Walking Camino Portuguese in Winter (January/ February 2022) - Looking for advice

[Conan_33]

Hi all, I am looking for some advice on walking the Camino Portuguese. My brother and I aim to walk the central route from Lisbon in February.

We are concerned over the current situation regarding Covid-19 and also whether or not there will be accomodation (albergues/private hostels) available at the end of each days walk.

Has anyone got some information regarding the current situation on the Portuguese way and 2022? Winter is the only time we can walk this route, but is this going to be a problem? We would consider opting for the Camino Frances if necessary. Any general advice for walking in January/February?

Thanks

 

[Former member 91017]

Will tell you what everyone observes: the current situation is not an indicator of what will happen several months down the road.
You are going to need to pay attention to your local travel advisories from your government, and to the Portuguese regulations as well.
Right now, I’m personally pretty hopeful, but at the best of times (not winter) Lisbon to Coimbra is known to have fewer resources.
Stay tuned and see if you can join a Camino Portugues specific group on a platform like Facebook.

 

[roving_rufus]

Having walked from Porto in Janaury pre-Covid I had no issues with finding somewhere to stay and would suspect the same to be fairly much the case even with covid, (unless regulations dramatically change). There will likely be need to stay in pension etc at some points so some extra in the budget is useful. However, leaving from Lisbon is more tricky and there are sections with more limited accomodation even in "season" and it will probably require some planning and phoning ahead to check or booking accomodation. But it is also Portugal so it is always possible to use public transport or take a taxi if there is a long section without accomodation.

As for winter conditions on the CAmino Portugues its worth doing a search on the forum as the topic has come up a few times. But it can be cold, it can be wet, it can be pleasant, it can be windy. Some accomodation will be warm and cosy, other places cold. So come prepared!

 

[mspath]

Conan_33,
Welcome to the forum.

For general advice re walking in winter on any camino do scan this earlier thread

Whenever you do walk, wherever you go
Buen camino to you and your brother!

 

[trecile]

Check out the Covid and the Camino subforum.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/%F0%9F%A6%A0-covid-the-camino.220/

Also look for the yellow "Live from the Camino" tag on posts, especially in the Camino Portuguese subforums for current conditions.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/categories/%F0%9F%87%B5%F0%9F%87%B9-routes-in-portugal.302/

 

[Conan_33]

Conan_33,
Welcome to the forum.

For general advice re walking in winter on any camino do scan this earlier thread

Whenever you do walk, wherever you go
Buen camino to you and your brother!

Thanks very much!

 

[Conan_33]

Check out the Covid and the Camino subforum.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/forums/%F0%9F%A6%A0-covid-the-camino.220/

Also look for the yellow "Live from the Camino" tag on posts, especially in the Camino Portuguese subforums for current conditions.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/categories/%F0%9F%87%B5%F0%9F%87%B9-routes-in-portugal.302/

Many thanks

 

[Conan_33]

Having walked from Porto in Janaury pre-Covid I had no issues with finding somewhere to stay and would suspect the same to be fairly much the case even with covid, (unless regulations dramatically change). There will likely be need to stay in pension etc at some points so some extra in the budget is useful. However, leaving from Lisbon is more tricky and there are sections with more limited accomodation even in "season" and it will probably require some planning and phoning ahead to check or booking accomodation. But it is also Portugal so it is always possible to use public transport or take a taxi if there is a long section without accomodation.

As for winter conditions on the CAmino Portugues its worth doing a search on the forum as the topic has come up a few times. But it can be cold, it can be wet, it can be pleasant, it can be windy. Some accomodation will be warm and cosy, other places cold. So come prepared!

Thanks for your reply

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

January/February can be a very cold, wet time in central Portugal, from Lisboa north to Porto. And you may find you have to stay in small hotels more than you would, later in the season. You are unlikely to see many pilgrims.

We have just returned from staying in Vila Nova da Barquinha, 5 days north of Lisboa on the caminho. We look down the hill at the main walking route, and see the pilgrims walking through from Golega, typically about 10 am. September has been nice weather, and we have only seen 2 or 3 a day walking through right now, at most.

Many small lodgings close during the winter anyway; with this little demand, I suspect more of them than previously will choose to close. But the very small, not-likely-to-be-on-booking.com and similar, hotels that the Portuguese itinerant workers use are likely still to be open, and have rooms.

Bom caminho!

 

[Conan_33]

January/February can be a very cold, wet time in central Portugal, from Lisboa north to Porto. And you may find you have to stay in small hotels more than you would, later in the season. You are unlikely to see many pilgrims.

We have just returned from staying in Vila Nova da Barquinha, 5 days north of Lisboa on the caminho. We look down the hill at the main walking route, and see the pilgrims walking through from Golega, typically about 10 am. September has been nice weather, and we have only seen 2 or 3 a day walking through right now, at most.

Many small lodgings close during the winter anyway; with this little demand, I suspect more of them than previously will choose to close. But the very small, not-likely-to-be-on-booking.com and similar, hotels that the Portuguese itinerant workers use are likely still to be open, and have rooms.

Bom caminho!

Hi thanks for your reply.

 

[Larry1001]

Hi all, I am looking for some advice on walking the Camino Portuguese. My brother and I aim to walk the central route from Lisbon in February.

We are concerned over the current situation regarding Covid-19 and also whether or not there will be accomodation (albergues/private hostels) available at the end of each days walk.

Has anyone got some information regarding the current situation on the Portuguese way and 2022? Winter is the only time we can walk this route, but is this going to be a problem? We would consider opting for the Camino Frances if necessary. Any general advice for walking in January/February?

Thanks

Hey Conan! Can you share some of your experiences?