A few suggestions for the Portugues

[John Gilliland]

My wife and I finished the Portugues from Porto a little over a week ago. We started on the Litoral and then went to the Central. We spent the night at Fernanda's and enjoyed her incredible hospitality. We highly recommend Ideas Peregrinas in Tui and to do the Spiritual Variant. We spent the first night in Combarro, a beautiful old fishing village and then at the Monastery in Armenteira. The boat ride to Padron was special. I didn't take walking poles but they would help in a few sections. We used both Brierley and the TrailSmart app. It was great to have the app to confirm that we were still on route. It's a beautiful camino and we would love to do it again.

 

[formysons]

My wife and I finished the Portugues from Porto a little over a week ago. We started on the Litoral and then went to the Central. We spent the night at Fernanda's and enjoyed her incredible hospitality. We highly recommend Ideas Peregrinas in Tui and to do the Spiritual Variant. We spent the first night in Combarro, a beautiful old fishing village and then at the Monastery in Armenteira. The boat ride to Padron was special. I didn't take walking poles but they would help in a few sections. We used both Brierley and the TrailSmart app. It was great to have the app to confirm that we were still on route. It's a beautiful camino and we would love to do it again.

Hi, thanks for good info, where did you switch to the Central route? Where is Fernanda's ? Where did you start the Spiritual Variant ? Three questions which will help with my planning, much appreciated.

 

[stratophile]

Hi @formysons - Casa da Fernanda (+351 914 589 521) is between Barcelos and Ponte de Lima on the Central. The Variante Espiritual starts at Pontevedra and goes to Vilanova de Arousa, where most people catch a boat to Pontecesures and then walk into Padrón (though you can also walk from Vilanova de Arousa if you prefer). The Variante Espiritual is a nice detour.

 

[John Gilliland]

Hi, thanks for good info, where did you switch to the Central route? Where is Fernanda's ? Where did you start the Spiritual Variant ? Three questions which will help with my planning, much appreciated.

Hi, thanks for good info, where did you switch to the Central route? Where is Fernanda's ? Where did you start the Spiritual Variant ? Three questions which will help with my planning, much appreciated.

We switched over to Arcos at Vila do Conde.

 

[banksia girl]

My wife and I finished the Portugues from Porto a little over a week ago. We started on the Litoral and then went to the Central. We spent the night at Fernanda's and enjoyed her incredible hospitality. We highly recommend Ideas Peregrinas in Tui and to do the Spiritual Variant. We spent the first night in Combarro, a beautiful old fishing village and then at the Monastery in Armenteira. The boat ride to Padron was special. I didn't take walking poles but they would help in a few sections. We used both Brierley and the TrailSmart app. It was great to have the app to confirm that we were still on route. It's a beautiful camino and we would love to do it again.

Thank you Andrew and I are walking from Porto on June 6th and are looking at doing the spiritual variant also . Were there any issues with the boat ride to Padron

 

[John Gilliland]

Thank you Andrew and I are walking from Porto on June 6th and are looking at doing the spiritual variant also . Were there any issues with the boat ride to Padron

No. I had booked ahead but you can book the night before at the albergue. The boat was 3/4 filled when we went. It's a wonderful ride and the captain explains what you are seeing in Spanish and some English.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

No. I had booked ahead but you can book the night before at the albergue. The boat was 3/4 filled when we went. It's a wonderful ride and the captain explains what you are seeing in Spanish and some English.

Yes, that boat ride is awesome. We must of had a very large group because the boat was a double decker and all the posts I'd read earlier about wearing warm clothes and rain gear for water splashes were not true for us.

 

[queenmarie]

My wife and I finished the Portugues from Porto a little over a week ago. We started on the Litoral and then went to the Central. We spent the night at Fernanda's and enjoyed her incredible hospitality. We highly recommend Ideas Peregrinas in Tui and to do the Spiritual Variant. We spent the first night in Combarro, a beautiful old fishing village and then at the Monastery in Armenteira. The boat ride to Padron was special. I didn't take walking poles but they would help in a few sections. We used both Brierley and the TrailSmart app. It was great to have the app to confirm that we were still on route. It's a beautiful camino and we would love to do it again.

 

[queenmarie]

Hi John, sounds like a great trip. I finished St John to SdC last Saturday. Now in Muxia and return to Santiago tomorrow. Is it possible to do the walk you did in reverse? I’ll walk from Santiago to Tui or Guillarei. Need some guidance as I’m worried about getting lost. I don’t have a guidebook.

 

[John Gilliland]

Hi John, sounds like a great trip. I finished St John to SdC last Saturday. Now in Muxia and return to Santiago tomorrow. Is it possible to do the walk you did in reverse? I’ll walk from Santiago to Tui or Guillarei. Need some guidance as I’m worried about getting lost. I don’t have a guidebook.

Yes I think you could just follow the blue arrows pointing to Fatima. Has anyone done this?

 

[MarkN]

Yes I think you could just follow the blue arrows pointing to Fatima. Has anyone done this?

I'm sitting in Porto right now for dinner and super bock after having completed last week and can confirm that we met many pilgrims going 'the other way' to Fatima following the blue arrows, at least one a day

 

[debbie vanover]

Would you be willing to give me your day by day Journey when you did this trip so I know how many days you took and where you stopped. I'm happy if you do it at my personal email: debvann@gmail.com. thanks for considering this and I hope it's not too much trouble

 

[MarkN]

Would you be willing to give me your day by day Journey when you did this trip so I know how many days you took and where you stopped. I'm happy if you do it at my personal email: debvann@gmail.com. thanks for considering this and I hope it's not too much trouble

Once I get back home I'd be happy to share what I can.

But I'd caution against taking too much advice up front.
I personally found that not having my cup too full left room for spontaneous great experiences!

 

[MarkN]

Oh and I completely agree...
Ideas in Tui is a very good hostel (three sitting rooms and don't miss the yoga room on the top floor) but it's a great place to eat (fresh food!) and have a drink and best healthy breakfast in town. Oh and I love the stamp too.

 

[KariC]

I think it's clear from the above posts, but Pontevedra is the ONLY place to catch the Variante Espiritual - it's not like the coastal / central parallelling each other with several entrees. Only one option. Highly recommend both the V.E. and the boat trip!

 

[debbie vanover]

Tx all

 

[formysons]

Hi @formysons - Casa da Fernanda (+351 914 589 521) is between Barcelos and Ponte de Lima on the Central. The Variante Espiritual starts at Pont evedra and goes to Vilanova de Arousa, where most people catch a boat to Pontecesures and then walk into Padrón (though you can also walk from Vilanova de Arousa if you prefer). The Variante Espiritual is a nice detour.

Thank you for the info. I've read so many posts on this subject, so now on overload........... most important is that we 1. stay at Fernandas ; 2. get onto that boat ; 3. do the Variante Espiritual ; 4. stay at Ideas hostel in Tui . As another pilgrim said, I am going to leave home with a half full glass and keep space for the unplanned adventures.

 

[John Gilliland]

Is the detour to switch to the central route marked as to direct to the central route rather than littoral and coastal?

The detour is to the central route, the litoral and coastal are very close together there, so no need to differentiate.