Camino Portugues or Camino del Norte?

Kurt5280 · Dec 7, 2015

I am over 2-months back from my first Camino Frances (SJPDP to Muxia) and I now have enough energy to start thinking about my next Camino...deciding on Camino Portugues or Camino del Norte...biggest problem with deciding is lack of information on Camino Norte.
Question: Has anyone done both the Camino Portugues and Camino del Norte that can compare the both routes?
Question: Any recommended reading or maps on the Camino del Norte?

Gillean · Dec 7, 2015

There are Rother guides for both the Camino del Norte and the Camino Portugues - in German though - here's a link to the one on the Camino del Norte: https://www.rother.de/rother%20wanderf%FChrer-jakobsweg%20-%20camino%20del%20norte-4392.htm

There is also a Brierly guide on the Camino Portugues.

Kurt5280 · Dec 7, 2015

I bought both Brierly guides on the Camino Portugues and "The Northern Caminos" by Whitson and Perazzoli...but that is it in ENGLISH so far...and no maps so far either.

purplesage · Dec 7, 2015

Haven't done the Norte... yet. So can't say anything about this one. However, if you're up for a food experience of a life-time, then Camino Portuguese gets my vote. Please don't get me wrong... Spanish food is fantastic. But Portugal is simply WOW. Prices and quantities will have you wondering... seriously. May the Holy Spirit guide your path. Buen Camino

Introibo · Dec 7, 2015

Got to agree with Purplesage. The food in Portugal was excellent.

Anemone del Camino · Dec 8, 2015

Kurt Huffman said:
I bought both Brierly guides on the Camino Portugues and "The Northern Caminos" by Whitson and Perazzoli...but that is it in ENGLISH so far...and no maps so far either.

I don't understand what you are looking for. Both books have maps. I am holding the Cicerone book in my hands, in between typing that is, and it most certainly has maps. I just opened th book random'y to pp.204 and 205, arriving to Santiago, it shows the larger towns, roads, the route, etc. Brierly is more of a sketch, but it will get you there. And it shows elevations with chevrons and double chevrons.

Anemone del Camino · Dec 8, 2015

purplesage said:
Haven't done the Norte... yet. So can't say anything about this one. However, if you're up for a food experience of a life-time, then Camino Portuguese gets my vote. Please don't get me wrong... Spanish food is fantastic. But Portugal is simply WOW. Prices and quantities will have you wondering... seriously. May the Holy Spirit guide your path. Buen Camino

Have not walked the Portuguese and I hear it is even less expensive than the Spanish routes, but my I say how tasty and generous the menu del dia is on the Norte, and that is saying nothing about food in San Sebastian, Bilbao, etc. On the Primitivo you are more likely to find platos combinados, and they are more of a family meal, but also only 6€ or so for plenty calories to refuel.

Ok, with the Canadian dollar in the dumps perhaps Portugal should be the walk for this Spring?

Kurt5280 · Dec 8, 2015

I have not received the Cicerone book yet...expect it before Christmas but I am looking for separate maps that I can put in a plastic see-through map case for those lovely 7-hour rain storms that I so much enjoyed on the Camino Frances...on the Camino Frances I had separate maps but what most pilgrims did was cut the pages out of the Brierly guide and put the pages in a plastic see-through map case...otherwise we had an America Pilgrims on the Camino event last week and just the pictures of the food on the Camino del Norte and the Camino Portugues made me rethink why I did the Camino Frances where I dreamed of any type of cooked egg for two-weeks (fried eggs, boiled eggs, soft-boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, poached eggs, omelette, frittata...and mostly egg salad sandwiches)...I love the coast and seafood so maybe I won't lose 15-lbs on my next Camino.

purplesage · Dec 8, 2015

Anemone del Camino said:
Have not walked the Portuguese and I hear it is even less expensive than the Spanish routes, but my I say how tasty and generous the menu del dia is on the Norte, and that is saying nothing about food in San Sebastian, Bilbao, etc. On the Primitivo you are more likely to find platos combinados, and they are more of a family meal, but also only 6€ or so for plenty calories to refuel.

Ok, with the Canadian dollar in the dumps perhaps Portugal should be the walk for this Spring?

Fantastic choice. Portugal will be beautiful... but then, anytime on the Camino is beautiful. Buen Camino

Anemone del Camino · Dec 8, 2015

Kurt Huffman said:
I have not received the Cicerone book yet...expect it before Christmas but I am looking for separate maps that I can put in a plastic see-through map case for those lovely 7-hour rain storms that I so much enjoyed on the Camino Frances...on the Camino Frances I had separate maps but what most pilgrims did was cut the pages out of the Brierly guide and put the pages in a plastic see-through map case...otherwise we had an America Pilgrims on the Camino event last week and just the pictures of the food on the Camino del Norte and the Camino Portugues made me rethink why I did the Camino Frances where I dreamed of any type of cooked egg for two-weeks (fried eggs, boiled eggs, soft-boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, poached eggs, omelette, frittata...and mostly egg salad sandwiches)...I love the coast and seafood so maybe I won't lose 15-lbs on my next Camino.

I have not seen separate maps for the Norte, but have you thought of taking pictures of your guide with your smart phone and use that as a guide?

Dutch · Dec 9, 2015

Anemone del Camino said:
I don't understand what you are looking for. Both books have maps. I am holding the Cicerone book in my hands, in between typing that is, and it most certainly has maps. I just opened th book random'y to pp.204 and 205, arriving to Santiago, it shows the larger towns, roads, the route, etc. Brierly is more of a sketch, but it will get you there. And it shows elevations with chevrons and double chevrons.

I realy dont like the book. Its too thick, way too heavy and i think the maps are very unclear. Imo this is not the best guide, although i'm still not sure which one is..
If brierley had a "maps" version of the norte, i would go for that one.....if only

Dutch · Dec 9, 2015

Anemone del Camino said:
Have not walked the Portuguese and I hear it is even less expensive than the Spanish routes, but my I say how tasty and generous the menu del dia is on the Norte, and that is saying nothing about food in San Sebastian, Bilbao, etc. On the Primitivo you are more likely to find platos combinados, and they are more of a family meal, but also only 6€ or so for plenty calories to refuel.

Ok, with the Canadian dollar in the dumps perhaps Portugal should be the walk for this Spring?

For sure the CP is much cheaper than the Spanish routes (at least the portuguese part of that route).
Where all prices on the frances went up the last couple of years, the CP is still extremely cheap for food, coffee ect.. And yes, the food in portugal is so much better, but opinions, opinios haha

Jim Kavanagh · Dec 12, 2015

I have got into trouble before for singing the praises of the Camino Portugues over the Camino del Norte but here I go again anyway.
In April/May I walked from Barcelos in Portugal to Pontevedra and really enjoyed that section of the CP. Starting in Barcelos cuts out the urban area of Oporto. I chose my distances carefully, staying at Casas Dos Rios (mentioned in Brierley) after Barcelos so as not to have to walk much more than 20 km each day. Prices were very reasonable in Portugal, especially for the white wine and white port.
In September/October I walked from Castro-Urdiales to Santander to see what the CdN was like and did not enjoy it. Most of the walking was on hard surfaces and main roads. I may be misjudging that Camino but that was enough to to put me off trying any more of it. There were very few perigrinos on the Norte while there were many more on the CP.
Again just my opinions and hope they may be of some help.
Afterthought: many stages of the CdN end in a seaside resort so if you were interested in walking and having beach holidays at the same time, the CdN might be a plan.

BlackDog · Dec 12, 2015

Jim Kavanagh said:
Afterthought: many stages of the CdN end in a seaside resort so if you were interested in walking and having beach holidays at the same time, the CdN might be a plan.

As might the Portuguese Coastal route

Jim Kavanagh · Dec 13, 2015

Good point BlackDog. Now, why didn't I think of that. Maybe I will try the CP coastal in 2016.

Raymond Aquilina · Dec 17, 2015

Kurt Huffman said:
I am over 2-months back from my first Camino Frances (SJPDP to Muxia) and I now have enough energy to start thinking about my next Camino...deciding on Camino Portugues or Camino del Norte...biggest problem with deciding is lack of information on Camino Norte.
Question: Has anyone done both the Camino Portugues and Camino del Norte that can compare the both routes?
Question: Any recommended reading or maps on the Camino del Norte?

I have not done the Camino del Norte. However having done the full Camino Portugues from Lisbon I can say that this was an incredible experience. I fully recommend it...good food ..nice people ..scenery etc and would take the coastal route.

Cecy · Jan 19, 2016

Wish I could do tje coastal but I will have to skip the coast amd start in Valenca due to work restraints, but I am planning to spend a full day in Porto before coming home. 9/15 - 9/26. I am also going to take a.bus to Finisterre after Santiago...Well thats MY PLAN, the Camino and God mighy have other plans for my Walk!!

Pilgrim Peggy · Mar 16, 2016

I took 5 weeks for my camino Frances in October 2014. But will have only two weeks to walk. I fancied Portugal. Any tips on which section for 12 days walking in May, not too arduous? Or shall I be systematic and walk from Lisbon?

Raymond Aquilina · Mar 16, 2016

Hi Pilgrim Peggy,

I completed the Camino Portugues last May starting from Lisbon. With the time you have you can start the Portugues Camino from Porto as this will give you enough time to enjoy this route. You will have an extra day to visit Finisterre Do not miss Casa Fernada.
Attached is my schedule from Porto day by day....I hope this will help you.

Buen Camino

Pilgrim Peggy · Mar 17, 2016

Wow, thanks for this detailed response. I await my guide book to tell me the distances of these "legs" to see if I can do them. I am not as fit and ready as I was before so need a gentle first few days.
Thanks again.

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