Doubts regarding Coastal albergues and Herbón - Help!

[ophelia]

Hi everyone!

So, this May I am planning to walk the Coastal Route starting in Vila do Conde. And I have some questions, was wondering if you could help me!

I have the Brierley guide, which is really good for the Central Route, but does not have that much info on the Coastal. I am now reaching the conclusion that once the border between Portugal and Spain is crossed, there are basically no municipal albergues (donativo/small priced) until we arrive in Redondela once again. Is this correct? I am asking because our budget is really tight and there is no way to stretch it. If there are really no other affordable choices (anything that goes beyond 15€ per night for the two of us is way too expensive and hardly feasible if it happens more than once, as we are already counting on paying for the hotel in Santiago), maybe I will consider staying on the "cheap lane" - where donativo albergues are - and maybe walk up to Finisterre so we can walk a little longer (we are budgeting for 11/12 days on 6€ per night per person base).

Other question, now regarding Herbón: last time I stayed in Padrón and loved it, but I would like to stay in Herbón this time. Is the Monastery already open in May? I went to their website but I don't know if it is updated or not and seems to open only in June, I think. Could anyone confirm this?

I thank you all in advance. I am trying to plan it the best I can because this Camino will be special, not only because all Caminos are special, but because it will also be my honeymoon! So I am really excited. We enjoyed throughfully our first Camino and there is really nothing for us such as the freedom that comes with walking so it will be perfect for us. Thanks!

 

[Camembert]

Btw your question is in the wrong subforum..this is the subforum the coastal from Lisbon-you should ask your question in the subform coastal from Porto. Anyway here my answer.
What is your plan about following the route ?
Many think the coastal is the first stage from Porto to Vila do Conde before it changes to the central one but the coastal goes as far as Vigo . Municipal albergues are not very common in Portugal. You will find them more in Galicia.
You find your first cheap place to sleep at the camping in Angeiras-between Porto and Vila do Conde. Then the Vila do Conde one and one 5 kms further in Póvoa de Varzim. Then one just before Esposend in Fâo and one beyond in Marinhas.
Then one in Viana do Castelo and your last one in Portugal in Caminha.
There you cross the Lima river and find your next after 3 kms in A Guarda. Then one just outside Oia, in Mougas. Your next is beyond Baiona in Nigrán Ramallosa
In Vigo is no albergue so here you have to find a cheap hotel.
Your next will be in Redondela but I advice you to walk another 3 kms to Cessantes where is o refùxio de la Jérezana which is far better and not expensive.

I can't say anything about Herbon However I passed it twice in the past I never went in.

Bom caminho

 

[peregrina2000]

I have never stayed in Herbon but have long wanted to. Eroski says they open April 2.
It’s about 2.5 km off camino. The turn comes after you pass the church of San Julian de Pontecesures, before you cross the bridge over the Ulla River.

I’ve never heard anyone say they regretted having added those kms to their Camjno!

 

[Keith Camino]

Ciao Albertinho,

Sorry to ask this in the wrong forum.... I am starting in Porto on 21 March and haven't made any plans about stops. I appreciate the suggestions you made and would like to know if you think reservations are needed in advance, or if I can just walk up and knock. (I walked Camino Primitivo this time last year, and it was easy to find a bed wherever I knocked.)

At Vigo, what do you think about taking a boat across the Ria do Vigo instead of walking over the bridge? Where could I do that, and is there a marked route, or good route, on the north side?

I would like to hear more of your thoughts, but could take this to the other forum if you prefer.

Obrigado,

Keith

 

[Kanga]

@Keith Camino or ask @Albertinho in a PM! Although we probably all appreciate the information, sometimes going off on a tangent does tend to kidnap the thread.

 

[Camembert]

Ciao Albertinho,

Sorry to ask this in the wrong forum.... I am starting in Porto on 21 March and haven't made any plans about stops. I appreciate the suggestions you made and would like to know if you think reservations are needed in advance, or if I can just walk up and knock. (I walked Camino Primitivo this time last year, and it was easy to find a bed wherever I knocked.)

At Vigo, what do you think about taking a boat across the Ria do Vigo instead of walking over the bridge? Where could I do that, and is there a marked route, or good route, on the north side?

I would like to hear more of your thoughts, but could take this to the other forum if you prefer.

Obrigado,

Keith

No bother.. it is just to keep the information there where it belongs and where others can find their answers on their questions.
But anyway... there is no need to make reservations on the coastal caminho. Anyway not in this time of the year. The albergues don't take reservations .
I do not know what you want to walk a day so maybe give us a bit of info how long it will take you from Porto to Santiago. Some do 14 days-20+ kms a day. Others do it more relaxed.

We have been in Vigo several times. Once we walked but took the route through downtown .that meant. In Nigrán allready we chose to walk along the coastline, following green waymarkers. The yellow ones lead you into the hills and the upper part of Vigo. So I don't know waljing over a bridge or a boat.
Or do you mean the crossing of the river Lima at Caminha where is a ferry or 15 kms more inland a bridge at Vila Nova de Cerveira into Spain ?

I did the caminho 3 times. Once from Lisbon, once from Porto-coastal and central route combined and one different in Spain- all three together with my wife. Unfortunately she is not able to walk these distances anymore so from april 16th to april 30th next I am going to walk from Porto together with a friend who is going to walk for the first time.
So as a change we do it differently this time .we start in Porto but only short distances a day, a max of 15 kms. We walk as far as Viana do Castelo and from there we take the train to the central route and stay three days at the albergue Casa Fernanda-Fernanda and her husband Jacinto are close friends of us -After three days we continue in Viana at the coast and walk as far as Valença do Minho via Caminha. There we stop, take the train back to Porto and fly back to Holland where we live.
If my friend likes the caminho , mayby we finish the second part from Valença to Santiago later this year or next year. We'll see .Anyhow my wife and I will be back in Porto and at Fernanda's in september next to have some of vacation in Portugal and help them as hospitaleiros for some time.
Awaiting your news

Bom caminho

Albertinho

 

[Keith Camino]

Hi Albertinho,

I really appreciate your email, again Last year I pushed too hard and didn't see very much...and I would do that again this year, except my wife will join me this time. Given the start on 21 March, we could make it to SdC for Easter Sunday, 01 April, but I better not push it! I was thinking to walk 20 km per day, but you are making me think again, maybe less is more! We have enough time to walk 15 km per day to SdC before flying away on 07 April.

I have it in my head to walk the coastal route (following the green markers), and really stay close to the beach on the way to Vigo. I will take the ferry at Caminha to get to A Guarda. However, I thought I read somewhere that I could take a boat across the Ria de Vigo, instead of crossing the Puente de Rande, but judging from your message, this isn't something normally done. Anyway, you recommended a hostel in Cesantes and I would miss that if I crossed over too soon, so I won't try to get too fancy (which could upset my wife if I get us severely lost).

By the way, I read very nice comments about Casa Fernanda, and was kind of disappointed that I would miss it by walking the coastal route. It never occurred to me to cross over to the central route. Anyway, I will likely not make it to Casa Fernanda, but please tell your friends I said "hi."

By the way, I found this link to a lot of hostels/hotels/albergues from Lisboa to SdC. It was put together by cj2003 (member of this forum) and his link was updated in October 2017: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15YjQVotp9btlbTUx6YDMgFpHcm3__9msYMJ_nHKOe2E/edit#gid=0 It seems VERY helpful. Have you seen it?

Cheers,

Keith

 

[Keith Camino]

@Keith Camino or ask @Albertinho in a PM! Although we probably all appreciate the information, sometimes going off on a tangent does tend to kidnap the thread.

 

[Keith Camino]

Hi Kanga - just saw your note, and agree. But too late, Albertinho and I exchanged notes. However, the cj2003's link, which I shared, provides accommodation info from Lisbon on up. Cheers.

 

[ophelia]

Btw your question is in the wrong subforum..this is the subforum the coastal from Lisbon-you should ask your question in the subform coastal from Porto. Anyway here my answer.
What is your plan about following the route ?
Many think the coastal is the first stage from Porto to Vila do Conde before it changes to the central one but the coastal goes as far as Vigo . Municipal albergues are not very common in Portugal. You will find them more in Galicia.
You find your first cheap place to sleep at the camping in Angeiras-between Porto and Vila do Conde. Then the Vila do Conde one and one 5 kms further in Póvoa de Varzim. Then one just before Esposend in Fâo and one beyond in Marinhas.
Then one in Viana do Castelo and your last one in Portugal in Caminha.
There you cross the Lima river and find your next after 3 kms in A Guarda. Then one just outside Oia, in Mougas. Your next is beyond Baiona in Nigrán Ramallosa
In Vigo is no albergue so here you have to find a cheap hotel.
Your next will be in Redondela but I advice you to walk another 3 kms to Cessantes where is o refùxio de la Jérezana which is far better and not expensive.

I can't say anything about Herbon However I passed it twice in the past I never went in.

Bom caminho

Hello, thanks for your response!

Sorry for posting in the wrong subsection, never noticed there was one for Porto. My plan was the following:

Starting in Vila do Conde because I live near so it's convenient for me, then do as follows, being the albergues already checked for price and existence!:
Vila do Conde - Marinhas, sleep in municipal albergue
Marinhas - Viana do Castelo - sleep in municipal albergue
Viana do Castelo - Caminha - sleep in municipal albergue
Caminha - Mougás - no albergue under 10€ per person - issue
Mougás - Nigrán - same issue
Nigrán - Vigo - same, as you confirmed
Vigo - Redondela - back to normal. I thank you for your feedback but I have already stayed at Redondela municipal albergue and I find it cool. I believe the Refuxio you mention could be way better, but those 4€ difference in price, I would prefer to keep for the evening meal! Really on a budget!

So I think I might be doing a detour in Caminha to Tui and proceed along the Central Route from there, just for the sake of saving money. It makes me a bit sad as I really wished to walk the Coastal Route but I'll do the Portuguese bit and then maybe one day, when my finances are a bit healthier, I'll do the Coastal through Vigo and may even walk the Variante Espiritual. I'll face it as an "excuse" to walk the Camino yet again! Thanks for your insight!

 

[ophelia]

I have never stayed in Herbon but have long wanted to. Eroski says they open April 2.
It’s about 2.5 km off camino. The turn comes after you pass the church of San Julian de Pontecesures, before you cross the bridge over the Ulla River.

I’ve never heard anyone say they regretted having added those kms to their Camjno!

Hello!

In my first Camino last year, I considered going into Herbón, but I wished to know Padrón as well, which I did. This time I won't be missing Herbón! I read that it is waymarked with red arrows from Pontecesures, seems a small detour. Thank you for your information on the opening, as I read in another site that it was only open from June I was worried, but I forgot to check the Eroski site! Thanks a lot for your time!

 

[Camembert]

Hello!

In my first Camino last year, I considered going into Herbón, but I wished to know Padrón as well, which I did. This time I won't be missing Herbón! I read that it is waymarked with red arrows from Pontecesures, seems a small detour. Thank you for your information on the opening, as I read in another site that it was only open from June I was worried, but I forgot to check the Eroski site! Thanks a lot for your time!

From Pontecessures it is an aprox 2 kms detour to Herbón