Caldas de Reis

[maria1975]

In september I will walk a part of the Camino Portugues: from Valenca to Santiago. This time not on my own, but as a tourleader of a group with people who will walk for the first time and choose to go together. On sunday, there will be a rest day. That day we will stay in Caldas de Reis. Looking for suggestions what to do or visit there! I passed it last spring, saw a nice park for a picnic, but didn't explore other options. So, any suggestion is welcome!

Thanks, Marleen

 

[jsalt]

Hi Marleen, there is very little to do in Caldas de Reis. I would suggest adjusting your timetable so that your rest day is in Pontevedra; much more to see and do there. Jill

 

[onwayhome]

In september I will walk a part of the Camino Portugues: from Valenca to Santiago. This time not on my own, but as a tourleader of a group with people who will walk for the first time and choose to go together. On sunday, there will be a rest day. That day we will stay in Caldas de Reis. Looking for suggestions what to do or visit there! I passed it last spring, saw a nice park for a picnic, but didn't explore other options. So, any suggestion is welcome!

Thanks, Marleen

Soaking in the hot springs would be a pretty good way of spending a day off. The Balneario Acuna hotel at the end of the main bridge has a spa.

 

[Camembert]

In september I will walk a part of the Camino Portugues: from Valenca to Santiago. This time not on my own, but as a tourleader of a group with people who will walk for the first time and choose to go together. On sunday, there will be a rest day. That day we will stay in Caldas de Reis. Looking for suggestions what to do or visit there! I passed it last spring, saw a nice park for a picnic, but didn't explore other options. So, any suggestion is welcome!

Thanks, Marleen

Caldas de Reis is "dichtgeplakt met oude kranten " is a Dutch saying , I bet you know the expression.
You can sit with your feet in a hot water spring . The spa is a good idea
The environs of the Arousa river are nice , Catoira a small place where the vikings have been but that is rather far from Caldas de Reis.
We have been in the area the other day with our car and "sleurhut" especially in the Salnés area more to the west and where the Variante Espiritual do caminho Português goes. Beaches, entertainment etc but a bit far too
The best place to go is to o Grove,a penninsula nearby Sanxenxo but you will need a bus to go there with your group . Regular public transport is very unusual in that area especially on sundays. Keep in mind that lots of Spanish families go out together to have a meal on the sunday afternoon and restaurants can be packed.
Succes en veel plezier
Bom caminho

 

[JohnMcM]

Hi Marleen, there is very little to do in Caldas de Reis. I would suggest adjusting your timetable so that your rest day is in Pontevedra; much more to see and do there. Jill

I would second this suggestion Marleem.
Buen Camino

 

[maria1975]

Thanks for all your suggestions. Unfortunately I am not in charge of the planning, I loved pontevedra a lot, so a change would be great, but I don't think it is possible.

If not, the spa is a great suggestion. Is it also possible to swim in the river? I see a kind of lake / part of the river west of Caldas de Reis......

Other questions may follow, love this website!!!!

Marleen

Ps: ben jij nog in Spanje Albertinho? Heel veel moois daar nog gewenst!

 

[jsalt]

Unfortunately I am not in charge of the planning

Hi, that’s a shame, because whoever IS in charge of the planning is not doing it very well .

To quote Brierley on Pontevedra: “Whatever you do, don’t miss exploring this wonderful city with its many fascinating monuments and historic buildings, many of them directly associated with the pilgrimage.”

However, if all your group are into spa treatments, rather than pilgrim-associated experiences, then they will be perfectly happy . I stayed at the Hotel Davila, quaintly old-fashioned, on the other side of the bridge from the Hotel Acuna, in March this year. The patrons were all very elderly, and came into breakfast, straight from their spa treatment, in their dressing gowns. I felt I had stepped into an Agatha Christie story from the 1920s . I am not into spas, and if I had to spend a whole day in Caldas de Reis, without a good book to read, I would be bored stiff.

The main thing is, to find something interesting to do on your day off . Good luck ! Jill

 

[miguel_gp]

Hi Marleen,
The Barossa waterfalls about 6km out of Caldas and just off the Camino Route from Pontevedra were a really nice place. There is a restaurant, although check opening hours and times. Although I didn't do it I believe you can bathe in certain parts (with caution) and there are walks up and alongside the falls. See this thread and directions here. It is an 80 min walk or, given that it is a designated rest day , a 7 minute taxi ride.

 

[Deleted member 36903]

Hi Marleen, This is an interesting one. I recall walking into Caldas des Reis and thinking what an awful place it was, BUT in the end, it turned out to be one of the best stops on the CP in April/May this year. I stayed with another pilgrim at the Hotel Moderne, basic but clean with a very helpful owner. Then we went to have a drink at the bar on the opposite bank to the spa hotel before going on to eat somewhere else. In the end it seemed that every pilgrim passing through arrived at the same place, and the place had a nice feeling about it, so we didn't move on but ate there - wonderful galician pulpo with potatoes. The locals eating and drinking there were friendly and the bar staff excellent. As you will be there on Sunday, you will - if it is appropriate for members of your party - be able to visit the beautiful church, perhaps attend a Pilgrim's Service, then you can go and have a look at the Roman bridge which, sadly, I only saw in the pouring rain the following morning when leaving the town. Pontevedra is beautiful but Caldas des Reis had a welcoming gentleness about it. Buen Camino!

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

Just up the road (10 km?) is Cuntis home to one of the largest spas (and hot springs) in all of Galicia

 

[maria1975]

Thanks all of you! I am really looking forward to this new experience (leading 12 people along the camino), leaving this tuesday! So different from walking alone..... I might add some other questions during the walk if needed! You are a great help!