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I liked the riverside walk, and I liked starting my walk at the Cathedral in Porto rather than in Matosinhos. To each his own.From Porto to Matosinhos is just a slog through a cityscape - even if you stick to the riverside. Catch the Metro to Matosinhos market hall instead, cross the river by the footbridge and head towards the beach.
There is (was) a tourism office there where you can pick up a stamp and away you go!
Use the day saved as a rest day - as @biarritzdon says, Pontevedra is a good place for a halt.
Boa Caminho!
I feel the same way. We liked the symbolism of starting at the Porto cathedral and getting our first stamps there.I liked the riverside walk, and I liked starting my walk at the Cathedral in Porto rather than in Matosinhos. To each his own.
I agree ! I am leaving PortoIf you want to add rest days, I would encourage stops in Viana and Pontevedra. There is lots to see in both towns.
I agree!The walk along the river, going through Porto is interesting. Why would anyone want to miss this???? Start your Camino at the cathedral and start walking.
That's the way to do it. The rocks just north of Viana, around Praia de Carreço, are particularly beautiful.I will take my time along the Coastal Camino
Let me echo what Jeff said. We took the metro from downtown Porto up to Matosinhos and started there at the market. Because we arrived very late into Porto the night before, and since we wanted a stamp from the cathedral which didn’t open until 9 am, we got a late start. Had we been able to start walking earlier, like most mornings, we would have easily been into Vila do Conde early to mid afternoon. That would be my suggestion for your Day 1. Bom Caminho!From Porto to Matosinhos is just a slog through a cityscape - even if you stick to the riverside. Catch the Metro to Matosinhos market hall instead, cross the river by the footbridge and head towards the beach.
There is (was) a tourism office there where you can pick up a stamp and away you go!
Use the day saved as a rest day - as @biarritzdon says, Pontevedra is a good place for a halt.
Boa Caminho!
Can you say which metro stop the market is at, for those of us who are not familiar?Let me echo what Jeff said. We took the metro from downtown Porto up to Matosinhos and started there at the market.
It was the very last stop on the metro to Matosinhos, called Mercado.Can you say which metro stop the market is at, for those of us who are not familiar?
Many thanks.
Bon cheminI agree ! I am leaving Porto
On the 19th and will stay 2 days in Viana to visit !
Ah, my first stamp for the Caminho Portugues was Canterbury Cathedral . . .I feel the same way. We liked the symbolism of starting at the Porto cathedral and getting our first stamps there.
Last but oneIt was the very last stop on the metro to Matosinhos, called Mercado.
I seem to remember when on the metro that they made the announcement of the terminus at that stop but it may have changed.
If you have time in A Guarda, there are some interesting ancient Celtic excavations on top of Monte Santa Tecla, which overlooks the town. This includes some reconstructed huts, which reminds you how short people were in those days.Hi All,
Just a note as I'm currently in A Guarda on day 4 of my camino. I crossed the Minho by private taxi boat this afternoon from Caminha to A Pasaxe.
Thank you Ken, kind of you to suggest the visit but my feet need a rest and as you know the seafood here is exceptional and will be getting my full attention this evening...If you have time in A Guarda, there are some interesting ancient Celtic excavations on top of Monte Santa Tecla, which overlooks the town. This includes some reconstructed huts, which reminds you how short people were in those days.
Mine was Saint James's Gate, Dublin!Ah, my first stamp for the Caminho Portugues was Canterbury Cathedral . . .
You can get sellos at breweries? Why did nobody tell me this before?Mine was Saint James's Gate, Dublin!
My life just took a turn for the better!You can get sellos at breweries? Why did nobody tell me this before?
Camino Portugues Costal is my favorite of all my pilgrimages. Did it September 2019. I spent 4 days in Porto to be sure to get over jet lag and because I wanted to see the sites. So I had no problem with the idea of taking the metro to Matosinhos first thing one morning and starting from there.Hi All
I am planning for my first Camino, hopefully will be able to do so in September 2022.
Not to be overly ambitious, I decided on the Portuguese route, starting from Porto. I planned for a mixture between the coastal and central route. Would appreciate your views on the stages that I have planned:
Day 1 - Porto to Matosinhos
Day 2 - Matosinhos to Vila do Conde
Day 3 - Vila do Conde to Esposende
Day 4 - Esposende to Viana do Castelo
Day 5 - Viana do Castelo to Caminha
Day 6 - Caminha to Tui
Day 7 - Tui - Porrino
Day 8 - Porrino - Redondela
Day 9 - Redondela to Pontevedra
Day 10 - Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis
Day 11 - Caldas de Reis to Padron
Day 12 - Padron to Santiago de Compostela
From what I have read, most changed to the Central route at Vila do Conde. I am planning to do so in Caminha, as I would love to stay at the coastline more. The reason why not to keep at the entire Coastal route is I want to cross that bridge at the border of Portugal and Spain. I do wander, though, if Caminha to Tui is on the official CP route.
Day 1 is of course a very short route, but I just want to take it a bit easy on the first day. Going all the way to Vila do Conde seems a bit daunting on a first day.
Appreciate any views or ideas from you experts out there. Thanking in advance.
Regards, Peter.
Hi Peter,
Your itinerary makes sense and is absolutely doable if you're an experienced and fit hiker. Caminha to Tui features a scenic path along the Minho River up to Valença, where you can cross the bridge to Tui. As for it being "official," that doesn't matter because the Pilgrims Office will issue you a Compostela for stamps you've received after you begin the last 100 km at Tui or Porriño.
You could also, of course, take the ferry across at Caminha and continue up the Coastal to Vigo before heading inland to pick up the Central at Redondela.
I agree that trying to reach Vila do Conde on the first day is a tad ambitious. I do have one question: is it essential for you to complete the journey in 12 days? The reason I ask is you might need more flexibility in case you encounter bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances. In 2018, my wife and I got stuck two extra days in Pontevedra because she came down with food poisoning.
Buen Camino!
I am curious about crossing from the coastal to the central route. Are the ways marked? Between Caminha and Tui? Are there any other crossings? Thank you!
I crossed between Vila do Conde and Arcos, a day or two after Porto. The way was well marked. It gave me a taste of walking along the seashore as well as a chance to see Barcelos and Ponte de Lima and to stay at Casa da Fernanda.I am curious about crossing from the coastal to the central route. Are the ways marked? Between Caminha and Tui? Are there any other crossings? Thank you!
You could eliminate a day of walking by taking the train from Caminha to Valença, which is across the river from Tui. Then, walking from Tui would keep you within the 100 km rule to get your Compostela.My questions is i might need to skip one stage (well.. at least one ,need to see how is my physical conditions),which town/cities might have easy connections to reach the next stage with public transportaion ? or is there other better starting points that i can finish my route within 7 stages ?(i still prefer to have 1-2days walking along the coast and then cut into the central route)
Thank you very much !!You could eliminate a day of walking by taking the train from Caminha to Valença, which is across the river from Tui. Then, walking from Tui would keep you within the 100 km rule to get your Compostela.
The walk from Caminha to Valença do Minho is great. In the middle between the two towns you could stay overnight in Vila Nova de Cerveiro.You could eliminate a day of walking by taking the train from Caminha to Valença, which is across the river from Tui. Then, walking from Tui would keep you within the 100 km rule to get your Compostela.
Are you still able to get the Compostela if you take the Coastal Route to the Variante Espiritual?The official coastal route goes over Tui. It is the only official route in Portugal.
But taking the the coastal route in Spain over Baiona and Vigo is just as valid, as it is the official coastal route in Spain.
The route over Matosinhos is not the official coastal route, but the Senda Litoral. I think most people walk that route out of Porto. But I think all of them have their own charm.
Feel free to mix the routes as you wish. They are all very nice and very different.
Hi:Are you still able to get the Compostela if you take the Coastal Route to the Variante Espiritual?
yes as long as your starting point is as much as 100 kms from Santiago on the Central or Coastal route.Are you still able to get the Compostela if you take the Coastal Route to the Variante Espiritual?
Thanks for letting me know.Hi:
Yes, you can.
Albertinho, earlier in this thread Paintboy says "The way between Caminha and Valencia is very beautiful, walking on the hillside next to the river with a great view of Spain on the other side." Is this the same Minho riverside trail that you talk about? or is there a different "hillside" trail?The walk from Caminha to Valença do Minho is great. In the middle between the two towns you could stay overnight in Vila Nova de Cerveiro.
the walk along the Minho river is gordeous.
Valença do Minho is a nice place with an interesting fortress - the caminho leads through the fortress and at the end is the reward, the famous Eiffel bridge over the river into Spain. Don’t miss it.
Yes just leaving Caminha in the direction of Vila Nova de Cerveira starts the so called Ecopista a foot/ bike path along the Minho river. You can follow it almost to Valença do Minho and follows the river. There is another waymarked path about half a mile more inland that goes through the hills. I prefered the EcopistaAlbertinho, earlier in this thread Paintboy says "The way between Caminha and Valencia is very beautiful, walking on the hillside next to the river with a great view of Spain on the other side." Is this the same Minho riverside trail that you talk about? or is there a different "hillside" trail?
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