Where to detour to the Spiritual Variant if walking the Central from Tomar to Santiago?

[Marla in CA]

Hello all of you helpful peregrinos and peregrinas. I am putting the final touches on my route plan before I leave March 20. I plan to walk the Central Route from Tomar to Coimbra. Then from Coimbra, I will take a train to Porto and will continue walking from there. I read great things about a boat and Pontevedra and the Spiritual Variant. I would like to detour to the Spiritual Variant and would like to know at what point do I detour to the Spiritual Variant and at what point do I get back on the Central to go to Santiago? As much as I want things to 'just happen" on my Camino, I am trying to figure out now if I have time to go to F&M, so I would like to plan out the route as much as possible, but I am stuck on where to veer off to the Spiritual route.
Thanks in advance!

 

[trecile]

This blog has some good information about the different routes, including the Variante Espiritual:

The Portuguese Camino de Santiago - a 2023 guide & stages

Portuguese Camino de Santiago - a detailed guide & walking stages from Porto to Santiago. Maps, distances, free downloadable PDFs

stingynomads.com

 

[dreymorris]

Hello all of you helpful peregrinos and peregrinas. I am putting the final touches on my route plan before I leave March 20. I plan to walk the Central Route from Tomar to Coimbra. Then from Coimbra, I will take a train to Porto and will continue walking from there. I read great things about a boat and Pontevedra and the Spiritual Variant. I would like to detour to the Spiritual Variant and would like to know at what point do I detour to the Spiritual Variant and at what point do I get back on the Central to go to Santiago? As much as I want things to 'just happen" on my Camino, I am trying to figure out now if I have time to go to F&M, so I would like to plan out the route as much as possible, but I am stuck on where to veer off to the Spiritual route.
Thanks in advance!

Approximately 3k after crossing the bridge in Pontevedra follow the signs to the Variante Espirtual. If you opt for the boat to Pontecesures at Villanova de Arousa, you will only be 2k from Padron on the Central Route. My route was Pontevedra...Armenteira...Villanova de Arousa...Albergue O Lagar de Jesus (about 5.5k past Padron). Next day, Santiago.

 

[Marla in CA]

This blog has some good information about the different routes, including the Variante Espiritual:

The Portuguese Camino de Santiago - a 2023 guide & stages

Portuguese Camino de Santiago - a detailed guide & walking stages from Porto to Santiago. Maps, distances, free downloadable PDFs

stingynomads.com

thank you!! This link is great so helpful and informative.

 

[Marla in CA]

Approximately 3k after crossing the bridge in Pontevedra follow the signs to the Variante Espirtual. If you opt for the boat to Pontecesures at Villanova de Arousa, you will only be 2k from Padron on the Central Route. My route was Pontevedra...Armenteira...Villanova de Arousa...Albergue O Lagar de Jesus (about 5.5k past Padron). Next day, Santiago.

THank you, this helps me tremendously.

 

[David Tallan]

For what it's worth, it doesn't matter if you are on the Central or the Coastal. The Spiritual Variant is accessed on the same place from both, as the turnoff for the variant occurs after the Central and Coastal join up in Redondela. As mentioned, the turn off is shortly after Pontevedra and it rejoins the regular Camino Portugues in Padron, so what you really miss from the regular route is Caldas de Reis and its hot springs. But word is, there is plenty to make up for that.

 

[Marla in CA]

Approximately 3k after crossing the bridge in Pontevedra follow the signs to the Variante Espirtual. If you opt for the boat to Pontecesures at Villanova de Arousa, you will only be 2k from Padron on the Central Route. My route was Pontevedra...Armenteira...Villanova de Arousa...Albergue O Lagar de Jesus (about 5.5k past Padron). Next day, Santiago.

THank you so much. THis helps a lot!