Any updates on the new camino route out of Lisbon?

[motero99]

Are there any updates on the new camino route out of Lisbon. Last I recall it was not going to open until the pope's visit. Since this is a public works project and not directly being built for the camino, are locals already using it? I am arriving in Lisbon on Wednesday and will walk that day to the Parque Nacoes area. Looking to see if there are any options for my Thursday trek.
Thank you

 

[JimG59]

The new walkway will not be open for you.

 

[snuz55]

I’m not exactly sure where the “new” route breaks off outside of Lisbon. On April 19th, 2023 I did take a newer route out of Lisbon which takes you inland. Most people who left around me took the old route along the river and next to an industrial park(s). I’ve attached below where I walked.



I started in the Oriente area of Lisbon as I walked to the cathedral on the 18th. The new way was much nicer than along the river but it does add much time. Is this the new route you reference?

 

[sprinto]

Unless I have missed something
If the albergue has closed at Alpriate where is the best accommodation

 

[jungleboy]

I’m not exactly sure where the “new” route breaks off outside of Lisbon.

If I understand it correctly, just after the Vasco de Gama bridge, instead of turning left to Sacavém as the old route did, the new route continues along the river.

 

[JimG59]

Unless I have missed something
If the albergue has closed at Alpriate where is the best accommodation

Possibly train back to Lisbon from Povoa de Santa Iria

 

[Lleslie]

We have just done this a few days ago - I posted on an older thread about the new route - maybe one of the moderators can find it and link so I don't have to rewrite it. We are currently in Valada

 

[Stephan the Painter]

We have just done this a few days ago - I posted on an older thread about the new route - maybe one of the moderators can find it and link so I don't have to rewrite it. We are currently in Valada

This one? Just copied and pasted this. If you go to your profile, you can search your activity.

From @Lleslie:

Currently ar Vila Franca de Xira for our second night. We actually walked the first 8.4km to Parque de Nacoes on our second 'rest day' after arriving in Lisbon to break up our first day of about 26k. Got our credentials at the Sè, the entrance is around the side as the front is covered in scaffolding obscuring the first arrow but we got a photo with an arrow at the Ireja de Santiago further up the street.

Met 3 other pilgrims that day next day (yesterday) trained back to Parque de Noces and continued on. Nice walk up to Sacavem (new bridge not completed) so onward on the old route up the river valley thru Granja and Alpirate. Lovely walk but warm, nice breeze at times. Lots of bom caminho's from the many cyclists zooming around and people out walking. Glad to get to the cafe in Granja, lovely welcoming people, happy to fill up our water bottles

After Alpirate cut up through the first tunnel under the highway (camino goes to the right) and went straight down to the Povoa train station and trained to VFdX. This morning trained back to Povoa and walked back to VFdX - some nice tracks and the last 4k beside the river. Lovely weather so far. Have met several other pilgrims here
Linda

 

[Lleslie]

Thankyou! Yes, that's the one

 

[Tank16]

If I understand it correctly, just after the Vasco de Gama bridge, instead of turning left to Sacavém as the old route did, the new route continues along the river.

Correct. Just walked through 5 days ago. Looks like at least abother month before it will be open.

 

[motero99]

With Alpriate closed, an option is Verdelha of Baixo. There is confusion as Gronze lists Alfa 10 as in Alverca, while Village to Village lists it as Verdelha. There are two other places there on the same streets Alfa 10. At that point both cities are very close. A good landmark is the Auchan grocery store. They have a wonderful orange juice machine there (drank a liter 3 E before going to Alfa 10). Places to sleep are a 3 minute walk from there. Call ahead as there are a lot of workers there filling the cheaper housing.

 

[deniseketcham]

The wooden planks are going on the bridge. Not finished at all but it is progressing.

 

[Parksville]

Is there any current information on the new Riverside exit out of Lisbon? My husband are already booked to arrive in Lisbon in early September. We plan to walk from Lisbon to Fatima and then onwards from there (we have 3 weeks in total). We are very confused about the route out of Lisbon and places to stay along the way, especially for the first couple of nights. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jungleboy]

Last I heard, the new route is scheduled to be ready shortly after World Youth Day in Lisbon in early August, so hopefully it will be finished in time for your camino.

 

[Former member 22438]

First week of August there will be works at the Parque das Naçoes and both caminhos to Fátima and Santiago are closed and there are no alternatives so the only possibility is to skip the part from Lisbon to Sacavém or even further.
there is a Youth Festival that will be attended by the Pope.

this was the message I got from a Portuguese friend.

É a seguir ao Parque das Nações, depois de passar por baixo da ponte. Estão a fazer as obras para as jornadas mundiais da juventude que vão ocorrer na primeira semana de Agosto. É para a vinda do Papa Francisco. A partir desta data já estará aberta e a ponte sobre o rio Trancão e a inauguração do novo trajeto do caminho através dos passadiços do rio Tejo.



It's after Parque das Nações, after going underneath the bridge. They are carrying out works for the World Youth Days that will take place in the first week of August. It is for the coming of Pope Francis. From that date onwards, the bridge over the Trancão River and the inauguration of the new path along the footbridges of the Tagus River will be open.

 

[Leo Farrelly]

Is there any current information on the new Riverside exit out of Lisbon? My husband are already booked to arrive in Lisbon in early September. We plan to walk from Lisbon to Fatima and then onwards from there (we have 3 weeks in total). We are very confused about the route out of Lisbon and places to stay along the way, especially for the first couple of nights. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

I walked this route in 2018 and there was hardly any support until Azambuja. I'd love to do the Fatima trip again but next time I would take the train to Santarem and walk from there. The Fatima route is well signposted

 

[Parksville]

Thank you so much for sharing this with us Leo. This info is very helpful in our decision making and another reason why we love the Camino Forum!

 

[Gorgen]

Any news about the new stretch , still working on it or are they done with it ?

 

[jungleboy]

Any news about the new stretch , still working on it or are they done with it ?

As multiple posts above yours state, it won’t be ready until after World Youth Day in August.

 

[Gorgen]

As multiple posts above yours state, it won’t be ready until after World Youth Day in August.

Ah oki , we will start from Lisbon 20/8 so fingers crossed

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

This was posted today on the City of Lisbon twitter feed:

Translation of the caption is:

"Counting down to the start of the World Youth Day; the 100 hectares of the Tagus-Trancão Park are almost ready to receive the thousands of expected pilgrims. Once the Journey is concluded, #Lisboa thus gains a new leisure area."

If you watch the video in the post below, the latter parts of it show the new walkway along the Tagus riverfront, and right near the end, the new bridge that crosses the small river entering the Tagus.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1676563721018134529

The walkway seems to have the standard Portuguese lack of shade...but it will be nice to be along the river.

 

[Bdub]

This photo was taken 2 days ago on their twitter page. Looks good!

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

Looks good!

Going to be crazy in Lisboa Aug 1-6; be prepared!

 

[frauunterwegs]

This is from 7.7. plus the information given out by Lisbon Cathedral to me the day before

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

According to this new story, you can walk to/across the bridge, but can't go any further because the new riverside boardwalk is not complete in the next municipality beyond Lisbon (Loures).

Translation:

"There is a new landmark in the landscape between Lisbon and Loures

The Trancão cycle pedestrian bridge is finished and open (temporarily).

The cycling and pedestrian bridge over the River Trancão is inaugurated and opened, establishing, for the first time, a connection between the riverside banks of Lisbon and Loures. The bridge, made of steel and wood, will allow you to reach Vila Franca de Xira by bicycle or on foot when the new Ribeirinho de Loures Route is ready. For now, it will serve World Youth Day and the thousands of pilgrims expected between the 1st and 6th of August.

Until World Youth Days start, the bridge will be available for its population to enjoy. Despite not having an exit from the Loures side, the new infrastructure already allows you to enjoy a new view of the mouth of the Trancão, as well as the riverside margins of the two municipalities.

With a total length of 280 meters and an average width of 5.5 meters, the bridge connects the cycling and pedestrian networks of the municipalities of Lisbon and Loures, contributing to a more interconnected metropolitan area. When Loures finishes its Percurso Ribeirinho – a system of wooden walkways along the bank of the Tagus –, it will be possible to reach Vila Franca de Xira, where there are already several cycling and pedestrian routes along the river. However, according to the Câmara de Loures, the walkways should only open after the World Youth Day, in mid-August.

The inauguration of the Trancão cycle pedestrian bridge was attended by the mayors of Lisbon and Loures, Carlos Moedas and Ricardo Leão, with the Cardinal-Patriarch, D. Manuel Clemente, and also with the President of the World Youth Day Foundation, D. .Americo Aguiar. This is the first work to be completed for World Youth Day. It resulted from an investment of 4.1 million euros, co-financed with European funds, and carried out by EMEL and the municipality of Lisbon.

The material with which it was built, mostly wood-based, but also with steel structures, makes this bridge a piece well integrated into the surrounding environment. Its construction contributed simultaneously to the rehabilitation of this area of the city, facing the Tagus River, where the Tagus Park is being extended to serve as the main venue for the Journey. For now and in the future, the bridge will link three natural elements: the green space in the Lisbon area, the river Trancão and the new green area in the Loures area, sustainably enhancing this vast riverside area.

Under the impetus of World Youth Day and the new public space that is being built next to Trancão, other infrastructures have been created in that area. This is the case of station nº 115 of the GIRA, the closest to the new bridge and the site of the Journey; this station was increased from 12 to 28 docks. [GIRA is the bike-rental system in Lisbon.] The Sacavém railway station, which serves the municipality of Loures and the northern area of Parque das Nações, also received improvement works, with the creation of a new access, a car park and rest areas."

Original story in Portuguese:

Há um novo marco na paisagem entre Lisboa e Loures

Está concluída e aberta (temporariamente) a ponte ciclopedonal do Trancão.

lisboaparapessoas.pt

 

[RayZee]

I'll be starting my pilgrimage out of Lisbon in a few weeks. I was wondering if there was any word on the new route leaving Lisbon. Originally it was suppose to open in May, then the Pope was going to be opening it over World Youth Days. Now I can't find anything that mentions the new route at all.

 

[peregrina2000]

According to this new story, you can walk to/across the bridge, but can't go any further because the new riverside boardwalk is not complete in the next municipality beyond Lisbon (Loures).

Any idea what that does to distances on the first day? Do you know if people will still be walking through Alpriate? Or where they will go once they get across the new bridge?

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

Screenshot from video today...(from city of Lisbon)

 

[sprinto]

Sorry but I can’t see a video ?

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

Sorry but I can’t see a video ?

It could be because it's from Twitter, which is pretty unpredictable these days. I've included a screenshot instead. Shows the mass of participants just as well as a video!

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

DJ's set...

Padre Guilherme DJ Set na Jornada Mundial da Juventude | 06-08- 2023

 

[Parksville]

Any idea what that does to distances on the first day? Do you know if people will still be walking through Alpriate? Or where they will go once they get across the new bridge?

Great questions. Is there any firm answers to these yet?

 

[jungleboy]

Great questions. Is there any firm answers to these yet?

People won't be walking through Alpriate anymore, the new route does not go through there and the albergue there is permanently closed. For distance, IIRC we have heard that it will be 8km less to reach Alverca but looking at a map, that seems optimistic. Crossing the new bridge, the route will continue close to the river rather than the more inland route through Alpriate.

I live in Lisbon and if the new route is ready within the next month, I'll try to walk it one day and provide a report here.

 

[peregrina2000]

People won't be walking through Alpriate anymore, the new route does not go through there and the albergue there is permanently closed. For distance, IIRC we have heard that it will be 8km less to reach Alverca but looking at a map, that seems optimistic. Crossing the new bridge, the route will continue close to the river rather than the more inland route through Alpriate.

I live in Lisbon and if the new route is ready within the next month, I'll try to walk it one day and provide a report here.

Thanks, Nick,

I know that the new route will not go through Alpriate, but my understanding was that only part of the new route is now open — that people can cross the new bridge, but that the Loure boardwalk is not complete. So my question was for the people who are walking now. Are they sticking to the old route or taking the new bridge and then going back to the old route or somewhere else? Not sure you will know the answer, but fingers crossed!

 

[Parksville]

People won't be walking through Alpriate anymore, the new route does not go through there and the albergue there is permanently closed. For distance, IIRC we have heard that it will be 8km less to reach Alverca but looking at a map, that seems optimistic. Crossing the new bridge, the route will continue close to the river rather than the more inland route through Alpriate.

I live in Lisbon and if the new route is ready within the next month, I'll try to walk it one day and provide a report here.

Thank you so much, Nick! All of your efforts are greatly appreciated and make a positive difference to our Caminos! <3

 

[Gorgen]

Me and my wife will start 20/8 from Lisbon and we have planned to walk to Vila Franca de Xira , might have to change plans a bit if its not possible to walk the new strech . Will report how the first day ended

 

[Parksville]

Me and my wife will start 20/8 from Lisbon and we have planned to walk to Vila Franca de Xira , might have to change plans a bit if its not possible to walk the new strech . Will report how the first day ended

We look forward to following your progress!

 

[JimG59]

Any idea what that does to distances on the first day? Do you know if people will still be walking through Alpriate? Or where they will go once they get across the new bridge?

I reckon the new boardwalk will shorten the original route by about 5km.

 

[CAshworth]

Will be walking from Lisbon starting own 15 Aug. Will let you know.

 

[RayZee]

Will be walking from Lisbon starting own 15 Aug. Will let you know.

I’ll be starting out from Lisbon on Aug 19th. I’ll be looking forward to your report as well.

 

[gregoryb]

I’ll be starting out from Lisbon on the 19th. I’ll be looking forward to your report as well.

Also very interested in progress report as well... starting from Lisbon on Sept 11

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

A new article (English) from a Portuguese source--it's talking about the section after the bridge, before Vila Franca da Xira.

https://lisboaparapessoas.pt/en/2023/07/31/loures-parque-verde-ribeirinho-jmj-tejo-trancao/

 

[Lynne (USA/Crete Greece)]

So based on the report attached by Friend of Barquinha in a nutshell what should we expect?
1. New route not open until 2024?
2. New route open first week in September 2023?
3. If new route is not open, assume we still use the old route through Alpriate (with no albergue open)?
thank you.

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

Well, as a non-expert but now experienced observer of Portuguese bureaucracy, my guess that the story I posted above is written from a press release.

The reality is likely to be: the official opening of the park, with everything completed, will not happen till early 2024.

I would guess the route north, which is actually to the river-side of the big park they're talking about, is walkable now, but not "officially" open.

See the following screenshot from GoogleMaps, taken in August 2023 so presumably in the last 2 weeks; showing the north end of the new bridge. The boardwalk through the marsh/estuary next to the river seems to be complete (to the right).

There does seem to be a lightweight net at the end of the bridge and a sign suggesting "no walkers," but my suspicion is that may be gone by now, since the World Youth Day included some pilgrimage to Fátima.

On the other hand, you don't want to get halfway along there and find that it ISN'T finished, and then you have to back-track. If @jungleboy does check it out in the next couple of weeks, everyone should have a clearer sense of what's going on.

 

[RayZee]

Well, as a non-expert but now experienced observer of Portuguese bureaucracy, my guess that the story I posted above is written from a press release.

The reality is likely to be: the official opening of the park, with everything completed, will not happen till early 2024.

I would guess the route north, which is actually to the river-side of the big park they're talking about, is walkable now, but not "officially" open.

See the following screenshot from GoogleMaps, taken in August 2023 so presumably in the last 2 weeks; showing the north end of the new bridge. The boardwalk through the marsh/estuary next to the river seems to be complete (to the right).

There does seem to be a lightweight net at the end of the bridge and a sign suggesting "no walkers," but my suspicion is that may be gone by now, since the World Youth Day included some pilgrimage to Fátima.

On the other hand, you don't want to get halfway along there and find that it ISN'T finished, and then you have to back-track. If @jungleboy does check it out in the next couple of weeks, everyone should have a clearer sense of what's going on.

View attachment 154675

It appears that CAshworth will be setting out tomorrow (Aug 15th), so we'll have an earlier answer to the million dollar question.

 

[BlissfulChloe]

I am starting today and spent most of yesterday trying to find a newer guidebook. No success anywhere, which i found funny but not surprising.
So i will be walking with my 2015 edition.
Starting in Lisbon at the Cathedral.
If i find this new route i will let you know.
Curious are there still pilgrims out there who walk without phones, making bookings and using just the guidebook walking in the moment??
Hope to meet some lovely people on the way...my last hike was remote and isolated (Wales Coast Path), so Im looking forward another magical Camino experience.

 

[sprinto]

I am starting today and spent most of yesterday trying to find a newer guidebook. No success anywhere, which i found funny but not surprising.
So i will be walking with my 2015 edition.
Starting in Lisbon at the Cathedral.
If i find this new route i will let you know.
Curious are there still pilgrims out there who walk without phones, making bookings and using just the guidebook walking in the moment??
Hope to meet some lovely people on the way...my last hike was remote and isolated (Wales Coast Path), so Im looking forward another magical Camino experience.

Enjoy
Looking forward to your updates

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

Bom caminho!

 

[Jennifer Partika]

Bom caminho! My husband and I are starting from Lisbon Wednesday Aug 30th. Super anxious to find out about the new path. Thanks to all who are leading the discovery on its progress for us. Hope to meet some of you on the way!

 

[BlissfulChloe]

Hi All,
Drum roll please......
Aug 17th 2023
New route is NOT open yet. Only can walk on the fresh, new wooden bridge. No dates or any other info, sorry.
Currently sipping iced tea and eating ice blocks in the vibey cafe in Aliprate. Its warm out but a lovely cool breeze.
PS i got a guidebook. At the Cathedral on my way out i tried my luck (in case) and seems the lady the day before had no idea bevause they do indeed sell them
So got a new edition for maps but love my 2015 for notes, reflections.
PpS. I absolutely have been loving this start i cant believe people skip it.

 

[sprinto]

So where are you staying?

 

[Parksville]

Hi All,
Drum roll please......
Aug 17th 2023
New route is NOT open yet. Only can walk on the fresh, new wooden bridge. No dates or any other info, sorry.
Currently sipping iced tea and eating ice blocks in the vibey cafe in Aliprate. Its warm out but a lovely cool breeze.
PS i got a guidebook. At the Cathedral on my way out i tried my luck (in case) and seems the lady the day before had no idea bevause they do indeed sell them
So got a new edition for maps but love my 2015 for notes, reflections.
PpS. I absolutely have been loving this start i cant believe people skip it.

Buen Camino! Thank you for the update!

 

[trecile]

So where are you staying?

I have the same question.

 

[CAshworth]

I’ll be starting out from Lisbon on Aug 19th. I’ll be looking forward to your report as well.

Sad to say that while the new bridge is open, the walkway once you cross the bridge is still closed. So no path that way yet as of Aug 16.

 

[CAshworth]

Buen Camino! Thank you for the update!

Me too! I’m on the same path and sounds like one day ahead of you. Loving this trail so far. So glad I chose to start in Lisbon.

 

[trecile]

Me too! I’m on the same path and sounds like one day ahead of you. Loving this trail so far. So glad I chose to start in Lisbon.

Where did you stay on the first day after Lisbon?

 

[Lynne (USA/Crete Greece)]

Sad to say that while the new bridge is open, the walkway once you cross the bridge is still closed. So no path that way yet as of Aug 16.

thank you for the update & photo. Since Walkway after the bridge is still closed assume you had to backtrack back over the bridge to continue on the Camino path through Alpriate?

 

[CAshworth]

Where did you stay on the first day after Lisbon?

Verdelha. The path off the Camino is short and easy to get to.

 

[CAshworth]

thank you for the update & photo. Since Walkway after the bridge is still closed assume you had to backtrack back over the bridge to continue on the Camino path through Alpriate?

Correct. The wooden esplanade along the water looks ready, but it’s still fenced off with a chain link fence. However, the walk to Alpriate runs on a dirt trail along an estuary. It was quite lovely and off from the roads.

 

[JimG59]

I know people are keen to walk the new bridge and boardwalk, However, having walked to Granja and Alpriate with great solitude I think this route will still be preferable to miles of unrelenting boardwalk. If I was doing the CP again I would follow the original route.

I recognise everyone will have their own view.

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

I know people are keen to walk the new bridge and boardwalk, However, having walked to Granja and Alpriate with great solitude I think this route will still be preferable to miles of unrelenting boardwalk. If I was doing the CP again I would follow the original route.

I recognise everyone will have their own view.

I truely value a boardwalk in an appropriate location - an area of ecological interest that needs special protection, or bridging over a particularly wet/ muddy and)or dangerous section (like on the Camino Verde for instance).
However km after km of it is seriously hard on the feet! Not to mention boring as heck.
Give me a proper trail anytime. Of course, I'm not a local with a baby stroller......

 

[minha_alverca]

It looks as though they officially opened the path along the river from the Oriente (Parque de Nações) to Vila Franca de Xira according to a Facebook post from the Junta (translation below):

“Walkway inaugurated

As of today, Parque das Nações residents and other visitors have another destination for walking, jogging or cycling.

More than two months after the inauguration of the Cyclopedestrian Bridge built by the Lisbon City Council, there is now a connection on the north bank.

It is now possible to go from Parque das Nações to Vila Franca de Xira, almost always by the river.

This will also be a link that integrates the Fátima and Santiago paths, allowing pilgrims to make their way more safely and with fewer risks.”

 

[NYSE]

It looks as though they officially opened the path along the river from the Oriente (Parque de Nações) to Vila Franca de Xira according to a Facebook post from the Junta (translation below):

“Walkway inaugurated

As of today, Parque das Nações residents and other visitors have another destination for walking, jogging or cycling.

More than two months after the inauguration of the Cyclopedestrian Bridge built by the Lisbon City Council, there is now a connection on the north bank.

It is now possible to go from Parque das Nações to Vila Franca de Xira, almost always by the river.

This will also be a link that integrates the Fátima and Santiago paths, allowing pilgrims to make their way more safely and with fewer risks.”

That is good news as I head out on that way September 30. Thanks for the update.

 

[trecile]

That is good news as I head out on that way September 30. Thanks for the update.

Please post your experience when you walk this way.

 

[NYSE]

Please post your experience when you walk this way.

I will.

 

[Tahikiwi]

Please post your experience when you walk this way.

Id be keen to know what town you plan on staying in for the first night ? And how many kms from the start in Lisbon?

 

[NYSE]

Id be keen to know what town you plan on staying in for the first night ? And how many kms from the start in Lisbon?

I will be up all day on the 29th, fly all night and arrive in Lisbon at 6am. My plan is to walk from the airport to downtown, do a few things I want to do, head to the cathedral to get my stamp and then walk 7 miles up the river to a hotel in the parque das nações area. That first day will be a long one, but, I hope to be excited.

 

[George Brown]

I will be up all day on the 29th, fly all night and arrive in Lisbon at 6am. My plan is to walk from the airport to downtown, do a few things I want to do, head to the cathedral to get my stamp and then walk 7 miles up the river to a hotel in the parque das nações area. That first day will be a long one, but, I hope to be excited.

I look forward to your posts. I arrive in Lisbon on the 1st and plan to walk the new route to Alverca do Ribatejo that day

 

[NYSE]

I look forward to your posts. I arrive in Lisbon on the 1st and plan to walk the new route to Alverca do Ribatejo that day

Hope our paths cross, George. Buen camino.

 

[selbanev]

This morning I've walked out of Lisbon towards Fatima, and I used the new boardwalk path from Sacavem, along the river.

It's 6km from Sacavem up to its end, where the Camino onward is signposted.

It's been open two weeks and is pretty busy. Cyclists, runners, walkers and pilgrims all out today.

I walked to its end to see how it finished, then doubled back and crossed a rough track away from the river and towards the Santa Iria station, and the VIP Executive Santa Iria Hotel, where I'm eating lunch and settling in.

Apart from some gated access ways, for emergencies I guess, the only ways off are at either end, or the rough track of about 400m away from the river to Santa Iria station.

It's not the loveliest leg of any Camino, and the mud and mangroves aren't always attractive. There is traffic noise from the roads, and the light industrial area isn't pretty.

But the boardwalk does shorten the first stage out of Lisbon, or open up more possibilities for trains back and forward.

It also makes the VIP Hotel as a realistic possibility to stay, and much closer to the Camino. Although I acknowledge it's not typical pilgrim accommodation.

Anyway, here's some footage.

 

[thejoker]

Interesting to read this and thanks for the update.
I thought the original track from Sacavem was already fine. It was all the road walking later on that was dangerous. Anyway, Buen Caminho!

 

[trecile]

Thanks for this update! Many of us have been curious about it.

 

[dougfitz]

Thanks for this report. I'm a bit surprized with the presence of mangroves along that river. How extensive where they?

 

[selbanev]

Thanks for your interest dougfitz. I knew someone would ask about this! For mangrove please read, "plant that grows in tidal mud."

 

[dougfitz]

Thanks for your interest dougfitz. I knew someone would ask about this! For mangrove please read, "plant that grows in tidal mud."

That makes more sense to me. It sounds like the plants are more likely to be reeds than bushes or trees. Were they tall enough to block the view of the river? I recall that in another section of walking near the river on the first couple of days, there were quite tall reeds in some stretches, and perhaps some bamboo as well tall enough to block the view of the river.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Thanks for your interest dougfitz. I knew someone would ask about this! For mangrove please read, "plant that grows in tidal mud."

The only mangroves I am familiar with and have seen are in the coastal areas of Florida and the Caribbean islands. I never think of them in Spain's rivers. I often learn something new on this forum...like now.

 

[dougfitz]

I never think of them in Spain's rivers.

Nor Portugal's, perhaps!! We are discussing the Rio Tejo leaving Lisbon

 

[Sandra Wolf]

Looks great I will be taking it next year in late March. Thanks for the update.

 

[John Cook]

I'd also like to thank you for the update; I'll get to use it on Thursday. Can't wait!

 

[selbanev]

That makes more sense to me. It sounds like the plants are more likely to be reeds than bushes or trees. Were they tall enough to block the view of the river? I recall that in another section of walking near the river on the first couple of days, there were quite tall reeds in some stretches, and perhaps some bamboo as well tall enough to block the view of the river.

I could see the river at all times, and also the shipping containers across the other side. That boardwalk rises up when crossing tributary streams so at times is quite high.

Today heading up to Vila Franca de Xira the reeds were tall and blocking the view both ways. Perhaps that's what.you remember.

 

[Boggle]

Walked from Lisbon and up the boardwalk to Santa Iria station today. The track salbanev mentions is directly west from the boardwalk and gets you to the station in 500 metres. Will be getting the train back to Santa Iria in the am to continue the Camino. The Santa Iria exit is at Pontao da BP as per the boardwalk map attached. Also the first and probably last time I will see flamingos on a Camino!?

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

Also the first and probably last time I will see flamingos on a Camino!?

if you ever do the Nascente from the Faro area, you may see flamingos down in the salt pans near there.

Flamingos in the Algarve: The Best Places to Find Them

To newcomers to the Algarve it’s often a surprise that you can find Greater Flamingos here. Amazingly though, there’s actually several places you can catch these incredible birds in the wild. Unfortunately for us, they're

wetravelportugal.com

 

[sprinto]

so no new updates on when the new route will finally be open ?

 

[trecile]

so no new updates on when the new route will finally be open ?

It's open now - see post #70, 80, & 81.

 

[sprinto]

Missed them

 

[NYSE]

Are there any updates on the new camino route out of Lisbon. Last I recall it was not going to open until the pope's visit. Since this is a public works project and not directly being built for the camino, are locals already using it? I am arriving in Lisbon on Wednesday and will walk that day to the Parque Nacoes area. Looking to see if there are any options for my Thursday trek.
Thank you

Here’s the new path on Relive. It was a good, long walk on a hot, hot day.

 

[NYSE]

Update on Camino Portuguese: I’m here in Santiago after 23 days of long walks. The first two weeks were hot, very hot. From outside Porto to Santiago it rained - and I mean rained, poured at times. In the end it was a very rewarding walk. Now it’s off to Finisterre and Muxia (for some mussels).