Camino Portugues

[cheryl mulder]

Thinking of walking the Camino Portugues from Oporto in May and early June but am concerned it may be too quiet Would appreciate your advice

 

[Suzanne S.]

A friend and I are walking from Lisbon starting early May. I've seen several posts from folks starting this Camino during that time frame. It will definitely be less well travelled than the Frances.

 

[cheryl mulder]

Okay Thanks very much

 

[Reija]

Planning on the same stretch in early June.

 

[Doogman]

My experience has been that the Portuguese central route (through Barcelos, Ponte de Lima, Valenca, Tui, Redondela ....) is busier than the Portuguese Coastal Way (which runs through Vila do Conde, Esposende, Caminha, A Guarda Baiona, Vigo, Redondela .....). However neither of them were very busy in the first half of the walk - maybe half a dozen other pilgrims each day for the first half or so of each route. I did both of them in July.

On the central route the pilgrim traffic picked up significantly at Tui, as many Spanish pilgrims start there. Last summer, when I was on the Coastal Way, the route got fairly busy from Redondela onwards, as that is where the two routes meet.

I have not done the Frances, but from everything I have heard, it is significantly busier than the Portuguese. However, I believe that the Portuguese is the second busiest route after the Frances.

 

[ravichok]

My experience has been that the Portuguese central route (through Barcelos, Ponte de Lima, Valenca, Tui, Redondela ....) is busier than the Portuguese Coastal Way (which runs through Vila do Conde, Esposende, Caminha, A Guarda Baiona, Vigo, Redondela .....). However neither of them were very busy in the first half of the walk - maybe half a dozen other pilgrims each day for the first half or so of each route. I did both of them in July.

On the central route the pilgrim traffic picked up significantly at Tui, as many Spanish pilgrims start there. Last summer, when I was on the Coastal Way, the route got fairly busy from Redondela onwards, as that is where the two routes meet.

I have not done the Frances, but from everything I have heard, it is significantly busier than the Portuguese. However, I believe that the Portuguese is the second busiest route after the Frances.

This is great to hear.
I am a first timer hoping to take the Portugese way in July/Aug 2017 and was considering the coastal route just because of the scenery.
Did you feel it was a bit too isolated and the central route would be better?

 

[Paintboy2]

Did the coastal last July and only saw a few other peregrinos until Tui when more appeared. It's a great camino. Do it. If it's not right then do another.

 

[Doogman]

This is great to hear.
I am a first timer hoping to take the Portugese way in July/Aug 2017 and was considering the coastal route just because of the scenery.
Did you feel it was a bit too isolated and the central route would be better?

I may not be the best person to ask that question, as I enjoy a bit of solitude when I am on the trail. But I actually do not think it is too isolated. It's not like you are in wilderness without seeing anyone for days on end. There will be other walkers plus all of the people in the towns and villages that you are passing through. I don't have any statistics to back this up, but I sense that the Portuguese routes, and the Coastal Way in particular, are continually getting more popular.