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Walking the Portuguese Camino in Dec?

Jamie Y. Mo

A lifelong learner and wanderer
Time of past OR future Camino
CF (May-July/2017) PC (May-July/2018) and more...
Hello fellow pilgrims,
I am thinking of walking the Portuguese Camino in Dec. (or possibly Nov)
I have a few questions that follow this idea.

1. I have noticed that many people start from Porto, not Lisbon. Is it because the way from Lisbon is not as well marked as the way from Porto?

2. I'm aware that I am thinking of walking in winter. How cold does it get in the regions where Portuguese Camino lays? I have heard that it gets rainy a lot. How often? and how hard would it be to walk around Dec or Nov?

3. I have a concern regarding finding albergues as well. Since it is cold season, and I might have to walk before Christmas, if I walk in Dec, how hard would it be to find albergues? How much is hostel in Portugal (alternative refuge if there is no albergue)?

Or, I might rearrange my trip a little if things sound not so good..
I just wanted to hear other people's opinion about my plan.
I am planning to travel in Africa after walking the Portuguese Camino. That is for sure. But I was thinking that maybe I want to walk the Camino first before going to Africa.

Thank you.
 
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Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

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Hi Jamie K

1. The route from Lisbon is well-marked. Lisbon to Santiago takes about 4 weeks. Porto to Santiago takes about 10 days.

2. Yes, Portugal in winter is cold. It rains a lot in Nov and Dec. But it would not be hard to walk at that time of the year. However, I would not recommend the Coastal Route from Porto, as the wind can be extremely strong, bringing rain straight at you off the sea.

3. Many albergues are open all year round. Otherwise a pension costs about 40 euros for a room.

If you walk in Portugal in winter be prepared for cold, wind and rain.

Jill
 
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The route is well marked from Lisbon, you start at the old cathedral and end up walking along a pleasant cycle way for the first day. It's not as hilly as you would think but it is wet and some sections are very muddy, others are on roads with little verge, we did it in Nov/Dec and it rained pretty much every day, the albergues and hotels we stayed in had no heating and so it was difficult getting things dry. Also the section between Lisbon and Porto has few albergues, but the local volunteer fire stations will take you in, they have hot showers, mattresses, blankets and you sleep in their hall. The set up is more for mass groups going to Fatima but they will take in solo walkers, and can get offended if you offer to pay, but there is usually a fund raising tin at the front desk you can drop a donation into. Don't let the weather put you off, it's a lovely walk, not as crowded as the French route, well that is till you get up to Tui, once you cross over into Spain it is much more like the Camino Frances.
 
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Oh, I would advise sewing some reflective tape to the back of your pack and getting some LED bike lamps, strap a white one to your front and a red one to the back so it makes you visible when walking on the edge of the roads, at that time of year you often end up leaving or coming into town when it is dark and wrapped up in your wet weather gear marching along the side of the road it can be hard for drivers to see you.
 

Ummm, have to disagree with you there . That was the situation a few years ago.

There are now albergues between Lisbon and Porto.

And not so many opportunities to stay in the bombeiros (volunteer fire stations) these days.
Jill
 
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hel&scott said:
at that time of year you often end up leaving or coming into town when it is dark
Click to expand...

Sorry, but I have to disagree with that too . Why walk in the dark? There is plenty of daylight during the day to walk the Portuguese Camino in winter.
Jill
 
Thank you all. My two concerns are gone now. The albergues between Lisbon and Porto and the difficulty of the walk in winter. I think I am going to start from Lisbon then, not from Porto.
I just came back from my first Camino (CF) in July and now I am planning to go again. I didn't expect this. Camino has a magical power that attracts so many people to come back. I can't explain clearly why.
I just hope the rain doesn't get too heavy in Nov/Dec...
 
Good to hear about the new albergues, but it gets dark early that time of year so visibility is often a problem.... Not much you can do about the weather or the setting and rising of the sun Jill.
 
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Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Hi Jamie, Im not sure if you will see this! I am wondering about walking the Camino from Lisbon to SdeC in December. How was your experience? re weather. I researching about allbuerges and if places have been affected by Covid too...

Thank you!
 
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