Camino Portuguese or Camino de Invierno

[KAD309]

Hello fellow pilgrims. I am planning my third Caminio for this Spring (last week of May and first week of June). In 2022, I walked the Frances alone from SJPP to Burgos and I fell in love with the Camino. This year, 2023, I walked the Frances again, this time with my daughter, from SJPP to Santiago - it was beyond our expectations. Even though I was plagued by seriously infected blisters and had get hospital treatment a few times, stop walking for a few days while the antibiotics worked, and literally dragged myself for the last 100 km to Santiago, it was still the best experience, especially sharing it with my daughter.

That being said, this year, I can only take two weeks and was all set on walking the Camino Portuguese alone from Porto and then I started looking at the Camino de Invierno. While I'm tending towards the Camino de Invierno, I wonder if more seasoned pilgrims than myself can provide some of their experiences on these two caminos. I know they are completely different and that the Invierno will likely be more isolated and I'll have to shorten some of the stages since my limits don't allow for walking 35km stages.

As mentioned above, I've walked the Frances alone and never felt in any danger or uncomfortable and wonder if the same sense of safety is present on the Invierno ?

Any insights you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you !

 

[jungleboy]

I haven't walked the Invierno but I would say the main point to consider is whether you want a camino similar to your Francés experience or something quite different. The Portuguese from Porto (especially the Central) is very well travelled and has similar facilities to the Francés (Porto is the second most common starting point on any camino after Sarria). You'll be able to connect with other pilgrims, stop pretty frequently at cafés etc if you want to, and have a wide variety of accommodation options and stage possibilities available to you. The Invierno is much more remote and there will be many fewer pilgrims and facilities, meaning you might have to plan your stages more carefully and it will be more solitary/lonely. So I would say the first question to ask yourself is: which type of experience do you want?

 

[El Cascayal]

Yes, absolutely. Since 2019 I have walked the Invierno 4 times, relatively alone and I'm 69 years and counting. Many women on this forum have walked it alone as well. Every day there is more infrastructure and more Peregrinos walking, though it still is one of the Caminos less traveled. A beautiful, perfect walk. Hoping to go again in the Fall, with a Peregrina I met on the Salvador as a celebration of our respective 70th birthdays. Go for it and Buen Camino!!!

 

[dick bird]

The Invierno is becoming more popular and better supported than it used to be. Stages under 35 km shouldn’t be a problem.

 

[KAD309]

Thanks so much for your responses- they are very encouraging as I am looking for a quiet walk - i have no issues with solitude!

As so many who have walked before me - i believe I’ve become quite addicted to the Camino !

 

[Glenshiro]

Have a look at this very helpful thread "Planning a 25km or less Camino on the Invierno"

 

[Quietways]

Just to add another option - I'd highly recommend the Camino Sanabres. Start in Zamora or Granja de Morerula, through a beautifully varied landscape, interesting albergues, a "hidden" monestary, tiny stone villages, over purple heather covered granite, roman roads, oak groves - and even shares the final stages w/ the Invierno into Santiago. I've walked the Invierno, and for me the Sanabres is far more varied and interesting.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Just to add another option - I'd highly recommend the Camino Sanabres. Start in Zamora or Granja de Morerula, through a beautifully varied landscape, interesting albergues, a "hidden" monestary, tiny stone villages, over purple heather covered granite, roman roads, oak groves - and even shares the final stages w/ the Invierno into Santiago. I've walked the Invierno, and for me the Sanabres is far more varied and interesting.

I'm planning to walk the Sanabres this coming mid April and your words since you have already walked it are validating my reasons for choosing this route...can't wait!