggestions for this route in November would be welcome.

Can't say about the albergues, but budget hotels should be readily available and quite reasonable in November, along the way (usually October is the break-point between seasons, and prices go down).

It could be quite wet. Be sure you're prepared for rain!

 

[MKalcolm M]

Thanks! I live in South West Scotland, where it rains in biblical proportions in the winter, so will be prepared for wet weather.

 

[roving_rufus]

I walked the 2nd part of the CP from Porto in January a few years back and found enough albergues open- but equally some extra money for alternative accommodation is wise. And once you reach Spain of course the Xunta albergues will be open.

Gronze is a decent source for when albergues are open

Camino Portugués Central | Gronze.com

www.gronze.com

 

[AchimBerlin]

Thanks! I live in South West Scotland, where it rains in biblical proportions in the winter, so will be prepared for wet weather.

„biblical proportions“ - I‘d say that’s the right attitude for this way.

 

[RachelK]

I walked end of November to mid December a few years ago. No problems with accomodation (all albergues). Some I contacted beforehand to check but some I just turned up. I did contact Casa Fernanda beforehand and made a booking - that was the only one. The weather was often wet and sometimes cold but other times surprisingly mild. Same goes for albergues, some were heated and toasty others not and freezing, so bring a good sleeping bag. Pack snacks for the day as much fewer cafes and bars open for lunch stops.

 

[Megwalks]

I walked last year over Christmas from Porto to SdC and never had a problem with open albergues except Christmas eve. It was a lovely, quiet walk with zero rain. Buen Camino!

 

[Bill from Canada]

I would like to walk the Portuguese camino starting in mid November from Coimbra arriving in Santiago in tme for my 65th birthday on December 3rd. Will any of the albergues be open at this time of year, or what would it be like getting budget accommodation? I've walked from Porto in the past but during the season. Any tips or suggestions for this route in November would be welcome.

I don’t know about accommodations but heads up, the fires that disrupted our walk last month started in Mealhada, the first walking day out of Coimbra. Apparently the way markets have been burned or destroyed so make sure you have a digital map option like Camino Ninja. Because the fires were still burning, we had to take the train from Coimbra to Porto and bypass that section. BTW we started in Tomar and the walk from Tomar to Coimbra was beautiful.