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Caminho Portuguese From Lisbon April

S

Searching

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
September/ October 2016
Hi,

I've been thinking recently about doing the Caminho Portuguese from Lisbon (interior) April 1st.

I have had a brief look online, and I'm still undecided. Things that concern me: snakes, Mosquitos, being the only pilgrim, safety and rain.

My gut says go and do it.

I value your thoughts
 
Last edited:
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Searching said:
Things that concern me: snakes, Mosquitos, being the only pilgrim, safety and rain.
Click to expand...
Experience as a portuguese living in Portugal:
Snakes : not likely to came across one. At all. It might happen but, if you do, they're small and nonpoisonous.
Mosquitos : in April is pretty unlikely to happen
Safety : Portugal is really safe. Just be aware of car drivers.
Rain : in Portugal we say "Em Abril, águas mil" ("In April, thousand waters") which means it is a rainy month. That being said, weather is always unpredictable
 
JCLima, thank you so much for that amazing reply!
 
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Hi @Searching,
I visited Australia in October and November last year and was pre-warned that the country has the top 10 things that will kill you. Brown snakes, sharks, box jelly fish, crocodiles, man eating spiders and even Castleberry's (don't ask). Did not see one of these (except in the Alice Springs zoo) and the closest I came to meeting my maker was eating a 'Pie Floater' in Adelaide........Listen to your gut and go do it!
Buen Camino
 
The only thing I want to add that most posters don't mention is the cobblestone. Make sure that the footwear your planning to wear is soft enough to take the shock, yet offers you enough support for those 30 km days. Other than that, I have only positives to say about this route. I hope you go for it!
 
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Camino Addict, I guess i'll be wearing my Meindl Mid XCR Boots, as i wont have enough time to break in new shoes. Thank you for your reply, my trip is looking more likely with every reply.
 

Ihave walked the Portuguese Camino , saw two dead snakes and had a fight late at night with one Mosquito ( now dead ) .It is quiet ,particularly the Lisbon to Porto
section but but lovely and a break from the frenzy of the
Camino France .
Buen camino
 
Searching said:
Camino Addict, I guess i'll be wearing my Meindl Mid XCR Boots, as i wont have enough time to break in new shoes. Thank you for your reply, my trip is looking more likely with every reply.
Click to expand...

Those are great boots and they should do the trick. I don't know how many days you'll be in Lisbon, but if you have the time, take a "free" walking tour plus some extra trekking around the city, and see how those boots feel. If by chance they are causing problems, there are outfitters in the Lisboa and most modern boots these days don't require a breaking in period.

Bom Caminho!
 
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Searching said:
Thank you for all the wonderful replies, i have booked my flights, and will commence my caminho portuguese April 1st from Lisbon. I am scared and nervous, but excited at the same time
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I'll be leaving Lisbon April 3rd or 4th. I'll keep an eye out for you. The "Via Lusitana", the portuguese pilgrim asscn site, http://www.vialusitana.org/ lists a phone number at which I am told English is spoken. They also operate the Albergue at Alpriate, 20ks out of Lisbon and perhaps a good spot to stay on your first night.
Regards
Gerard
 
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I am in Australia and we have regular sightings of brown snakes literally just outside our office building every summer, and we are NOT in the Outback. That said, I have never seen one myself. On the other hand, I did see one (dead, squashed) snake on the trail while doing the Le Puy route last year. If I am not mistaken, far more pilgrims have completed their camino journeys without encountering any (living) snake than those who have, so this concern shouldn't be something that holds you back.
 
Searching and gerardcarey:

I would like to do the Portuguese Camino sometime in mid-May to mid-June. I'm trying to decide if I ought to start in Lisbon or in Porto--or, indeed, even in Tomar. Once you complete the camino, please do let us know how it went. I am a bit concerned that I might be the only person walking, especially on the Lisbon to Porto stretch.
 
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alexnica said:
Once you complete the camino, please do let us know how it went. I am a bit concerned that I might be the only person walking, especially on the Lisbon to Porto stretch.
Click to expand...
I will indeed alexnica. But don't be shy in giving me a conversation reminder if I happen to forget.
But I don't think you will be alone. I am finding out now about other folks leaving about the same time as me, early april.
That is only from our small community. And we are a minute section of the total pilgrims attempting this, or any, Camino.
Regards
Gerard
 

I'll start walking in Santarem around mid to late May. I have seen quite a few others in this forum mentioning that they are starting in or around Lison in May, so my guess is this is the beginning of the popular season for this route.
 
The Pope will be in Fatima May 12th so I would guess that whole area will be very busy and I would guess that there might be a lot more pilgrims that usual - just an FYI for your planning purposes...
 
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I am going to try to contact Mario of @santaremhostel Hostel to see if he has good information about this and suggestions. I know that he is always very busy in May since it's one of the classic pilgrimage months for Fatima. But this is likely to produce crowds beyond the normal highs.

BTW, the albergue in Alpriate (20 km from cathedral) is opening on March 15, so it may be that there is a broader range of dates for finding company if you start in Lisbon.

And while I'm at it, might as well throw in a plug for the Forum guides in the Resources section. Updated annually with comments from Forum members, they are pretty terrific, IMO (IMBO, In my biased opinion is more accurate-- full disclosure).

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/resources/categories/camino-portugues.40/
 
Hi Laurie.
Yes the Pope will arrive on the 12 (late) to the candle procession and leave on the 13 after the mass.
It is a very short visit and will visit only Fatima due the 100 years miracle celebration.
All places to stay around Fatima are full and the few available, if any, will cost you around 1000€
If any of You decide to visit Fatima be prepared for a hard time
Bom Caminho
Mario
 
alipilgrim said:
The Pope will be in Fatima May 12th so I would guess that whole area will be very busy and I would guess that there might be a lot more pilgrims that usual - just an FYI for your planning purposes...
Click to expand...
Oh, dear! Thanks for letting me know. I might start out after the 15th then to avoid the stampede.
 
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alexnica said:
Oh, dear! Thanks for letting me know. I might start out after the 15th then to avoid the stampede.
Click to expand...

Yes, this was one of the reasons why I have timed my visit to Fatima such that I won't be there until more than a week after the Pope's visit. I won't be staying in Fatima either and will only visit as a side trip from Tomar.
 

I am currently on the Camino Portuguese. I begin seven days ago from Lisbon , and I have only met one pilgrim, Who moved on a few days ago. Maybe April will be better.
 
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