Starting in Chaves, Portugal

[peregrino robert]

I am planning( thinking ) the camino for 2011 and have heard that it is possible to start in Chaves .
Start in Chaves and then later join Via de la Plata?
I would like to know if there are Albergues or we have to sleep in hotels?
"WE" are a friend who is trying for the first time and me who have walked the Portuguise twice, where the second time was with start in Matosinhos (part Coastel) and othervice trying the detours from John Brierley's guide "Camino Portuguès).
I would like to know if the route is waymarked well (arrows and shells) or we have to walk by the "ear" (With some maps) or yet again with very precise maps and so on?
I was also thinking of Englise, but it is only 4-5 days. Not enough..
For me it would be good for a start, to get the feeling again and then walk as a guide for/with my friend from Chaves to SdC and perhaps take the finish to Finisterre.
My friend only have 2 weeks, so it has to be "short and intence".
I hope you can help....;-?
Bom Caminho
Robert

 

[miguel_gp]

Hi Robert,

There is some information in this thread camino-mozarabe-and-via-de-la-plata/topic6743.html on the route from Chaves. There are albergues at Verin (30km from Chaves), Monterrei (only about 2km on from Verin) and then the route splits. It is about 40km to the next albergue on the Sandias leg or 17km to the next one on the Laza leg. Both legs join up again just prior to Ourense.

Waymarking from Verin on both routes is good. I haven't walked from Chaves to Verin but I have driven it several times and I'm sure there is waymarking here as the path criss-crrosses the main road. The link above also contains a link to a bike map which plots the route between Chaves and Verin.

Regards
Mig

 

[miguel_gp]

More info on this route (well the Galician side of it anyway) on the Xacobeo web site http://camino.xacobeo.es/en/routes/sout ... e-la-plata.

The Google Map on the Xacobeo site shows some of the route variations. Although not marked on that map there is definitely waymarking from Verin/Monterrei to head directly north and join up with the Vdlp at Laza.

 

[peregrino robert]

Thank you for the quick reply(s)
I will now start planning...

Bom Caminho
Robert