Camino Portugues or El Camino del Norte?

[Doodles]

Last year we did the Frances and this year we are trying to decide between del Norte and the Portugues. Anyone want to offer some advice, comparisons, insight, etc. that might help us decide. Would especially like to hear from anyone who has done both.

 

[fraluchi]

Not having done either of them I am doubly disqualified.
However, it would be useful to indicate the time of year during which you intend to walk one or the other. The Camino portugués is ranked second after the Francés (mostly from Tui to Santiago in order to qualify for the Compostela), which could affect your choice.

 

[Doodles]

We are going in the Spring, starting around May 1.

 

[Tia Valeria]

There can still be some snow on the highest parts of the Primitivo in early May and the Portugese might be warmer being, I believe, at a lower altitude so this might help you to decide.
Having said that if you like mountain views, and are well prepared, the Primitivo is beautiful.

(Edit:- sorry I read your original post and then when typing confused which Caminos you asked about. I'll leave it here as it is an option off of the Norte )

 

[mikevasey]

The Norte is longer from Irun to Santiago by about 200km than Lisbon to SDC. They both have a lot of asphalt walking but also some incredibly beautiful sections off road, the Norte has a lot more albergues on average for the respective distances. It rains a lot on the Northern coast, if you are not keen on this the times of year when it is less affected are usually around the middle summer months. The Norte and Primitivo have some really special Albergues along the length of them, however the Portugues has maybe the best Albergue of most caminos 12km before Ponte de Lima- Casa Fernanda. Both have variations, the Portugues has the Braga option after Porto and also the coastal route after Porto, the Norte has lots too many too mention, but after Villavicioasa(around 350km from Santiago), the major option is sticking with the Norte or going on to the Primitivo.

I really like the Norte, probably because it was my first camino, however having walked on the CP once,just recently had to change plans to go on a section in the interior of it because of bad news, this is put back to next year. I like both but i feel the the portugues from Lisbon at the moment is very challenging for the first few days, there are plans to change this by the relevant associations.

Mike

 

[peregrino_tom]

Chalk and cheese, so if you've the time to walk the whole of the Norte that's a good reason to swing your decision that way.

Mike, is Casa Fernanda an albergue? Fernanda and Jacinto as you know provide hospitality to pilgrims out of kindness - it's not their job. In fact they have to fit it in around their jobs. I just wonder whether the extra weight of expectation and numbers which this kind of praise of their 'albergue' generates will make it harder for them - who knows? And I'm not having a go, just suggesting we tread cautiously. Either way Ponte de Lima is possibly the most beautiful town on the camino Portuguese with many historical features and the town's albergue is beside the famous bridge and highly rated...!

 

[Doodles]

Mike,

You said …

"..just recently had to change plans to go on a section in the interior of it because of bad news, this is put back to next year. I like both but i feel the the portugues from Lisbon at the moment is very challenging for the first few days.."

Can you elaborate? What was the "bad news" and what do you mean by "very challenging for the first few days."?

 

[frdaz]

Last year we did the Frances and this year we are trying to decide between del Norte and the Portugues. Anyone want to offer some advice, comparisons, insight, etc. that might help us decide. Would especially like to hear from anyone who has done both.

For what it's worth, I've done the CP. It was great and would do it again. A nice diversity of sights - coastal, forest, mountain/hills, rivers, etc. Good way marking. I thought the scenery in north Portugal was even more impressive than in Galicia. Buen Camino...