Caminho Portugues Da Costa From Porto

Annija said:

Hello from Latvia to everyone. I am really looking forward to have my first Caminho, I couldn't be more excited and more responsible about everything,because I am going to share this beautiful experience with my mother, who is coming with me. So I have to find out everything and I have few concerns. We are starting to walk from Porto in less than 3 weeks and I do not feel prepared..

1) How can I know that we are on the right way? I mean, there are so many ways how to get to each point, so how can you know, that this is the right one? Our plan is to start from Matosinhos and walk to Vila do Condde as our first stop.

2)Which apps (for maps and for albergues) do you suggest to download? We will try to follow arrows as much as possible but we need to have a back up plan in case we get lost. Have you taken paper maps with you as well?

Thank you for all the answers in advance, Buon Camino to everyone who is on the way now!

Annija

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Doogman said:

Hello: If you want to leave from Matosinhos, you will get off the metro at the Mercado stop, and walk across the large bridge that is right beside it. Once across the bridge, continue straight for maybe 100 metres to a roundabout. (I think you should see a yellow arrow at this point). Turn left at the roundabout and follow that street all the way to the ocean. Once you are at the ocean, turn right and walk north. As long as the ocean is on your left as you walk, you will be OK. The boardwalk along the ocean will take you right into Vila do Conde (although there may be one or two gaps where you head back to the road before returning to the boardwalk). I did not have any maps. I just used the ocean (always on the left) and the yellow arrows as my guide. Buen Camino!

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Sarah Olson said:

Do you think it's too ambitious to walk from Porto to Vila do Conde the first day out?

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Sarah Olson said:

Thank you, Doogman. I was planning to start at the cathedral but maybe I will rethink that...

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Doogman said:

If you have the time, start at the Cathedral and walk down to the river. Follow the river to the ocean, and then walk north up to Matosinhos. I think it is about 12-13 kms. You can then take the metro from Matosinhos back into central Porto for the rest of the day/evening, and back out again the next morning. I think it would be a good first day - scenic, not too long, and a good warm up

In 2013, I started at the Cathedral and walked through the city. I ended at Vilar de Pinheiro, which is south of Vila do Conde. If you are a stronger walker, and don't mind longer distances, I guess Vila do Conde would be possible. I just Googled it, and it says that Porto airport to Vila do Conde is about 20km. If the Cathedral to the airport is another 15-20 kms, I am guessing it would be 35-40 km overall. That is outside my comfort zone, especially on the first day.

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Sarah Olson said:

That's a really good idea, about walking to Matosinhos then going back to Porto. I can just make it part of my Porto day! Or maybe even do it late afternoon when I arrive, if the sunset comes at a reasonable time then. I was thinking it would be about 30k to Vila do Conde, but that's still a pretty long way.

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Sarah Olson said:

That's a really good idea, about walking to Matosinhos then going back to Porto.

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