Hello everyone,
My name is Catarina & I’m looking to cycle (solo on self-guided tour) starting the first week of October for about a month give or take. I keep going back and forth on which route to take this time of year. I’m looking to start in the Lisbon area and continue north to Santiago, then make my way by bike down back to Porto, where my trip will end. My three route options I was thinking of are…
1. To take the coast starting near Lisbon all the way to Porto, taking the coastal route north from there & taking the Spiritual Route to Santiago, then taking the central route (in reverse) from Santiago back to Porto.
2. Staring my trip in Lisbon, taking the Central Portuguese route, through Coimbra, Porto etc. & after Porto continue on the central route to end in Santiago. From there taking the Spiritual Variant to the South (in reverse) taking the coastal route and ending in Porto.
3. Same as 2 but instead of continuing on the central out of Porto, switch to the coastal route heading north, then take the spiritual variant to Santiago, then do the central (in reverse) down to Porto & ending there.
I guess the third is a mixture of 1 & 2.
I’m wondering if I should avoid going South to North on the coastal route this time of year? I was told the winds run south and I’m worried I will be heading into the wind my entire time. Would I avoid this if I did the Central Route? Or did Central partially?
My self- guided tour would be with Portugal Nature Trails, does anyone have personal experience with them?
This will be my first Camino! I’m so looking forward to this experience!
Thank you in advance for your help!
My name is Catarina & I’m looking to cycle (solo on self-guided tour) starting the first week of October for about a month give or take. I keep going back and forth on which route to take this time of year. I’m looking to start in the Lisbon area and continue north to Santiago, then make my way by bike down back to Porto, where my trip will end. My three route options I was thinking of are…
1. To take the coast starting near Lisbon all the way to Porto, taking the coastal route north from there & taking the Spiritual Route to Santiago, then taking the central route (in reverse) from Santiago back to Porto.
2. Staring my trip in Lisbon, taking the Central Portuguese route, through Coimbra, Porto etc. & after Porto continue on the central route to end in Santiago. From there taking the Spiritual Variant to the South (in reverse) taking the coastal route and ending in Porto.
3. Same as 2 but instead of continuing on the central out of Porto, switch to the coastal route heading north, then take the spiritual variant to Santiago, then do the central (in reverse) down to Porto & ending there.
I guess the third is a mixture of 1 & 2.
I’m wondering if I should avoid going South to North on the coastal route this time of year? I was told the winds run south and I’m worried I will be heading into the wind my entire time. Would I avoid this if I did the Central Route? Or did Central partially?
My self- guided tour would be with Portugal Nature Trails, does anyone have personal experience with them?
This will be my first Camino! I’m so looking forward to this experience!
Thank you in advance for your help!