Camino Portuguese from Porto - Costal, Central or Braga Route?

[Boog237]

Hello all -

I leave the US for Portugal May 18 for my second Camino and will arrive Porto early afternoon the 19th. I've been planning on walking the costal route, but am having second thoughts. Any comments, suggestions on the costal vs. central vs. Braga route are welcome!

Thanks in advance

Bob

 

[Albertinho]

Coastal is very flat. Lots of places to stay Central route is more accidented. Lots of places to stay. Caminho de Braga is accidented too. Bigger distances between places to stay.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Coastal is very flat. Lots of places to stay Central route is more accidented. Lots of places to stay. Caminho de Braga is accidented too. Bigger distances between places to stay.

Do you have a favorite of the three?

 

[p_mci]

If you want to be beside the ocean and have the chance to walk on beaches, I can vouch for a combination of the Coastal/Litoral from Porto followed by the Espirituel variant (from Pontevedra to Padrón). From Padrón, you join the Central route to Santiago but its possible to switch to the Central route earlier, from Pontevedra for example.
I'm doing it right now and really enjoying it!

 

[Boog237]

Thanks to all for your helpful comments.

B

 

[Albertinho]

Do you have a favorite of the three?

I prefer a mix of it ! Two weeks ago I started on the coast, jumped over to the central route at Viana do Castelo, stayed in the famous private albergue Casa da Fernanda for some days , walked from there to Ponte de Lima and went to Braga (by bus) to see my friends there and visit the famous sanctuary Bom Jesus do Monte.
After all "partying" at Fernanda's went back to the coastal. So experienced all the good of the three different caminhos

 

[dfox]

Central route is more accidented. Caminho de Braga is accidented too. .

Kindly help understand what does "accidented" mean? Does it mean more things to do, see or eat on the Central (Internal) route?

Thanks,

DF

 

[Albertinho]

Hill up hill down .

 

[Seoul Survivor]

If you want to be beside the ocean and have the chance to walk on beaches, I can vouch for a combination of the Coastal/Litoral from Porto followed by the Espirituel variant (from Pontevedra to Padrón). From Padrón, you join the Central route to Santiago but its possible to switch to the Central route earlier, from Pontevedra for example.
I'm doing it right now and really enjoying it!

Yes thanks for that advice. So you walked the Coastal from Porto to Redondela then joined the Central to Pontevedra before branching off on the Espirituel?
Do you know how accessible it is to join the Central at Valença from the Coastal (and would it be worth it)?

 

[Albertinho]

Yes thanks for that advice. So you walked the Coastal from Porto to Redondela then joined the Central to Pontevedra before branching off on the Espirituel?
Do you know how accessible it is to join the Central at Valença from the Coastal (and would it be worth it)?

It is easy to walk from the coastal to Valença. As soon as you are in Caminha head to Vila Nova de Cerveira. It is well waymarked and at certain time you follow the so called Ecovia, a path along the Minho river for wanderers and cyclists. Allways keep the Minho river at your left.
In Vila Nova de Cerveira is a nice youth hostal to stay .
Then keep on following the river at your left. Do not cross the bridge but follow the Ecovia. There are also waymarkers more into the hills but we followed the Ecovia all the time. You will reach Valença easily and arrive close to the albergue.
Distance from Caminha to Valença is about 30 kms. We did it in 2 days. Very relaxed

 

[p_mci]

Yes thanks for that advice. So you walked the Coastal from Porto to Redondela then joined the Central to Pontevedra before branching off on the Espirituel?
Do you know how accessible it is to join the Central at Valença from the Coastal (and would it be worth it)?

Exactly this.

I walked the Central route from Lisbon four years ago with no diversions and to be honest I don't have any definitive memories of the town of Valença and have no knowledge of the walk from Caminha to Valença, as Albertinho does.

Maybe the question is : how do you want to cross from that river from Portugal to Spain? By foot over the bridge between Valença and Tui (Central) or by passenger ferry from Caminha to A Pasaxe/Guarda (Coastal)?

About the ferry - i posted a picture below of the schedule when I crossed over a week ago. However, sometimes it does not run because of low tide but you can cross by private fishing boat. Or walk, as Albertinho describes, towards Valença and cross at the first bridge you encounter and try to get back to the coast or indeed continue all the way to Valença.

 

[Albertinho]

Exactly this.

I walked the Central route from Lisbon four years ago with no diversions and to be honest I don't have any definitive memories of the town of Valença and have no knowledge of the walk from Caminha to Valença, as Albertinho does.

Maybe the question is : how do you want to cross from that river from Portugal to Spain? By foot over the bridge between Valença and Tui (Central) or by passenger ferry from Caminha to A Pasaxe/Guarda (Coastal)?

About the ferry - i posted a picture below of the schedule when I crossed over a week ago. However, sometimes it does not run because of low tide but you can cross by private fishing boat. Or walk, as Albertinho describes, towards Valença and cross at the first bridge you encounter and try to get back to the coast or indeed continue all the way to Valença.

The first bridge you will encounter in Caminha . The second in Vila Nova de Cerveira and this bridge leads into Spain. Once at the Spanish side you can turn left to A Guarda -15 kms but also turn right to Tui -about 16 kms. Just an ordinairy N road. I drove both tracks several times. Can't remember there were sidewalks at the Spanish side of the Minho river.

 

[Sacred Heart]

Thanks to all for your helpful comments.

B

How did your Camino go? I am walking from Lisbon to Santiago in September. Have you any tips?

 

[John H.]

If you want the option to go between the coastal and central routes once you are north of Porto, I suggest you get the app called "Wise Pilgrim Guides - Portugues". Well worth the $4. It has an online GPS map which will show you a few ways to go between coastal and central.