Camino Portugues - human traffic inquiry

[bd250]

Quick summation: How ‘busy’ does the Portugués become during the months of July and August?

Hi all,
Long time walker, (almost) first time writer.

I’m considering the Camino Portugués for this summer (July/August). I received the Brierley guide today (appears to be the only English language option available), and I’ve just read that, “Summer is busy and hot and hostels often full.”

This surprises me. Walking the Via de la Plata last year, I met a German bloke who’d walked the Portugués during the previous year. He reckoned that the Plata (which was wonderfully quiet) was equally or perhaps even more greatly populated than the Portugués, which he described as being very peaceful (human-traffic-wise), even during the summer months.

If anybody with recent high-summer experience of walking the Portugués can give a knowledgable opinion as to its 'population', I’d very much appreciate it.

Cheers folks... BD

 

[sharon w]

Re: Camino Portugues - human traffic enquiry

Hi BD. We walked the Camino Portuguese in Sept/Oct starting in Lisboa. It was extremely hot. Temperatures were about 37 - 40 deg C. for the first week (starting on the 5th Sept).
The albergues were not full, but in some places there are no albergues.
Try the CSJ version of the Camino Portuguese as well as John Brierley. Brierley's guide is good after Porto but was not very useful before that.
Bom Caminho
Sharon

 

[bd250]

Cheers Sharon... I appreciate the reply... your comments regarding the pre-Porto sections of the Brierley guide are interesting. Temperature-wise, it's not really a prob... not to say that 40C is comfortable, but the Plata was quite similar, and I survived .

My inquiry remains that of footfall during the months of July and August - how quiet/busy I can expect the track and albergues to be.

Any further comments greatly appreciated.

Thanks again Sharon... Hope you enjoyed your walk

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, bd250,

I think it's safe to say that before Porto you are unlikely to see anyone else. I walked from Lisbon to Porto in different stages as I was working on the CSJ guide from Lisbon to Porto, and I never saw anyone. There is now one albergue, in the small town of Sernadelo, which is right outside Mealhada. I posted info on it earlier, but in case you haven't seen it, here is the link:
el-camino-portugues/topic10706.html

That link also includes the SOS peregrino phone that the Lisbon Friends of the Camino group operates on a 24/7 basis in a variety of languages.

Once you hit Porto you will see pilgrims, but I don't think the traffic will be too heavy till you get to the border. From Tui to Santiago, I imagine it will be quite busy. If you do walk from Lisbon, I'd appreciate any updated information for the online guide.

Buen camino, Laurie

p.s. I also walked the Vdlp, it was last May, and things were really quiet as well. From this year's postings and blogs, though, it seems to be extremely crowded, with full albergues in many places.

 

[bd250]

To Laurie,

Many thanks for your reply. Very helpful and informative.

Thanks for taking the time,
BD