Local buses nearby camino route?

[tweedy48]

I am booked and will arrive in Porto on September 4. I had planned to walk, alone, to Santiago in eleven days as recommended on many of the posts.

Unfortunately my leg and back are causing me major problems and my physiotherapist feels that I should only attempt 10 km daily. But my timetable and flight home does not allow me 22 days for the walk.

Either I only walk as far as Tui or I walk 10 km daily and somehow get myself to the daily destination.

Would it be possible to walk 10 km and then catch a bus for the remaining distance? Does anyone know if this is possible? I could, of course, start from Tui but I would like the Portuguese experience.

I would appreciate any information or suggestions.

Buen camino.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I know there is a train station in Barcellos and I'm sure there are local buses in other villages along the route.

 

[whariwharangi]

I am booked and will arrive in Porto on September 4. I had planned to walk, alone, to Santiago in eleven days as recommended on many of the posts.

Unfortunately my leg and back are causing me major problems and my physiotherapist feels that I should only attempt 10 km daily. But my timetable and flight home does not allow me 22 days for the walk.

Either I only walk as far as Tui or I walk 10 km daily and somehow get myself to the daily destination.

Would it be possible to walk 10 km and then catch a bus for the remaining distance? Does anyone know if this is possible? I could, of course, start from Tui but I would like the Portuguese experience.

I would appreciate any information or suggestions.

Buen camino.

Its important to note that buses only stop at scheduled bus stops. So some of the major companies I've listed below may be of little use to you.

Google Earth is an amazing resource. You can in virtual mode follow the camino route from about 1km altitude and for some sections the bus stops are indicated. When you click on the bus stop symbol it shows the bus company and the route number.

The only other way to find all the bus services is to go to the websites for all of the towns along the route. Often the town council has pages showing transportation services. Otherwise find the Estacion de Autobuses. Usually the larger towns are hubs for the surrounding area. Crossing regional boundaries is sometimes difficult.

Here are links to major transportation services. Note this list is not complete:

Trains:

Portugal: Comboios de Portugal (CP) (urban, regional, national, and international train services)
http://www.cp.pt/cp/displayPage.do?vgnextoid=87cbd5abe2a74010VgnVCM1000007b01a8c0RCRD

Spain: Renfe
http://www.renfe.com/

Buses:

Portugal

Note Porto does not have a central bus station.

Autna (connects to Vigo Spain to Porto)
http://www.autna.com/es/

EBA Transporte (Transdev) (Braga)
http://www.ebatransportes.com/ - empresa

Eva Transporte (Algarve)
http://www.eva-bus.com/

Get Bus (Transdev) (Porto airport to Braga)
http://getbus.eu/index.php?seccao=2&lang=en

Rede Expressos (National)
http://www.rede-expressos.pt/

Renex (National)
http://www.renex.pt/

Rodoviaria do Tejo bus information (I think this is Lisboa region)
http://www.rodotejo.pt/

Spain:

ALSA (connects Santiago to Porto and Lisboa)
http://www.alsa.es/

Castromil (Monbus) (Santiago to Vigo, Tui to Ponteverde, etal)
http://www.monbus.es/index2.htm

Vigo Bus Station ... (See ATSA for Vigo to Tui).
http://vigobus.com/

Estacion de Autobuses Santiago
http://www.tussa.org/web/interior.php?txt=arbore_web5&lg=cas

 

[Anniesantiago]

whariwharangi, you are the KING of transport info!

 

[ourgirl]

There is a train that runs up the coast. I think it's CP, take a look into that. We used the train to get from Viaba to Caminha. Very easy and reasonable.

 

[tweedy48]

Thank you ehariwharangi for the wealth of info. You are indeed the King of transport info.

Its important to note that buses only stop at scheduled bus stops. So some of the major companies I've listed below may be of little use to you.

Google Earth is an amazing resource. You can in virtual mode follow the camino route from about 1km altitude and for some sections the bus stops are indicated. When you click on the bus stop symbol it shows the bus company and the route number.

The only other way to find all the bus services is to go to the websites for all of the towns along the route. Often the town council has pages showing transportation services. Otherwise find the Estacion de Autobuses. Usually the larger towns are hubs for the surrounding area. Crossing regional boundaries is sometimes difficult.

Here are links to major transportation services. Note this list is not complete:

 

[tweedy48]

Thank you everyone for your responses. Lots of info for me.

 

[christy wharton]

I am booked and will arrive in Porto on September 4. I had planned to walk, alone, to Santiago in eleven days as recommended on many of the posts.

Unfortunately my leg and back are causing me major problems and my physiotherapist feels that I should only attempt 10 km daily. But my timetable and flight home does not allow me 22 days for the walk.

Either I only walk as far as Tui or I walk 10 km daily and somehow get myself to the daily destination.

Would it be possible to walk 10 km and then catch a bus for the remaining distance? Does anyone know if this is possible? I could, of course, start from Tui but I would like the Portuguese experience.

I would appreciate any information or suggestions.

Buen camino.

I have just finished that Camino. Be practical. The last 2 stages from porto, from Ponte de Lima have no intermediate accommodation: also a very difficult and steep climb into remote Rubiaes. The Spanish side is more suitable for shorter stages and frequent buses if needed as they work out of a big city--Santiago. With physical constraints I would get a train /bus from lovely Porto to old Valenca, explore and cross/stay to Tui-Cathedral- and have your >100K walk to SDC.

 

[gracethepilgrim]

I am booked and will arrive in Porto on September 4. I had planned to walk, alone, to Santiago in eleven days as recommended on many of the posts.

Unfortunately my leg and back are causing me major problems and my physiotherapist feels that I should only attempt 10 km daily. But my timetable and flight home does not allow me 22 days for the walk.

Either I only walk as far as Tui or I walk 10 km daily and somehow get myself to the daily destination.

Would it be possible to walk 10 km and then catch a bus for the remaining distance? Does anyone know if this is possible? I could, of course, start from Tui but I would like the Portuguese experience.

I would appreciate any information or suggestions.

Buen camino.

Glass half full?
Although I don’t know what back/leg issues you are dealing with, here is my experience after 4 caminos. I have compressed L5/S1 causing me back and leg pain in normal life. After a couple of days walking caminos, (wearing my backpack) this pain disappears and I walk pain-free. It happens every time. Must be a lesson in there for me Something to consider … Buen camino

 

[tweedy48]

Thank you...something to think about. I will see how the walking goes over the next six weeks. Been camino.

 

[tweedy48]

Thank you...I will seriously consider it. I had hoped to explore the Portuguese route; I could do that if I walk only to Valenca.

I have just finished that Camino. Be practical. The last 2 stages from porto, from Ponte de Lima have no intermediate accommodation: also a very difficult and steep climb into remote Rubiaes. The Spanish side is more suitable for shorter stages and frequent buses if needed as they work out of a big city--Santiago. With physical constraints I would get a train /bus from lovely Porto to old Valenca, explore and cross/stay to Tui-Cathedral- and have your >100K walk to SDC.