Planning 4 days on Coastal and 6 days on Central route of Camino from Porto

[LUISA G]

Hi, I am starting my Camino from Porto on The 5th of September. I would love to do 4 days on coastal and then switch to Central for 6 days.
Is this doable and if so where should I plan to transition to Central. I only have 10 days and I have been told there is a portion that can be taken on a qui boat transfer.
Anyone with knowledge of this .
I would so greatly appreciate any help.
Thank you,

 

[dougfitz]

The distance from Porto to SDC is about 244 km along the Central Route. You could do that at around 25 km/day in ten days. But, expect to add a day doing the Coastal or Litoral routes even if you walk over to the Central route at some stage, and at least one more for the Variante Espiritual. Someone might have stages that would work to allow you to do this in 10 days, but it looks like a challenge to me.

 

[Rickcrna]

This is perfectly do-able as long as you don't insist on finishing your walk in Santiago. Other factors involve your need for rest day(s), carrying a pack vs using pack transport services, weather, desire to explore, etc. Of course, others may chime in and say, of course this is doable to which I say...nonsense. I recently completed Porto to Santiago via the coast and took 17 days of walking plus 2 rest days and enjoyed all of it.

 

[dougfitz]

This is perfectly do-able as long as you don't insist on finishing your walk in Santiago.

@Rickcrna is, of course, right. I always assume when a question like this is asked that people are interested in the Pilgrimage to Santiago, not just walking as far as they can along a camino route. The OP could complete the Pilgrimage along the Central Route in the time they have available if indeed they were intending to reach Santiago - the 25 km/day or so required is not an unusually demanding distance for a fit person. The difficulty I foresee is the extra time that will be needed to undertake the Coastal or Littoral and the Variante Espiritual, which would require longer walking days. I haven't calculated how much longer on average, I was hoping someone who had done something similar might have chimed in on this by now.

 

[Rowena]

Hi Luisa,
This is what I would do if I only had 10 days and wanted some of the Coastal and some of the Central route, assuming you want to finish in Santiago. You can walk from Porto to Viana do Castelo in four days easily enough. Or you could shorten the distance by taking the tram out of Porto to Matosinhos and starting your walk there. From Viana do Castelo you could take a bus or a train to Valença, walk across the bridge into Spain, and start your six days on the Central route from Tui to Santiago the next day. I think you would have to skip the Variante Espiritual though. You should check the distances, but I think it is doable. Hope this helps,
Rowena

 

[LUISA G]

The distance from Porto to SDC is about 244 km along the Central Route. You could do that at around 25 km/day in ten days. But, expect to add a day doing the Coastal or Litoral routes even if you walk over to the Central route at some stage, and at least one more for the Variante Espiritual. Someone might have stages that would work to allow you to do this in 10 days, but it looks like a challenge to me.

Thank you for your advice

 

[LUISA G]

Hi Luisa,
This is what I would do if I only had 10 days and wanted some of the Coastal and some of the Central route, assuming you want to finish in Santiago. You can walk from Porto to Viana do Castelo in four days easily enough. Or you could shorten the distance by taking the tram out of Porto to Matosinhos and starting your walk there. From Viana do Castelo you could take a bus or a train to Valença, walk across the bridge into Spain, and start your six days on the Central route from Tui to Santiago the next day. I think you would have to skip the Variante Espiritual though. You should check the distances, but I think it is doable. Hope this helps,
Rowe.

Thank you so much, would you be so kind to give me more specifics as to where I would catch the tram and the bus details or atleast where I could research all of this . I am so greatful for your attention. (moderator note - personal email address removed. Members can contact each other via private conversation. Click or tap member's name and choose "start conversation.')

 

[LUISA G]

@Rickcrna is, of course, right. I always assume when a question like this is asked that people are interested in the Pilgrimage to Santiago, not just walking as far as they can along a camino route. The OP could complete the Pilgrimage along the Central Route in the time they have available if indeed they were intending to reach Santiago - the 25 km/day or so required is not an unusually demanding distance for a fit person. The difficulty I foresee is the extra time that will be needed to undertake the Coastal or Littoral and the Variante Espiritual, which would require longer walking days. I haven't calculated how much longer on average, I was hoping someone who had done something similar might have chimed in on this by now.

Thank you, my plans are to finish the pilgrimage to Santiago. Is there a boat that can help me advance from the coastal to the central??
Thank you for your attention

 

[dougfitz]

Thank you, my plans are to finish the pilgrimage to Santiago. Is there a boat that can help me advance from the coastal to the central??
Thank you for your attention

I cannot think of a ferry service that links somewhere on the coastal route to the central route. I understand that there is a ferry service at Caminha to continue the coastal route. The people that I met on the central route that had started on the coastal or littoral had made the transition much earlier than that. Looking at Brierley's CP guide, there appear to be options at Vila do Conde to walk to Rates and at Caminha to walk to Valenca. Neither seem to involve a ferry. I haven't walked either of those.

The ferry from Arousa to Padron is on the Variante Espiritual, and isn't a link from the coastal to central routes.

 

[LUISA G]

Hi Luisa,
This is what I would do if I only had 10 days and wanted some of the Coastal and some of the Central route, assuming you want to finish in Santiago. You can walk from Porto to Viana do Castelo in four days easily enough. Or you could shorten the distance by taking the tram out of Porto to Matosinhos and starting your walk there. From Viana do Castelo you could take a bus or a train to Valença, walk across the bridge into Spain, and start your six days on the Central route from Tui to Santiago the next day. I think you would have to skip the Variante Espiritual though. You should check the distances, but I think it is doable. Hope this helps,
Rowena

Thank you so much, are you able to give me the specifics of the second choice the bus or train to Valenca where is train station located?? Thank you for your help

 

[Rickcrna]

Why don’t you plug in Caminha to Valenca using rome to rio app and you will discover the bus options. Do your research!

 

[trecile]

Why don’t you plug in Caminha to Valenca using rome to rio app and you will discover the bus options. Do your research!

Perhaps @LUISA G doesn't know about Rome2Rio.

Here's a link:

Rome2rio: discover how to get anywhere

Discover how to get anywhere by searching plane, train, bus, car and ferry routes

www.rome2rio.com

 

[Rowena]

Yes, I found the information about the bus and train options on Rome2Rio after I saw your question. And Google maps will show you where the station is. Do you have a guidebook?

 

[LUISA G]

Perhaps @LUISA G doesn't know about Rome2Rio.

Here's a link:

Rome2rio: discover how to get anywhere

Discover how to get anywhere by searching plane, train, bus, car and ferry routes

www.rome2rio.com

Thank you, never heard of Rome 2rio
Will start researching

Yes, I found the information about the bus and train options on Rome2Rio after I saw your question. And Google maps will show you where the station is. Do you have a guidebook?

I do not have a guide book but I will definitely look at Rome2rio Thank you

 

[dougfitz]

Why don’t you plug in Caminha to Valenca using rome to rio app and you will discover the bus options. Do your research!

She is, and we are helping. Asking questions of real humans is just as much a research tool as using an app.

 

[Rowena]

I see that Ivar is currently selling the 2023 Portuguese guidebook for 5 Euros on the forum store. That’s a real bargain! I would recommend that you order one now. It will arrive in plenty of time for the start of your Camino.
I walked from Porto to Santiago in 2019 and will be doing so again this October. I love planning and have my stages tentatively figured out before I go. Any other questions you have I would be happy to answer.
Buen Camino!

 

[pa’delante]

Perhaps @LUISA G doesn't know about Rome2Rio.

Here's a link:

Rome2rio: discover how to get anywhere

Discover how to get anywhere by searching plane, train, bus, car and ferry routes

www.rome2rio.com

Thanks super useful…

 

[JaneyWindsor]

Hi Luisa,

I’m walking a mix of the Coastal/Littoral/Central (and including the Variante Espirituel which includes a boat journey from Vilanova de Arousa to Padron - bookable in advance) from Porto to Santiago de C from 26/8 to 9/9. I’ve included 1 days rest in this itinerary.

I have to say I’ve found John Brierley’s Camino Portuguese book (available on Amazon for around £17) invaluable for planning - he clearly indicates where you can cross from Littoral to Coastal to Central, plus I’ve received some wonderful advice from people on this Forum.

Good luck!

 

[LUISA G]

Sorry I meant from Viana do Castelo train to Valenca