• For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here.
    (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)

Search 69,459 Camino Questions

Advanced search…

Recent content by Portach

  1. Portach

    Trains from Alicante to Valencia

    There is no direct rail link between Alicante and Valencia as far as I am aware. Bus is a more direct option
  2. Portach

    My Stages on the Lana, 2023

    Day 1 Villajoyosa to Relleu, 20km Day 2 Relleu toTorremanzanas, 20 km Day3 Torremanzanas to Ibi, 18 km The climb that morning gave some more great scenery. At the top there were forested slopes to our left and views of farmland below on our right.We discovered we are slow climbers and felt that...
  3. Portach

    My Stages on the Lana, 2023

    March 2024: We just finished day 3 of Camino de Lana from Villajoyosa. It is a wonderful walk, I don’t have words to describe the views, citrus, pine forests, manicured terraces of olive and almond trees, mountains near and far. We had the good fortune to bump into Pepe in Orcheta our first...
  4. Portach

    Food on the via la plata

    I agree with replies below. However in some small villages the shop may close at 2.30 on a Saturday afternoon and not open til Monday morning. Be extra careful to shop early/have a stash at weekends away from the main towns. Where you stay on Friday will be able to advise.
  5. Portach

    My Stages on the Lana, 2023

    Love your posts. Hoping to do 10 days from Villajoyosa starting 5th March. Even more looking forward to it now having read your post, thank you.
  6. Portach

    First aid kit recommendations for Via de La Plata

    Foot care is the most important for me - Compeed, a few bandaids, some padding, tape, toe separators, Vaseline daily. After that a few paracetamol and a small scissors to cut tape. The VdlP has fewer villages than some other routes, and some are small and don’t have a pharmacy. You also have to...
  7. Portach

    That recipe - which one is yours?

    Not exactly a recipe. First Camino, approaching a small town, where the only albergue had pretty awful reviews. The plan was to book a room in a casa rural or similar. Unfortunately, when we tried to book for a Saturday night, it transpired that it was a local fiesta weekend and everything’s...
  8. Portach

    Any Advice about how to strengthen my knees for down hills.

    Suggest you get opinion from a physio well in advance. Knee pain can originate from a hip problem, for example, and a professional can diagnose and advise re course of action. I have a dicky right knee and find poles invaluable, particularly going downhil.
  9. Portach

    What is the best app to learn some Spanish for the Camino? Thanks

    I have been trying to learn Spanish for more than 20 years, starting with books, CDs, night classes……! I tried duo lingo, it didn’t do much for me. The Michel Thomas course got me started, I could finally put some sentences together, book a room, order a meal. I still had great difficulty...
  10. Portach

    Carry your backpack please.

    I used to think like that before I did my first Camino in 2017. Six years on, as the ’niggles’ in my muscles and joints get more insistent, my views have changed. I can foresee a time when I might have to make a choice between forgetting about doing a Camino or taking more rest days, an...
  11. Portach

    Footwear mozarabe/vdlp February

    I walked Granada to Córdoba starting early Feb last year. The weather was dry and experienced no mud. In contrast, I found many of the surfaces quite hard and compacted.
  12. Portach

    Topography - does it really matter??

    For me it makes a difference. I weigh 48 kilo and therefore am carrying a bit over 10% of my body weight esp when taking water and food needs for the day into account. I need to train for hills in advance of starting or I suffer in the first 5 days or so.
  13. Portach

    I really wish I knew that!

    A universal sink/basin stopper is useful, esp for washing clothes. There often is none provided
  14. Portach

    Spring weather on Camino de Levante

    What time did you walk. We are thinking of doing 10 days from Alicante starting mid-March. It seems to be a good time for walking weather although nights are cold.?
  15. Portach

    Late October/Early Nov Camino days out of Granada/Seville or(Malaga)

    In Feb we flew into Malaga, spent a couple of days, took an early morning train to Granada (1 hour), spent the day there (Alhambra tour booked in advance for the afternoon) and next morning set out for an 8-day walk to Cordoba. I think there are only a couple of albergues on that part of the...
See more

❓How to ask a question

How to post a new question on the Camino Forum.

Latest posts

This site is run by Ivar at

in Santiago de Compostela.
This site participates in the Amazon Affiliate program, designed to provide a means for Ivar to earn fees by linking to Amazon
Official Camino Passport (Credential) | 2024 Camino Guides
Back
Top