Spiritual variant question

[dweeds]

Hi, I am planning my first Camino in May. Will start in Caminha on the Coastal Route. I am just now looking into the Spiritual variant, and I only see one hostel in Armenteira. It looks uninviting...is there any other place to stay, besides the fancy Pousada? It seems those are the only 2 options. Also, I'm thinking that this is the same number of days passing through Caldas de Reis, if we take the AM ferry up the river to Padron and walk straight on to SdC, is that right? Huge thanks, all.

 

[stratophile]

Depending on what you are looking for, the monastery is a fantastic place to stay. More info here:

https://www.monasteriodearmenteira.es/la-hospederia-3/

 

[dweeds]

Thank you! I heard you need to stay at least 2 nights...is that correct?

 

[stratophile]

Hmmm. I don't recall having to do that. Best thing to do is to email them and inquire. I found them incredibly friendly and welcoming.

 

[dweeds]

Hmmm. I don't recall having to do that. Best thing to do is to email them and inquire. I found them incredibly friendly and welcoming.

Thank you so much!

 

[stratophile]

Happy to help. If there is a two-day requirement, please add a comment to this thread – I'll need to update my files for them. Good luck with your planning.

 

[katie@camino]

I've stayed at the albergue in Armenteria twice and i really quite like it - true, it doesn't really have 'character' but i love the walk from there into the bars (bit less than 1km) - quite rural and remote. And it's fresh and clean.

On my first walk through VE, I stayed a night at O'Costano, about 8km from Armenteira. Not much to do/see there and the accommodation is on a busy highway.

My second walk along the VE, after Armenteira, I was able to make it to Vilanova de Arousa in time to catch the boat to Pontecesures and from there walked to Herbon monastery, which was fab.

It's hard to predict how long the VE will take as the boat times seem to change hour to hour. Sometimes it's 6am or 7am, other times it's 2pm or 3pm and anywhere in between. Will have to stay flexible if you choose the VE. But i reckon it's totally worth it.

 

[Former member 22438]

From Pontevedra you could walk in direction of the Variante Espiritual. After 3 kms direction Caldas de Reis you'll find a bridge to the left with a sign Variante Espiritual. by following the yellow waymarkers you'll end up in the village of Combarro . There we stayed the nigt in a room above a pub/bar nearby the harbour.
Next day there was the climb to Armenteiro. There after visiting the monastry we continued the fabulous "ruta de pedras e augas" a medieval path with sawmills and other medieval (ruins of) buildings " really a great walk. At the end of this path-about 6 to 7 kms. You can continue the waymarkers direction the village of Barrantes Just at the beginning of the village is a restaurant, os Castaños.the lady rents rooms and is very helpfull. From Barrantes it is 14 kms to Vila Nova de Arousa where the boat to Pontecessures is. The lady called to the organisation of the boat about thectimeschedule becquse it depends on the tides.
The boat went very early that day -we could not reach Vila Nova,a 14 kms walk - so she offered to take us there by car. By the way in Vila Nova is an albergue . The boatride in a kind of lifeboat is a fast and bumpy ride on the waves. Not very comfortable but spectacular Takes about one hour. Take warm cloths with you when going early in the season. Once arriving in Pontecessures it is an easy walk into Padrón where you'll find all facilities.
Do not forget to drink a glass or have breakfast at bar Dom Pepe II opposite the bridge that leads to the albergue. Ask for "bar Pepe". Everybody knows him and you will have a hilarious time at his place.

Passa bem e bom caminho

 

[gersevink]

Hi, I am planning my first Camino in May. Will start in Caminha on the Coastal Route. I am just now looking into the Spiritual variant, and I only see one hostel in Armenteira. It looks uninviting...is there any other place to stay, besides the fancy Pousada? It seems those are the only 2 options. Also, I'm thinking that this is the same number of days passing through Caldas de Reis, if we take the AM ferry up the river to Padron and walk straight on to SdC, is that right? Huge thanks, all.

De variante spiritual is erg mooi en albergue Armenteira is prima. Je bent een pelgrim of een tourisme.

 

[Former member 22438]

De variante spiritual is erg mooi en albergue Armenteira is prima. Je bent een pelgrim of een tourisme.

 

[Robert Long]

I was told by the Sacramento Camino group that while normally it is a two day stay at the monestary, if you call ahead they would make arrangements for one night. But you MUST make a reservation.

Buen Camino

 

[gersevink]

[QUOTE = "dweeds, post: 699132, lid: 85641"]
Hallo, ik ben mijn eerste Camino aan het plannen in mei. Zal starten in Caminha op de kustroute. Ik ben nu net aan het kijken naar de Spirituele variant en ik zie slechts één hostel in Armenteira. Het ziet er onaantrekkelijk uit ... is er een andere plek om te verblijven, naast de chique Pousada? Het lijkt erop dat dit de enige 2 opties zijn. Ik denk ook dat dit hetzelfde aantal dagen is dat door Caldas de Reis loopt, als we de AM-veerboot de rivier oversteken naar Padron en rechtdoor lopen naar SdC, klopt dat? Enorm bedankt allemaal.
[/CITAAT]
M Armenteira is positief de albergue is zoals een albergue moet zijn. Je bent een pelgrim! Mijn negatieve ervaring in Armenteira betrof een dronken stel "pelgrims"die zo bleek een spoor van onbetaalde rekeningen achterliet.

 

[Jo Jo]

I found the municipal alburgue in Armenteria to be quite nice. Fairly new construction. Clean. The hospitaleras were most helpful (I had lost my wife). Plus, that's were your Camino Family for that day and the next is going to be staying. I've stayed in a lot of pretty marginal alburgues in my life. The alburgue in Armenteria is not in that class at all. I will stay there again the next time I walk the CP.

Pro tip: I wish that I has walked down the creek through (at least) the first section of the Stone and Water section (really, an old mill run with the ruins of hundreds of mills) the afternoon after arriving in Armenteria. The next morning it was too dark to really get any good photographs of that magical section, and waiting for the sun would have meant getting to Vilanova very late.

Buen Camino,
Jo Jo

 

[Former member 22438]

[QUOTE = "dweeds, post: 699132, lid: 85641"]
Hallo, ik ben mijn eerste Camino aan het plannen in mei. Zal starten in Caminha op de kustroute. Ik ben nu net aan het kijken naar de Spirituele variant en ik zie slechts één hostel in Armenteira. Het ziet er onaantrekkelijk uit ... is er een andere plek om te verblijven, naast de chique Pousada? Het lijkt erop dat dit de enige 2 opties zijn. Ik denk ook dat dit hetzelfde aantal dagen is dat door Caldas de Reis loopt, als we de AM-veerboot de rivier oversteken naar Padron en rechtdoor lopen naar SdC, klopt dat? Enorm bedankt allemaal.
[/CITAAT]
M Armenteira is positief de albergue is zoals een albergue moet zijn. Je bent een pelgrim! Mijn negatieve ervaring in Armenteira betrof een dronken stel "pelgrims"die zo bleek een spoor van onbetaalde rekeningen achterliet.

I advise you to react in english instead of dutch if you want to receive any feedback.
If you walk from Armenteira towards Vila Nova de Aroussa you follow a beautfull
medieval path , a ruta das pedras e das augas. At the end of his about 7 km stage you will arrive in a small village, Barrantes. Just arriving there, is a small restaurant/bar, os Castaños. The owner rents rooms to pilgrims. We stayed there twice. From Barrantes it is 14 kms to the harbour in Vila Nova de Aroussa and the boat to Pontecessures/Padrón.
Bom caminho