Reverse Journey - from Santiago to Porto

[WillyBeaver]

Hello,

I am intending to be walking the Caminho Coastal starting from the 28th of November 2024, but in reverse, from Santiago to Porto-
Does anyone know if there is a map or a guide of the reverse route that exists, or any other tips to help me on My way .

Thank you,

Willy.

 

[mspath]

WillyBeaver,

Welcome to the forum!
Finding yellow arrows going the opposite way is not easy .
December 2011 after finishing a CF I walked alone from Santiago to Tui/Valenca.This backwards blog although old might help you with your planning. Portugal can be cold in winter. Be prepared with lightweight but warm layers which can easily be added or removed while walking.

To help with your planning do check out this recent thread by fellow forum member Jungleboy. He discusses in detail the Camino Portugese from Lisbon to Porto and Santiago.

However/wherever you do go Buen camino!

Quote

 

[Tincatinker]

Hello,

I am intending to be walking the Caminho Coastal starting from the 28th of November 2024, but in reverse, from Santiago to Porto-
Does anyone know if there is a map or a guide of the reverse route that exists, or any other tips to help me on My way .

Thank you,

Willy.

Why?

That question aside any of the standard online guides (Wisepilgrim) or an app like mapy.cz will assist you in staying on-track while walking a reverse camino. The ability to read a guidebook from last page to first and to take the reciprocal of all directions will help too.

 

[jcat]

I did part of the Frances backwards and I used the free Mapy.cz app to stay on course.

 

[Dave]

I've done this, and had no trouble finding my way, but part of that was a byproduct of walking in late summer, when there was a river of pilgrims barreling towards me at all times, especially from Tui to Santiago. I think you'll have a quieter walk!

Anyway, as you move further south, keep an eye out for blue waymarks for Fatima, as they'll help you out. I didn't make use of any special reverse-order materials, but I had gps tracks available in case I got off track. Just keep in mind--if you pass an intersection and there are no arrows, there's a good chance you need to backtrack. The Portugués from Porto to Santiago is thoroughly waymarked.

 

[caminka]

I think people have been mentioning blue arrows pointting south as soon as you get to portugal, but maybe even in spain? But on the main interior route, not on the coast.

 

[Dave]

I think people have been mentioning blue arrows pointting south as soon as you get to portugal, but maybe even in spain? But on the main interior route, not on the coast.

That's a good clarifying point--I followed the interior.

 

[wisepilgrim]

The blue arrows will get you there but along the central route. So you could only follow them as far as Redondela or Tui.

Given the sheer number of deviations in this route, I would recommend an app as a backup.

 

[woody66]

OSMAND is free navigation app that i have used for all my walks; has voice navigation and the option to reverse the track!!!
It alerts me with audio if i am 20 metres of the path for example!
Download the relevant track from either:

Downloads - Santiago

Indeling – Per land vind je hier een overzicht van praktische downloads voor onderweg, ingedeeld in onderstaande drie categorieën. Handleiding – Wil je meer weten over hoe je de bestanden samen met een geschikte app in je smartphone kunt installeren, lees dan de handleidingen. Overzicht – Alle...

www.santiago.nl

https://centrodedescargas.cnig.es/CentroDescargas/loadCamSan.do

If you need to convert the track format KML to GPX or GPX to KML use this below !

Kml2gpx.com: convert kml to gpx online. It's free, simple and fast

Good luck
Buen Camino
Woody

 

[Paul-CH]

I did it in 2017 from SdC to Porto but on the Senda Litoral. Yes I used my GPS-Tracks from time to time, but most of the time you just follow the tracks.

 

[lt56ny]

I think people have been mentioning blue arrows pointting south as soon as you get to portugal, but maybe even in spain? But on the main interior route, not on the coast.

There are some blue arrows in Spain leading to Fatima. Not as many as in Portugal but there definitely some. I walked the coastal from Porto on the last leg of my camino that I just finished and I saw lots of blue arrows to Fatima. Or was I in a camino hallucination haha

 

[Johnnyjenga]

As mentioned above, seeing the arrows while hiking in the reverse direction is very tricky and sometimes impossible. Let me recommend mapy.cz this is a free mapping application that has a navigation feature and map that will show you the route. The application is free and you can download both the Spanish and Portuguese maps, for navigation without internet access. Buen camino!

 

[Gumbolover]

Hello,

I am intending to be walking the Caminho Coastal starting from the 28th of November 2024, but in reverse, from Santiago to Porto-
Does anyone know if there is a map or a guide of the reverse route that exists, or any other tips to help me on My way .

Thank you,

Willy.

After hiking from Porto to Santiago 2 years ago, we hiked from Porto to Tomar (so in reverse). Lots of blue arrows to guide us....and Camino Ninja App as well. Once we got to Tomar....great city...we hiked another 30 k to Fatima the next day. Fatima is a special place. The blue arrows take you to Fatima.

 

[mattythedog]

Hello,

I am intending to be walking the Caminho Coastal starting from the 28th of November 2024, but in reverse, from Santiago to Porto-
Does anyone know if there is a map or a guide of the reverse route that exists, or any other tips to help me on My way .

Thank you,

Willy.

I did the coastal from Santiago to Porto in end October, 2018. Fatima is NOT on that route. The reverse route is very well waymarked, as it is quite popular. I used Wisepilgrim app and just did it in reverse. No problem. That said, there were very few albergues and cafes open during that time. Maybe there are more now that popularity has increased, but I would expect even fewer would be open in winter.

 

[Gumbolover]

Fatima is on the route. From Porto going South, it is a nice hike in reverse to Tomar...then from there 30 k to Fatima. Such a special hike .