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It is a choice. you walk partly on the hard shoulder of a busy road for a while so that is why many take the metro to Fórum Maia or Vilar do Pinheiro .Thank you for all of those details. Very helpful.
In fact, I read many posts on this forum that described the walk out of Porto as unappealing. I would like to walk to the whole way, so if I do (and accept that the first day will not be my favorite) is it safe at the very least? I don't want to walk on busy roads and risk my life!
I also have read about the Mosteiro do Vairão, as you mentioned, and it looks lovely. Would like to experience that if possible.
Like most things, we take in others' knowledge then decide what is best. Just trying to get the full picture. I thank your experienced opinion.
I have the same plan.I would like to take the senda litoral, only because I have not heard many good things about walking out of Porto. However, I would like to take the central route. My concern is getting from one path to the next. I have reviewed a few different maps and I have a guide book. However, I can't see a clear path and am concerned how well it will be marked since it is a connector path.
If anyone has walked this route, I would appreciate any tips.
Thanks,
Lynne
For what it is worth, I stopped at Rates (home of the first albergue in Portugal). But I started that day in Vila Cha, about 7 km before Vila do Conde. So my first day from Porto was only about 25 km instead of 33. The second day ended up about 20 km. The third day I just walked to Barcelos, a short day. For me, the sweet spot is about 20-25 km per day. I've done over 30, but I prefer to avoid it unless necessary.Did you stoped overnight in Rates or did you went all the way from Vila do Condo to Barcelos the same day and spent the night there?
This sounds like a perfect plan for me. I did consider taking a taxi to Matasinhos and then waking to Vila do Conde for my first night. Any thoughts on that?For what it is worth, I stopped at Rates (home of the first albergue in Portugal). But I started that day in Vila Cha, about 7 km before Vila do Conde. So my first day from Porto was only about 25 km instead of 33. The second day ended up about 20 km. The third day I just walked to Barcelos, a short day. For me, the sweet spot is about 20-25 km per day. I've done over 30, but I prefer to avoid it unless necessary.
I guess for me, I got my first stamp in my credencial at the cathedral in Porto and wanted to walk from there. Taxis or streetcars or metro were all well and good enough before the Camino started but I would rather walk once on Camino. And the walk by the river and along the ocean to Matosinhos wasn't so bad that I felt the need to avoid it.This sounds like a perfect plan for me. I did consider taking a taxi to Matasinhos and then waking to Vila do Conde for my first night. Any thoughts on that?
Sounds quite doable! ThanksI guess for me, I got my first stamp in my credencial at the cathedral in Porto and wanted to walk from there. Taxis or streetcars or metro were all well and good enough before the Camino started but I would rather walk once on Camino. And the walk by the river and along the ocean to Matosinhos wasn't so bad that I felt the need to avoid it.
I'm not saying that I am such a purist that I have never gotten a ride while on Camino. But I wasn't short for time and the distances were working out and Vila Chã isn't such a bad place to spend the night. They have a nice museum devoted to the local fishing industry that is right in the albergue. And that way, the walk to Rates the next day was also in my sweet spot. From Rates to Barcelos was a little short but it gives you extra time in Barcelos, which has lots to offer.
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