Walking to Santiago the day of sailing

[Jolba]

Hello Everyone, I was wanting to hear about your experience if you have walked to Santiago the same day that you sailed to Pontecesures. I have booked for 8am departure and estimate to start walking about 9:30am all going well. Is this reasonably achievable? Loving the forum and can't wait to start from Porto early July.

 

[jungleboy]

It’s about 26km so I would say it should be doable starting at 9:30am, but it depends on how far/fast you typically walk, whether you want to spend time in Padrón and whether you want to arrive in Santiago in the late afternoon after a long day.

 

[Kimxyz]

It’s about 26km so I would say it should be doable starting at 9:30am, but it depends on how far/fast you typically walk, whether you want to spend time in Padrón and whether you want to arrive in Santiago in the late afternoon after a long day.

Good points. As I want to spend sometime in padrón and want to arrive. Santiago midday. I'm spending the night in areal

 

[soletrek]

Hello Everyone, I was wanting to hear about your experience if you have walked to Santiago the same day that you sailed to Pontecesures. I have booked for 8am departure and estimate to start walking about 9:30am all going well. Is this reasonably achievable? Loving the forum and can't wait to start from Porto early July.

hi, I’m curious how you “booked your departure” on the boat. I had thought that departure depended on the tides, and that pilgrims had to wait (after getting a ticket at the albergue the night before). Am I missing something? Are you leaving from V. Arousa? Thanks for any enlightenment.

 

[Kimxyz]

hi, I’m curious how you “booked your departure” on the boat. I had thought that departure depended on the tides, and that pilgrims had to wait (after getting a ticket at the albergue the night before). Am I missing something? Are you leaving from V. Arousa? Thanks for any enlightenment.

I was able to book through https://www.amareturismonautico.com/
+34 650 410 322 | info@amareturismonautico.com
They were very responsive in English!

 

[Kimxyz]

Variante Espiritual - Ruta Traslatio - Amare Turismo Náutico

Ven a conocer la tercera etapa en barco de la Variante Espiritual. Tramo de Vilanova de Arousa a Pontecesures a solo 1km de Padrón.

www.amareturismonautico.com

 

[MaxHelado]

I had thought that departure depended on the tides, and that pilgrims had to wait (after getting a ticket at the albergue the night before). Am I missing something?

You are missing something but I am not surprised! Boat sailing times and the ebb and flow of the tides seemed (to me) to be the dark art of the Variante. I couldn't work out how to plan my overnight stops if I didn't know when the boat would leave. Would I have time to walk to Vilanova, enjoy a coffee and a croissant before catching the boat or would I need to spend the night in Vilanova and be packed and ready to go at the crack of dawn? In desperation I contacted the boat operators Bahia-Sub by WhatsApp (+34 607 911 523) and they could not have been more helpful. I discovered that these salty sea dogs know the times of the tides months in advance and you can book your boat months in advance using their website.
https://app.mruta.com/la-barca-del-peregrino/reservation-now
I took a quick look just now and it seems like they have published sailing times through to the end of September.
Only caveat is that they only give you the sailing time of the 'big boat'. I have heard tell that if you are travelling at a busy time they sometimes put on a smaller second boat with a later sailing time if there are sufficient numbers to fill it. So you can take your choice. Book now and know what time you are sailing and that you have reserved a place or wait until closer to the time when there may be a later sailing and they may have room for you.
Other boat operators are available but I have found Bahia-Sub delightful.
Hope this helps.

 

[Camino Joe 2021]

I arrived around 1330 today into Padron via Bahia Sub. Departure was promptly at noon. That gave me a chance to do laundry and sleep in just a wee bit. Once I disembarked, I walked past my accommodations until I got tired, called a cab in Escravitude and went back to Padron for the night. Tomorrow I will taxi back to Escravitude and finish my 16ish km to Santiago after a glorious evening in Padron. Just a thought. Worked for me maybe not for anybody else.

 

[Jolba]

hi, I’m curious how you “booked your departure” on the boat. I had thought that departure depended on the tides, and that pilgrims had to wait (after getting a ticket at the albergue the night before). Am I missing something? Are you leaving from V. Arousa? Thanks for any enlightenment.

See kymxyz link. Easy to book

 

[Lleslie]

Yes, have booked in advance with Amare Tourisimo Nautico - sailing time 1200 on June 17

 

[Jolba]

It’s about 26km so I would say it should be doable starting at 9:30am, but it depends on how far/fast you typically walk, whether you want to spend time in Padrón and whether you want to arrive in Santiago in the late afternoon after a long day.

Thank you Jungle boy. I was working on 28 kms so two less is nice! Not too fussed about arriving later as we continue to Finesterre and Muxia before celebrating back in Santiago. Do you know is it possible to collect Compostela when we return from Muxia as we probably won’t have time to get it on first arrival?

 

[Karen Schoenfelder]

I arrived around 1330 today into Padron via Bahia Sub. Departure was promptly at noon. That gave me a chance to do laundry and sleep in just a wee bit. Once I disembarked, I walked past my accommodations until I got tired, called a cab in Escravitude and went back to Padron for the night. Tomorrow I will taxi back to Escravitude and finish my 16ish km to Santiago after a glorious evening in Padron. Just a thought. Worked for me maybe not for anybody else.

How much does Bahia Sub cost? I looked at their website and it is in Spanish and so I am not great at reading it, but it was difficult to find any information on departure times or pricing.

 

[Jolba]

$25 Euro. I used google chrome and translated page.

 

[Cath McCarthy]

Hello Everyone, I was wanting to hear about your experience if you have walked to Santiago the same day that you sailed to Pontecesures. I have booked for 8am departure and estimate to start walking about 9:30am all going well. Is this reasonably achievable? Loving the forum and can't wait to start from Porto early July.

Hi, I've just done this route and we walked to Milladoiro after the boat and stayed at the excellent albergue there. We found that this was far enough and were quite tired by the time we arrived. The walk into Santiago the next day was very pleasant and it was great to arrive when the square was a bit quieter. Buen Camino.

 

[Enzed]

Old question, but have fond memories of the last day into Santiago...
According to my Google photos..
Left Arousa at 7.45am, got off boat about 9am, a quick look around Padron and second breakfast, left Padron about 10.45am. Reached Santiago cathedrals front gate at 6.06pm.

Next day...walked to Negeira .

For reference, not the fastest walker nor did I do much training, but I had started from Tomar so was somewhat camino fit already and had already done 4 x 30-35 Km days thus far.
Could have been quicker if not for cafe/WC breaks and taking photos.