Camino Portuguese sections

[Russ J]

In April my wife and I will be in Portugal and will have time to walk about 100 miles, or 7-10 days. Can anyone recommend a section with the most beauty, charming towns and villages, and the fewest busy roads and highways? We are somewhat concerned about the references to long stretches of urban and highway walking that are mentioned in the forum. Thank you all!

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I walked from Porto to Santiago last May on the Central routr and can assure you there is no major roadway walking. There is also, in my opinion not much of quaint, lovely, beauty or charm on that route, though far from ugly, but again that is not what the Camino is about but rather a pilgrimage, what ever that may mean for you.

This being said, the stretch from Porto to Vila do Conde on the coast is lovely and then the Variante Espiritual from Pontevedra were the highlights in terms of beauty. It takes you to the Poio monastery and the quintessential fishing village of Combarro ($$$$$ rentals in summer) and then up to the Armenteira monastery, down the movie set worthy Camino de Piedra & Agua.

If you walk the Central you will visit the towns of Barcelos and Ponte de Lima which are lovely, and then Valence and Tui which are beautifu, finally Pontevedra which I would like to have visited even if not during a Camino. So still not bad, right?

 

[Russ J]

Thanks Anemone, we walked the entire Way of St. Francis, Florence-Assisi-Rome (550K) last spring as a true Camino, but will just be doing a section of the Camino Portuguese this time. Your help is really appreciated!