Ideas on ways to extend the Coastal Camino portuguese

[Jensjaunt]

Hello- I am in the planning stage for my 2nd Camino - Portuguese Coastal w Spiritual variant. ( 1st was Francis from SJPD). I think , given my turtle pace (18 or less km per day) I will have around 4 or 5 additional days so am looking to tap into the wisdom and experience of the forum for options for extending my walk? Love to hear suggestions or thoughts on
- maybe starting somewhere south of Porto? Any suggestions on places to start? ( I am planning on the coastal and spiritual variant) I am not too keen on road walking and from guide books it does sound like S of Porto there is a lot of this?
- maybe consider building in additional rest days where there are cultural or spiritual sites close by? Suggestions?
- do I revisit part of the CF?
Or other ideas?
I am traveling solo, older female.
Many thanks!
Jen

 

[Pafayac]

Have you ever walked from Santiago to Muxia/Fisterra ?
If you have not yet, you should !

 

[krystianw]

Agreed with @Pafayac, that sounds like enough time to do Muxia + Fisterra at your pace. (Or just one of them.) Or if you did that already, maybe the Ingles?

 

[roving_rufus]

The bit of the camino into Porto wasn't "exciting", and I don't think I would add walking into Porto onto your camino plan. But I do love Portugal- and there are some great places like Tomar and Coimbra that fall on the CP and have transport links.

 

[happymarkos]

Hello- I am in the planning stage for my 2nd Camino - Portuguese Coastal w Spiritual variant. ( 1st was Francis from SJPD). I think , given my turtle pace (18 or less km per day) I will have around 4 or 5 additional days so am looking to tap into the wisdom and experience of the forum for options for extending my walk? Love to hear suggestions or thoughts on
- maybe starting somewhere south of Porto? Any suggestions on places to start? ( I am planning on the coastal and spiritual variant) I am not too keen on road walking and from guide books it does sound like S of Porto there is a lot of this?
- maybe consider building in additional rest days where there are cultural or spiritual sites close by? Suggestions?
- do I revisit part of the CF?
Or other ideas?
I am traveling solo, older female.
Many thanks!
Jen

As well as the coastal path there is the seaside or Atlantico path which includes boardwalks and a bit of beach. It passes a lot of places where farmers are drying kelp to fertilise the land, old sea ponds etc.
it can interact with the coastal if you wish.
Spiritual Variation a must.

 

[larry1948]

As well as the coastal path there is the seaside or Atlantico path which includes boardwalks and a bit of beach. It passes a lot of places where farmers are drying kelp to fertilise the land, old sea ponds etc.
it can interact with the coastal if you wish.
Spiritual Variation a must.

You’re suggesting there is a difference between the coastal path and the Atlantico path. I can find no reference to Atlantic path differing from the coastal. Please explain.

 

[kenwilltravel]

Hello- I am in the planning stage for my 2nd Camino - Portuguese Coastal w Spiritual variant. ( 1st was Francis from SJPD). I think , given my turtle pace (18 or less km per day) I will have around 4 or 5 additional days so am looking to tap into the wisdom and experience of the forum for options for extending my walk? Love to hear suggestions or thoughts on
- maybe starting somewhere south of Porto? Any suggestions on places to start? ( I am planning on the coastal and spiritual variant) I am not too keen on road walking and from guide books it does sound like S of Porto there is a lot of this?
- maybe consider building in additional rest days where there are cultural or spiritual sites close by? Suggestions?
- do I revisit part of the CF?
Or other ideas?
I am traveling solo, older female.
Many thanks!
Jen

One option you might wish to consider is, when you reach Caminha on the Minho River, swing east and do the riverside ecopista walk to Valença, which has a scenic 17th century fortress. From there, you can also walk across the river and explore the Spanish town of Tui, which has an interesting Gothic cathedral. Then you can return to Caminha (either by walking or take the train) and resume the coastal by crossing the Minho and heading north. Here's a recent thread on that riverside walk: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...e-between-caminha-and-tui.85834/#post-1238188

 

[Camino Chrissy]

But I do love Portugal- and there are some great places like Tomar and Coimbra that fall on the CP and have transport links.

I have visited both Tomar and Coimbra as part of a family vacation and I agree they would be wonderful additions to the OP's Camino. Or If the flight is to Lisbon, consider a couple of days there, including Sintra, as an option; or consider the Finesterre, Muxia option already mentioned if you prefer to continue the "Camino feel".

 

[Jensjaunt]

Have you ever walked from Santiago to Muxia/Fisterra ?
If you have not yet, you should !

Thank you! I did go to Fisterra by bus at the end of my Camino Francis …. Will look into maybe walking from Muxia to Santiago - have you done that route? Tnx Jen

 

[Jensjaunt]

One option you might wish to consider is, when you reach Caminha on the Minho River, swing east and do the riverside ecopista walk to Valença, which has a scenic 17th century fortress. From there, you can also walk across the river and explore the Spanish town of Tui, which has an interesting Gothic cathedral. Then you can return to Caminha (either by walking or take the train) and resume the coastal by crossing the Minho and heading north. Here's a recent thread on that riverside walk: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...e-between-caminha-and-tui.85834/#post-1238188

Thank you what a great idea- will explore!

 

[Jensjaunt]

The bit of the camino into Porto wasn't "exciting", and I don't think I would add walking into Porto onto your camino plan. But I do love Portugal- and there are some great places like Tomar and Coimbra that fall on the CP and have transport links.

Thank you - I will look into transport links as there is the added appeal of Fatima. Any hints on best sites to use for transport that are easy to use? As a Canadian I have not done much Europe travel - and my Spanish is lite and Portuguese nonexistent. Thx Jen

 

[Jensjaunt]

I have visited both Tomar and Coimbra as part of a family vacation and I agree they would be wonderful additions to the OP's Camino. Or If the flight is to Lisbon, consider a couple of days there, including Sintra, as an option; or consider the Finesterre, Muxia option already mentioned if you prefer to continue the "Camino feel".

Thank you - I will explore these towns - I am just arranging flights - from Western Canada - so will explore flying into Lisbon - trying to not go thru Heathrow or have 3 stops!

 

[Jensjaunt]

As well as the coastal path there is the seaside or Atlantico path which includes boardwalks and a bit of beach. It passes a lot of places where farmers are drying kelp to fertilise the land, old sea ponds etc.
it can interact with the coastal if you wish.
Spiritual Variation a must.

Thank you for the photos looks beautiful!

 

[Pafayac]

Thank you! I did go to Fisterra by bus at the end of my Camino Francis …. Will look into maybe walking from Muxia to Santiago - have you done that route? Tnx Jen

I have walked from Santiago to Muxia, then Fisterra.
It does make sens to walk in that direction, toward the ocean:
- after that there is no more way: you have reached the end of the land.
- if you are found of shrines, Virgen de la Barca en Muxia is a conveninent target.

 

[peregrino_tom]

Hi Jen, this is a kind of second-hand recommendation as I haven't done it myself, but a pilgrim friend did it, and had a great time - BRAGA! I saw the pics, heard the stories - and it looked fab.
She took the bus from the coast at around Fao/Eposende (probably at the end of your third or fourth day out of Porto) and spent a couple of nights there, then went back to the coast and resumed where she had left off. I think it's a less disruptive option than Tomar or Coimbra (both are great) because it's much easier to get to, and they are so far south of Porto. Let's see if anyone else (who has actually been there) has an upvote for Braga...

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Oh yes, BRAGA! I don't know why I forgot to mention that City.

 

[Jensjaunt]

Hi Jen, this is a kind of second-hand recommendation as I haven't done it myself, but a pilgrim friend did it, and had a great time - BRAGA! I saw the pics, heard the stories - and it looked fab.
She took the bus from the coast at around Fao/Eposende (probably at the end of your third or fourth day out of Porto) and spent a couple of nights there, then went back to the coast and resumed where she had left off. I think it's a less disruptive option than Tomar or Coimbra (both are great) because it's much easier to get to, and they are so far south of Porto. Let's see if anyone else (who has actually been there) has an upvote for Braga...

Thank you Tom - yes keen to hear more! Will also explore on line.

 

[jungleboy]

You’re suggesting there is a difference between the coastal path and the Atlantico path. I can find no reference to Atlantic path differing from the coastal. Please explain.

Presumably the poster meant the Senda Litoral, a variant on some stages which hugs the coast more tightly than the ‘coastal’ path.

 

[JillGat]

Im in an uber as we speak, heading from Porto to Braga, because my brother lives there!