Matosinhos - stages on Camino Portugues Central

[MarieLauFlorin]

I have read a lot in here about the detour from Porto to Matosinhos and back to the central route. But I am in doubt how to make Matosinhos match with the stages I would like to do further on. Can anyone help me? Here are the stages I have planned - I need help to change the first three stages:
Porto - Vilarinho 25 km
Vilarinho - Sao Pedro do Rates 26 km
Sao Pedro do Rates - Lugar do Corgo 35,5 km
Lugar do Corgo - Rubiäes 32,3 km
Rubiäes - Tui 18,8 km
Tui - Redondela 30,4 km
Redondela . Cancela 29,6 km
Cancela - Herbon 29,6 km
Herbon - Santiago 24,5 km

 

[Deleted member 56069]

Marie, you have a few long days in your schedule. Not sure you are limited as to how many days you have available to walk or not. The Brierley guide shows the 10 stages out of Porto as:
Porto to Vilarinho - 26.9 Kilometers
Vilarinho to Barcelos - 27.3 Kilometers
Barcelos to Ponte de Lima - 33.6 Kilometers
Ponte de Lima to Rubiaes - 18.1 Kilometers
Rubiaes to Tui - 19.3 Kilometers
Tui to Redondela - 32.4 Kilometers
Redondela to Pontrvedra - 19.7 Kilometers
Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis - 21.6 kilometers
Calas de Reis to Padron - 18.1 Kilometers
Padron to Santiago - 24.9 Kilometers

So one more day than your plan. We balanced out a few of the longer days with the shorter days, but still walked 10 days. We typically stay one village prior or one later than the Brierley guide, but overnight at the larger significant stops on the way.

 

[Gillyweb]

Hi there. Just wondering why you want to cut over from Matosinhos? I've just returned from the Portugues and I loved the walk to Vila do Conde. As I arrived by plane mid morning into Porto on day one I chose to walk to Matosinhos on the day I arrived and continued to Vila do Conde the next day but it could be done in one day if you are fit and ready for longish stages. The walk is really beautiful- along the coast-on board walks over the dunes and I wouldn't have missed it for anything. It also gives you an extra day's respite from cobbles. I then cut across to Rates and on to Barcelo. The following day I stopped half way to Ponte di Lima at Lugar do Conde.I assume you are considering Casa Fernanda there ? It was wonderful. Fernanda is the most amazing hospitalero and it was my first true pilgrim moment of the Portugues. I'd highly recommend staying.
The cut over from Vila do Conde to Rates isn't too difficult. Brierly was a bit tricky to follow but I didn't get lost and in the end I just set my gps on google maps until things became obvious. Start by following the aqueduct out of town. It wasn't too long a day - around 27km.
Good luck with whatever you decide but I'd really recommend from a personal point of view carrying on beyond Matosinhos to Vila do Conde.
Burn Camino.

 

[MarieLauFlorin]

Hi there. Just wondering why you want to cut over from Matosinhos? I've just returned from the Portugues and I loved the walk to Vila do Conde. As I arrived by plane mid morning into Porto on day one I chose to walk to Matosinhos on the day I arrived and continued to Vila do Conde the next day but it could be done in one day if you are fit and ready for longish stages. The walk is really beautiful- along the coast-on board walks over the dunes and I wouldn't have missed it for anything. It also gives you an extra day's respite from cobbles. I then cut across to Rates and on to Barcelo. The following day I stopped half way to Ponte di Lima at Lugar do Conde.I assume you are considering Casa Fernanda there ? It was wonderful. Fernanda is the most amazing hospitalero and it was my first true pilgrim moment of the Portugues. I'd highly recommend staying.
The cut over from Vila do Conde to Rates isn't too difficult. Brierly was a bit tricky to follow but I didn't get lost and in the end I just set my gps on google maps until things became obvious. Start by following the aqueduct out of town. It wasn't too long a day - around 27km.
Good luck with whatever you decide but I'd really recommend from a personal point of view carrying on beyond Matosinhos to Vila do Conde.
Burn Camino.

Hi Gillyweb. The hole Matosinhos thing was something I read about as a good solution out of Porto without too much traffic. It does not matter to me at which place I cross back to the central as long as I end up some day at casa Fernanda (you read my thoughts there...) So I would be very happy if you can write which towns you stayed in bestween Porto and Casa Fernanda? It might just walk in your steps, then...

 

[MarieLauFlorin]

Marie, you have a few long days in your schedule. Not sure you are limited as to how many days you have available to walk or not. The Brierley guide shows the 10 stages out of Porto as:
Porto to Vilarinho - 26.9 Kilometers
Vilarinho to Barcelos - 27.3 Kilometers
Barcelos to Ponte de Lima - 33.6 Kilometers
Ponte de Lima to Rubiaes - 18.1 Kilometers
Rubiaes to Tui - 19.3 Kilometers
Tui to Redondela - 32.4 Kilometers
Redondela to Pontrvedra - 19.7 Kilometers
Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis - 21.6 kilometers
Calas de Reis to Padron - 18.1 Kilometers
Padron to Santiago - 24.9 Kilometers

So one more day than your plan. We balanced out a few of the longer days with the shorter days, but still walked 10 days. We typically stay one village prior or one later than the Brierley guide, but overnight at the larger significant stops on the way.

Thanks you so much, I Think these are the classical stages. I am seeking to make changes to these steps, because I would like to get quietly out of Porto and because there is Casa Fernanda in Lugar de Corgo and the Herbon monastery I would like to stay at. For me long stages are good. On Primitivo I did 11 stages which is about 28 a day. And Primitivo is much harder than Portugues so I believe the stages will be ok for me.

 

[AML]

Marie, from Porto the first day via Matosinhos i stayed at Albergue Sao Mamede in Vila Cha, second day then crossed over to the central route at Vila do Conde and stayed at Albergue Sao Pedro de Rates.

Hope this helps

 

[Letsgocamino]

My sis and I began our walk from matosinhos on the delightful boardwalk and the refreshing Atlantic ocean to S.Tiago Schoolhouse in La Burge where we stayed the night. Next morning to Vila do Conde where we caught a bus to Arcos, stayed at The most beautiful, comfortable Quinta de San Miguel and the following morning began the central route. GOD! I want to go back.

 

[MarieLauFlorin]

Marie, from Porto the first day via Matosinhos i stayed at Albergue Sao Mamede in Vila Cha, second day then crossed over to the central route at Vila do Conde and stayed at Albergue Sao Pedro de Rates.

Hope this helps

Very helpful. Then I will make my steps:
Porto - Vila Cha 22 km
Vila Cha- Sao Pedro do Rates 22 km
Sao Pedro do Rates - Lugar do Corgo 35,5 km
Lugar do Corgo - Rubiäes 32,3 km
Rubiäes - Tui 18,8 km
Tui - Redondela 30,4 km
Redondela . Cancela 29,6 km
Cancela - Herbon 29,6 km
Herbon - Santiago 24,5 km

Thanks a Lot for your help...

Marie

 

[Gillyweb]

Hi Gillyweb. The hole Matosinhos thing was something I read about as a good solution out of Porto without too much traffic. It does not matter to me at which place I cross back to the central as long as I end up some day at casa Fernanda (you read my thoughts there...) So I would be very happy if you can write which towns you stayed in bestween Porto and Casa Fernanda? It might just walk in your steps, then...

Hi again,
TBH the section from the Cathedral to Matosinhos along the coast isn't busy and is also rather lovely. I did Porto, Matosinhos, Vila do Conde, Barcelos, then Casa Fernanda .... I chose a Privado Albergue with sea view in Vila do Conde just because it looked lovely - and it was. The Bellamar Hostel. There isn't a great deal in Rates and I definitely found VdC a very lovely stop. Barcelos is also another good stop - a decent town and a restaurant opposite the Albergue with the friendliest owner who does a HUGE pilgrim meal for €5 and welcomes everyone. Again I'm glad I stopped there.

Whatever you choose to do - Buen Camino

 

[Gillyweb]

Very helpful. Then I will make my steps:
Porto - Vila Cha 22 km
Vila Cha- Sao Pedro do Rates 22 km
Sao Pedro do Rates - Lugar do Corgo 35,5 km
Lugar do Corgo - Rubiäes 32,3 km
Rubiäes - Tui 18,8 km
Tui - Redondela 30,4 km
Redondela . Cancela 29,6 km
Cancela - Herbon 29,6 km
Herbon - Santiago 24,5 km

Thanks a Lot for your help...

Marie

I'm just going to point out that your Rates to Lugar followed by Lugar to Rubiäes might, depending on your fitness, be a challenge. There is a really rather tough climb out of Ponte di Lima which, if you've already done one longish day and then walked 15k -20k on the day before you hit it, might be tiring. You know your fitness so I'm just pointing it out. The climb has some rocky section that are pretty steep and quite a few of us found it tough.

 

[AML]

Very helpful. Then I will make my steps:
Porto - Vila Cha 22 km
Vila Cha- Sao Pedro do Rates 22 km
Sao Pedro do Rates - Lugar do Corgo 35,5 km
Lugar do Corgo - Rubiäes 32,3 km
Rubiäes - Tui 18,8 km
Tui - Redondela 30,4 km
Redondela . Cancela 29,6 km
Cancela - Herbon 29,6 km
Herbon - Santiago 24,5 km

Thanks a Lot for your help...

Marie

You're welcome Marie. Also, if you have time I can recommend taking the Variante Espiritual after Pontevedra, this will rejoin the central at Padron.
Have a great camino
Aidan

 

[MarieLauFlorin]

You're welcome Marie. Also, if you have time I can recommend taking the Variante Espiritual after Pontevedra, this will rejoin the central at Padron.
Have a great camino
Aidan

Thanks Aidan. How many days or kilometers extra is that?

 

[MarieLauFlorin]

I'm just going to point out that your Rates to Lugar followed by Lugar to Rubiäes might, depending on your fitness, be a challenge. There is a really rather tough climb out of Ponte di Lima which, if you've already done one longish day and then walked 15k -20k on the day before you hit it, might be tiring. You know your fitness so I'm just pointing it out. The climb has some rocky section that are pretty steep and quite a few of us found it tough.

It seems no matter what I do it'll be a long and as short day around there. If I change my stop to Ponte de Lima, which I believe is a truly beautiful City, I'll have 38 km the day after. But I'm quite fit and had no problem at Primitivo so I hope it'll be ok whatever stop I choose. How is Ponte de Lima?

 

[MarieLauFlorin]

What good advice from all of you. Changing to:

1. Porto- Matosinhos 10 km (time to see Porto) 1
2. Matosinhos- Vila do Conde (time to swim) 20 km 2
3. Villa do Conde - Barcelos 32 km 3
4. Barcelos - Lugar do Corgo 19 km (time to enjoy the place) 4
5. Lugar do Corgo - Rubiäes 32,3 km (tough day)
6. Rubiäes - Tui 18,8 km (irritating with auch a short day, might look for an albergue about five km after Tui in stead)
7. Tui - Redondela 30,4 km
8. Redondela - Cancela 29,6 km
9. Cancela - Herbon 29,6 km
10. Herbon - Santiago 24,5 km
11. Home

 

[Gillyweb]

It seems no matter what I do it'll be a long and as short day around there. If I change my stop to Ponte de Lima, which I believe is a truly beautiful City, I'll have 38 km the day after. But I'm quite fit and had no problem at Primitivo so I hope it'll be ok whatever stop I choose. How is Ponte de Lima?

I in contrast am not as fit as I should be - Therein may lie the issue !!
Ponte di Lima is very lovely. A touch of civilisation along the way without the nasty hustle bustle of a big city. Beautiful buildings, lovely river with decent restaurants and the muni Albergue is good with a large number of non bunk beds and with bars and restaurant right outside.

 

[AML]

Thanks Aidan. How many days or kilometers extra is that?

Marie, its typically 3 days from leaving the central route after Pontevedra until joining again at Padron. On day 3 there is option to take boat to Pontecesures, near Padron.
You will find info here on the forum and also http://variante-espiritual-en.webs.com/
Its very nice alternative route.

 

[Rainerbernd]

Olá,

why not along the coast on the first stages?? Have a look: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...orto-cathedral-including-tram-to-rates.46668/