Camino Portuguese during Semana Santa

[Mormon]

Hi. My husband and I will be walking from Lisbon beginning March 2. It looks like we will get to Tui around March 28, which puts us squarely in Semana Santa. We should reach Padron on Easter Sunday. My plan was to not make advanced reservations for places to stay during most of the walk since it's so early in the season, but I'm wondering if that's a mistake for this stretch from Tui to Padron given the holiday week. Advice from those more experienced would be appreciated. Obrigada.

 

[Levi]

Hi Morman. Last year at Semana Santa I walked from Porto to Santiago with a friend. There were plenty of pilgrims but we didn't have any particular difficulties sourcing accommodation. That said, it was quite busy and we were not always sleeping in albergues - but were mixing it up a bit with small pensions/hotels. We didn't make any reservations more than a day in advance. Bom Caminho.

 

[t2andreo]

I recommend advance reservations for the period from Holy Thursday (the Thursday before Easter Sunday) through the following Sunday (First Sunday after Easter). Typically, many Europeans have Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Monday off work as a official holidays. Because of this, many folks can walk a segment of the Camino for up to 10 days without having to use much of their personal holiday or vacation days.

During this period, especially on the more popular Camino routes, including the Portuguese, there is a short-term surge or "pig in the python" effect. This wave of pilgrims places a short-term, but possibly inconvenient strain on accommodations along the way.

Also, Semana Santa is a REALLY BIG deal in both Spain and Portugal. So expect crowds in the cities and larger towns.

I hope this helps.

 

[Mormon]

Very helpful. Thanks. Since I will have a few extra days in Portugal and was planning to go back to Porto after the Camino, maybe I'll spend a couple of days in Porto and Barcelos earlier and get to Tui after the "pig" has been a bit more digested. Obrigada. Bom Caminho.

 

[grayland]

You can also avoid the Tui (100km starting point) by staying on the Coastal Route to Vigo which reconnects with the Central Route in Redondela.
This is a well marked and traveled route with accomodations easily available. It is still fairly busy with pilgrims but does not have the crowds of the "starting point" in the Tui area.

Staying on the Coastal route until Vigo is a brilliant walk with the sea next to you much of the way. Flat with few hills to climb. Small seaside villages with local tourists on the beach in the summer and fishing boats always.
Take the ferry across the river between Caminha and Camposancos/A Guarda