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There’s no riight answer and there’s tons of debate about this on this forum. Depends on what you like, and maybe on where you’re from. Far more pilgrims on the central, and more of a pilgrim “vibe”, like on the Frances. More historical towns on the central. The coastal has fewer pilgrims, and less pilgrim infrastructure, but many find it beautiful with the ocean (almost) always within sight. We’re from coastal California, and perhaps for that reason, we found the coastal route rather monotonous, with dull, touristy beach towns, and nothing but pavement or boardwalks underfoot, so 2 days north of Porto, at Esposende, we decided to switch back to the central, and continued on from there. The good thing is you don’t have to make up your mind until you’re in Porto, and even if you start on one, you can switch over to the other easily enough, with buses or taxis linking the towns along the two routes. Weather is also a factor. If the forecast is for warm, sunny weather, it will be cooler on the coast. If the forecast is for rain, you’ll have a cold wind off the ocean whipping your face on the coastal route, while on the central route you’ll be more sheltered.
Is the Coastal flatter? I don’t want stiff climbs.I just completed The Camino from Lisbon and walked the Central from Porto. This was the best walking since leaving Lisbon apart from the first section leaving Porto. The best would be to avoid that and do the first day on the coastal and then switch over to the central. I spoke to several people who did the coastal all the way to Redondela and did not enjoy it. The central has great countryside and some stiff climbs particularly out of Pont de Lima.
There’s no riight answer and there’s tons of debate about this on this forum. Depends on what you like, and maybe on where you’re from. Far more pilgrims ocean whipping your face on the coastal route, while on the central route you’ll be more sheltered.
There is not much klimbing on the central, nothing compared to the Camino Francés. The highest hill is after Ponte de Lima, it is 400 m. I can also remember that getting into Santarém was a short but steep road and that the Cathedral in Coimbra is on the mountain.
I shot my knees doing the CF in 2016 and, in addition to the poles I picked up in Viana, I needed to wear a knee brace and take ibuprofen every day to get through the Camino. Two years later I did the CP from Porto mostly in the Central route (like many have suggested, I walked along the coast to Vila do Conde and switched there). I took my poles but left the knee brace and painkillers behind and had no knee problems.How are the down hills compared to the Camino Francés (Zubiri, Alto de Perdon, Cruz de Ferro...)? I'm more concerned about the quality of the trail on the descent than the steepness of the climb.
Great discussion - thanks to all who commented
I have the Camino bug I did my first Camino from SJPdP to Santiago March 15-April 19, 2018 and I want to keep on walking and have pretty much decided that the Portuguese will be my next one with my husband. I love the ocean so my heart is leaning towards the Coastal but my husband is feeling that the inland will have more amenities and people (which was a huge aspect of the CF for him). I am just wondering what people have felt was the preferred route to do. Regardless of the route we are planning on starting from Lisbon.
If you do choose the Central route out of Porto, I stayed at 2L bear gays that were really great. Casa de Lara and later on Casa de Fernanda.
My husband and I have decided to start on the Coastal from Porto (in March) and just decide on the way when we want to cross over to the Central. As they said above, there are several spots you can turn and head to Barcelos for example. Our decision on exactly when to turn to the Central will be the weather. If it's extremely rainy and with a cold wind, we will turn at Vila do Conde, but if it's still nice, we will go to either Esposende or Povea de Varzim and then turn. We think a little of both trails will make it the most interesting and enjoyable. We aren't even planning on reserving places along the way as March is early with few travelers. A day in advance should be sufficient. Good luck!Thank you for your thoughtful reply, I am not the original poster but I appreciate your advice. I have chosen to do my first Camino from Porto, and I am fairly confident I want to do the Coastal route but I think it's a good idea to have some back up research should I chose to do what you did. I am going end of April/Early May and I was in Porto last ~early April and there was quite a bit of rain. I don't mind the rain at all, I guess just still wondering which route is "best". Thanks again!
No "best." And starting that early, you don't need to commit - start along the coast if you thing that interests you, and you can move inland to the Central at several spots if you want to try that.Thank you for your thoughtful reply, I am not the original poster but I appreciate your advice. I have chosen to do my first Camino from Porto, and I am fairly confident I want to do the Coastal route but I think it's a good idea to have some back up research should I chose to do what you did. I am going end of April/Early May and I was in Porto last ~early April and there was quite a bit of rain. I don't mind the rain at all, I guess just still wondering which route is "best". Thanks again!
Thank you for sharing your incredible blog! The pictures you have of the walk from Porto to Vila de Conde really helped me to feel confident that I will get beautiful seaside views on the boardwalk before I cut inland to join the Central after Vila de Conde. I also have to agree with you about not taking the Metro to Matosinhos! I am very much looking forward to that walk -- I was in Porto for a week last spring and I had planned to rent a bike and ride to Matosinhos, but another traveler I met convinced me to change my plans and take the metro instead. I don't regret the day I spent in Matosinhos with that traveler, it was very lovely, but I am very much looking forward to returning and doing it "my way"! Albeit, this time on foot!More input from my blog. I did both and I loved both, but they are indeed quite different. Lots of photos on my site to help you choose! Many Ways on the Camino Portugues.
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