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Camino Monacal. A Guarda - Baiona - Vigo - Santiago

Seamus A

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
portuguese costal way
Dear All,
My wife and myself are planning to walk from A Guarda through Baiona and Vigo to Santiago. Has anyone done this route? We're going in May this year. We have 6 days... we're open to doing some of it/all of it? We're looking for tips, pointers; places to eat; good hostels; where to avoid; What's the best part etc. How does this route compare to others? Should we start in Porto and walk from there?? Looking forward to hearing all your stories and advice.
 

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Hi Seamus, When in May will you two be doing this? I'm thinking of going to this route from the Coastal / Litoral about the 20th May - give or take a few days. Brierley has some maps in his Camino Portugués - 2016 version. But I will be following this thread for more information! My dates are a bit uncertain since I will be walking the Camino de Madrid from 18 April, and the Portuguése from Porto from about 12 or 13 May...I take my time - I'm a little old lady!
Buen Camino~
Terry
 
Dear All,
My wife and myself are planning to walk from A Guarda through Baiona and Vigo to Santiago. Has anyone done this route? We're going in May this year. We have 6 days... we're open to doing some of it/all of it? We're looking for tips, pointers; places to eat; good hostels; where to avoid; What's the best part etc. How does this route compare to others? Should we start in Porto and walk from there?? Looking forward to hearing all your stories and advice.

I will be walking this route starting from Porto April 25. Will walk to Vila do Conde, then cut across to Barcelos and on to Casa Fernanda before travelling to Viana do Castelo and up the coast before rejoining main CP at Redondella, with a detour to the Variante Espiritual before arriving SdC. I could send you updates by pm if I am far enough ahead of you to make sense. Otherwise, check out the excellent post by Albertinho who has walked this route and recorded some of the journey.
Bom Caminho!
 
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Hi it's about 165 km from A Guarda to Santiago if you follow the coast as far as Vigo then on to Redondela to meet official way from Lisbon. So I would say it can be done in the 7 days
1.A Guarda - Baiona keep following the cycleway all the way to save some time.
2.Baiona - Vigo
3. Vigo - Redondela
4.Redondela - Pontevedra
5. Pontevedra- Caladas de Reis
6. Caldas - Padron
7. Padron - Santiago
You could skip Baiona to Vigo stage and catch a bus into Vigo. Use Luis's maps to get back onto camino in Vigo and follow the yellow arrows to Santiago again.
For more information check out this forum thread https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/camino-portugues-coastal-route-from-porto.109/ & use Luis Freixo's maps see http://www.caminador.es/?page_id=117 He has a list of all good places to stay and eat in main towns, I helped him with Baiona places.
 
I will be walking this route starting from Porto April 25. Will walk to Vila do Conde, then cut across to Barcelos and on to Casa Fernanda before travelling to Viana do Castelo and up the coast before rejoining main CP at Redondella, with a detour to the Variante Espiritual before arriving SdC. I could send you updates by pm if I am far enough ahead of you to make sense. Otherwise, check out the excellent post by Albertinho who has walked this route and recorded some of the journey.
Bom Caminho!
Hi Seb, many thanks for your reply, I will look at Albertinho's post, Seamus
 
Hi it's about 165 km from A Guarda to Santiago if you follow the coast as far as Vigo then on to Redondela to meet official way from Lisbon. So I would say it can be done in the 7 days
1.A Guarda - Baiona keep following the cycleway all the way to save some time.
2.Baiona - Vigo
3. Vigo - Redondela
4.Redondela - Pontevedra
5. Pontevedra- Caladas de Reis
6. Caldas - Padron
7. Padron - Santiago
You could skip Baiona to Vigo stage and catch a bus into Vigo. Use Luis's maps to get back onto camino in Vigo and follow the yellow arrows to Santiago again.
For more information check out this forum thread https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/camino-portugues-coastal-route-from-porto.109/ & use Luis Freixo's maps see http://www.caminador.es/?page_id=117 He has a list of all good places to stay and eat in main towns, I helped him with Baiona places.
Thanks, this is a great help. I'm still unsure of which coast to follow, either the Spanish or Portuguese. I don't mind were we go but just looking for the most scenic route.
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
The Spanish part -- Vigo to A Guarda, is a LOT more pavement and roadside walking.

Thank you for the information Rebekah. I had intended walking all along the coast, but your information about pavements and roadside walking is causing me to have second thoughts. I like to walk in relative peace and quiet, so, in your opinion, would I be better crossing over from Caminha to valenca to continue walking the central route?
 
Dear All,
My wife and myself are planning to walk from A Guarda through Baiona and Vigo to Santiago. Has anyone done this route? We're going in May this year. We have 6 days... we're open to doing some of it/all of it? We're looking for tips, pointers; places to eat; good hostels; where to avoid; What's the best part etc. How does this route compare to others? Should we start in Porto and walk from there?? Looking forward to hearing all your stories and advice.
You could start in Porto, walk the CENTRAL route via São Pedro de Rates and Barcelos to Casa da Fernanda, the best albergue on the entire caminho from Porto. See my first vid.
From there leapfrog by public transport-bus or train to the coast-25 kms-and walk from there
to Vigo and Redondela. Hit the CENTRAL route there and walk to Pontevedra see my vid no 2
And if you like something special walk the Variante Espiritual.-see my vid no 3 to Santiago instead of following the central route.



Bom caminho
 
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Thank you for the information Rebekah. I had intended walking all along the coast, but your information about pavements and roadside walking is causing me to have second thoughts. I like to walk in relative peace and quiet, so, in your opinion, would I be better crossing over from Caminha to valenca to continue walking the central route?
That is not a better option. Also from Caminha to Valença is a lot of roadwalking. And a busy road.
The Portuguese routes are a lot of roadwalking.the coastal via A Guarda and Baiona is in spite of the roadwalking a quiet walk. Only Vigo, a big city is busy..
 
Hi Seamus, When in May will you two be doing this? I'm thinking of going to this route from the Coastal / Litoral about the 20th May - give or take a few days. Brierley has some maps in his Camino Portugués - 2016 version. But I will be following this thread for more information! My dates are a bit uncertain since I will be walking the Camino de Madrid from 18 April, and the Portuguése from Porto from about 12 or 13 May...I take my time - I'm a little old lady!
Buen Camino~
Terry
Hi Terry, we will be walking from the 10th to the 15th of May and we hope to average 25k per day. Thanks for the information about maps.
Buen Camino; Seamus
 
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You could start in Porto, walk the CENTRAL route via São Pedro de Rates and Barcelos to Casa da Fernanda, the best albergue on the entire caminho from Porto. See my first vid.
From there leapfrog by public transport-bus or train to the coast-25 kms-and walk from there
to Vigo and Redondela. Hit the CENTRAL route there and walk to Pontevedra see my vid no 2
And if you like something special walk the Variante Espiritual.-see my vid no 3 to Santiago instead of following the central route.



Bom caminho
Thanks Albertinho, your advice is very welcome and the videos are great. Now I have a much better idea of what to expect. I can't wait to get going and am sorry that we only have six days.
Seamus
 
Thanks Albertinho, your advice is very welcome and the videos are great. Now I have a much better idea of what to expect. I can't wait to get going and am sorry that we only have six days.
Seamus
it's your party..not mine.. I know better by now what Portugal is about and my stay cannot be long enough :)

Bom caminho
 
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The walk between A Guarda and Baiona does involve some walking along the cycletrack close to the main road. As Albertinho points out the road generally doesn't carry much traffic and the views are fantastic all the way of wild Atlantic ocean against the backdrop of steeply rising mountain scenery. A very beautiful stage indeed compared with camino stages generally. As you leave A Guarda you pick up the coastal footpath and infact much of the camino involves walking along coastal footpaths or forest tracks either side of the main road/cycleway. So your walking involves various surfaces coastal walkways, paths,forest tracks, minor roads like passing Oia, a pleasant mountain climb along a track to Baredo then more minor roads to Baiona. Much of the walk is relatively flat so easier on the feet/knees than an off road walk which normally involves many ups and downs !!
 
I guess I'll wait to decide my route until I get to A Guarda then ask around and see how I feel -- and trust the Camino to provide the way for me...
Bom Caminho!
Terry

Edit: Thanks, @MyDestinationGalicia, I probably will continue along the coastal route from A Guarda!
 
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I have walked the central route from Porto to SDC, from Porto on the coastal to Caminha and further to Valenca continuing on the Central route to SDc and also the coastal from Caminha to A Guarda - Baiona - Vido Redondela and further to SDc (on the Central route).
 
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I have walked the central route from Porto to SDC, from Porto on the coastal to Caminha and further to Valenca continuing on the Central route to SDc and also the coastal from Caminha to A Guarda - Baiona - Vido Redondela and further to SDc (on the Central route).

Annie, what's your opinion of the 3 routes?
 

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