Porto to Santiago in July or August

[CoriS]

I am planning my first ever camino - from Porto and looking at the possibility of doing this in July or August. Looking at the various discussions and advice in the forums, I'm thinking the coastal route.. My questions are:
1) Is 14 days adequate? (I'm in reasonably good walking shape, not quite a hiker)
2) What is a good prep guide for this route? Or for walking the camino in general?
3) Should I book accommodation in advance for the whole route?
4) I would need to fly out of Porto on the way back so what's the best way to get back from Santiago to Porto - I would need to build that into my schedule
Thanks in advance for your advice and guidance

 

[trecile]

What is a good prep guide for this route? Or for walking the camino in general?

The best preparation is to get used to walking every day.

I would need to fly out of Porto on the way back so what's the best way to get back from Santiago to Porto - I would need to build that into my schedule

There are several buses each day between Santiago and Porto that take less than 4 hours. I'd plan to take the bus the day before my flight.

 

[Grousedoctor]

I am planning my first ever camino - from Porto and looking at the possibility of doing this in July or August. Looking at the various discussions and advice in the forums, I'm thinking the coastal route.. My questions are:
1) Is 14 days adequate? (I'm in reasonably good walking shape, not quite a hiker)
2) What is a good prep guide for this route? Or for walking the camino in general?
3) Should I book accommodation in advance for the whole route?
4) I would need to fly out of Porto on the way back so what's the best way to get back from Santiago to Porto - I would need to build that into my schedule
Thanks in advance for your advice and guidance

1. We walked the Coastal Route just last spring in a pretty easy 13 days and that included taking the Variante Espiritual just after Pontevedra which adds on one day, but a variation that I highly recommend.
2. If you haven’t checked it out yet, explore Gronze.com. It shows you distances, elevation changes, distances between towns, and possible most importantly gives you a list of accommodations along The Way. In terms of a gps -type app that I have found useful, check out Mapy.cz. Although this Camino is well signed, Mapy will allow you to download maps of each region and you will know exactly where you are. I’ve also found it helpful navigating through cities (i.e., Vigo) and easily finding my accommodations. Just a nice tool to have along with you.
3. I would definitely book beds/a room in Porto and Santiago. On our two times on the Portugués, even when we have had reservations, beds did not seem to be hard to come by. But, it might be different during peak summer season along the coast.
4. After our first CP, we took the bus back to Porto from SdC. It’s a very easy trip and the bus station is just a short walk from the historic section of Santiago.

 

[CoriS]

The best preparation is to get used to walking every day.

There are several buses each day between Santiago and Porto that take less than 4 hours. I'd plan to take the bus the day before my flight.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[CoriS]

1. We walked the Coastal Route just last spring in a pretty easy 13 days and that included taking the Variante Espiritual just after Pontevedra which adds on one day, but a variation that I highly recommend.
2. If you haven’t checked it out yet, explore Gronze.com. It shows you distances, elevation changes, distances between towns, and possible most importantly gives you a list of accommodations along The Way. In terms of a gps -type app that I have found useful, check out Mapy.cz. Although this Camino is well signed, Mapy will allow you to download maps of each region and you will know exactly where you are. I’ve also found it helpful navigating through cities (i.e., Vigo) and easily finding my accommodations. Just a nice tool to have along with you.
3. I would definitely book beds/a room in Porto and Santiago. On our two times on the Portugués, even when we have had reservations, beds did not seem to be hard to come by. But, it might be different during peak summer season along the coast.
4. After our first CP, we took the bus back to Porto from SdC. It’s a very easy trip and the bus station is just a short walk from the historic section of Santiago.

Thank you! Appreciate all the info. As I'll be doing this alone, is there anything else I need to be thinking of/ planning for? Thanks again.

 

[Camembert]

July and August is holiday time for the Portuguese and Spaniards.
mind that about 9 days of your coastal caminho you walk along the (holiday) coast with other hikers from holiday place to holiday place ( Póvoa de Varzim, Esposende , Viana do Castela, Vila Praia de Âncora, Caminha,A Guarda, Baiona among others.)
As soon as you leave the coastal you arrive on the central route and there you will meet the crowds who also have their holidays and they go in the same direction as you to the goal, Santiago de Compostela.

The north west coasts of Portugal and Spain are not that popular for tourists from countries like Germany, Holland, UK Scandinavia etc.
They prefer the Mediterranean coasts and the French coasts and inland .
So most people who stay at these western Iberian coasts are locals . You compete with these locals and the flog of pilgrims who move with you into the same direction

So I advise you to make as much as bookings as possible on beforehand.

 

[Rickcrna]

Here’s an alternative opinion as we just completed the coastal route to Santiago from Porto a couple of weeks ago. Doing this Camino is probably doable in 14 days, BUT, don’t count on any rest days, unexpected issues with feet/legs, or much time to explore the cities/ villages. To help you out, you might consider taking the Porto metro on up to Povoa de Varzim and starting your walk there. Something to consider.

 

[lovelyshell]

Download Wise Pilgrim app. It was immensely helpful for me on the Central and I’m sure it would be good for the Coastal too. I used the Village to Village guide, it’s not comprehensive but good for stages planning.

 

[Garry Collins]

I am planning my first ever camino - from Porto and looking at the possibility of doing this in July or August. Looking at the various discussions and advice in the forums, I'm thinking the coastal route.. My questions are:
1) Is 14 days adequate? (I'm in reasonably good walking shape, not quite a hiker)
2) What is a good prep guide for this route? Or for walking the camino in general?
3) Should I book accommodation in advance for the whole route?
4) I would need to fly out of Porto on the way back so what's the best way to get back from Santiago to Porto - I would need to build that into my schedule
Thanks in advance for your advice and guidance

Walked the Coastal Porto to Sde C during heatwave last July at age 77 and loved it .
14 days is easy . Recommend doing Spiritual Variant out of Pontevedra via Combaro to Monasterial then the Stone Water walk from there to Villa Arousa .
Day 1 " Reberia One " accommodation was very good
. Definitely factor in Oia and Baione for stays
Thinking of doing it again for my 80th.

 

[Rickcrna]

Sure…14 days is easy IF you’re not carrying a 20lb. backpack!

 

[CoriS]

Walked the Coastal Porto to Sde C during heatwave last July at age 77 and loved it .
14 days is easy . Recommend doing Spiritual Variant out of Pontevedra via Combaro to Monasterial then the Stone Water walk from there to Villa Arousa .
Day 1 " Reberia One " accommodation was very good
. Definitely factor in Oia and Baione for stays
Thinking of doing it again for my 80th.

Hello Garry, if you don't mind me asking, how do I go about booking accommodation on the route? I'm totally new at this so I'm sorry if that's a silly question ..or if you could point me towards some accommodation booking sites.. thanks in advance.

 

[trecile]

Hello Garry, if you don't mind me asking, how do I go about booking accommodation on the route? I'm totally new at this so I'm sorry if that's a silly question ..or if you could point me towards some accommodation booking sites.. thanks in advance.

A good place to start is Gronze. They list the accommodation on/near the Camino routes, with contact info and links to booking.com for those that use it. The site is only in Spanish but if you use the Chrome browser it will automatically translate to English or the language of your choice.

Camino Portugués de la Costa | Gronze.com

El Camino Portugués de la Costa sigue el litoral atlántico desde Porto, pasando por Viana do Castelo, A Guarda y Vigo, hasta unirse al Camino Portugués Central en Redondela. Utilizado desde el siglo XVI por los peregrinos, este camino está creciendo de forma imparable. Motivos no le faltan...

www.gronze.com

 

[Roland49]

Will do it mid of July. Planned 11 stages and a daytrip to Finisterre. And a small "getaway" on the coast somewhere around Porto waiting for my flight. Have 3 weeks off.

Bom Caminho!

 

[CoriS]

Will do it mid of July. Planned 11 stages and a daytrip to Finisterre. And a small "getaway" on the coast somewhere around Porto waiting for my flight. Have 3 weeks off.

Bom Caminho!

Bom Caminho Roland!