Help Camino Litoral Planning

[LillyF]

Hello, I’m a reporter planning to do the beach route from Porto to Santiago next week? Any information on stops appreciated. Haven’t decided if biking or walking but only have nine days. I need to wild camp some of those nights. Any suggestions? Is a solo female traveler okay on that route?

 

[Phil71]

Hi Romster - are you doing the coastal route, or are you following the coast (known as the Litoral)? The Litoral route generally does not have municipal albergues, but you only have to come inland a short way (typically less than 3km) to return to the coastal route and use those albergues. This is what we did a couple of years ago. We stayed at: Labruge, Marinhas, La Guarda, Ramallosa, Redondela, Portela, Herbon - but some of those were (too) long days. I loved the Litoral route though - walking on beachs and boardwalks, but the marking is not always great - I did use GPS - although as long as you keep the sea on the left.....
Regards,
Phil.

Hi Lilly. My post above shows where I stayed. 8 or 9 days Porto to Santiago. So it can be done without camping. Some long days but doable. You should be fine on your own if you're comfortable with that. I loved the litoral route. Plenty of time by or on the beach. And the Portuguese are generally lovely helpful people. Bom caminho!

 

[surya8]

I walked the Coastal in 12 days, 3 of which were Variante Espiritual, so if we walked stright then it would be 9 days, so you may simply walk it, that would be 20-30km a day in genaral. Simple route, safe to walk for a girl. Did that in Jan when not so many housing options, so you should be ok in Sept. Wild camping is prohibited on the route. they have a serious situation with fires there, but there are plenty of camp sites with cabins along the ocean, some even might have discounts for pilgrims, Orbitur in Portugal does. There is a full list of accommodation on the Coastal way in the Resources section. Bom Caminho!

 

[LillyF]

Hello, I’m a reporter planning to do the beach route from Porto to Santiago next week? Any information on stops appreciated. Haven’t decided if biking or walking but only have nine days. I need to wild camp some of those nights. Any suggestions? Is a solo female traveler okay on that route?

Hi Lilly. My post above shows where I stayed. 8 or 9 days Porto to Santiago. So it can be done without camping. Some long days but doable. You should be fine on your own if you're comfortable with that. I loved the litoral route. Plenty of time by or on the beach. And the Portuguese are generally lovely helpful people. Bom caminho!

Thank you so much. I am planning to do the littoral. I will look at your stops. Is there any reason why one can’t walk barefoot in the water?!

 

[LillyF]

I walked the Coastal in 12 days, 3 of which were Variante Espiritual, so if we walked stright then it would be 9 days, so you may simply walk it, that would be 20-30km a day in genaral. Simple route, safe to walk for a girl. Did that in Jan when not so many housing options, so you should be ok in Sept. Wild camping is prohibited on the route. they have a serious situation with fires there, but there are plenty of camp sites with cabins along the ocean, some even might have discounts for pilgrims, Orbitur in Portugal does. There is a full list of accommodation on the Coastal way in the Resources section. Bom Caminho!

Brilliant! Thank you so much for the information.

 

[Phil71]

Rocks are the only thing to stop You! The sea isn't really accessible a lot of the time. But don't let that put you off. There are also plenty enough times you can walk with the feel of the waves on your toes.

 

[surya8]

Is there any reason why one can’t walk barefoot in the water?!

The Coastal way doesn't necessarily always follows the ocean although it could also be also to walk barefoot on the wooden boardwalks in the first couple of stages from Porto. Mind you sand/boardwalk barefoot walking would slow you down, and as you only have 9 days to finish it that minght be an issue. The Coastal is around 280km, around 30 km/day for you if you start in Porto, or around 25 starting from Vila do Conde or Esposende. The best thing on the Camino is actualy people, not necesarily places or even nature, so try to stay in some albergues and talk to fellow walkers!

 

[Oops]

Hi I recently completed the beach route, mainly along the sand/boardwalk. It took me 14 days but I had a 4 day break midway and went to Islas Cies, So 10 days actually walking the coastal - porto (matosinhos) to vigo and then inland from there to SDC, I am a fast walker. I swam in the sea every day. In portugal you can stay on the beach throughout but once you get into Galicia its more difficult. Don't take any chances, I am a really experienced mountain hiker but had a very hairy morning going across the rocks. Don't do this, its too dangerous with the tides - stick to the marked paths. Along the route I stayed in hostels and pensions. Wild camping is not permitted. Its fabulous to walk along the Atlantic and easy to follow as the ocean is always on your left. The beaches are superb but the sea is very cold.