Newbies

[SallGar]

Hello, Everyone. Sally and Gary, here. We are planning on walking the Portuguese in mid-April of 2023. It will be our first Camino. We are in our mid-70's and have been enjoying reading and watching as many resources as we can. We are quite impressed - and thankful! - for the openness of this site and appreciate all the many fine pointers that are to be found here. Thank you!

 

[natefaith]

Welcome Sally and Gary! Glad you found the Forum and dropped a note.

Enjoy all the planning and Buen Camino

 

[Adelina]

I'm attaching a "cheat sheet" for our Coastal Camino in Portugal. My husband and I had a wonderful Camino in May! It is a compilation of mileage and places to stay so we knew what was ahead. We did not adhere to the standard days - for example, on day 1 we started slowly from Matosinhos to Vila Cha (a very small fishing village where we had a delicious grilled fish and fresh salad from the garden!). This grid helped us know the mileage between places; and I asterisked the hotels/albergues that were mentioned in different blogs as good places to stay. AFTER our trip, I BOLDED AND CAPPED where we stopped & where we stayed. I hope this helps you in your planning.

Porto to Santiago de Compostela, 280km Walking stages – Coastal Route-Stingy Nomads

*MA - municipal albergue, **PA - private albergue (Mac)*live in the moment. CAPS=our stops/lodging

Day 1. PORTO- Labruge, 23km (BUS FROM CATHEDRAL TO MATOSINHOS)
6km	Foz do Douro	Hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
12km	MATOSINHOS - BEGIN	Hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
17km	Perafita	Hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
21km	Lavra	PA**, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
24km	Labruge (Novo Rumo-chocolate)*	MA*, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
Day 2. Labruge - Praia Estrela, 25km CASA da PRAIA
2,5km	VILA CHA – CASA SANDRA**	MA, hotel, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurantPRAIA MAR**, bar
3,5km	Mindelo (lots of hotels)	Hotel, supermarket, restaurant, bar
6,5km	Praia de Arvore	Hotel, ATM, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
10km	Vila do Conde (N&M)*Eiffel bridge	MA, PA, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
14km	Póvoa de Varzim (M1)**Hotel Torre del Mar Agucadoura Guest house	MA*, PA, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
16km	O Ver-O-Mar	Hotel, shop, restaurant
21km	Aguçadoura *	ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
25km	Praia da Estela (Orbitur)	Camping-cabins, hotel, shop, restaurant
Day 3. Praia Estrela - Castelo do Neiva, 24km
4km	APULIA	PA-SANTIAGO PRAIA, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
8km	Fão	PA, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
10,5km	Esposende (M 2)**	PA*Laranjeira, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
14,5km	Marinhas **	MA, hotel, ATM, shop, pharmacy, restaurant, bar

16,8km	Mar	Shop, restaurant, cafe
18km	Belinho	Restaurant, cafe
20km	Antas	Hotel, restaurant, cafe
24km	Castelo do Neiva	MA, hotel, shop, restaurant, bar
Day 4. Castelo do Neiva - Carreço, 19km
4,5km	Chafé	Hotel, ATM, shop, restaurant, cafe
7km	ANHA	PA-CASA de CAROLINA**, hotel, supermarket, restaurant, cafe
9km	Darque	Hotel, supermarket, restaurant, cafe
11km	Viana do Castelo (M3)****	PA*, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar RESIDENCIAL LARANJEIRA
16km	Areosa	Hotel, shop, restaurant, bar
19km	Carreço	PA, hotel, shop, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
Day 5. Carreço, Portugal - A Guarda, Spain, 22km
3km	Armada	Hotel, cafe
10km	VILA PRAIA d ANCORA	PA QUINTA da QUINHAS**, everything-BEAUTIFUL TOWN!!
15 km	Moledo	PA, hotel, shop, restaurant, cafe
18km	Caminha, Portugal (ferry)**	MA, PA, hotel*, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
Caminha - A Pasaxe by ferry, 700 m, 5min.
22km	A Guarda, Spain (M-5)**	MA, PA, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar HOTEL BRUSELAS
Day 6. A Guarda - Baiona, 29km Restaurant PURERO GUARDES in A GUARDA
6,5km	Portecelo	Bar
12km	OIA	PA- CALA INN** Hotel*, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
15,5km	Villadesuso	PA, hotel, restaurant, cafe
18,5km	Porto Mougás *	PA
20km	Pedra Rubia	Hotel, cafe

29km	Baiona (M-7)* Hotel Pinzon SABARIS – HOTEL AVENIDA**	PA, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar Parador de Baiona hotel
Day 7. Baiona - Vigo, 25km (alternative route along the coast)
4km	A Ramallosa (the split the right route goes inland, the left route follows the coast) *	PA, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
7,5km	A Bouza Vella	Shop, restaurant, bar
11,5km	Saiáns	PA, restaurant, bar
14km	Oia HOTEL A RAINA	Shop, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
25km	VIGO(M-8)**. HOTEL EXE** Hotel R. Ogalia	Hostel, hotel*, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
Day 8. Vigo - Redondela, 16,3km
7km	Chapela	ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
16,3km	REDONDELA – PENSION RUA DE MEDIO** Santiago de Villavela Hostel	MA, PA, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
Day 9. Redondela - Pontevedra, 20km
2,5km	Cesantes * (Refuxio de la Jérezana a private albergue)	PA, hotel, ATM, shop, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
5 km	Soutoxuste	PA, restaurant
7,5km	Arcade (M-9)	PA, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
8,5km	Pontesanpaio	PA, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
20km	PONTEVEDRA- BOOKING STUDIO (M-8)* *Slow City Hostel/	MA, PA, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
Day 10. Pontevedra - Caldas de Reis, 23km***
10,5km	Barro/Portela	MA, restaurant
16km	Briallos	MA
21km	Tívo	PA, supermarket
23km	CALDAS DE REIS – BOOKING PENSION AUGAS QUENTES spa town*	MA, PA, hotel O’Cruceiro, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
Day 11. Caldas de Reis - Padrón, 20km Restaurant CHEF RIVERA in Padron
5,5 km	O Cruceiro (Carracedo)	Cafe, restaurant
10km	Valga	MA, hotel, restaurant, bar

12,5km	San Miguel de Valga	Shop, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
17km	Pontecesures	MA, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
20km	PADRON – HOTEL CHEF RIVERA (laundromat next door)	MA, PA Jardin, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
Day 12. Padrón - Santiago de Compostela, 25km
1km	Iria Flavia	Hotel, bar
6km	A Esclavitude	Hotel, restaurant, bar
6,5km	Cruces *	PA, hotel, restaurant, bar
7,5km	Angueira de Suso	Hotel, restaurant
8,3km	Picaraña	PA, hotel, restaurant
10km	O Faramello	MA, PA, hotel, restaurant, bar
18km	Milladoiro (Albergue Milladoiro*)	PA, hotel, ATM, supermarket, restaurant, bar
25km	SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA AIRBNB	Residencia Fornos

***Variante Espiritual (Spiritual Way), optional route Pontevedra to Padrón, 73km

(FRIEND DID THIS AND THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT!)

Day 10. Pontevedra - Armenteira, 22km
6km	Campañó	Hotel, restaurant
10km	Poio	Hotel, restaurant
12km	Combarro	Hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
21,4km	Armenteira	MA, restaurant
Day 11. Armenteira - Vilanova de Arousa, 23km
6km	Barrantes	Shop, restaurant, bar
12km	Ponte Arnelas	Pharmacy, restaurant, bar
25km	Vilanova de Arousa	MA, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar

Day 12. Vilanova de Arousa - Padrón, 28km by boat
28km	Pontecesures	MA, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar
31km	Padrón (walking)	MA, PA, hotel, ATM, supermarket, pharmacy, restaurant, bar

Stingy Nomads

 

[lt56ny]

Hello, Everyone. Sally and Gary, here. We are planning on walking the Portuguese in mid-April of 2023. It will be our first Camino. We are in our mid-70's and have been enjoying reading and watching as many resources as we can. We are quite impressed - and thankful! - for the openness of this site and appreciate all the many fine pointers that are to be found here. Thank you!

Buen Camino. You may need to do a little planning especially early on after you leave Lisbon as the infrastructure for pilgrims is not quite as good as when you get further up the camino. As an example:

Azambuja - Santarém | Camino Portugués Central | Gronze.com

Si la etapa anterior era aburrida, la de hoy nos parecerá interminable, especialmente en épocas calurosas. Los mayores alicientes se centran en su primera mitad, todavía por la ribera del río Tejo. En los últimos 16 km no encontraremos ninguna población ni tampoco sombra. Finalmente, una cuesta...

www.gronze.com

If you feel like a stage between services is too long you can always take a bus or taxi part way to shorten the distance. Take your time and enjoy the experience. The people of Portugal are wonderful. If you have never been there, especially in the bigger towns and cities more people speak English than in Spain. I would recommend downloading the free apps from Wise Pilgrim, Buen Camino, Camino Ninja and using Gronze.com No one app or book has all the places to sleep so the more apps you can refer to the more choices may appear.