I need opinions on Second Camino

[Siouxzy]

Does anyone have any good input on choosing Portugal route or northern route for my second camino? I finished the Frances route in June and I am planning my next one! Thanks for anything you have to input.

 

[Stripey Socks]

Hi Siouxzy.
I can highly recommend the Portuguese. I walked this route in May/June this year and it was really worthwhile.

It is very different from the Frances though with less pilgrims and more hard surfaces but still lovely.

I have included some thoughts and nuts and bolts in a number of posts on my blog:

https://melsonebigadventure.wordpress.com/2016/07/20/porto-woos-and-wins-a-heart/

I hope that helps and gives you a little insight into the pluses and minuses...

Enjoy and happy planning!
Mel

 

[KinkyOne]

Does anyone have any good input on choosing Portugal route or northern route for my second camino? I finished the Frances route in June and I am planning my next one! Thanks for anything you have to input.

Hi, Siouxzy,

I haven't walked either of mentioned routes but there are plenty of them in Spain not to mention rest of Europe
You can find quick overview of them (not all I can assure you) on the map here:
http://www.rayyrosa.com/loscaminos
Now you know your needs and what gives you + or - while on the way so browse a bit through this forum and soon you'll know what's the best second Camino for you. I do know that Portugues and Norte are very different though so it's all up to you and your gained experience on CF.

Anyway Ultreia!

 

[Siouxzy]

Hi Siouxzy.
I can highly recommend the Portuguese. I walked this route in May/June this year and it was really worthwhile.

It is very different from the Frances though with less pilgrims and more hard surfaces but still lovely.

I have included some thoughts and nuts and bolts in a number of posts on my blog:

https://melsonebigadventure.wordpress.com/2016/07/20/porto-woos-and-wins-a-heart/

I hope that helps and gives you a little insight into the pluses and minuses...

Enjoy and happy planning!
Mel

Thanks Stripey! What an awesome blog!!

 

[Siouxzy]

Hi, Siouxzy,

I haven't walked either of mentioned routes but there are plenty of them in Spain not to mention rest of Europe
You can find quick overview of them (not all I can assure you) on the map here:
http://www.rayyrosa.com/loscaminos
Now you know your needs and what gives you + or - while on the way so browse a bit through this forum and soon you'll know what's the best second Camino for you. I do know that Portugues and Norte are very different though so it's all up to you and your gained experience on CF.

Anyway Ultreia!

That is a great site ! Thank you very much, This forum is so valuable for planning my caminos!

 

[KinkyOne]

That is a great site ! Thank you very much, This forum is so valuable for planning my caminos!

If you can specify your wishes for your second camino, like time of the year, number of other pilgrims, elevation, time available etc. it would make our help much more easier and you won't have to dig so deep in forum history

 

[Kitsambler]

What about the Le Puy route? It's slightly shorter than the Camino Frances in Spain, much different scenery, entirely different pilgrim scene, and guilt-free French cooking!

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I second Kinky's post. Let is know what kt is you are looking for because the Portugese and the Northern routes are very different. I was disappointed by Porto to Santiago ober all, but it was easy breezy. Norte and Primitivo I loved, despite how difficult they both were (on Norte I only walked San Sebastian to Llanes mind you).

 

[RodlaRob]

Siouxzy - Camino Torres was great. (April'16) ... tho not for those that like to see/ meet fellow Pilgrims everywhere (From Salamanca to Ponte de Lima I encountered 3 Pilgrims!).... or who those are looking for a café con leche on every second corner.
A shock when I arrived Ponte de Lima to find 50 at the Albergue.
The way from there to Santiago was good also .... but give me those first 14 days again everytime. I met 2 Italians who were walking it for the second time.
Thought long & hard about posting a comment as the beauty of this walk lies in it's isolation from the current Pilgrim highways.

 

[amsimoes]

Hi.

I recommend any of the these Caminhos:

- Camino Primitivo

- Caminho Português do Interior
http://www.cpisantiago.pt/

- Caminho Torres
http://caminosantiago.usal.es/torres/

See:
http://www.caminador.es/

 

[Siouxzy]

If you can specify your wishes for your second camino, like time of the year, number of other pilgrims, elevation, time available etc. it would make our help much more easier and you won't have to dig so deep in forum history

I am going next September/October and I have 35 days . I was hoping someone had done both of these routes and could tell me what they thought about each of them. For some reason those two are calling me. Trying to decide.

 

[AML]

I am going next September/October and I have 35 days . I was hoping someone had done both of these routes and could tell me what they thought about each of them. For some reason those two are calling me. Trying to decide.

Hi Siouxzy,
I haven't done the Portuguese route yet but I have walked the Norte/ Primitivo combination in May/June 2014. I can highly recommend this option. When you get to the Norte/Primitivo split you can choose again whether to stay on Norte or go to the mountains!
Too many choices....
Whatever you decide it will be wonderful.....im sure!
Aidan

 

[Deleted member 3000]

If you want a completely different experience, the Chemin de St. Jacques from Le Puy is excellent. For one that is mostly Spain, I would recommend the Camino Portugues. The Camino del Norte is not as "coastal" as it looks on a map. Ocean view is rare, and ocean contact is even rarer. It goes up and down a lot, so you need the strong will against "I just walked up to this elevation, and now I have to go down again only to go up again??" It is pretty, though.

 

[Magwood]

My first Camino was the Frances, followed by the Portuguese from Lisbon, the Mozarabe from Malaga and this year the Norte from Irun to Ribadeo, then on around the coast to Ferrol and the Ingles.

All experiences have been totally different and challenging in their own way. The Portuguese has a lot of hard surface walking, but I felt that the Norte had more. Day after day of road walking was quite tough, but the times that I followed a cliff-top path or walked along the beach more than made up for it. If I were to walk the Norte again I would follow the coastline more closely, rather than take the official route slightly inland, nothing lifts flagging spirits like a view of the ocean.

I posted to my blog each day from all my caminos - you can find the links below if you are interested.
Happy planning!

 

[KentuckyJay]

Does anyone have any good input on choosing Portugal route or northern route for my second camino? I finished the Frances route in June and I am planning my next one! Thanks for anything you have to input.

Just completed My second in May (Porto to Santiago) and I agree with all those who have already stated that the various Portuguese routes are well worth doing.

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

Siouxzy - the Portuguese was my first camino. I loved it. I plan to walk it again in 2018. What more can I say?!?
Oh! Diaries on my web site might interest you - have written them all up, including the Portuguese!
Buen camino!

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

Portugal!

 

[ChloeRose]

I third the suggestion to take on the Le Puy route in France! It's such a beautiful trail and it's much less traveled than the Frances. The route is incredibly scenic, whereas I found the Frances was mostly road, unfortunately. I made a guide for Le Puy you should check out if you're considering it http://solocamino.com

 

[Ray J]

Does anyone have any good input on choosing Portugal route or northern route for my second camino? I finished the Frances route in June and I am planning my next one! Thanks for anything you have to input.

If you have the time, I recommend starting with the Rota Vicentina, then doing the Portuguese. We did that starting in Sagres, Portugal on May 24, taking the RV's historical way, then picking up the Fisherman's Trail in Odeceixe. On the Fisherman's Trail, there was incredible scenery and beautiful coastlines. As a bonus, there were very few people - there were days when we didn't see anyone else on the trail!

 

[drawstring]

I completed the coastal route from Porto in late May this year. My first Camino. It is beautiful.
Alan

 

[Elle Bieling]

I have done the Ingles (short - 5 days), with an add onto Finisterre and Muxia (add another 4-5 days) and I also have done the Primitivo. It took 13 days. I absolutely loved the Primitivo, but it was quite hard. You can read about it at www.pilgrimagetraveler.com/camino-primitivo.html. and the others are there too! I give detailed accounts to help you with your decision.
I really, really want to do the Portuguese coastal next, was planning it this year, then had to cancel due to my mother-in-law suffering a stroke. I most likely will do it starting in the spring of 2017 now.