Help/Advice needed!!

[LukeLeeds]

Hi All,

made a last minute decision to do a portugese camino! We leave for Porto in about two weeks and Dont really have much of a plan. We flying to Porto, planning on spending a day and a night there and then heading to Tui to start from there.

So a couple of things if anyone could answer advise that would be great -

1. How best to get to tui from Porto?
2. Other than Porto, do we need to bother booking any stays in advance?
3. Where do we collect our ''passport'' from?
4. I'm hoping the book by John Brierley is gonna sort us out - am i right???!!!

any other help or advice would be great.

Cheers

[sean]

Hi Luke,

I have just returned last night from walking the route.
With regard to getting to Tui, the way we took was along the coast from Porto to Vila do Conda. It is a fantastic walk along boardwalk. Be careful next stage in getting to Rates as most of it is along very busy and dangerous roads. Some took taxi rides to escape this. From there on it is plain sailing.
You can but your passport in the church in Porto for 50 cent.
With regard to booking accomodation, it is not necessary as most places were half full. Make a point of trying to overnight in Casa Fernande. It is mentioned in the Brierly book.

Enjoy your trip and if time allows, go to Finisterre. Weather is great at the moment.

Regards,

Sean,
Dublin.

[Steve Bamber]

Hi Luke

Trains are quick and cheap from Porto to Tui. I've walked from Porto twice because it's such a great camino, and cheap too. Pleanty of accomodation.

Bon Camino

steve

[Krz]

Hello,

I would like to walk this way (or maybe the france route) but because I don't have enough time (I'm going to be volunteer in Madrid next year for wyd) I would be able only to walk a small part of the route.
so I have two option, from Valença, Portugal or from Sarra (on France route).

My question is how can I join camino in Valenca, where to look for accomodation (for pilgrims) and how looks the rest part of the route?

And, how many km I can do in one day I hope I can do at least 25km per day as this is what I'm used to (but in Easter Europe, not in really hot weather

I would assume to walk early in the morning, then break, then continue after midday.

[sean]

Hi Krz,

It should be easy to get to Valenca either from Porto, or Santiago. The walk itself is not difficult and goes through some nice towns and country side. One town has a hot spa and great to saok the feet in after a long day. I walked it in September and it was beautiful with harvest going on.
Walking 25Km a day will be easy, as there are no severe climbs. Bring good wet gear and enjoy.

Regards,

Sean
Dublin

[Krz]

Thanks Sean!

do you now where to look for accomodation in Valenca?

Krz

[sean]

Hi Krz,

There are many places to stay in Valenca ranging from mainly privately run refugios to middle range hotels. There is also a Parador hotel on the way in, if you wish to slum it.

Regards,

Sean
Dublin.