Camino Portugues from Porto in mid March 2020

[caminoBro]

Hello All
I intent to start my second camino from Porto in mid march 2020, I am a little concerned about the weather and the availabilities of beds during Holy Week (April 5 to 12) at this time of the year. Do any of you have experience the camino on late March and early April ?

 

[fred4ski]

I walked the SF in March/April in 2015 and had no problems (some snow, cold). I found that during Holy week more cafes/alburgues were opening up. I'm doing the CPC in a couple weeks - and yes it will be rainy (and windy) but temperatures are warmer on the coast than inland. Buen Camino

 

[caminoBro]

I remember seing snow just before Roncevales last year on May 1st.
Thanks for you reply, I dont see many accomodations on the way from Porto to Compostella, I might start earlier in order to finish just before the begining of Semana Santa.
I see you are leaving in Feb... brrr... Buen Camino

 

[Delphinoula]

I walked it in 2018 . I walked along the Atlantic. It was raining 3 weeks almost nonstop, but the Atlantic is always windy water cold and rain may come in from the sea. I walked in February the Camino in Germany ,but Portugal is so lovely. So it ma be just like in Ireland where the sun shines 7 times a day.
Rain may poor in from the top of your boots so you may think of bringing gaiters good against sand too. Wet feet are blisters proned.
Holy Week at least in Spain is an excuse for non stop parties. And many young people go to party towns for this. So call the local tourist offices and ask them if their town is such a destination. Porto sure is but you may have already walked then to Pavoa as your first stop? I used all the way albergues except in Vigo there was non. No problem there.

 

[Terry Callery]

I did the Portuguese in February and March and it was never below freezing in the morning, usually getting up to at least 50 even over 60 by noon. I am from Maine so it was like summer to me.
Only 1 percent of all pilgrims do the Portuguese from Lisbon as I did. I saw just one pilgrim couple the entire time from Lisbon to Porto! And one Polish guy walking the other way to Fatima. Very uncrowded although I guess a bit less so for Holy Week.
After Porto there were other Pilgrims, however I was the only pilgrim sleeping at numerous pensions, quintas, and albergues. The food is fabulous on the Portuguese Camino, way better than the French route!!!!
Just to give you an idea of how mild it is - this photo was taken first week in March - wild Iris blooming right on the Camino route!

 

[fred4ski]

I walked it in 2018 . I walked along the Atlantic. It was raining 3 weeks almost nonstop, but the Atlantic is always windy water cold and rain may come in from the sea. I walked in February the Camino in Germany ,but Portugal is so lovely. So it ma be just like in Ireland where the sun shines 7 times a day.
Rain may poor in from the top of your boots so you may think of bringing gaiters good against sand too. Wet feet are blisters proned.
Holy Week at least in Spain is an excuse for non stop parties. And many young people go to party towns for this. So call the local tourist offices and ask them if their town is such a destination. Porto sure is but you may have already walked then to Pavoa as your first stop? I used all the way albergues except in Vigo there was non. No problem there.

Good info - thanks. What part of the Jakobsweg in Germany did you walk? What % was close to freeways/highways? Also - yes on the gaiters! I always wear gaiters, even backpacking in the summer. I have a simple elastic/velcro pair that's easy on & off and they really make a difference with keeping my feet dirt and water free.

 

[Delphinoula]

The local chapters are trying their upmoast not to lead on driven roads but most are field roads for the farmers or for cutting wood. One comes in mind walking through the imperial forrest around Nürnberg and went under a Autobahn which was very noisy. Here some impressions

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/franconian-camino-kronach-bamberg-n%C3%BCrnberg-rothenburg.60335/

 

[Grayson128]

I will be starting in Lisbon on March 6th and hope I can be done by Holy Week

 

[Deleted member 93896]

Hi to all the members of the community!

I am considering to do the coastal camino (I would like to stick close to the sea as much as I can) starting from 01/03 till the 12/03. Since it is my first time to pursue the camino, I would be grateful to receive any feedback on how I should best pack my bag for the journey.

This is the warmest winter that I remember and I am confused on how to best prepare my backpack (is 50l already too much?). Are there other tipps I need to check out before arriving to Porto (I would most probably start el camino right after arriving to the airport as I already visited the beautiful city of Porto)?

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Cristian

 

[Delphinoula]

welcome, Hi there I started out with a 50 l or more cannot remember It was a used one and I was grateful, but you are tempted to pack a lot in there. There is a resent thread with a packing list less is definite better. I was fortunate to be giftet wich the one that was a better fit and 35 l. Check Ebay- Kleinanzeige out. If you prefer German PM me.
again packing list thread are great. Tips for starting in Porto thread go for it. Do have your pass ?
reach out to your local chapter http://www.santiagofreunde.de
I done the Camino almost all along the coast not the costal but the litoral. The costal is not directly on the coast it follows the older road more land inside. The newest Camino is the litoral . I loved it.
if there is anything specific I‘ll be glad to share.

 

[Nyree Naina]

Hello, I am also considering walking from Porto early March and am curious if accommodation will be open then? I’m thinking to walk the coastal way, would this be your recommendation? And three weeks of rain I read! Yikes is that to be expected? Thanks for any tips, I’m excited! Oh, I do have another question, I’d like to walk a little longer than 2-3 weeks, should I just start south of Porto to extend it? I’m hoping for some bon company on the way, is March early for most pilgrims? Mucho gracious

 

[David Tallan]

Oh, I do have another question, I’d like to walk a little longer than 2-3 weeks, should I just start south of Porto to extend it?

If it is a little longer than 2-3 weeks, I would still start in Porto. You can always walk on to Finisterre/Muxia or spend extra days in Santiago or spend extra rest days on the walk or go back to Porto for a few days after the pilgrimage or do the Camino Ingles when you are done or...

If it is a lot longer than 2-3 weeks then maybe start earlier. If you have 5-6 weeks, maybe from Lisbon. If you have 4 weeks, many could walk from Lisbon in that time, I might pick a town a little closer to Santiago, say Santarem for example.

 

[Delphinoula]

Hi Ny, my experience was that not all albergues were open, I learned it the hart way it’s good to call ahead in the morning and see if they are open.especially around Baiona if you use the litoral. There a many hotels in season, but only a few pilgrims albergues. In that area. A plus is that Baiona is specialist in pilgrim s aches said to be very good orthopedic ward there. Just saying. Locals told me that 2018 was a very long unusual cold Period. Remember the sun shines seven times a day. Is realy beautiful. I walked the end to Muxia with a countryman of yours. He came the Francés and walked hip high in Snow through the Pyrenees and in Spain he was walking with no socks and way to short shorts.
So no worries.
So this year it seems to be warmer.
My geologist friend said there is no bad whether only inadequate clothing. since my first Camino rain does not bother me anymore. At the end of the day you may find a hot shower and if you lucky a warm meal.
Maybe if you have a couple of days left you could start on the Camiño dos Faros..... Not been myself but looks stunning.

 

[Nyree Naina]

I'm so appreciative of your advice. I'm pretty ignorant, what is, and how to I get, the litoral? Sounds essential. Thank you, I promise not to wear too short shorts!

 

[Nyree Naina]

If it is a little longer than 2-3 weeks, I would still start in Porto. You can always walk on to Finisterre/Muxia or spend extra days in Santiago or spend extra rest days on the walk or go back to Porto for a few days after the pilgrimage or do the Camino Ingles when you are done or...

If it is a lot longer than 2-3 weeks then maybe start earlier. If you have 5-6 weeks, maybe from Lisbon. If you have 4 weeks, many could walk from Lisbon in that time, I might pick a town a little closer to Santiago, say Santarem for example.

Thank you, I think going on to Finisterre/Muxia is a good option.

 

[fred4ski]

Hi to all the members of the community!

I am considering to do the coastal camino (I would like to stick close to the sea as much as I can) starting from 01/03 till the 12/03. Since it is my first time to pursue the camino, I would be grateful to receive any feedback on how I should best pack my bag for the journey.

This is the warmest winter that I remember and I am confused on how to best prepare my backpack (is 50l already too much?). Are there other tipps I need to check out before arriving to Porto (I would most probably start el camino right after arriving to the airport as I already visited the beautiful city of Porto)?

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Cristian

Hi Cristian: Maybe we'll see each other on this trail. I'm also starting from Porto on March 1. I'll be staying at municipal Albergues as much as possible. I'm into ultralight backpacking... my camino pack's base weight is just over 4kg. Last time I did the CF i mailed most of my things to Santiago.
Fred (aka Tahoe Fred - as in northern California

 

[Deleted member 93896]

welcome, Hi there I started out with a 50 l or more cannot remember It was a used one and I was grateful, but you are tempted to pack a lot in there. There is a resent thread with a packing list less is definite better. I was fortunate to be giftet wich the one that was a better fit and 35 l. Check Ebay- Kleinanzeige out. If you prefer German PM me.
again packing list thread are great. Tips for starting in Porto thread go for it. Do have your pass ?
reach out to your local chapter http://www.santiagofreunde.de
I done the Camino almost all along the coast not the costal but the litoral. The costal is not directly on the coast it follows the older road more land inside. The newest Camino is the litoral . I loved it.
if there is anything specific I‘ll be glad to share.

Hey thanks for the feedback. I have followed your advices, and hence booked my credentials online. In addition, I am currently processing all the threads that might be relevant to my journey. I also need to find asap appropriate shoes, as after a testing of 10 KM my current shoes have produces me 3 blisters- good that I tested them in advance!

Based on you comment, would u recommend me to stick to the litoral and not to the coastal one?


Liebe Grüsse,
Cristian

 

[Deleted member 93896]

Hi Cristian: Maybe we'll see each other on this trail. I'm also starting from Porto on March 1. I'll be staying at municipal Albergues as much as possible. I'm into ultralight backpacking... my camino pack's base weight is just over 4kg. Last time I did the CF i mailed most of my things to Santiago.
Fred (aka Tahoe Fred - as in northern California

Great to hear that- looking forward to bumping into you during the camino! Since it will be my first camino, I am not sure to be able to pack as wisely as you will do. My motto is: do, fail, iterate

Greetings from Cologne.

 

[Delphinoula]

I walked a little bit the costal because there is this one beautiful spot with a stone crossing it was very slippery But I did not fall in. but overall I preferred along the coast. But that is me.
If you starting to get a hot spot that means before it gets a blister a little bit red I apply paper tape and then put Hirschhorntalg on it realy helps. With not getting blisters. I got from Amazon it was cheep there. Soon you feel discomfort stop look and see.

 

[fred4ski]

Great to hear that- looking forward to bumping into you during the camino! Since it will be my first camino, I am not sure to be able to pack as wisely as you will do. My motto is: do, fail, iterate

Greetings from Cologne.

I'm in Porto and starting walk today...ahhhh rain and wind, but warm. Hope to run into you. Fred

 

[Delphinoula]

The good thing about rain there is it’s not forever. butyou know that. Good Luck. Hope to hear from you!