Fatima pilgrimage

[manosge]

hello
I did the camino frances (the spanish part) two years ago and i would to walk the camino portugues this summer. I am interested in starting from lisbon and walking towards the fatima cathedral. is this the same walking path with the camino to santiago de compostela? is there a credencial for walking the fatima route or should i use the camino credencial?

 

[peregrina2000]

Hello,

The Portuguese Caminho to Santiago and the road to Fatima are one and the same from Lisbon until somewhere around Santarem, about 85 or 90 km outside Lisbon. At that point they split. From Santarem to Fatima is another 60 km or so. The two paths rejoin again north of Fatima, somewhere close to Coimbra, with the route to Fatima going south, and the route to Santiago going north.

I don't believe there is a credencial for the Fatima route, but since there are no albergues, and no compostela-type document at the end, you really don't need any document at all.

Laurie

 

[manosge]

can anyone recommend a book - travel guide for the pilgrimage to fatima from lisbon that i am interested in? any ideas on how to do it?

 

[anniethenurse]

you can find some more info in John Brierly`s guide Camino Portugués.
You can download another guide on this website: http://www.csj.org.uk/guides.htm.

I haven´t decided yet which camino next year but CP from Porto to Santiago could be the one for me.
annie

 

[sillydoll]

There are numerous websites for the Coast Path or 'Caminho do Tejo'

You can buy a pocket guide - the CNC - Centro Nacional de Cultura - in collaboration with the Readers Digest, has published a pocket guide of the Way of the Tagus to the practical information necessary for the pilgrim walking through security in this way. The guide can be obtained at the headquarters of the TNC in Lisbon (Rua António Maria Cardoso, 68) at a price of 14.50 euros. For Portugal may be sent to collection or by sending the check. May be requested by mail, fax or e-mail.
http://www.cnc.pt/Artigo.aspx?ID=51

This was a group website - perhaps you'll find some info here:

http://www.atomicdelicia.org/fatima/

Step 1 - Alenquer to Azambuja, 24 km
Step 2 - Azambuja to Santarem, 30 km
Step 3 - Santarem to Olhos d'Agua, 27 km
Step 4 - Olhos d'Agua to Fatima, 29 km

And a few route maps here:

http://www.lxjovem.pt/?id_tema=241

And a blog here:

http://roadbook.blogspot.com/2008/09/ca ... dia-2.html

http://aventura-te.com/caminhotejo_aventura.htm

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, manosge,

The Confraternity's online guide to the Caminho Portugues from Lisbon to Porto will get you from the Cathedral in Lisbon to Santarem, http://www.csj.org.uk/guides-online.htm

From Santarem it's another two days to Fatima, and the web sites Sil mentioned have information about towns and stages. I don't know about the quality of the Fatima marking -- I walked from Lisbon to Porto this summer, and although I occasionally saw the Fatima signs, I would not have wanted to rely solely on them for directions. The Galician Amigos Association have painted yellow arrows on the entire Camino route from Lisbon to Santiago, and the way is now very well marked (except for a few eucalyptus forests), so from Lisbon to Santarem at least, you should be fine.

Are you planning to continue on to Santiago from Fatima? If so, you will have a couple of days going "against the markers" (in other words, you'll be walking north on the route south to Fatima), but then you will join up again with the Camino around Coimbra and you will be back with the yellow arrows.

Laurie

 

[Rikkitikkitavi]

can anyone recommend a book - travel guide for the pilgrimage to fatima from lisbon that i am interested in? any ideas on how to do it?

I am presently hiking the Caminho Portuguese. I met a fellow who is involved with the Fatima pilgrimage. He is genuinely very nice. We talked and he let me stay in his house. His facebook is:
https://m.facebook.com/amigosdocaminho
His page is in Portuguese but he speaks excellent English.

 

[Rikkitikkitavi]

Hi, manosge,

The Confraternity's online guide to the Caminho Portugues from Lisbon to Porto will get you from the Cathedral in Lisbon to Santarem, http://www.csj.org.uk/guides-online.htm

From Santarem it's another two days to Fatima, and the web sites Sil mentioned have information about towns and stages. I don't know about the quality of the Fatima marking -- I walked from Lisbon to Porto this summer, and although I occasionally saw the Fatima signs, I would not have wanted to rely solely on them for directions. The Galician Amigos Association have painted yellow arrows on the entire Camino route from Lisbon to Santiago, and the way is now very well marked (except for a few eucalyptus forests), so from Lisbon to Santarem at least, you should be fine.

Are you planning to continue on to Santiago from Fatima? If so, you will have a couple of days going "against the markers" (in other words, you'll be walking north on the route south to Fatima), but then you will join up again with the Camino around Coimbra and you will be back with the yellow arrows.

Laurie

I met a good fellow who paints both blue And yellow arrows from Lisbon to Santarem. He speaks excellent English. His facebook page is:
https://m.facebook.com/amigosdocaminho

 

[Rikkitikkitavi]

There are numerous websites for the Coast Path or 'Caminho do Tejo'

You can buy a pocket guide - the CNC - Centro Nacional de Cultura - in collaboration with the Readers Digest, has published a pocket guide of the Way of the Tagus to the practical information necessary for the pilgrim walking through security in this way. The guide can be obtained at the headquarters of the TNC in Lisbon (Rua António Maria Cardoso, 68) at a price of 14.50 euros. For Portugal may be sent to collection or by sending the check. May be requested by mail, fax or e-mail.
http://www.cnc.pt/Artigo.aspx?ID=51

This was a group website - perhaps you'll find some info here:

http://www.atomicdelicia.org/fatima/

Step 1 - Alenquer to Azambuja, 24 km
Step 2 - Azambuja to Santarem, 30 km
Step 3 - Santarem to Olhos d'Agua, 27 km
Step 4 - Olhos d'Agua to Fatima, 29 km

And a few route maps here:

http://www.lxjovem.pt/?id_tema=241

And a blog here:

http://roadbook.blogspot.com/2008/09/ca ... dia-2.html

http://aventura-te.com/caminhotejo_aventura.htm

I met the fellow who does a lot of work in the Fatima pilgrimage. His Facebook is:
https://m.facebook.com/amigosdocaminho

 

[amsimoes]

Hi
The way is well marked and you can purchase the credential, here:

http://www.caminho.com.pt/credencial.html

The map:
http://www.caminho.com.pt/mapas.html


There are few accommodation, but to Santarém there is some budget accommodation and albergues. In Alcanena and Minde and the accommodation is a little more expensive.


I think that Mario of Santarém Hostel, perhaps can inform better, because it accommodates many pilgrims of Fatima.

Alternative accommodation (call to confirm):
Advagar
Centro Cultural, Recreativo e Artistico de Advagar
Contacto: Victor Abreu e Conceição Abreu
Tel: +351 964 115 073
Morada:
Rua da Escola, 2000 Advagar – Santarém
Necessario Colchão de Campismo

Nascente do Alviela (Olhos de Agua)
Alojamento Olhos de Agua
Centro de Alojamento do Centro de Ciência Viva do Alviela
Praia Fluvial dos Olhos d’Água do Alviela
Louriceira – Alcanena
Reservas:
Tel.: + 351 249 881 805
Fax: + 351 249 881 842

Monsanto
Junta de Freguesia de Monsanto
Morada: Rua Alfredo Keil, 164
2380-575 Monsanto-Alcanena
e-Mail: jfmonsanto@sapo.pt
Tel: 249.879.070
Fax: 249.879.070
info@alviela.cienciaviva.pt

Minde
Acolhimento de Peregrinos em Minde
Largo Bombeiros, Minde
2395-129 MINDE
249 840 122
249 840 838
bvminde@net.novis.pt

 

[Gil A]

Fatima is a very important part of our pilgrimage (wonder woman and I). We plan to walk from Lisbon to Tomar find a place to stay there and the next day take
the bus to Fatima and return the same day to Tomar and then continue to Santiago de Compostela.
This is just another option for you.

 

[Rikkitikkitavi]

Fatima is a very important part of our pilgrimage (wonder woman and I). We plan to walk from Lisbon to Tomar find a place to stay there and the next day take
the bus to Fatima and return the same day to Tomar and then continue to Santiago de Compostela.
This is just another option for you.

I found the hike from Santarem to be extremely peaceful and beautiful. There is an Alberque 200 m from the trail near Aviala. There are also a couple of pensao/residentials. In Amero das Milharicas, there is Casa O Primo Basilio. The Owner is older and speaks no English (some French and Spanish). His tel is 243.449.847 email is casaprimobazilio.oleiro@hotmail.com. 25e for a single room with bath, kitchen and outdoor pool.

 

[Rikkitikkitavi]

Fatima is a very important part of our pilgrimage (wonder woman and I). We plan to walk from Lisbon to Tomar find a place to stay there and the next day take
the bus to Fatima and return the same day to Tomar and then continue to Santiago de Compostela.
This is just another option for you.

I started the Camino Portuguese headed for Compostela, but instead did the Camino Tejo to Fatima, and then took a bus from Fatima to Tomar and started the Camino de Santiago from Tomar. The Convento de Christo makes a great spiritual/historic place to start. The bus from Fatima to Tomar (the local bus) cost about 3 euros.

 

[Katka]

Hi!

Last year I did Camino portugese from Porto to Santiago. It was very great experiance. Unfortunately, this year I don't have enough free days, so ... I was thinking to walk Camino de Tejo. I did manage to do some research, but ... it still worry me. At the beginning are some sections over 30km per day. I would like to split them.
My questions are:
1) Is hard to find (cheap aka not expensive) places to sleep?
2) Where you can sleep in the section Santarem - Fatima? It there enough places to sleep?
Thank you so much for your replys!

 

[Gil A]

I am in Tomar.
This morning my wife and I took the bus to Fatima. We spent all day there. We got our Caminho de Santiago credentials stamped at the rectory, one of the most beautiful stamps I have seen.
We attended an open air mass with thousands of pilgrims officiated by a bishop and concelebrated by at least 16 priests. Very spiritual and touching.
We spent the day visiting the different chapels and the museum.
We returned to Tomar at the end of the day.
Tomorrow we continue out pilgrimage to the tomb of the apostle St. James the Great.
My advise: if you walk el Caminho Portuguese, do not miss a visit to the shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima

 

[santaremhostel]

As you all probably know, both Caminho de Santiago and Fátima, start in Lisbon and take different directions (split) in Santarém.
Therefore, concerning the Caminho de Santiago, Fatima, is a detour.
However, for those who wish to visit Fatima these are the options:
1- Walk from Santarem to Fatima, is like 57Km, two days walking 28,5Km per day as proposed by the Fatima Friends Association (http://caminho.com.pt/index_e.html) Exiting Fatima, you will only skip Golega from the original caminho de Santiago, if you take the caminho to Tomar instead towards to Coimbra. There is a new way recently renew with proper yellow arrows called "Caminho da Nascente" that will lead you to Tomar. This caminho was "renewed" by the Fatima Friends Association (http://caminho.com.pt/index_e.html)
2- Take a Bus in Santarem or Tomar, visit Fatima and back by bus. Take a break, relax and enjoy also Santarem or Tomar. No detour!

Bom Caminho
Mario

 

[Sullykerry]

Mario: First of all thank you very much for all your informative posts. I will be cycling the Caminho Portugues in September/October starting from Lisbon. I made a promise to my parents I would visit Fatima and attend Mass on their behalf.

I will be cycling through Santarem and Tomar. According to the REDE - Express bus schedule (only gives a schedule up to one month in advance) the bus leaves Tomar at 0700hrs (only one bus?) and then returns at 16:55 for Tomar. Santarem offers a later departure time at 10:45 and returning to Santarem at 17:45.

My question is this: Are there other transportation options? i.e. different buses to Fatima. I guess I can get up at o600hrs to catch the bus in Tomar but am just wondering if there are other options.

I hope to meet up with you and share a glass of wine. Many thanks again, John

 

[santaremhostel]

Hi Sullykerry.
Not in Santarém. The alternative to Rede Expresso is the regional bus at 10:15 return at 16:45 and stops everywhere
In Tomar, which is nearest Fatima than Santarem you have more alternatives to Rede Expresso.
Link here:
http://www.rodotejo.pt/horarios/todosresultados/0407/0405/1

Usually Fatima pilgrims cycling do Lisbon - Santarem in one single stage 90km, start at 7 and arrive between 15 and 17
Sleep in Santarem and then Fatima also in one single stage 57Km.
You should adjust the stages according to your skills or goals.
Note:
In your case you might want to sleep in Fátima and then Tomar 30Km
Let me know if need more information on this and the wine is ready.
Bom caminho
Mario

 

[santaremhostel]

Hi Sullykerry.
Sorry for the late update reply.
Bus Timetable from Tomar to Fátima here
Bom Caminho
Mario

 

[Ko.Z]

As you all probably know, both Caminho de Santiago and Fátima, start in Lisbon and take different directions (split) in Santarém.
Therefore, concerning the Caminho de Santiago, Fatima, is a detour.
However, for those who wish to visit Fatima these are the options:
1- Walk from Santarem to Fatima, is like 57Km, two days walking 28,5Km per day as proposed by the Fatima Friends Association (http://caminho.com.pt/index_e.html) Exiting Fatima, you will only skip Golega from the original caminho de Santiago, if you take the caminho to Tomar instead towards to Coimbra. There is a new way recently renew with proper yellow arrows called "Caminho da Nascente" that will lead you to Tomar. This caminho was "renewed" by the Fatima Friends Association (http://caminho.com.pt/index_e.html)
2- Take a Bus in Santarem or Tomar, visit Fatima and back by bus. Take a break, relax and enjoy also Santarem or Tomar. No detour!

Bom Caminho
Mario

Hi Mario
I plan to do a pilgrimage to Fatima starting from Santarem to coincide with the Centenary Celebration on 13 May 2017. Is there an organized walking pilgrimage I can join? I intend to stay in Fatima for three days from 12-14 May 2017. If everything fails I might take your advice which is option #2 and stay overnight in Santarem but at this stage looks like nowhere to spend the night in Santarem. I've tried booking hotels online but they're already fully booked. I would greatly appreciate any advice/suggestion you can give. Thanking you in advance. Ko.Z

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi Mario
I plan to do a pilgrimage to Fatima starting from Santarem to coincide with the Centenary Celebration on 13 May 2017. Is there an organized walking pilgrimage I can join? I intend to stay in Fatima for three days from 12-14 May 2017. If everything fails I might take your advice which is option #2 and stay overnight in Santarem but at this stage looks like nowhere to spend the night in Santarem. I've tried booking hotels online but they're already fully booked. I would greatly appreciate any advice/suggestion you can give. Thanking you in advance. Ko.Z

Hi, Ko.Z,
Welcome to the forum. I think you should contact Mario directly by email, info on his Facebook page. http://santaremhostel.blogspot.com/p/contactos-conta.html

I think it is very unlikely that everything is booked for 2017 -- if you got that idea from booking.com or some other website, don't forget that the websites only have access to a small number of any hotel's rooms. Contacting the hotel directly is a much better way to learn if there is availability.

Good luck with this planning, Bom Caminho, Laurie

 

[santaremhostel]

Hi Mario
I plan to do a pilgrimage to Fatima starting from Santarem to coincide with the Centenary Celebration on 13 May 2017. Is there an organized walking pilgrimage I can join? I intend to stay in Fatima for three days from 12-14 May 2017. If everything fails I might take your advice which is option #2 and stay overnight in Santarem but at this stage looks like nowhere to spend the night in Santarem. I've tried booking hotels online but they're already fully booked. I would greatly appreciate any advice/suggestion you can give. Thanking you in advance. Ko.Z

Hi Ko.Z sorry for the late reply but I did not notice your last message. Sorry. About your questions:
-No, I do not know any organized walking pilgrimage, and also will not recommend it, as they walk on national roads.
- If you intend to walk to fátima I can provide all the information about the caminho avoiding the national road whenever possible.
- Visit the web page http://caminho.com.pt
-Yes, accommodation in Fátima might be full and also very expensive like 50€ or more for a bed in a dorm
-For the moment we have available one private room ensuite and beds in dormitory at regular rate, according to our service and not due other external events:
Private room:
Single 30€
Twin 40€
Bed in dormitory 15€
Breakfast always included
The bus leaves Santarem 10:15 and returns at 16:45 cost for each run is 9€
Probably they will provide more bus due the event... but this the availability for now.
Please contact me by email: santaremhostel@sapo.pt
Sorry for the late reply and bom caminho

 

[santaremhostel]

Hi Mario
I plan to do a pilgrimage to Fatima starting from Santarem to coincide with the Centenary Celebration on 13 May 2017. Is there an organized walking pilgrimage I can join? I intend to stay in Fatima for three days from 12-14 May 2017. If everything fails I might take your advice which is option #2 and stay overnight in Santarem but at this stage looks like nowhere to spend the night in Santarem. I've tried booking hotels online but they're already fully booked. I would greatly appreciate any advice/suggestion you can give. Thanking you in advance. Ko.Z

Bus web site:
http://www.rodotejo.pt/horarios/todosresultados/0425/1835/1/0

 

[Ko.Z]

Hi, Ko.Z,
Welcome to the forum. I think you should contact Mario directly by email, info on his Facebook page. http://santaremhostel.blogspot.com/p/contactos-conta.html

I think it is very unlikely that everything is booked for 2017 -- if you got that idea from booking.com or some other website, don't forget that the websites only have access to a small number of any hotel's rooms. Contacting the hotel directly is a much better way to learn if there is availability.

Good luck with this planning, Bom Caminho, Laurie

Hi Laurie, thank you for welcoming me to this forum. My first time ever to join a forum.

Followed your advise and already received a response from Mario.

 

[SafariGirl]

Hi, manosge,

The Confraternity's online guide to the Caminho Portugues from Lisbon to Porto will get you from the Cathedral in Lisbon to Santarem, http://www.csj.org.uk/guides-online.htm

From Santarem it's another two days to Fatima, and the web sites Sil mentioned have information about towns and stages. I don't know about the quality of the Fatima marking -- I walked from Lisbon to Porto this summer, and although I occasionally saw the Fatima signs, I would not have wanted to rely solely on them for directions. The Galician Amigos Association have painted yellow arrows on the entire Camino route from Lisbon to Santiago, and the way is now very well marked (except for a few eucalyptus forests), so from Lisbon to Santarem at least, you should be fine.

Are you planning to continue on to Santiago from Fatima? If so, you will have a couple of days going "against the markers" (in other words, you'll be walking north on the route south to Fatima), but then you will join up again with the Camino around Coimbra and you will be back with the yellow arrows.

Laurie

Thank you Laurie. I'm in Azambuja now, just trying to figure out how to walk to Fatima and then on to Santiago. This post has really helped me. Obrigada

 

[santaremhostel]

Hi, All,
Options to visit Fatima:
1- By bus from Santarem or Tomar. Will have to stay two nights in the same hostel or albergue.
2-Walk from Santarem to Fatima is 58Km it will take two days, 28Km per day (can do it in 3 days in short stages) and then walk to Tomar 30Km by "Caminho do Nascente" or to Ansião .
3- Walk from Tomar to Fatima is 30Km by "Caminho do Nascente" and then north to Ansião

You can find more detailed information including videos about visiting fátima in http://www.caminho.com.pt/
Attached the generic map to Fátima.
Note, that both caminhos, Santiago and Fatima are the same from Lisbon to Santarem, where they separate in Santarem.
Bom Caminho to You all.
Any questions please let me know.

Mario

 

[pcerqu01]

Thank you Laurie. I'm in Azambuja now, just trying to figure out how to walk to Fatima and then on to Santiago. This post has really helped me. Obrigada

Hi, how did walk to Fatima go. I did Braga to Santiago 3 weeks ago. Going to do Azambuja to Fatima on Friday. Paulo.

 

[SafariGirl]

Hi pcerqu01, Sorry I’ve only just seen this post. I loved the walk...didn’t love Fatima...but was very glad I took the detour. How was it for you?