Camino Portuguese coastal to Vila do Conde

 7 May 2024

We decided to retrace our steps on the Camino Portuguese, well at least the first five days,  as we didn't really get to see/enjoy the way due to driving/torrential rain every day on that adventure. Next five days weather forecast was looking good so we were off.

Really enjoyed re-walking the first day out of Porto along the coast to Vila do Conde. 

Lovely to see the golden sand beaches and coves, it's a spectacular coastline. 

This stretch of coast is renowned for its fishing fleet and wonderful shellfish and octopus. We saw many a fisherman hopping about on the rocks looking to catch octopus on the long sharp spear they carried.

The little fishing villages along the way were busy bringing in  the night fishing catch and cleaning their nets. 

Many homes along the coast have decorations  that reference the sea, St James and the Camino pathway. 

In 2016  when we walked this path we saw maximum 10 pilgrims, we saw that many in the first hour this go round. The Portuguese Camino has truely been discovered with really high numbers along the trail each day. Still more walkers, only two bicigrinos. 

So many lovely little chapels perched on the coastal path, still open to the public which is nice. 

What a day we had for walking the coast, brilliant sunshine, blue skies and a gentle sea breeze. As we turned inland to Vila do Conde it got hot, hot, hot and we were glad to get an early check in to our hotel.

Talk about a room with a view - we had an upstairs corner room which looked directly up the  Ave river to the weir and the monastery  of Santa Clara and the Aqueduct of Vila do Conde. Fun fact the aqueduct had 999 arches, is the second longest (4ks) in Portugal and delivered spring water to the monastery.

Our room was in the yellow building in the right hand side corner of the above pic. We could look up and down river, primo!

After a long days walking in the hot sun a pilgrims work is not yet over - socks need to be washed and dried for the next day before showers and siesta.....and more walking exploring the village. 

Thank goodness for sock dryers in hotels, they help finish the job off and ensure tender tootsie's.