First Camino - Time kind of short

[brienoc]

Hello All,

I am planning my first Camino in mid September. I'm 61, but not yet retired and so taking more than 10 days (on the road) will be difficult for me. So a few questions that may have been asked before, but I'm new to the forum:

1. Can I get from Porto to Santiago in 10 days - or is that going to be rushing it?
2. I'm leaning toward the Coastal Route, so if I don't start in Porto, which coastal city should I start to lessen my "road time"?
3. I probably won't stay in alburgues, so does anyone have some Coastal Route hotels to recommend?
4. Any recommendations for services that transfer your bags to hotels along the Coastal Route?

Thank you all in advance. This is a great place for insight into the Camino!

Brien
Austin TX

 

[Former member 22438]

Depending on your pace you could get in 10 days from Porto to Santiago but that will be rushing and long days of walking.

Here some stages
1 Porto to Vila do Conde 32 kms
2 VdC to Esposende 24 kms
3 Esposende to Viana do Castelo 22 kms
4 VdC to Caminha 30 kms or to A Guarda 33 kms
5 Caminha to Baiona 26 km
6 Baiona to Vigo 20 kms
7 Vigo to Cessantes 23 kms
8 Cessantes to Pontevedra 17 kms
9 Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis 20 kms
10 CdR to Padrón 20 kms
11 Padrón to Santiago 24 kms

I should advise you take the teain to Viana do Castelo and walk from there
In Viana we had good experiences with pensão Laranjeiro ( not hotel Laranjeiro that's a different one) the owners, a young couple walked the caminho themselves.

In Caminha we stayed in a guesthouse opposite the trainstation. Not special.
In Baiona we went to the tourist information and they advised a very nice guesthouse. We loved Baiona.
In Vigo are hundreds of cheap hotels
Cessantes I advised. Although you do not like albergues, there is a very nice one,
O Refúxio de la Jérezana . The owner ,a nice lady can cook you a nice meal and a breakfast in the morning.
In Pontevedra are many hotels and guesthouses
Caldas de Reis dito There is a nice one, o Cruceiro but they did not react on my emails the other day so we booked another one for our next caminho
In Padron are several hotels and Guesthouses.
In Santiago are so many. Just look at Booking.com

I have no experiences with forwarding of backpacks .

 

[David Manzo]

Walked along the water from Porto to Vila do Conte and then the central route to SdC. 10 days of walking and it was fabulous. Took a rest day min-way in Tui and found that city and its surroundings the perfect spot.

 

[brienoc]

Depending on your pace you could get in 10 days from Porto to Santiago but that will be rushing and long days of walking.

Here some stages
1 Porto to Vila do Conde 32 kms
2 VdC to Esposende 24 kms
3 Esposende to Viana do Castelo 22 kms
4 VdC to Caminha 30 kms or to A Guarda 33 kms
5 Caminha to Baiona 26 km
6 Baiona to Vigo 20 kms
7 Vigo to Cessantes 23 kms
8 Cessantes to Pontevedra 17 kms
9 Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis 20 kms
10 CdR to Padrón 20 kms
11 Padrón to Santiago 24 kms

I should advise you take the teain to Viana do Castelo and walk from there
In Viana we had good experiences with pensão Laranjeiro ( not hotel Laranjeiro that's a different one) the owners, a young couple walked the caminho themselves.

In Caminha we stayed in a guesthouse opposite the trainstation. Not special.
In Baiona we went to the tourist information and they advised a very nice guesthouse. We loved Baiona.
In Vigo are hundreds of cheap hotels
Cessantes I advised. Although you do not like albergues, there is a very nice one,
O Refúxio de la Jérezana . The owner ,a nice lady can cook you a nice meal and a breakfast in the morning.
In Pontevedra are many hotels and guesthouses
Caldas de Reis dito There is a nice one, o Cruceiro but they did not react on my emails the other day so we booked another one for our next caminho
In Padron are several hotels and Guesthouses.
In Santiago are so many. Just look at Booking.com

I have no experiences with forwarding of backpacks .

THANK YOU for this advice. I don’t want to be rushed and I’m not a very experienced hiker. I may take your suggestion in starting a day or two further north.

 

[brienoc]

Walked along the water from Porto to Vila do Conte and then the central route to SdC. 10 days of walking and it was fabulous. Took a rest day min-way in Tui and found that city and its surroundings the perfect spot.

Thank You for your feedback. Did you feel rushed making it in 10 days? Do you feel that the Coastal Route is better than in the inner more traveled route?

 

[Former member 22438]

Thank You for your feedback. Did you feel rushed making it in 10 days? Do you feel that the Coastal Route is better than in the inner more traveled route?

I walked both. The coastal is more relaxed and beautiful although keep in mind that during rain and wind it will be less comfortable.

The central (inland) route is beautiful too and you could stay at the most famous albergue of the entire caminho Português, casa da Fernanda in Vitorino dos Piães (between Barcelos and Ponte de Lima)

 

[brienoc]

I walked both. The coastal is more relaxed and beautiful although keep in mind that during rain and wind it will be less comfortable.

The central (inland) route is beautiful too and you could stay at the most famous albergue of the entire caminho Português, casa da Fernanda in Vitorino dos Piães (between Barcelos and Ponte de Lima)

Thanks again Ivar for the quick reply. I’m sitting here mapping out your suggestions starting in VdC. Yikes the first leg to Caminha is 18 miles (30km). But that’s the longest leg and I guess doable.

I’ll be going mid September so I am hoping that here will not be much rain. But I’ll prepare for it.

I’ve heard of that albergue (case da Fernanda) and if I don’t stay there that’s ok. I hope to return and perhaps walk the interior again but start in Porto - when I have more time.

 

[Elle Bieling]

Many people start from Valenca or Tui, on the central route. This is enough for a Compostela. You could do it in a nice enjoyable 7-8 days. These towns and the route onward I found fascinating and very historic. Add a day in Santiago and Porto, and you will have yourself a very enjoyable trip! Check out my info on it, starting on day nineteen.