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Tips for first Camino

More 2024 Camino Guides available
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
Hello, I did the same route as my first camino. I flew into Porto, arriving mid afternoon, so I walked from the airport, which is on the central route, about 10 or 12 kilos and stayed in Laburge. In the morning I walked the short distance to the coastal route and stayed on the coastal route the rest of my camino. When I finished, I took the train to Porto and then spent a day, went to the cathedral, sightseeing downtown. Then walked along the river to the ocean and along the boardwalk to get a real taste of the area, then hopped the metro to the airport and flew home.
Enjoy Bien camino
 
Get a Spanish mobil number + data while on the Camino
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
I spent a couple days in Porto, then took the bus to Matosinhos to start my walk. (Others recommend taking the river walk to the coast, so consider that, too.) I LOVED the boardwalks along the beaches walking north. Then I transferred to the Central route across to Rates. If you get the Wise Pilgrim app on your phone, there are instructions on how to do that. It is a lovely walk and you will have a great time!
 
That’s exactly what I finally decided to do. I’m flying into Porto super early in the morning and plan to walk from the cathedral to Matosinhos that day. I’ll cut back over to the Central at Vila do Conde. It seemed like a good compromise when I couldn’t decide between the coastal and central lol.
 
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A selection of Camino Jewellery
My recommendation for all first Caminos, regardless of routes, is to give yourself more time than you think you will possibly need. You don't really know how far your body is prepared to walk day after day after day until you actually start doing the walk. And if you find yourself sidelined for a few days with shin splints or tendonitis or something like that, the last thing you want is to find yourself forced into excessively long days just to make up time. If you give yourself extra time and find that you don't need it, you can always walk on to Finisterre/Muxia or just do some sightseeing in Spain or Portugal before heading home.

When I did the Portugues from Porto I gave myself three weeks ended up taking thirteen days walking and then spent a couple of extra days each in Porto and Lisbon before flying home.
 
jolshoffers said:
Hi all!

I’m doing my first Camino in August. I’m doing the Portuguese coastal and I’m doing it solo. Are there any tips that I may not think about that anyone who has done it before has?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I am following this thread, my husband and I are also doing our first Camino starting in Bainoa (part Coastal/ finishing Central) in June. Any tips and/or after action reports
 
jolshoffers said:
Hi all!

I’m doing my first Camino in August. I’m doing the Portuguese coastal and I’m doing it solo. Are there any tips that I may not think about that anyone who has done it before has?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Hello and Welcome!

the answer is YES!

DO NOT "think about anything" and DO NOT anticipate anything based on the stories, experiences, YouTube videos and whatever you saw in DA MOVIE!
By all means plan, be excited, look forward to it but remember that whatever will happen will be "your Camino" and in that you are to find beauty and thrill of adventure!

"simple" is better (there is a reason The Prayer goes "Give Us Today Our Daily Bread" - Camino is a good one to live One day at the time)

Good Luck and Buen Camino!
 
Let us pick up your suitcase once you arrive in Europe....
...and ship it to Santiago for storage. You pick it up once in Santiago. Service offered by Casa Ivar (we use DHL for transportation).
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