Lisbon to Santiago on the Central, then return to Porto for the Coastal?

[trecile]

Okay, I like looooong Caminos, and Lisbon to Santiago is "only" 600+ km, so I was thinking of walking from Lisbon to Santiago on the Central route, then taking the bus back to Porto (or Vila do Conde) and walking the Coastal. For comparison's sake. Not because I'm addicted to Caminos or anything like that.

I'm not interested in zigzagging between the two.

Has anyone else done this?

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Whatever you decide, try not to miss the Espiritual Variant, which I don't consider zigzagging. The walk into amazing little Combarro, and visiting Amenteira's monastery, along with the awesome hour long boat ride to Padron were all special and not to be missed.

 

[TravellingMan22]

Whatever you decide, try not to miss the Espiritual Variant, which I don't consider zigzagging. The walk into amazing little Combarro, and visiting Amenteira's monastery, along with the awesome hour long boat ride to Padron were all special and not to be missed.

Yes I was going to make the exact same point, but as usual am one step behind!!

Did it recently…Comborro, was fab, and the monastery looked incredible (I didn’t stay) though apparently getting a bed can be tough though many do.

The boat trip was the highlight of the walk. Post boat I only walked a few kms north of Padron and which I initially regretted as ‘rest days’ aren’t my thing, but stayed at Albergue Lagar Jesus which was fab so I was glad to adhere to the plan!

 

[jungleboy]

This is not a strange idea so whether anyone else has done it or not doesn't seem to matter to me. You're not suggesting anything weird like walking backwards or carrying a rice cooker or going by donkey. Walk a camino and then walk another one? Sure, why not?!

Since Chrissy mentioned the VE, an obvious idea is to include that variant on one of the caminos and not on the other one, to give you more variety. That way, you would only repeat basically two stages: Redondela to just past Pontevedra and Padrón to Santiago. Or if you prefer to mix it up a bit more but still keep the Portuguese flavour, after your first camino, take the bus to Braga instead and walk the Geira, or Viseu and walk the CPI + Sanabrés. Or for a longer continuous walk from Lisbon, walk the Caminho do Mar to Tomar via Fátima, which would add about four stages to the walk.

 

[trecile]

Whatever you decide, try not to miss the Espiritual Variant,

I'm definitely planning on the Variante Espiritual since I didn't go that way my last time on the Portuguese Camino.

 

[trecile]

Or if you prefer to mix it up a bit more but still keep the Portuguese flavour, after your first camino, take the bus to Braga instead and walk the Geira, or Viseu and walk the CPI + Sanabrés.

Ooh, that sounds interesting!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

@jungleboy is always "all things interesting", no matter what he suggests.

 

[Kev&Kath]

Whatever you decide, try not to miss the Espiritual Variant, which I don't consider zigzagging. The walk into amazing little Combarro, and visiting Amenteira's monastery, along with the awesome hour long boat ride to Padron were all special and not to be missed.

Can only affirm your comments regarding the Espiritual; however, I think I'm still recovering from the walk up and out of Combarro! That was an amazing challenge. That aside, I was in awe of Armenteira...particularly the monastery. The chords of Vespers, and the morning Pilgrim Mass, still resonate...and the walk out of Armenteira...nothing short of stunning!

 

[mgnswaus]

Okay, I like looooong Caminos, and Lisbon to Santiago is "only" 600+ km, so I was thinking of walking from Lisbon to Santiago on the Central route, then taking the bus back to Porto (or Vila do Conde) and walking the Coastal. For comparison's sake. Not because I'm addicted to Caminos or anything like that.

I'm not interested in zigzagging between the two.

Has anyone else done this?

Oh, yes! There are plenty of transport options for doubling back. For me it is go to way to experience the Portuguese including the Variant, though from Porto not Lisbon. Enjoy!

 

[David Tallan]

Ooh, that sounds interesting!

If you decide to do the Geira, you'll have my reports to read, because I plan to walk it in November.