Is this route feasible?

[NewIDPilgrim]

Hello! I am planning a journey for 5 to 10 people for June 8-21, 2025. The tentative plans are:
Leave from Matosinhos to Praia de Angeiras to Povoa de Varzim to Esposenda to Darque to Moledo to A Guarda to Baiona to Vigo to Redondela to Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis to Pontecesures to Rua de Francos to Santiago.

The last two stops are short walks because I really want us to arrive in time for the noon Pilgrims’ Mass (I am planning on paying for the incenser as a Thanksgiving for completing the pilgrimage-if allowed).

I have an alternative route for members who can’t do the whole walk. It starts in Tui to Porrino to Redondela.

Are these feasible??? TIA!!

 

[jsalt]

Leave from Matosinhos

Hi, just wondering why you are starting in Matosinhos. The most wonderful part of that route is walking from the cathedral in Porto, down to the river, and following the river all the way into Matosinhos. For me, it's the best start day of any camino.

 

[NewIDPilgrim]

Hi, just wondering why you are starting in Matosinhos. The most wonderful part of that route is walking from the cathedral in Porto, down to the river, and following the river all the way into Matosinhos. For me, it's the best start day of any camino.

Was try to cut some kms so that some of the members aren’t slammed at the beginning. I was going to give them the option to walk from the Cathedral or start in Matosinhos.

 

[trecile]

The question is - is it feasible to plan a Camino that 5 - 10 people will be happy with?

 

[NewIDPilgrim]

The question is - is it feasible to plan a Camino that 5 - 10 people will be happy with?

I’m trying to give them options.

 

[jsalt]

One year I took a group from the cathedral in Porto and we first walked over the long bridge, across the river, and down to the other side. They all took the best photos ever of Porto, from the bridge and from the other side of the river. Further along we then got the river taxi back across the river. It was a great way to start their camino. It was then a lovely walk to Matosinhos, where we stayed the first night.

As you are group leader, doing all the research, I would suggest that YOU work out all the best options, that suits EVERYONE in the group. They will all just follow you anyway - that's why you are doing all the organising.

I have found with a group that I must KISS.
(Keep It Simple Stupid)

 

[JacquelineA]

If this is feasible depends on the people in your group.
How old are they, do they carry their luggage, what is their condition (trained long distance walkers or not).
You walk 14 days without a day to rest. Can they make that and enjoy it?
You should ask them what’s feasible.

The Camino Portuguese is said to be easy, and is most of the time, but it has some steep hills that are real knee crushers, especially on the walk up to Redondela.
The first days seems short, and then you mostly walk along the coast on boulevard and boardwalk (with an occasional (steep) walk into the hills) but from Vigo to Caldas de Reis they are longer and also more stretching. The way you planned the daily distances could be better imo.

I walked from Matosinhos to Caminha in 5 days. And from tui to Santiago in 6 days. (And an extra morning for Porto to Matosinhos in the end). We switched from Caminha to Valenca.
I was thankful for the 2 restdays along the way.

You can only make EVERYONE happy when you know what they are capable of and what their expectations are.
Because giving time to sit on the beach or have a look around the towns on the coast in Portugal is nice (seems to me there’s a lot of time for that) , but if they can’t make it to Santiago because the distance on the days from Vigo are too much and they get injuries they won’t be happy. Because reaching Santiago is their main goal.

Why don’t you look at other sites like Camino comfort or stingynomads for inspiration on what’s doable.

Camino Portugues

De Camino Portugues start in Lissabon of Porto, hoewel een zeer populair startpunt Tui is, in Galicia. Het is de op-een-na-populairste route.

www.caminocomfort.com

The Portuguese Camino Coastal Route - a 2024 guide

The Coastal Route of the Portuguese Camino de Santiago from Porto - a 2023 guide and walking stages. Downloadable PDFs.

stingynomads.com

Good luck planning everything.