Advice on Abbreviated Coastal CP

NamaMama · Feb 21, 2023

My husband and I are going to be Hospitaler@s in Ponferrada in mid September. Prior to this, we are going to walk part of the coastal Portuguese route to experience the route and also to remind ourselves of what it is to be a pilgrim.

Full disclosure, we have only completed research on the internet and read previous posts on Ivar. We are currently away from home for a period of time. We will purchase the Brierley book upon our return.

We plan to start our abbreviated CP in Porto. I am thinking that we will walk to Vigo. From there we will take a bus to Ponferrada. Will seven days be adequate to walk from Porto to Vigo? One website indicated the following for the start in Porto: Today you should take the Metro to Matosinhos to avoid the outskirts of Porto and reach the coast to start your Camino walk, this will also make your daily KM 28. Get off at the ‘Mercado’ stop. This seems like a good idea to me. I was a “purist pilgrim” during our 2018 CF. I had to walk every step. This walk is different.

Thank you in advance for your input.

jungleboy · Feb 21, 2023

Everyone’s mileage varies, but seven days should be enough for Porto-Vigo, especially if you start by taking the metro but even if you don’t. These were my stages and accommodation last August:

Day 1: Porto - Vila Chã (26km) - Café Sandra (private room, €30)

Day 2: Vila Chã - Esposende (31.5km) - Eskama hostel (private room, €40)

Day 3: Esposende - VdC (25.1km) - Alex Point (private room, €42)

Day 4: VdC to Caminha (26.8km) - Bom Caminha albergue (private room, €45)

Day 5: Caminha to Oia (16.4km) - LaCala Inn (albergue dormitory, €20)

Day 6: Oia to Baiona (17.9km) - Estelo do Mar (albergue domitory, €16)

Day 7: Baiona to Vigo (25.3km) littoral - Pension Buenos Aires (private room, €45)

trecile · Feb 22, 2023

NamaMama said:
Today you should take the Metro to Matosinhos to avoid the outskirts of Porto and reach the coast to start your Camino walk, this will also make your daily KM 28. Get off at the ‘Mercado’ stop. This seems like a good idea to me. I was a “purist pilgrim” during our 2018 CF. I had to walk every step. This walk is different

Unless you really need to shave off some Kms I think that this is a bad idea that is often repeated here.
If you start from the Cathedral in Porto you walk down to the river then to the sea. I thoroughly enjoyed the walk along the Senda Litoral to Matosinhos.

Kanga · Feb 22, 2023

trecile said:
Unless you really need to shave off some Kms I think that this is a bad idea that is often repeated here.
If you start from the Cathedral in Porto you walk down to the river then to the sea. I thoroughly enjoyed the walk along the Senda Litoral to Matosinhos.

Me too! Something really special about that sight of the Atlantic Ocean when you reach the river mouth. Plus we were guided by a local out walking to an excellent breakfast cafe on the river, just before we reached the mouth.

NamaMama · Feb 22, 2023

trecile said:
Unless you really need to shave off some Kms I think that this is a bad idea that is often repeated here.
If you start from the Cathedral in Porto you walk down to the river then to the sea. I thoroughly enjoyed the walk along the Senda Litoral to Matosinhos.

Thank you. This feedback is very much appreciated

NamaMama · Feb 22, 2023

Kanga said:
Me too! Something really special about that sight of the Atlantic Ocean when you reach the river mouth. Plus we were guided by a local out walking to an excellent breakfast cafe on the river, just before we reached the mouth.

Thank you. Great feedback. You and @trecile have convinced me.

NamaMama · Feb 22, 2023

jungleboy said:
Everyone’s mileage varies, but seven days should be enough for Porto-Vigo, especially if you start by taking the metro but even if you don’t. These were my stages and accommodation last August:

Day 1: Porto - Vila Chã (26km) - Café Sandra (private room, €30)

Day 2: Vila Chã - Esposende (31.5km) - Eskama hostel (private room, €40)

Day 3: Esposende - VdC (25.1km) - Alex Point (private room, €42)

Day 4: VdC to Caminha (26.8km) - Bom Caminha albergue (private room, €45)

Day 5: Caminha to Oia (16.4km) - LaCala Inn (albergue dormitory, €20)

Day 6: Oia to Baiona (17.9km) - Estelo do Mar (albergue domitory, €16)

Day 7: Baiona to Vigo (25.3km) littoral - Pension Buenos Aires (private room, €45)

Thank you. This is a great help.

JZA · Feb 22, 2023

NamaMama said:
My husband and I are going to be Hospitaler@s in Ponferrada in mid September. Prior to this, we are going to walk part of the coastal Portuguese route to experience the route and also to remind ourselves of what it is to be a pilgrim.

Full disclosure, we have only completed research on the internet and read previous posts on Ivar. We are currently away from home for a period of time. We will purchase the Brierley book upon our return.

We plan to start our abbreviated CP in Porto. I am thinking that we will walk to Vigo. From there we will take a bus to Ponferrada. Will seven days be adequate to walk from Porto to Vigo? One website indicated the following for the start in Porto: Today you should take the Metro to Matosinhos to avoid the outskirts of Porto and reach the coast to start your Camino walk, this will also make your daily KM 28. Get off at the ‘Mercado’ stop. This seems like a good idea to me. I was a “purist pilgrim” during our 2018 CF. I had to walk every step. This walk is different.

Thank you in advance for your input.

You can take a train from Sao Bento station (a joy in itself) to VdC. That gives you options.
Re walking out of Porto; I like the walk along the river to the coast and have walked to Matosinhos as a short day having flown in to Porto in the morning. There is a tram on the route which looks fun but has always been full. The Metro is also a good opt.

Phil&Barb · Feb 22, 2023

NamaMama said:
My husband and I are going to be Hospitaler@s in Ponferrada in mid September. Prior to this, we are going to walk part of the coastal Portuguese route to experience the route and also to remind ourselves of what it is to be a pilgrim.

Full disclosure, we have only completed research on the internet and read previous posts on Ivar. We are currently away from home for a period of time. We will purchase the Brierley book upon our return.

We plan to start our abbreviated CP in Porto. I am thinking that we will walk to Vigo. From there we will take a bus to Ponferrada. Will seven days be adequate to walk from Porto to Vigo? One website indicated the following for the start in Porto: Today you should take the Metro to Matosinhos to avoid the outskirts of Porto and reach the coast to start your Camino walk, this will also make your daily KM 28. Get off at the ‘Mercado’ stop. This seems like a good idea to me. I was a “purist pilgrim” during our 2018 CF. I had to walk every step. This walk is different.

Thank you in advance for your input.

You may want to consider skipping walking to Vigo and take a bus from Baiona. Vigo is a big city with a lot of big city walking without the ambiance of the coastal route.

NamaMama · Feb 22, 2023

Phil&Barb said:
You may want to consider skipping walking to Vigo and take a bus from Baiona. Vigo is a big city with a lot of big city walking without the ambiance of the coastal route.

Good to know. Thank you.

NamaMama · Feb 22, 2023

JZA said:
You can take a train from Sao Bento station (a joy in itself) to VdC. That gives you options.
Re walking out of Porto; I like the walk along the river to the coast and have walked to Matosinhos as a short day having flown in to Porto in the morning. There is a tram on the route which looks fun but has always been full. The Metro is also a good opt.

Thank you.

Phil&Barb · Feb 22, 2023

NamaMama said:
Good to know. Thank you.

I also endorse others' suggestions of starting your walk from the Cathedral in Porto along the Douro River. It is a nice easy walk and it is special to see the mouth of the river as it enters the Atlantic.

La Rubia · Feb 22, 2023

Phil&Barb said:
You may want to consider skipping walking to Vigo and take a bus from Baiona. Vigo is a big city with a lot of big city walking without the ambiance of the coastal route.

Oh, but the coastal walk from Baiona to Vigo is so beautiful! It's only when you arrive into Vigo that it gets less nice. The Cies Islands to your left, beautiful beaches....

David Tallan · Feb 23, 2023

jungleboy said:
Day 1: Porto - Vila Chã (26km) - Café Sandra (private room, €30)

I stayed in the albergue (still open according to Gronze). It wasn't bad and notably had a museum to the local fishing industry on the grounds.

jungleboy · Feb 23, 2023

Phil&Barb said:
You may want to consider skipping walking to Vigo and take a bus from Baiona. Vigo is a big city with a lot of big city walking without the ambiance of the coastal route.

La Rubia said:
Oh, but the coastal walk from Baiona to Vigo is so beautiful! It's only when you arrive into Vigo that it gets less nice. The Cies Islands to your left, beautiful beaches....

It’s worth pointing out here that there are two routes from Baiona to Vigo, listed on Gronze as stages 8A and 8B. The littoral alternative along the coast (8B) is clearly signed and marked at the point where the two routes split.

YanaCamino · Saturday at 8:32 PM

Hi everyone! I am planning my first Camino Portuguese, starting in Porto in early April. It just so happens we arrive in Santiago on Easter weekend. I'm very much looking forward to seeing...

Advice on Abbreviated Coastal CP

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