Variente Espiritual OR Camino Finisterre?

[dreaminggypsy]

I think we will have time to walk both--but, in case of unforeseen events--which "extra" camino would you recommend..over the other? Variente Espiritual or Camino Finisterre..and, I would like to take our time on either one....not rush. Which way should be "the way"? Thank you, kindly.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I think we will have time to walk both--but, in case of unforeseen events--which "extra" camino would you recommend..over the other? Variente Espiritual or Camino Finisterre..and, I would like to take our time on either one....not rush. Which way should be "the way"? Thank you, kindly.

If you are already going to be walking the Portuguese Camino, my opinion is to include the Spiritual Variant as you can easily veer off the main trail to include it. I fully enjoyed adding it to my Camino in 2019 and found it very interesting with the monestery and the very charming stone village of Combarro.
If you return to walk another route in the future, the "main" Caminos all end in Santiago, so you could tack on the walk to Finesterre another time, or if you lack extra time, taking a bus is a good option.

 

[trecile]

I haven't walked the Variante Espiritual, but a couple of women that I met in Redondela did, and they arrived in Santiago the same day that I did, so I don't think that it adds much time, whereas you will need at least three days to walk from Santiago to Finisterre.

 

[FourSeasons]

I’ve planned my Camino Portuguese taking the Senda Litoral to include the Spiritual Variant (2 days) with a total 12 days from Porto to Santiago. Hope this helps. As @trecile mentioned Santiago to Fisterra is three days walking. Buen Camino

 

[jungleboy]

I liked the VE more. Admittedly I didn’t go to Muxía, but for the Camino Finisterre I liked the final day into Finisterre a lot but didn’t think that much of the rest of it. The VE has a couple of interesting monasteries, the hórreos of Combarro, the fabulous Stone and Water Route and the boat trip so there’s a lot of variety in just three days.

 

[Grousedoctor]

I’m going to join in with the others and recommend the VE. We head to Porto in just over six weeks to walk the Coastal route including the VE this time. Having taken the Central Route a couple years ago, we thoroughly enjoyed our first Camino Portugués and are looking forward to including the VE in our trek this time. We have 13 days planned to go from Porto to Santiago. We then plan to walk on to Muxia after a couple rest days in Santiago. Either way, I’m sure you’ll have a great experience.

 

[David Tallan]

I would say probably the VE, too.

I may be weird, but the Camino Finisterre/Muxia always made more sense to me after the Camino Frances than after the Camino Portugues, especially if the CP included some of the Coasta or Senda Litoral routes. Walking westward along the Frances, the Finisterre/Muxia is a natural extension of the Camino, extending it on to the ocean. On the Portugues, you are walking north, and even somewhat eastward at the end. If you've been walking the Coastal or Senda Litoral (or even the Central at Pontevedra, more or less), you've been walking along the ocean already and left it. To head back and return seems more of a shift in momentum to me.

And then there is the idea that, on the CP, this is your chance to walk the VE. You can walk the Finisterre/Muxia after any Camino.

 

[woody66]

Hi!
Not walked Finisterre but have walked the VE; as Nick says it's a great way with a lot of interest!
I think you will love it!
Woody

 

[JZA]

I think we will have time to walk both--but, in case of unforeseen events--which "extra" camino would you recommend..over the other? Variente Espiritual or Camino Finisterre..and, I would like to take our time on either one....not rush. Which way should be "the way"? Thank you, kindly.

VE gets my vote.

 

[trecile]

To those who have done the VE - does it really add time to the Camino Portugues?

 

[Camino Chrissy]

To those who have done the VE - does it really add time to the Camino Portugues?

Well, @FourSeasons has commented in post #4, so she apparently is allowing two additional days. Naturally it is all subjective depending on a person's walking speed and how often they choose to stop for the night. I have not walked the regular route to compare for myself, but I'm sure other members will have some input and some will have done it both ways.

 

[jungleboy]

To those who have done the VE - does it really add time to the Camino Portugues?

It depends on the boat time, which varies according to season/weather. It’s typically two days from Pontevedra to Vilanova de Arousa. If you get an early boat the next morning, you could walk all the way to Santiago (about 26-27km from the end of the boat), and then it wouldn’t add any more time. Our boat was at 12pm so we just had a very short day and stayed in Padrón, so it added one extra day.

 

[gollygolly]

I think we will have time to walk both--but, in case of unforeseen events--which "extra" camino would you recommend..over the other? Variente Espiritual or Camino Finisterre..and, I would like to take our time on either one....not rush. Which way should be "the way"? Thank you, kindly.

My personal suggestion would be to walk the Variant Espiritual, as in my opinion this includes an area of outstanding nature, La Ruta del Auga y la Piedra.

For the Variant Espiritual, you might be interested in my various posts in connection with this route that can be read here :
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...-coastal-portuguese-routes.70544/#post-944595

 

[JZA]

To those who have done the VE - does it really add time to the Camino Portugues?

Not really. But it does depend on how you break up the route. For example, I really like Padron but if you do the VE and take the boat (really worth it!) and stay there you will have walked 4km and probably added a day. But you can walk on to Matoshinos (?spelling) and you will position yourself for an early arrival in SdC.
Hope that makes sense.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I personally don't see why anyone would prefer to rush through the beautiful and unique areas of the Spiritual Variant and the opportunities it offers in order to say it can be done in the same amount of time as walking the original route; unless unfortunately, their time is too limited.

 

[dreaminggypsy]

I personally don't see why anyone would prefer to rush through the beautiful and unique areas of the Spiritual Variant and the opportunities it offers in order to say it can be done in the same amount of time as walking the original route; unless unfortunately, their time is too limited.

Yes, I want to go slow and do it over three nights.

 

[woody66]

I stayed 2 nights in Combarro, 1 night Armentiera Monastery,2 nights in Villa Nova de Arousa and 1 in Padron ( then 4 nights in Santiago; i'd been waiting over 2 years to get there) i wanted to make the most of it; no rush to go home!!!!
Woody

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I stayed 2 nights in Combarro, 1 night Armentiera Monastery,2 nights in Villa Nova de Arousa and 1 in Padron ( then 4 nights in Santiago; i'd been waiting over 2 years to get there) i wanted to make the most of it; no rush to go home!!!!
Woody

A very similar to my itinerary, although only one night for me in Combarro...two would have been twice as good! I loved that unique village, and all the seafood options with ocean views...ahhh, the memories!

 

[jsalt]

But you can walk on to Matoshinos (?spelling) and you will position yourself for an early arrival in SdC.

?? Matosinhos is the first short stage after Porto, a long way from Santiago .

 

[Grousedoctor]

I think we will have time to walk both--but, in case of unforeseen events--which "extra" camino would you recommend..over the other? Variente Espiritual or Camino Finisterre..and, I would like to take our time on either one....not rush. Which way should be "the way"? Thank you, kindly.

If you do choose the VE, one thing we’ve done is to reserve a night at the Monestario Armenteira. Although it looks from their website that you have to book for two nights, if you dig a little deeper on their website, on the page for pilgrims, you’ll find that they accept one night reservations. They very quickly got back to us and we’re all set for a night there. Very much looking forward to staying there.

Peregrinos | Monasterio de Armenteira

Fui peregrino y me acogisteis (Mt 25,35) El Señor guarda a los peregrinos (Sal 145,9) Nuestra hospedería está concebida para pasar varios días de oración y retiro, pero al estar en la variante espiritual del Camino de Santiago Portugués, existe la posibilidad de que si

www.monasteriodearmenteira.es

 

[Camino Chrissy]

?? Matosinhos is the first short stage after Porto, a long way from Santiago .

I noticed that too...possibly a backward walk.

 

[trecile]

?? Matosinhos is the first short stage after Porto, a long way from Santiago .

Perhaps @JZA meant O Milladoiro.

 

[jsalt]

Perhaps @JZA meant O Milladoiro.

That's what I thought, but Milladoiro is a long way from Padron.

 

[trecile]

That's what I thought, but Milladoiro is a long way from Padron.

Yes, it is 17km. It would make sense to walk there if starting from Padrón in the morning. Perhaps @JZA will come back and better explain their comment.

 

[rogersoncharles1951]

I think we will have time to walk both--but, in case of unforeseen events--which "extra" camino would you recommend..over the other? Variente Espiritual or Camino Finisterre..and, I would like to take our time on either one....not rush. Which way should be "the way"? Thank you, kindly.

The variante espiritual is fantastic way to go don't miss it fantastic as is the stages to Finisterre.But if I had to choose I'd pick variante

 

[pasiño a pasiño]

It depends on the boat time, which varies according to season/weather. It’s typically two days from Pontevedra to Vilanova de Arousa. If you get an early boat the next morning, you could walk all the way to Santiago (about 26-27km from the end of the boat), and then it wouldn’t add any more time. Our boat was at 12pm so we just had a very short day and stayed in Padrón, so it added one extra day

how is it to walk from Vilanova de Arousa to Padron instead of talking the boat? Is it one day no?

 

[Camino Chrissy]

how is it to walk from Vilanova de Arousa to Padron instead of talking the boat? Is it one day no?

The boat ride was so gorgeous on a sunny day that I can't imagine not taking it, but we all are different and have different reasons for the choices we make.

 

[Parisian]

VE: Has anyone walked to Padron instead of taking the boat? Is there a path? Markings? Thanks. Elin