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Generally speaking, the coastal is a bit cooler because you have those ocean breezes. But heat may not be a critical factor in June; that would be more of an issue in August.I am planning to do Camino Portuguese from Porto with a few friends in mid June 2023. We hope to walk for about 6/7 days. We are looking for advice on whether to do the Coastal or Central route taking into consideration the heat in June.
Yes, I remember this being a problem, particularly in the early stages south of Arcos. Road walking is much less common on the Coastal.I personally do not like the central Portuguese route. Though there are some pretty parts, there are a number of sections of it that are quite dangerous, very narrow curved roads with no place to walk, no shoulder, and speeding traffic. We literally had to tie bright orange bandanas onto our sticks and hold them aloft so traffic coming over hills and around corners would see us. I have not walked the coastal route. People seem to either love it or hate it (saying it's boring). If you DO walk the central, be prepared for some hairy, scary days.
Coastal, more wind, less heat, more beauty! I walked both last spring!I am planning to do Camino Portuguese from Porto with a few friends in mid June 2023. We hope to walk for about 6/7 days. We are looking for advice on whether to do the Coastal or Central route taking into consideration the heat in June.
If you are starting in Porto and walking for 6 or 7 days either you are in really great shape and extremely ambitious or you aren't going to make it all the way to Santiago. Of course, do what is right for you, but with only a week available, you might want to consider walking from Valença/Tui (Central) or from Caminha (Coastal). The two routes join not to far thereafter at Redondela. I can't really give fully informed advice as to which is better to walk, as I've only walked the Central for that part myself. I did like Valença/Tui (the town in the fortress at Valença was nice) but I've heard that the Spanish part of the Coastal is quite impressive, too. If you start at the Portuguese border instead of Porto you should be able to fit the Spiritual Variant into your Camino which is really highly spoken of. Trying to fit that into a week's walk from Porto would, in my opinion, take it from extremely ambitious to absurdly ambitious. Of course, you may not be intending, as mentioned above, to go all the way to Santiago. But if you stoop much short of it, you are likely to stop before the Spiritual Variant which is very close to the end, finishing in Padron, one day out of Santiago.I am planning to do Camino Portuguese from Porto with a few friends in mid June 2023. We hope to walk for about 6/7 days. We are looking for advice on whether to do the Coastal or Central route taking into consideration the heat in June.
Thanks for all the suggestions. Having completed the Camino Frances last year we do not plan to walk to Santiago but start in Porto and walk about half way to Santiago.If you are starting in Porto and walking for 6 or 7 days either you are in really great shape and extremely ambitious or you aren't going to make it all the way to Santiago. Of course, do what is right for you, but with only a week available, you might want to consider walking from Valença/Tui (Central) or from Caminha (Coastal). The two routes join not to far thereafter at Redondela. I can't really give fully informed advice as to which is better to walk, as I've only walked the Central for that part myself. I did like Valença/Tui (the town in the fortress at Valença was nice) but I've heard that the Spanish part of the Coastal is quite impressive, too. If you start at the Portuguese border instead of Porto you should be able to fit the Spiritual Variant into your Camino which is really highly spoken of. Trying to fit that into a week's walk from Porto would, in my opinion, take it from extremely ambitious to absurdly ambitious. Of course, you may not be intending, as mentioned above, to go all the way to Santiago. But if you stoop much short of it, you are likely to stop before the Spiritual Variant which is very close to the end, finishing in Padron, one day out of Santiago.
In that case, you could consider doing what I did. Start by walking the Senda Litoral (which hugs the coast) out of Porto (along the river and up the coast as far as Vila do Conde. That will give you, by most reports, a more pleasant walk out of Porto than the Coastal or the Central, which head north rather than west out of town. At Vila do Conde, a day or a day and a half out of town, turn right and head inland to join the Central at Arcos. Then head North on Arcos. That will give you a chance to see the nice towns of Barcelos and Ponte de Lima, and Valença/Tui, as well as enjoy the hospitality of Casa da Fernanda on the Central, while still having a nice taste of the coastal walk.Thanks for all the suggestions. Having completed the Camino Frances last year we do not plan to walk to Santiago but start in Porto and walk about half way to Santiago.
This is what I did in September this year. Got a day of the coast and then the traditional camino which was fantastic. Loved it.Well, it's not completely an either or situation, you can do a blend of both. Day one out of Porto walking the central route has alot of road walking along narrow shoulder of he N-306 highway, so not particularly enjoyable.
So on day one I would recommend walking the coastal route to Vila do Conde. On day two, head I land u til just before you reach Villa d'Arco and rejoin the central route at that point.
So gives you a day of walking the coastline, but mainly sticking to the more traditional central route mostly.
Please clarify this: "On day two, head I land u til just before you reach Villa d'Arco..."Well, it's not completely an either or situation, you can do a blend of both. Day one out of Porto walking the central route has alot of road walking along narrow shoulder of he N-306 highway, so not particularly enjoyable.
So on day one I would recommend walking the coastal route to Vila do Conde. On day two, head I land u til just before you reach Villa d'Arco and rejoin the central route at that point.
So gives you a day of walking the coastline, but mainly sticking to the more traditional central route mostly.
I think going from Porto on either route you chose you may need a few more days. Unless you skip some areas or plan doing around 30-35km per day.I am planning to do Camino Portuguese from Porto with a few friends in mid June 2023. We hope to walk for about 6/7 days. We are looking for advice on whether to do the Coastal or Central route taking into consideration the heat in June.
Chris, best thing I can suggest is to get a guide book. I have the one by John Brierley. If you look at the route maps, what I have suggested is immediately aparrent.L
Please clarify this: "On day two, head I land u til just before you reach Villa d'Arco..."
Thanks
Chris, best thing I can suggest is to get a guide book. I have the one by John Brierley. If you look at the route maps, what I have suggested is immediately aparrent.
This route change may add a few kilometers to the overall length, but eliminates the frankly horrible first day out of Porto visit the central route which is a cobblestone, granite sett/roadwalking nightmare and not very safe on top of that because of the close proximity to traffic for hours.
I don’t understand “head I land u til just before.” Is this an abbreviation for somethi
I guess it is "head inland until just before"I don’t understand “head I land u til just before.” Is this an abbreviation for something?