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¡ Encantado !That is great information, Albertinho, thanks thanks a lot!!! How far would it be from Vila do Conde to San Pedro de Rates? 20 km or so?
Thanks so much for the detailed information, I feel a lot more confident about this route now.
From Vila do Conde to São Pedro de Rates are 15 kms a nice albergue and the best stamp on your credential of the entire Caminho Portuges, bi coloured.That is great information, Albertinho, thanks thanks a lot!!! How far would it be from Vila do Conde to San Pedro de Rates? 20 km or so?
Thanks so much for the detailed information, I feel a lot more confident about this route now.
The walk out of Porto is superb if.. You walk from the Sé cathedral to the Douro river and follow this to the ocean and from there you follow the boardwalk along the ocean to Matosinhos. From there you follow the ocean to Vila do CondeHi I had all the same questions and bought John Brierley guide, pretty much details the who walk from Porto.
By the way nearly everyone seems to say NOT to walk from porto but to get the metro out to Maia or matosinhos
Good information. Thanks for sharing.You can use the following free information with maps etc from Luis Freixo's Blog http://www.caminador.es/?page_id=117
The walk out of Porto is superb if.. You walk from the Sé cathedral to the Douro river and follow this to the ocean and from there you follow the boardwalk along the ocean to Matosinhos. From there you follow the ocean to Vila do Conde
From Sé to Matosinhos is 10 kms. From Matosinhos to Vila do Conde 20kms
As mentioned in Brierley's guide as the Matosinhos detour.
The walk to Vilarinho and Maia is not advisable because it is a very busy urban area with a complicated and dangerous (for walkers) infrastructure. I did not walk that part (walked the coastal detour from Porto to Matosinhos and on) but drove it with my car and caravan. Special style of driving the Portugese do.they tried to merge in between my car and my hooked on caravan !
Hi I had all the same questions and bought John Brierley guide, pretty much details the who walk from Porto.
By the way nearly everyone seems to say NOT to walk from porto but to get the metro out to Maia or matosinhos
I must be the only one who says yes please do walk out if Porto. Get your first stamp in the Se Cathedral and walk down to the river, follow the river to the Atlantic Ocean. A very convenient way to start the Camino Portugues.
After finishing the caminho Portuges last year, we went back to Porto for a little rest before flying back home and we walked from Porto Sé to Matosinhos where our hostal was. so we can talk about the experience of walking that particulary part and this was great so I agree with you Annie that anybody should start in Porto.I must be the only one who says yes please do walk out if Porto. Get your first stamp in the Se Cathedral and walk down to the river, follow the river to the Atlantic Ocean. A very convenient way to start the Camino Portugues.
The coastal Camino is solitary and beautiful. You can follow the coast all the way to Caminha ( 4-5 days) and take a taxi boat over to Spain or stay on the Portugues side and walk to Valenca.
I must be the only one who says yes please do walk out if Porto. Get your first stamp in the Se Cathedral and walk down to the river, follow the river to the Atlantic Ocean. A very convenient way to start the Camino Portugues.
The coastal Camino is solitary and beautiful. You can follow the coast all the way to Caminha ( 4-5 days) and take a taxi boat over to Spain or stay on the Portugues side and walk to Valenca.
It is very well waymarkedI think I might try this, along the coast. Just check google maps using the little yellow figure to walk virtually along the coast and it looks nice.
Hi!
1) Where in Porto do I need to start walking if I want to follow the coast route to Vilar do Conde via Matosinhos? Is it waymarked in some way?
2) What is the approximate distance between Porto and Vilar do Conde? 30? 40 km?
3) Once in Vilar do Conde, is it easy to go back to the inland route? Is the way marked?
4) What would be the distance between Vilar do Conde and Barcelos?
If by car as I did last May you drive from Caminha to Vila Nova de Cerveiro where is a bridge over the river Minho into Spain. A 26 km detour to get from Caminha to a Guarda. I saw some peregrinos who walked this detour.Tessbarrett, I have heard that in Caminha, if the ferry is not available, you will have no problem to find you help cross the river with their boats for 5 euro or so. A different matter would be if you were trying by car, because a boat cannot hold a car, but there are plenty of boats and people available/willing to take you to the other bank of Minho (do not rule out you might get wet feet/legs when getting on and off the boat). Buen camino!
No there is a tarmac road along the coast. Sometimes is a litte detour a bit of the beachside.at a certain time you have to follow the road because it turns off from the coast.the best is to have a look on Google maps or if you have an ipad loop on "maps". You can see it clearly. I followed the route a minute ago and it memorised our walk again when we where there. You can bike on the wooden boardwalk but it is not allways appreciated by walkers.Hi!
We are going to cycle from Lisboa to Santiago de Compostela. We have planned to go from Porto to Barselos but now I see that there is one more way – the beach way. Is it possible to go from Porto to Vila do Conde by bikes or it is mostly sands?
Thank you!
The cycle down the banks of Douro must be gorgeous, there is not a lot of traffic and the views are great. Once on the coast, just be prepared to face lots of traffic until you leave Matosinhos behind, but it should be feasible on tarmac, no problem
Thank you! I have checked the google maps and I think we will cycle the beach way till Spanish border and after that via Valenca to Tui. Thank you once again and happy holidays!! :O)
The ferry between Caminha and A Guarda is sailing again since last friday after stopping for almost a year so there will be a straight way from Porto to Vigo/Redondela along the coast.
Hi Albertinho,Take the metro from Porto to metrostop Mercado in Matosinhos , walk over the bridge and the route is well waymarked to Vila do Conde. You'll wakealongside the Atlantic Ocean.
From Porto Sé it is aprox.30 km to Vila do Conde,by taking the metro you cut down 10 kms of that distance
In Vila do Conde is a bridge. Over the bridge to the right the waymarking is direction inland to São Pedro de Rates.
Buy John Brierleys guide camino Portuges I should suggest. All maps of the complete caminho plus side information and places to sleep
Bom caminho
Hola Escocés errante!!! I did this camino last september, you have good reasons to be looking forward to it, indeed! The first few days, you will find quite a lot of cobblestones, they can be rough on your feet, beware to act before blisters do happen, and you will enjoy a great great country.Hi Amancio. I am walking the same route as you but in May, only 4 weeks to go 9 May, when i return i will give you a full account of my trip. Suggest you get some training in before you leave. Buen Camino amigo.
Hola Amancio - good spot with EscocésHola Escocés errante!!! I did this camino last september, you have good reasons to be looking forward to it, indeed! The first few days, you will find quite a lot of cobblestones, they can be rough on your feet, beware to act before blisters do happen, and you will enjoy a great great country.
Hello Gaulsdog,this is my route and details from porto to Matosinhos in June
http://www.mapmyhike.com/workout/607215137
And from Matosinhos to Vila do Condo
http://www.mapmyhike.com/workout/608363793
After finishing the caminho Portuges last year, we went back to Porto for a little rest before flying back home and we walked from Porto Sé to Matosinhos where our hostal was. so we can talk about the experience of walking that particulary part and this was great so I agree with you Annie that anybody should start in Porto.
Hello Albertinho,
Do you recall the name of your hostel in Matosinhos and approximately where it is located? Brierley doesn't mention any places to sleep in Matosinhos in his 2015 guide - many cafes but no lodging until Vila do Conde.
Thank you.
I will continue the cost until redondela the follow camino centralHello! I am doing el caminho de la costa starting at Porto on August 16th 2015. Anyone with the same plans? I speak English, Italian and Spanish.
Let me know at Languagemoves@ yahoo.com.
We stayed in Hostal pensão Central in Matosinhos.. Look on Tripadvisor or Booking.comHello Albertinho,
Do you recall the name of your hostel in Matosinhos and approximately where it is located? Brierley doesn't mention any places to sleep in Matosinhos in his 2015 guide - many cafes but no lodging until Vila do Conde.
Thank you.
Indeed Margaret. We did do this 3 weeks ago on our last day of our caminho adventure while being back in Porto where we rented a nice appartment in the Lapa area. We bought a ticket for 24 hours at the Trindade metro station ticket office € 7,50 each and travelled to Póvoa de Varzim and Vila do Conde ,being the touristIf you can't decide which of the choices of route out of Porto (especially all those described by Brierley), here is another suggestion. The Metro can be taken from Trindade station as far as Vila do Conde itself. The trip takes about 45 mins and costs €3.30. This means you could spend an extra day sightseeing in Porto, where there is a lot to see!
Thank you, Albertinho. I will follow your advice.We stayed in Hostal pensão Central in Matosinhos.. Look on Tripadvisor or Booking.com
Book it ahead I advice. It is popular. We wanted to book it 3 weeks ago but was full. . By the way there are some more in Matosinhos. Just google " place to sleep in Matosinhos"
Bom caminho
In Vila do Conde the other day I discovered hostal Bellamar .
Arring at the end of the bridge turn right end directly right again so you walk underneath the bridge. At the other side of the brigde then it is in front of you next to an Opel car dealer's showroom.
just a tip. if you are in Porto and have half an hour time have a look at the São Bento railwaystation with its beautiful blue and white tile mosaics.a must.Albertinho,
Thanks for your lead. I booked a night at hostel Bellamar in Vila do Conde using booking.com as suggested by Meldelcamino and others. From there I will walk to Sao Pedro de Rates to join the interior route.
I decided to spend two nights in Porto. On the second day in Porto I will walk down from the cathedral to the river and then along the ocean to Matoshinos. Then I will take the metro from the Mercado stop back to Porto and enjoy the evening in the city. The next morning I' ll hop on the metro back to Mercado and walk from Matoshinos to Vila do Conde and hostal Bellamar. For me, this seems the best of both worlds to enjoy Porto, enjoy the coastal walk out of Porto while breaking up the 32k walk from Porto to Vila do Conde into two bite size pieces (approximately 10k and 22k). Just another option afforded by the convenience of the metro system for others that wish to start their camino in Porto and maximize coastal walking.
Good hiking.
Yes, I had planned to see Sao Bento and the Lello which some call the most beautiful book store in the world. The cost of a single trip 3-zone metro ticket (Trinidade to Mercado) is €1,50 so I will do that each way. Lots to see in Porto for sure. From your posts I sensed you enjoyed your stay.just a tip. if you are in Porto and have half an hour time have a look at the São Bento railwaystation with its beautiful blue and white tile mosaics.a must.
Ansd 5 or 6 minutes on from there is the beautiful antique Lello bookstore. A must too. Buses full of Japanese,Chinese and Korean people come special to see these places.
Of you take the metro ,buy a 24 hour ticket at the ticket sales an Trindade metrostation.
The next morning you then for free can use the ticket to go to Mercado. 7,50€ each we payed. But ask what the single price is. Maby two single tickets are cheaper.
We used the ticket to travel to Povoa de Varzim one day, later that day to Vila do Conde and back to Porto and next morning used the same tickets to go from our address in Porto to the airport. Fairly economic.
Bom caminho
BUT use with care! In several cases the way was obstructed a couple of weeks ago when I walked it - dense undergrowth, flooded by a stream and, in one case, a new car park being built with no diversion around the works!You can use the following free information with maps etc from Luis Freixo's Blog http://www.caminador.es/?page_id=117
Albertinho,
Thanks for your lead. I booked a night at hostel Bellamar in Vila do Conde using booking.com as suggested by Meldelcamino and others. From there I will walk to Sao Pedro de Rates to join the interior route.
I decided to spend two nights in Porto. On the second day in Porto I will walk down from the cathedral to the river and then along the ocean to Matoshinos. Then I will take the metro from the Mercado stop back to Porto and enjoy the evening in the city. The next morning I' ll hop on the metro back to Mercado and walk from Matoshinos to Vila do Conde and hostal Bellamar. For me, this seems the best of both worlds to enjoy Porto, enjoy the coastal walk out of Porto while breaking up the 32k walk from Porto to Vila do Conde into two bite size pieces (approximately 10k and 22k). Just another option afforded by the convenience of the metro system for others that wish to start their camino in Porto and maximize coastal walking.
Good hiking.
This is similar to my plan. Day 1 - Fly to Lisbon, train to Porto. Day 2 - Explore Porto and walk river to coast and return via metro. Day 3 - metro to coast and begin pilgrimage. Looking for suggestions for where to stay 2 nights in Porto and must see and eat places. Hoping to walk with minimal plans and about 20k per day.
Thanks for your lead. I booked a night at hostel Bellamar in Vila do Conde using booking.com as suggested by Meldelcamino and others.
This is similar to my plan. Day 1 - Fly to Lisbon, train to Porto. Day 2 - Explore Porto and walk river to coast and return via metro. Day 3 - metro to coast and begin pilgrimage. Looking for suggestions for where to stay 2 nights in Porto and must see and eat places. Hoping to walk with minimal plans and about 20k per day.
Bit late with my reply now, was actually walking in Portugal when you posted it, My walk is recorded in KM not miles and accurate for the distance that i walked, I did not follow any markers but stayed on as as close to the beach as possible, I have never found these guides to be that accurate and have never used them myself but have met people using them , I have walked all the way from Porto to Vigo practically on the beach and on 2 occasions had to wade across small rivers, best walk I ever doneHello Gaulsdog,
I reviewed your mile splits from Matoshinos to Vila do Conde and had a question on the total distance. The Brierley guide indicates the distance is about 22 km or 13 miles. Your data indicates 18 miles. Which do you think is correct?
Thank you.
Thanks for the tip Kimberly. The breakfast to go is a nice option to know.Just a tip: at Bellamar, breakfast is not served until 8am, but if you tell reception that you want to leave earlier, they will kindly prepare a "to go" breakfast package and bring it to your room the night before
Hello Matt,This is similar to my plan. Day 1 - Fly to Lisbon, train to Porto. Day 2 - Explore Porto and walk river to coast and return via metro. Day 3 - metro to coast and begin pilgrimage. Looking for suggestions for where to stay 2 nights in Porto and must see and eat places. Hoping to walk with minimal plans and about 20k per day.
Mind Portugese drivers are a bit funny. We walked and always wore fluorescent safety vests when walking alongside roads . Better for your health .no need to meet St.James before you reach Santiago as you know what I mean.
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