LIVE from the Camino Live from the Camino (Portugues)

[Indy]

Thank you for sharing your Camino!

 

[Noel & Annie J]

Thank you for sharing your Camino!

Bom Caminho! I hope you enjoy your walk.

 

[HSkogerson]

We finished our Camino last Sunday. Next up for us will be a walk along Hadrian's Wall in the north of England.

Sounds amazing! Enjoy!!!

 

[Gina73]

Thanks so much @Noel & Annie J . I have direct "on my honor" bookings at both Ninho and Casa das Lagas so I'm trying to toss a coin before I leave for Portugal to give the owner a fair chance to re-rent. I'm traveling alone so Ninho looks like it has a welcome communal feel after a long day. The rain is also a coin toss -- I remember slogging through the downpour from Sarria to Santiago 4 years ago.

I've emailed Ninho and hope to stay there. Did your "on my honor" booking work out? Did you communicate through email? Bom Caminho.

 

[Jaujauzimbo]

Hello, I was wondering how to get from Porto (where in fly into Portugal) to Ponto de Lima. The latter will be our starting point going towards Santiago. I an't even find a one-way rental car to go to Ponte de Lima. Only to Braga Any ideas would be much appreciated.

 

[Noel & Annie J]

Hello, I was wondering how to get from Porto (where in fly into Portugal) to Ponto de Lima. The latter will be our starting point going towards Santiago. I an't even find a one-way rental car to go to Ponte de Lima. Only to Braga Any ideas would be much appreciated.

The bus system in Portugal is nice and reliable. From what I see on the internet, there are several buses per day. You could also contact one of the car services that moves luggage around for pilgrims.

 

[Camembert]

@Jaujauzimbo
The (international) buslinks from Lisbon or Porto do not stop in Ponte de Lima
the first stop from Porto Airport is Valença do Minho so you have to go back from there to Ponte de Lima what is about 40 kms. Last month when I waited for my bus to Santiago in Valença I noticed a bus in the direction of Ponte de Lima but it does not go very regular. The public transport system in the north of Portugal is not very well developed.
I have a far better solution for you if you have time !
invest your time in the best place to stay at the entire Caminho Português.
If your hike is calculated in advance e.g you will do Ponte de Lima to Santiago in 10 days , add one or two days to it .Go from the airport by metro to the Batalhã railwaystation In Porto Take the train in the direction of Barcelos , Viana do Castelo , Caminha and Valença do Minho
go out the train in Tamel ! One stop after Barcelos.
you are right on the Caminho and follow the waymarkers ahead for 6 kms and you will be at privat albergue Casa da Fernanda in Vitorino dos Piães.
An unforgetable stay . Next day walk to Ponte de Lima ,14 kms. A good warming up for your caminho.
Bom caminho

 

[Gina73]

Hello, I was wondering how to get from Porto (where in fly into Portugal) to Ponto de Lima. The latter will be our starting point going towards Santiago. I an't even find a one-way rental car to go to Ponte de Lima. Only to Braga Any ideas would be much appreciated.

There's a train that goes out of Porto. I'm going to be starting in Barcelos after spending a few days in Porto, Guimaraes, and Braga. I'm actually taking a train (Campanha) to Guimaraes first, but it does go straight to Barcelos (and more north). I checked the train schedule and I didn't see one to Ponte de Lima. It goes around it but goes up to Valenca. Maybe do some more checking on cp.pt for train info. Bom Caminho!
https://www.cp.pt/sites/passageiros/en/train-times/Train-time-results

 

[grayland]

Have you checked Rome2Rio? I would look but walking with only phone.

 

[Camembert]

There's a train that goes out of Porto. I'm going to be starting in Barcelos after spending a few days in Porto, Guimaraes, and Braga. I'm actually taking a train (Campanha) to Guimaraes first, but it does go straight to Barcelos (and more north). I checked the train schedule and I didn't see one to Ponte de Lima. It goes around it but goes up to Valenca. Maybe do some more checking on cp.pt for train info. Bom Caminho!
https://www.cp.pt/sites/passageiros/en/train-times/Train-time-results

There is no trainstation in Ponte de de Lima
the nearest one is Tamel which is on the caminho.
you walk from Barcelos and at a certain moment you come down from a hill where on top is a white church and opposite the Tamel albergue . When going down you cross the railway track and the station . This is also the closest public transport station nearby albergue Casa da Fernanda (6 km) and 20 km to Ponte de Lima

if you go on with the train you will end up in Valença do Minho. From there it is 40 kms back southwards to Ponte de Lima

busses are not very regular in the Viana do Castelo and Minho region. 2 or 3 per day, very early and late in the afternoon or early evening

there is a bus company Ovniture . This one goes early in the morning and early in the evening, twice a day from the airport to Ponte de Lima.

there is another buscompany, Barquense from the north of Portugal https://www.barquense.pt/#!/Seats. Here you have more chance to go to Ponte de Lima

 

[Camembert]

There is no trainstation in Ponte de de Lima
the nearest is Tamel which is on the caminho.
you walk from Barcelos and at a certain moment you come down from a hill where on top is a white church and opposite the Tamel albergue . When going down you you cross the railway track and the the station . This is also the closest public transport station nearby albergue Casa da Fernanda (6 km) and 20 km to Ponte de Lima

if you go on with the train you will end up in Valença do Minho. From there it is 40 kms back southwards to Ponte de Lima

busses are not very regular in the Viana do Castelo and Minho region. 2 or 3 per day, very early and late in the afternoon or early evening

I found a website of a bus company in the north of Portugal who has a regular express bus from the Porto airport , Barquense https://www.barquense.pt/#!/Seats
you have to reserve in advance online . They have 4 departures per day .
to Portuguese standards it is very expensive but it should be okay because there are only few alternatives

 

[Noel & Annie J]

There is no trainstation in Ponte de de Lima
the nearest is Tamel which is on the caminho.
you walk from Barcelos and at a certain moment you come down from a hill where on top is a white church and opposite the Tamel albergue . When going down you you cross the railway track and the the station . This is also the closest public transport station nearby albergue Casa da Fernanda (6 km) and 20 km to Ponte de Lima

if you go on with the train you will end up in Valença do Minho. From there it is 40 kms back southwards to Ponte de Lima

busses are not very regular in the Viana do Castelo and Minho region. 2 or 3 per day, very early and late in the afternoon or early evening

there is a bus company Ovniture . This one goes early in the morning and early in the evening, twice a day from the airport to Ponte de Lima.

there is another buscompany, Barquense from the north of Portugal https://www.barquense.pt/#!/Seats. Here you have more chance to go to Ponte de Lima

I remember that train station (and the valley) very well.

 

[Jaujauzimbo]

Have you checked Rome2Rio? I would look but walking with only phone.

Thank you. Yes I have and it says there are no buses nor trains for Ponte de Lima. @Albertinho has confirmed this, alas. So we have to find another solution knowing that we have already booked our return flights and all the accommodation along the way....

 

[Jaujauzimbo]

@Jaujauzimbo
The (international) buslinks from Lisbon or Porto do not stop in Ponte de Lima
the first stop from Porto Airport is Valença do Minho so you have to go back from there to Ponte de Lima what is about 40 kms. Last month when I waited for my bus to Santiago in Valença I noticed a bus in the direction of Ponte de Lima but it does not go very regular. The public transport system in the north of Portugal is not very well developed.
I have a far better solution for you if you have time !
invest your time in the best place to stay at the entire Caminho Português.
If your hike is calculated in advance e.g you will do Ponte de Lima to Santiago in 10 days , add one or two days to it .Go from the airport by metro to the Batalhã railwaystation In Porto Take the train in the direction of Barcelos , Viana do Castelo , Caminha and Valença do Minho
go out the train in Tamel ! One stop after Barcelos.
you are right on the Caminho and follow the waymarkers ahead for 6 kms and you will be at privat albergue Casa da Fernanda in Vitorino dos Piães.
An unforgetable stay . Next day walk to Ponte de Lima ,14 kms. A good warming up for your caminho.
Bom caminho

Thank you

 

[Jaujauzimbo]

There is no trainstation in Ponte de de Lima
the nearest one is Tamel which is on the caminho.
you walk from Barcelos and at a certain moment you come down from a hill where on top is a white church and opposite the Tamel albergue . When going down you cross the railway track and the station . This is also the closest public transport station nearby albergue Casa da Fernanda (6 km) and 20 km to Ponte de Lima

if you go on with the train you will end up in Valença do Minho. From there it is 40 kms back southwards to Ponte de Lima

busses are not very regular in the Viana do Castelo and Minho region. 2 or 3 per day, very early and late in the afternoon or early evening

there is a bus company Ovniture . This one goes early in the morning and early in the evening, twice a day from the airport to Ponte de Lima.

there is another buscompany, Barquense from the north of Portugal https://www.barquense.pt/#!/Seats. Here you have more chance to go to Ponte de Lima

Thank you @Abertinho !!!! This seems hopeful ! Ovnitur goes from Porto to Ponte de Lima twice a day, weekdays. I will look into this option. https://www.ovnitur.pt/

 

[phildimashq]

I've emailed Ninho and hope to stay there. Did your "on my honor" booking work out? Did you communicate through email? Bom Caminho.

@Gina73

Hi Gina, did you hear back from Ninho?
I emailed them via ninho.albergue@gmail.com but am still waiting on a reply.
Thanks, Phil

 

[Ultreia et Suseia!]

We’ve spent a wonderful day in Porto. We arrived yesterday via the IC from Lisbon. We got of the train at Vila de Nova Gaia and walked (5 km) to our accommodations in Porto. We’re at the Hostel Alegria which seems to be the highest point around. Everywhere we went today was downhill. Tomorrow, we’re planning to walk to Vila de Conde along the Coastal Route. The forecast is rain for the next couple of days. Today, though, it’s been 20 and sunny.

We collected our stamp at the Cathedral yesterday and will try to grab another tomorrow. Wheee!

Glad to follow your footsteps! How busy is it?

Ultreia!

 

[Gina73]

@Gina73

Hi Gina, did you hear back from Ninho?
I emailed them via ninho.albergue@gmail.com but am still waiting on a reply.
Thanks, Phil

Yes. I have a reservation. I used that email too. It took a couple of days for a reply but once I heard back, the reservation was made. The communication was pretty minimal though. I addressed the email to Marlene. Not sure if that helps. Bom Caminho