Camino Portugues too busy in August ??

[SaskiadeV]

Dear All,

I consider walking the Camino Portugues in August of this year.
In the brierley book it;s mentioned that it is very busy in August and difficult to find a place to sleep.

Can anybody please share their experience with me please ?

Many thanks, Saskia.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

There were 7,334 on the Camino Portugues in August 2014, or about 250 per day, according to the compostelas issued in Santiago.

 

[SaskiadeV]

There were 7,334 on the Camino Portugues in August 2014, or about 250 per day, according to the compostelas issued in Santiago.

Thank you for your reply ! To be honoust...I don't have any idea if that is a lot and if it means it's easy or not easy to find a place to sleep...

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Go here to see the accommodations from Porto:

http://www.gronze.com/camino-de-santiago/caminos/guia-del-camino-portugues

If there are 250 beds in your chosen destination, there will be no problem finding one. If there are 21 as in Vilarinho, it may be a problem.

 

[Former member 22438]

Keep in mind August is the national holiday month in Portugal and Spain.
If you walk from albergue to albergue there will be no problem I think but I you want to walk the coastal route you possibly could encounter more people around in hostals etc.

 

[SaskiadeV]

Go here to see the accommodations from Porto:

http://www.gronze.com/camino-de-santiago/caminos/guia-del-camino-portugues

If there are 250 beds in your chosen destination, there will be no problem finding one. If there are 21 as in Vilarinho, it may be a problem.

Thank you for your reply ! Very helpful !
Is there a guia like this for every camino ?

 

[SaskiadeV]

Keep in mind August is the national holiday month in Portugal and Spain.
If you walk from albergue to albergue there will be no problem I think but I you want to walk the coastal route you possibly could encounter more people around in hostals etc.

Yes...I prefer to walk in a different month, but my calendar doesn't allow me

 

[Former member 22438]

Go here to see the accommodations from Porto:

http://www.gronze.com/camino-de-santiago/caminos/guia-del-camino-portugues

If there are 250 beds in your chosen destination, there will be no problem finding one. If there are 21 as in Vilarinho, it may be a problem.

I should not advise to walk from Porto to Vilarinho due to the very busy and dangerous roads you walk alongside on the hard shoulder north of Porto and many cobblestoned roads But take the conveniant and relaxed detour alongside the Atlantic coast from Porto via Matosinhos and Vila do Conde to São Pedro de Rates where you are on the central route to Barcelos again.

 

[Former member 22438]

Yes...I prefer to walk in a different month, but my calendar doesn't allow me

are you Dutch or Belgian ?

 

[SaskiadeV]

are you Dutch or Belgian ?

Dutch

 

[Former member 22438]

Dutch

Okay you always can send me a pm (conversation..click on my avatar and on start conversation ). I am Dutch too !
I walked from Lisboa to Santiago in 2013 ,last year from Ferrol to Santiago and this year May intending to walk the coastal from Porto to Santiago .
We explored the coastal last year when we were on holiday in Portugal and Galicia.

 

[amancio]

If you do it at the very end of August, it would not be a problem with crowds, most Spanish people start in the Spanis border, in Tui.

As suggested above, I woudl follow river Douro to the sea, it is a lovely walk, and woudl follow the coast up to Matosinhos (where there are lots of restaurants offering grilled fresh fish, yummy!), then go further up to coast to Angeiros by the beach, where you can get a hut in the camping site (special price for pilgrims, you can make usage of their swimming pool. The following day, you can walk to Vila de Conde and from them to San Pedro de Rates, a lovely little town with an excellent romanesque church and a gorgeous albergue.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Is there a guia like this for every camino ?

No, but there are a lot of them! Try gronze.com, mundicamino.com, and http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/ .

 

[Former member 22438]

If you do it at the very end of August, it would not be a problem with crowds, most Spanish people start in the Spanis border, in Tui.

As suggested above, I woudl follow river Douro to the sea, it is a lovely walk, and woudl follow the coast up to Matosinhos (where there are lots of restaurants offering grilled fresh fish, yummy!), then go further up to coast to Angeiros by the beach, where you can get a hut in the camping site (special price for pilgrims, you can make usage of their swimming pool. The following day, you can walk to Vila de Conde and from them to San Pedro de Rates, a lovely little town with an excellent romanesque church and a gorgeous albergue.

Thank you for your reply ! Very helpful !
Is there a guia like this for every camino ?

There is a guide written by John Brierley. Issued by Findhorn Press in England about the caminho Português I bought mine at Amazon.com

 

[Former member 22438]

If you do it at the very end of August, it would not be a problem with crowds, most Spanish people start in the Spanis border, in Tui.

As suggested above, I woudl follow river Douro to the sea, it is a lovely walk, and woudl follow the coast up to Matosinhos (where there are lots of restaurants offering grilled fresh fish, yummy!), then go further up to coast to Angeiros by the beach, where you can get a hut in the camping site (special price for pilgrims, you can make usage of their swimming pool. The following day, you can walk to Vila de Conde and from them to San Pedro de Rates, a lovely little town with an excellent romanesque church and a gorgeous albergue.

But about the Portuges route An important part of the caminho Português is on Portugese soil. So it can be busy there in August.
We stayed at the campingsite just before Vila do Conde Costed us 40 € for the night. But it was great. Is a big camping supposed to be busy in the high season.

 

[KentuckyJay]

There were 7,334 on the Camino Portugues in August 2014, or about 250 per day, according to the compostelas issued in Santiago.

How about May. I am considering a May hike in 2016.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

How about May. I am considering a May hike in 2016.

May - 4575
June - 4566

 

[Diogo92]

The so called "high season", usually starts after Easter.

Although August it's a hot month, there is a lot of people doing it. And with the development and "advertising" that the Camiño had in the last few months (radio and television), probably it will be again a year with the numbers increasing.

But hey, try your luck. It could be very hot, and you might find the possibility to sleep under the stars

 

[BCRockies]

have you considered the Coastal route from Porto? I imagine it is busy the first few days as you walk along the coast and it is holiday season but the promenades are wide and beautiful. I have step by step maps if you are interested!

 

[19SY69]

If you do it at the very end of August, it would not be a problem with crowds, most Spanish people start in the Spanis border, in Tui.

As suggested above, I woudl follow river Douro to the sea, it is a lovely walk, and woudl follow the coast up to Matosinhos (where there are lots of restaurants offering grilled fresh fish, yummy!), then go further up to coast to Angeiros by the beach, where you can get a hut in the camping site (special price for pilgrims, you can make usage of their swimming pool. The following day, you can walk to Vila de Conde and from them to San Pedro de Rates, a lovely little town with an excellent romanesque church and a gorgeous albergue.

I am also really looking forward to all that delicious ((see)food

 

[SaskiadeV]

Thank you all so much for your reply !! I will read them all carefully and decide than what I will do.

Is it more expensive to find a place to sleep on the Portugues than on the Frances ?

 

[Diogo92]

Thank you all so much for your reply !! I will read them all carefully and decide than what I will do.

Is it more expensive to find a place to sleep on the Portugues than on the Frances ?

The further up North you go, the cheaper it gets. Mostly because, south from Porto, you don't have many Albergues. But from Porto, all the infrastructures are ste to welcome pilgrims. Public Alrbegues cost 6€, and privates go from 10 to 25€. Some of the privates include dinner and breakfast.

There is a new Albergue in Porto: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/new-albergue-in-porto.31018/#post-268259

 

[KentuckyJay]

May - 4575
June - 4566

Thanks for the info. If this old body holds up, (I'll be 70 in May, 2016) I'm in.

 

[Former member 22438]

How about May. I am considering a May hike in 2016.

May is great. Apart from the beautiful fresh green nature and the blooming, the month of May is greatfor walking. Not too hot. Not too many people. If you start in Lisbon you only are one of the few. from Porto you will meet more pilgrims

 

[Dutch]

Albergue prices on the portugees and frances are the same. Certainly not more expensive.
I did find the portugees part of the Porto to SdC route for all other thing alot cheaper then the Spanish part of the route. Oh...and much better food in Portugal!

I'm gonna walk in may, just like last year. Had GREAT weather and just enough people to have a good time with, but not too many too feel like its overcrowded.

 

[AJ]

I walked from Lisbon last year, starting in mid August and had no problems.

 

[Former member 22438]

Albergue prices on the portugees and frances are the same. Certainly not more expensive.
I did find the portugees part of the Porto to SdC route for all other thing alot cheaper then the Spanish part of the route. Oh...and much better food in Portugal!

I'm gonna walk in may, just like last year. Had GREAT weather and just enough people to have a good time with, but not too many too feel like its overcrowded.

@Dutch I do not agree with your remark that prices of albergues on the Francès and Português are the same.
As soon as you cross the border in Galicia ,yes there are Xunta albergues.. In 2014 6€ per night per person. But in Portugal the most albergues are private ones between donativo and about 18€ per night per person.so for pilgrims who are on tight budget it is good to know that they can expect a variation of prices in Portugal. Special on the Lisbon to Porto leg are the albergues like hotels/hostals with dorms for two to four or more people.Highlites are Santarèm hostal and Hilario's in Mealhada/Serdanello.

 

[Dutch]

I was talking about Porto to SdC part.

Did not stay in an albergue is Porto. Anything beyond porto is, in my memory, similar to Frances. I surely did not pay 18 euro for an albergue every night.

 

[Former member 22438]

After Porto you'll find an albergue in São Pedro de Rates which is donativo,
The one in Barcelos I do'nt know..we missed that one so we took a hotel .
The next was Casa da Fernanda in Vitorino dos Piaës which is donativo.
Ponte deLima has an albergue but we chose for a hostal.Rubiaës has an albergue but here too we chose for a hostal.
We stayed in Valença in a hostal and as far as I know there is no albergue.
The first albergue is over the river Miño in Tui and here start all Xunta albergues 6€ except for Caldas de Reis where is a privat albergue We paid 30€ for a so called "cama matrimonia" a room with a double bed.
The costs of living indeed in Portugal are much cheaper as in Spain.
A breakfast for us two f.ex. Some bums and coffee or tea 2,50 to 3€. (In Spain almost double). Menu do dia (warm lunch 2 or 3 courses) 7 to 8 € (in Spain 10€)
Coffee 0,60€ etc etc.

 

[Diogo92]

After Porto you'll find an albergue in São Pedro de Rates which is donativo,
The one in Barcelos I do'nt know..we missed that one so we took a hotel .
The next was Casa da Fernanda in Vitorino dos Piaës which is donativo.
Ponte deLima has an albergue but we chose for a hostal.Rubiaës has an albergue but here too we chose for a hostal.
We stayed in Valença in a hostal and as far as I know there is no albergue.
The first albergue is over the river Miño in Tui and here start all Xunta albergues 6€ except for Caldas de Reis where is a privat albergue We paid 30€ for a so called "cama matrimonia" a room with a double bed.
The costs of living indeed in Portugal are much cheaper as in Spain.
A breakfast for us two f.ex. Some bums and coffee or tea 2,50 to 3€. (In Spain almost double). Menu do dia (warm lunch 2 or 3 courses) 7 to 8 € (in Spain 10€)
Coffee 0,60€ etc etc.

You have two Albergues in Barcelos, both of them with prices from 6 to 8€;
Albergue de Ponte de Lima > 6€;
Rubiães > Donativo;
Valença do Minho > Has full fuctioning Albergue (one of the oldest from the Portuguese Caminho), price 6€;
All the Albergues in Caldas de Reis are in fact private, but there is one that does the price of the Xunta (6€).

And I keep telling you guy's: menú do dia in Portugal doesn't have the full service that the spanish menu del dia offers. Neither the size of the doses.

 

[Former member 22438]

You have two Albergues in Barcelos, both of them with prices from 6 to 8€;
Albergue de Ponte de Lima > 6€;
Rubiães > Donativo;
Valença do Minho > Has full fuctioning Albergue (one of the oldest from the Portuguese Caminho), price 6€;
All the Albergues in Caldas de Reis are in fact private, but there is one that does the price of the Xunta (6€).

And I keep telling you guy's: menú do dia in Portugal doesn't have the full service that the spanish menu del dia offers. Neither the size of the doses.

Amigo thanks that is great information. Several times we ordered a menu do dia. In Portugal. Starter, main dish and postre. Just like It was during.my time I worked in Barcelona .to me there was no difference except for the price.

Um abraço

 

[Diogo92]

Amigo thanks that is great information. Several times we ordered a menu do dia. In Portugal. Starter, main dish and postre. Just like It was during.my time I worked in Barcelona .to me there was no difference except for the price.

Um abraço

Menú del dia in the majority of Spain: soup/caldo, bread, main course, dessert or cafe, and beverage.

Menu do dia in majority of Portugal: main course, beverage, cafe or dessert. You might now find some Menu do Dia very simillar to the spanish version, however with no bred and no soup, and a smaller food ration.

 

[Former member 22438]

Menú del dia in the majority of Spain: soup/caldo, bread, main course, dessert or cafe, and beverage.

Menu do dia in majority of Portugal: main course, beverage, cafe or dessert. You might now find some Menu do Dia very simillar to the spanish version, however with no bred and no soup, and a smaller food ration.

Waiter...Soup and bread On the menu .?.. I asked... What is the price for the soup ? ......2€. .....And the bread ? ....... Nothing ! ....Give me the bread por favor ...!

 

[amorfati1]

Menú del dia in the majority of Spain: soup/caldo, bread, main course, dessert or cafe, and beverage.

Menu do dia in majority of Portugal: main course, beverage, cafe or dessert. You might now find some Menu do Dia very simillar to the spanish version, however with no bred and no soup, and a smaller food ration.

It might vary -
in Ponte de Lima for e.g. @ a small restaurant @ the river/view onto the ponte as well :
soup / bread / main course w/ salad (believe i chose fish) AND 1/2 liter vinho verde = 6 Euros
simple and good fare, cooked by grandmum / Avo' - and on cold rainy days: hit the spot!
Overall I enjoyed the food much more in Portugal - but also had very tasty bites on occassion in Galicia

 

[Former member 22438]

It might vary -
in Ponte de Lima for e.g. @ a small restaurant @ the river/view onto the ponte as well :
soup / bread / main course w/ salad (believe i chose fish) AND 1/2 liter vinho verde = 6 Euros
simple and good fare, cooked by grandmum / Avo' - and on cold rainy days: hit the spot!
Overall I enjoyed the food much more in Portugal - but also had very tasty bites on occassion in Galicia

I remember that restaurant Claudia. Lots of locals so good quality of food and drinks. Great bacalhao dishes.
Can't wait to go back... About three and a half month from now.

 

[SabsP]

Will hopefully walk the part Porto -SdC end of August ( more or less starting around 25th ) and getting a tad concerned about the hot weather then. I always walked April/May. So going to be one of the early risers now myself..promise not to rustle with my bags and flash a light.

 

[Diogo92]

I can eat that food... EVERYDAY

 

[Former member 22438]

I can eat that food... EVERYDAY

Bacalhau ?

 

[Diogo92]

Bacalhão ?

I hate bacalhau. But I love almost all the other things. Like, pasteis de nata

 

[19SY69]

Bacalhau, pasteis de nata ( or even better, pastis de Bélem ), the soup with beans and sausage, seafood, etc! Is it July already?

 

[Former member 22438]

Dat duurt nog lang !

 

[Diogo92]

Bacalhau, pasteis de nata ( or even better, pastis de Bélem ), the soup with beans and sausage, seafood, etc! Is it July already?

Pasteis de Nata are better

 

[19SY69]

Pasteis de Nata are better

Only because you can eat those all through Portugal

 

[19SY69]

Dat duurt nog lang !

Way to long!

 

[Former member 22438]

Way to long!

Het leven is hard. Life is tough
What is the nice thought behind this all ? When we are back again with only the (happy ) memories ,you still will go
Bom thinking of your next caminho

 

[Diogo92]

Only because you can eat those all through Portugal

No. Because you can eat them at any time, not necessarily warm, and you also don't need to use cinnamon and sugar. Ohhhh, and the price too

 

[Former member 22438]

Demais dos pasteís de nata will make you fat my good friend !
Better eat you vegies más poxa ! I must admit they taste delicious !

 

[Texasguy]

Keep in mind August is the national holiday month in Portugal and Spain.
If you walk from albergue to albergue there will be no problem I think but I you want to walk the coastal route you possibly could encounter more people around in hostals etc.

I would also do it in another month. Also, the heat can be an issue during this month.

Been Camino,

Texas guy

 

[Diogo92]

Demais dos pasteís de nata will make you fat my good friend !
Better eat you vegies más poxa ! I must admit they taste delicious !

One every once in a while, there is no problem with that I'm going through a strict diet, so I can manage to eat one every cheat day (usually Friday), that I have. But only one!

I've already answered to your email, sorry for a so late answer

 

[Finisterre]

I said "never again" but this thread is inspiring.

It brings back good times.

Thanks all.

August will be okay. If you ended up sleeping in a hedge it wouldn't be the end of the world. Our ancestors have been doing it for a million years.

 

[KentuckyJay]

May is great. Apart from the beautiful fresh green nature and the blooming, the month of May is greatfor walking. Not too hot. Not too many people. If you start in Lisbon you only are one of the few. from Porto you will meet more pilgrims

Will probably start around Porto and plan to also do SDC to Finisterre. I did not hike on to Finisterre when I did the French route last May and have regretted it ever since.

 

[Texasguy]

Will probably start around Porto and plan to also do SDC to Finisterre. I did not hike on to Finisterre when I did the French route last May and have regretted it ever since.

Will probably start around Porto and plan to also do SDC to Finisterre. I did not hike on to Finisterre when I did the French route last May and have regretted it ever since.

Albertonho,
I am continuing from Tui on March 29, and planning to get to Santiago by April 2nd or 3rd and continue to Finisterre.

If anyone is going to be around that area, please let me know.

Bom caminho!

Texasguy

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

Thanks for the info. If this old body holds up, (I'll be 70 in May, 2016) I'm in.

Crumbs! You're just a baby.
I'm walking the remote Ebro route in May [perfect month as Albertinho says] and I'll be 76. Age is just a number on a piece of paper.
Personally, I wouldn't walk in August - too hot up to around 40 degs in the sun by 11:30 a.m. - and there will be plenty of sun.
It's a beautiful camino - you can see my diary on my web site.
Incidentally, I think Albertinho celebrated his 110th birthday this year .... and still owes me a beer.
Buen camino!

 

[Former member 22438]

Crumbs! You're just a baby.
I'm walking the remote Ebro route in May [perfect month as Albertinho says] and I'll be 76. Age is just a number on a piece of paper.
Personally, I wouldn't walk in August - too hot up to around 40 degs in the sun by 11:30 a.m. - and there will be plenty of sun.
It's a beautiful camino - you can see my diary on my web site.
Incidentally, I think Albertinho celebrated his 110th birthday this year .... and still owes me a beer.
Buen camino!

That's correct Stephan. 110 years young on the day we start in Porto. But I still jump one yard high over a fence, run the marathon in 2h10.17 and owe you a Newcastle brown ale . In Santiago ! So walk on from my beloved Catalunya to Santiago and see you there beginning of May next at the Casino cafe ,set of chairs left near the window. If you see a young 110 years young god, it is me !

 

[KentuckyJay]

Crumbs! You're just a baby.
I'm walking the remote Ebro route in May [perfect month as Albertinho says] and I'll be 76. Age is just a number on a piece of paper.
Personally, I wouldn't walk in August - too hot up to around 40 degs in the sun by 11:30 a.m. - and there will be plenty of sun.
It's a beautiful camino - you can see my diary on my web site.
Incidentally, I think Albertinho celebrated his 110th birthday this year .... and still owes me a beer.
Buen camino!

Guess I am a wuss. B-T-W, I plan to do the Portuguese route in May, 2016. 40 degs is hot, right? We Amis still use F degs.

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

Hi Jay - 40 degree Celsius = 104 degree Fahrenheit. Yep. I call that hot

 

[Former member 22438]

Hi Jay - 40 degree Celsius = 104 degree Fahrenheit. Yep. I call that hot

↑
Guess I am a wuss. B-T-W, I plan to do the Portuguese route in May, 2016. 40 degs is hot, right? We Amis still use F degs.
So unless we will come sooner to see you in the UK again, we will meet you in Santiago in 2016 . Same time, same place -I'll buy you a beer by then.

AMSimoes talked about another Portugese route so we have another excuse to come back to Portugal in 2016.

Oh this caminho addiction.

 

[dariosilva]

have you considered the Coastal route from Porto? I imagine it is busy the first few days as you walk along the coast and it is holiday season but the promenades are wide and beautiful. I have step by step maps if you are interested!

BCRockies, i would appreciate your maps. Will be starting in Coimbra May 16, 2015. Thank you. Send to caminolesstraveled@gmail.com

 

[BCRockies]

Have a great Caminho