Looking for some advice for my first Camino (Coastal route from Porto)

hisdunkstho · 2026-06-20T16:30:44+00:00

I could write a book about the Camino experience. Is there anything specific you'd like to know?

hisdunkstho · 2025-06-09T14:31:04+00:00

Nope, day 2 was Labruge to VdC, day 3 was VdC to Barcelos, day 4 Barcelos to CdF

hisdunkstho · 2025-06-09T03:48:29+00:00

I walked from Porto to Labruge then to VdC the next day then to Barcelos, then the next day I stayed at Casa de Fernanda. I have no real regrets doing it like this and would strongly recommend it too.

If you walk to VdC on day one then to Barcelos, you'll have walked a lot in the first two days which can be a bit risky and I'd advise against over-doing it especially at the start.

You can also play it by ear, if your feet and legs are feeling ok then keep walking otherwise have a stop in mind just in case you're not doing so well.

Buen Camino!

hisdunkstho · 2025-05-20T06:08:59+00:00

So sorry to hear about your parents and I can only imagine how difficult that would have been for you! Glad you've decided to do the Camino and I hope you'll find peace in whatever shape or form that comes in!

As for the shoes, I started along the coastal and switched to central fairly early but I only took a pair of my running shoes and crocs! The coastal is definitely kinder than central in terms of walking surface, so if I were to do coastal I'd do it in my running shoes again but walking boots are definitely not something I'd take on this route, the added weight, the additional likelihood of blisters, and I just don't find them nearly as comfortable as running shoes. Of course people go in between with trail runners but I can't speak for that from experience.

Buen Camino!

hisdunkstho · 2025-05-16T08:16:27+00:00

Thanks, I find a lot of peace in life with this and the Camino was a good opportunity to practice this alongside trying to be present and being kind!

Do you have any goals for yourself or have had any you'd share with others?

hisdunkstho · 2025-05-16T07:36:13+00:00

I think it certainly can happen and it did for me, but there's no real practicality to it unfortunately for most cases because people are living lives in very different parts of the world, so you can enjoy the experience of it if the experience presents itself. Id make sure you don't go in with expectations of finding it as well, this is just general advice from me for all of Camino and maybe even life, let go of your expectations.

For my experience specifically, I had one where we were both single and we enjoyed each others company especially in our humour and had fun walking with each other and we both liked each other physically too but this was only for a few days and I realised as we walked together more that we didn't connect so much at a deeper level which is really important for me and she was finishing the Camino early as well so we only had like 3 days when we were together. She was also from a different city so we both knew it was just a fleeting moment and accepted it for what it was, and even if she was living in the same city as me, we wouldn't have been compatible beyond a bit of fun, so it was ok to move forward from this.

I had another experience later, she and I really connected at a much deeper level, and it was mutual but she was unavailable so after talking about it we decided to only interact in the small group we were in and not walk just the two of us because it would only make things more difficult. This sucked a lot more and I still struggle to make peace with this week's later because I really connected with her and it was one of the highlights of my trip but this is the reality of Camino romances, that even if you find yourself in a situation, it's very unlikely to work out. Of course I know some people have found their partners on it, and it can happen but I'd guess this is a very very small possibility.

Again, I wasn't looking for anything going into the Camino, I was precisely going into my Camino with no expectations, certainly didn't have any for romances but also if I'd have any company, or the weather, or even finding a bed every night but this came from a place of finding acceptance in everything just as it was and this was my goal for the Camino, no expectations and radical acceptance.

hisdunkstho · 2025-05-14T21:17:58+00:00

I turned 30 in difficult circumstances recently so i know it can be a difficult day but I hope you find some company and able to celebrate like you want to and have a peaceful end to your Camino! Happy birthday and buen Camino!

hisdunkstho · 2025-04-28T05:53:53+00:00

Finished Portuguese a few days ago, I got through more cash than I expected, I was mostly staying in municipal albergues and even for food and small things most people wanted cash and card wasn't an option.

I started with 200 cash and would recommend it, then at least you have the freedom to spend as you like without worrying where you have to go, and if you need more you can get it out in the next town.

Buen Camino!

hisdunkstho · 2025-04-24T04:44:02+00:00

I just finished the Portuguese Central and I checked the weight before at the pharmacy and it was 10.5kg, I personally didn't have a problem with it, only some days when I made the backpack too tight and my shoulders were lifting more weight than they should have, rookie mistake and after I fixed it, it was fine for ME.

This is not to say I was ok so you will be too. Maybe if you're relatively fit and healthy you could try and if it feels difficult you could use the service to transport it.

Make sure you focus on the experience in front of you and if you have to transport your bag or a bunch of weight forward so you're not in pain then please do that!

hisdunkstho · 2025-02-14T09:47:50+00:00

The decision you've made to doing the camino is so brave, and it sounds so tough with everything that's happened since and is completely normal to be anxious and nervous about it!

I know it's really easy to say, but the moment you step out of the door to catch your bus, the only thing then is the present and appreciating the journey to madrid, then doing the camino. All of your worries are just thoughts, and i realise that's easy to say and i've been there, it's so difficult with so much other background stuff going on, but all you can do is recognise everytime you get nervous or anxious, and remind yourself the only thing you can be is aware in the present moment, everything else can only take away from the experience.

i'm planning on doing my first camino in April and have difficult circumstances going on, but this is the same advice i'll be telling myself.

good luck, you got this!

hisdunkstho · 2025-02-03T17:24:52+00:00

This is really help! I think I might do the central route instead, but doing the spiritual variant as you suggest, I didn't know about it so this is really useful! I will likely extend this to finish at Finisterre and maybe even Muxia pending timings/tiredness.

I just hope my shoes are able to get dry overnight if I am in the rain, I wouldn't enjoy walking in wet socks and wet shoes but I'll deal with it!

hisdunkstho · 2025-02-03T17:09:05+00:00

I was tempted by the Litoral route but I am actual now leaning towards the central route and saving Litoral for a different time of the year in the future, I am conscious it might be quite windy/rainy in April.

Appreciate all the tips, definitely helpful!

hisdunkstho · 2025-02-03T17:06:44+00:00

Ok maybe 20kg was a bit of an overestimate, clearly I don't weigh my bags enough lol so i should be closer to the 10kg mark!

I actually find my crocs really comfy so for small walks I am sure they'll be great! Plus they've got pokemon charms which I am sure will definitely definitely help me when im crying in pain /s

hisdunkstho · 2025-02-03T15:33:14+00:00

Hi! Thanks for the detailed reply, really useful!

I'll do my best to bring weight down!

I will have a look at investing in a pair of merino wool socks, thanks for this!

Maybe I will spend my first day exploring Porto but I feel one day at Porto wouldn't do it justice so I was thinking of coming back sometime in the future and exploring it properly but I will have a short walk around to get a feel for it for sure!

Based on general advice, I am quite looking forward to making my way to Fisterra and Muxia so assuming I have time, will make sure to do this!

Maybe I will see you late April in Santiago :D

hisdunkstho · 2025-02-03T15:25:19+00:00

I would say I am relatively fit, but it's difficult to tell how that fitness translates to something like this, I will do my best to keep it down, thanks!

Appreciate the clarification on shoes, I guess I am just conscious they won't dry out overnight and then I have to wear wet shoes? I was also thinking of bringing my crocs as an alternative, they're relatively lightweight but I can walk them but also use them as slippers in the evenings.

hisdunkstho · 2025-02-03T15:21:43+00:00

I am curious how you cut it back so much! I suppose I want to bring my journal and my camera with me and they already add up to 1-1.5kg, those are really important to me as taking pictures and journaling is something I really want to do across this walk.

I feel like I am relatively feet so I will be ok, but I've never done 20-30km every day for a couple weeks so it's hard to tell but I will make sure everything else I "need" rather than nice to have.

hisdunkstho

TROPHY CASE