Camino Portugues 2022 - Day 1 | Porto to Labruge (Coastal Route) | Back on the camino 🐚

Back on the Camino! Join me on this 11-day adventure on the Camino Portuguese on the coastal and central routes (plus spiritual variant)!
🗓 Itinerary (April 2022):
Day 1 - Porto to Labruge (Coastal, 26KM/16MI)
Day 2 - Labruge to Rates (Coastal to Central)
Day 3 - Rates to Casa Fernanda (Central)
Day 4 - Casa Fernanda to Ponte de Lima (Central)
Day 5 - Ponte de Lima to Rubiãs (Central)
Day 6 - Rubiãs to Tui (Central)
Day 7 - Tui to Saxamonde (Central)
Day 8 - Saxamonde to Pontevedra (Central)
Day 9 - Pontevedra to Armenteira (Spiritual Variant)
Day 10 - Armenteira to Vilanova da Arousa (Spiritual Variant)
Day 11 - Vilanova da Arousa to Santiago (Central)
💶 Total Daily Costs (38€):
- Pilgrim passport (2€)
- Coffee x 2 (1.40€)
- Pastel de nata x 4 (4.60€)
- Lunch (7.50€)
- Albergue de S. Tiago (10€)
- Dinner (12.50€)
🎒 Gear:
- Osprey Talon 33L backpack
- Altra Lone Peak trail running shoes
- Columbia zip-off hiking pants
- Uniqlo lightweight trousers
- Down jacket
- Arcteryx rain jacket
- Buff
- Exofficio underwear (3)
- Uniqlo t-shirt (3)
- Long-sleeve shirt (2)
- Darn Tough socks (2)
- Sandals
- Sunglasses
- Sleeping bag liner
- Toiletries, hat. sunglasses, electronics, passport, etc
Bom caminho!
David
Check out my other videos:
👣 Camino de Santiago | 500 miles (800km) Across Spain: • Camino de Santiago - C...
❓Why Walk 500 Miles Across Spain: • Why walk 500 miles (80...
💰 How Much Does it Cost to Walk the Camino De Santiago: • How much does the Cami...
☕️ Help fund my next trip & video: www.buymeacoffee.com/davidwen
🎵Music found here: www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
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Who am I? 😀
I'm David, a Californian living in Amsterdam. I grew up in San Francisco, studied and worked in LA, took a sabbatical around the world, and then packed my bags for Europe. I make videos about lifestyle design, hiking, and living/working/studying in Europe.
#caminodesantiago #caminoportuguese #bomcaminho

[@CowboyJojosAdventures]

A great first day. A wonderful start to your Camino. Look forward to Day 2. Thank you for sharing.

[@reed0199]

Very Nice. Thank You David.

[@nyonyopraia]

Thank you David. Stay safe.

[@hidavidwen]

Thank you Nyonyo, you too! Take care

[@TheBadGuy1974]

Congrats on the 1m views just watched your old camino vlog again. This one looks just as epic!

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks! Yeah this one is different but just as epic!

[@acastro5197]

that 16 minute 35 day camino was a blast.. the Portugal well done .. the photography, videos, sound , & story all top notch .. i started doing the camino 2003.. have done variants + portugal 24x.. the camino has changed incredibly the past 20 years.. when I 1st walked the camino - frances.. there was only 1 albergue in every town.. Pamplona had space for 20 at one of the churches, burgos had a makeshift wooden albergue.. it now has a 5 star albergue & so forth. I cover towns.. ex. hontanas & will stay at castrojeriz just 12 kms away .. in Portugal, the trail IS the road at some locations.. always take a taxi to cover these dangerous spots.. don't walk on the road.. I saw the portion of the road from the coast to the interior.. take a taxi.. be safe.. Great videos .. Thanks

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks so much for the kind words and for watching! Oh wow, you started the camino in 2003...and only 1 albergue in every town?! I would love to have a camino dinner with people like you to hear about how the camino was 10, 20, 30, 40, 50+ years ago! Do you think the camino experience has changed?

[@acastro5197]

It is still a spiritual camino.. a place to leave excess spiritual baggage that is no longer of any use.. a renewal . 2003 Pilgrims mostly from Brazil after Coelho published his book. I came to find out this existed 1997 with the Coelho book. Most of Navarra had one albergue.. at times I had to stay in hotels.. Zubiri had a school.. for many years I did not want to walk the portion from Burgos - Leon - the meseta.. I finally walked that one.. that is the greatest portion of the camino because there are no greenery or trees to distract the eye, so it forces a pilgrim to look within self.. best to travel this portion covering moderate distances to enjoy this portion.Also when university is in session. Less pilgrims. Sept - Dec good season, also Mar - May. Many memorable places.. at Villa Franca del Bierzo you have the Albergue of Jato.. a legend.. I stay at this albergue all the times I go by there. It has poor ratings, but the albergues fight each other & post poor ratings for competition. The portion between Leon & Santiago is also my favorite. I usually skip the last 2 - 3 days before reaching Santiago because it is industrial. I prefer villages.. for example stay at Rabanal del Camino & stay at el Acebo before going to Ponferrada.. no extreme distances like the 40 - 50km some travel. I already have a list of favorite villages in the camino.. The most traveled pilgrim I met was in Logrono ~2013 . This pilgrim had done the camino more than 50 x starting 1982. Staying at peoples houses. There are many stories of the Camino. I've done O Porto ( interior ) - Santiago 2016. Will try that same portion doing part coast & later part interior & covering 25 - 30 kms daily to enjoy the different towns. Also pending is the portion of Santiago to Muxia.. skip Finistere .. I still have many more camino trips pending .. self employed , CPA, 65 yrs old .. started 2003. It makes a difference. Good for health & spirituality. I have at least 11,000 kms accumulated, 5 backpacks , etc.. Best to start at an earlier age & continue. Many pilgrims start too late ( close to retirement ) & already blown out from work & not in the best of health .. work takes a toll.. take time off for spirituality.. don't walk in the highways.. take a taxi if necessary.

[@tiggymarm]

Hi David. Thanks again for sharing your videos. I love Porto and would recommend spending at least two nights in the city: one for Porto on the norther bank of the Douro and the other to visit the port lodges on the southern bank. See you soon. Des

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks a lot Des! Oh yeah next time, I´d love to spend at least a few nights. I´ll put down your recommendations for next time! See you soon, David

[@lovedipasupil3285]

thank you sir david... this video helps a lot in preparation for my first camino☺️🙏

[@hidavidwen]

Hi Love - you're welcome! If you have any questions, just post them here. I will see if I can help. Buen camino! - David

[@clalmeida67]

👋🏻 Hi, David! I'm from Porto, you have a new 🇵🇹 subscriber! Nice to recognize some of the places you filmed, I'll be watching your videos! All the best! 😉

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks Cláudia! I love Portugal! I hope to get back on the Camino again...maybe this year =) Let's see..

[@florrosas1689]

Gracias por compartir, buen camino David 🤗, saludos desde Caracas Venezuela 🇻🇪

[@hidavidwen]

De nada y muchas gracias flor por tu apoyo! =))

[@Gettinglostonthetrail]

Wow David! Another Camino. Working on your second 1M views video?! Your videos are beautiful to watch. We are looking forward to our 500 miles Camino this June. Buen Camino!!! 👍🥾

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks! Yeah another Camino (and won't be the last one)! It's been beautiful so far. Oh wow...that is coming up, buen camino!

[@Gettinglostonthetrail]

It was your 1M views video that help inspire me to take on the Camino. Thank you. I’ll be following you on this Camino and many more to come. Stay safe!!!

[@hidavidwen]

@@Gettinglostonthetrail Oh thanks! I will also be following your journey (I see you've been training!) Buen camino and have a great journey!

[@marciobonfiglioli]

I was recently in Porto, what a great city. I always feel so good being there. And I have done the Camino to Santiago from there (in fact from Barcelos), the so-called Central Portuguese Camino last year (in fact started in March 2020, had to stop by Valença as Spain had already closed frontiers due to the pandemic). And in September of last year (2021) I could restart the Camino from there and then up to Santiago, and then Muxia and Finisterre. I will never forget this experience. My next Camino will be the Primitive one! Enjoy and all the very best. Ah, the pastéis de nata, how wonderful they are! I ate then in Porto precisely at Manteigaria!

[@hidavidwen]

Hey Marcio! Hope all's well. Oh I love Porto...it was hard for me to leave (I was just going to bakery after bakery searching for the best pastel de nata haha). Oh nice...yeah I think the Camino really started for me on Day 3 where I go through Barcelos (I mean when the experience started feeling more camino-like). I'm already thinking of my next camino...Primitive one sounds nice too. Bom caminho =)

[@marciobonfiglioli]

@@hidavidwen great! Eventually we may meet in the Primitive! Just watched your third video where you cross Barcelos and end up at Casa Fernanda. Barcelos is a lovely city and the way up very nice as well.

[@aleografics311]

Portuguese towns look very pretty 🤩

[@hidavidwen]

They are very pretty!

[@yeannitasyukur1573]

Greetings from Jakarta! wow David has another Camino! 👏👏👏 I enjoyed your vlog in last Camino and looking forward to seeing another day on this Camino Portuguese. Fingers crossed I’ll do my first one this September

[@hidavidwen]

Hi Yeannita! Oh Jakarta (I miss Indonesia). Yeah I plan to post more so stay tuned. Are you planning to do the Camino Frances or Portuguese?

[@yeannitasyukur1573]

@@hidavidwen I’m planning Camino Frances and start from Astorga. Your vlog on Camino Frances truly inspired me to do this. Stay safe David, can't wait to see your next vlog.

[@chaddventures]

I've been seriously toying with the idea to do the Portuguese way ha. So awesome bud! Buen Camino

[@hidavidwen]

Do it! It's a beautiful camino. Very different. Less crowded. Thanks and buen camino!

[@MuMarquia]

enjoy!

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks! =)

[@check1two]

Safe journey.

[@hidavidwen]

Thanks Craig =)

[@AlexandreSantos-wm8qv]

I made the camino portugues last may, is a great experience and beeing or not a religious person it end up a spiritual journey.

[@hidavidwen]

Yes, a very great journey for me too. Buen camino/bom caminho!

[@elisabliekendaal5408]

I just stumbled upon this video and it really makes me want to do another Camino!! It seems like I should give the Camino Portugues a try. 😀

[@Petra32487]

Ich habe ihn 2019 das erste Mal mit meiner Nichte ausprobiert ☺️. Ich werde ihn ab 29.08. 2024 nochmal alleine gehen 🥾🥾.

[@DalesOutdoorAdventures]

Love this David, can't wait to watch the rest. Wondering if you will meet up with a group like you did on the Frances, but no spoilers please.😀

[@hidavidwen]

Hey there Dale! Good to hear from you. And thanks for watching! Any plans in 2022 for you?

[@DalesOutdoorAdventures]

@@hidavidwen Plans for June 2023 camino but not definite yet. Summer 2022 finds me camping Wyoming , Colorado, Montana for a few months

[@hidavidwen]

@@DalesOutdoorAdventures sounds fun Dale. I hope you have a great time :)

[@kaspar_1982]

The coastal route seems like a wind tunnel, i'm thinking mid June on the central. thanks for the blog.

[@hidavidwen]

Yeah it can be if the weather is bad. Luckily I had beautiful weather but many people choose the central route to avoid those potential wind tunnels!

[@siukan2001]

Great video of coastal Portugal in Day 1. Plan to do coastal Portuguese way next year and wonder if you recommend any Camino app since Camino Ninja is no longer available. Thanks! Buen Camino!

[@hidavidwen]

You're welcome! Yeah Camino Ninja was great. I used "Buen Camino" during my last camino a few weeks ago (Camino Ingles) and it was fine. I preferred the GPS of Camino Ninja but yeah no longer usable

[@thomaslandry403]

You’ll see more on central route

[@hidavidwen]

I made the switch on Day 2...and loved it

[@jeremynachbar3205]

I enjoyed the video! When is day two coming out? I’m starting up the coast from Porto, and want to know the best turn off towards the central route.

[@hidavidwen]

Hey Jeremy - thanks! I'm working on that today so soon! Yes I'll document when to make the turn from coastal > central (but I did it from Vila do Conde)...it's kind of hidden but it's after the bridge. It'll be in the video

[@jeremynachbar3205]

@@hidavidwen Thanks for the info! Looking forward to the rest of your videos!

[@clalmeida67]

In Portuguese we say "caminho". 😉

[@hidavidwen]

Bom caminho!

[@gracefuldetours]

How many days would you recommend at either end of the trip? Looks like it would be nice to do some touristy stuff in Porto! Should I have buffer time toward the end (in case I need rest)?

[@hidavidwen]

Hi Grace - I could spend forever there! Haha but Porto is a beautiful place-you could easily spend 2-3 days there just to relax and see the city. I've been to Porto a few times before so for this trip, I only spent 1 night. But if I had the time...I would spend 2-3 nights in Porto to eat/drink/relax/sightsee before starting. In Santiago, a few nights would do. For my first camino, I only spent 1 night. This last camino, I spent 3 nights. I think 2-3 nights are good! Because it gives you time to relax and rest...and perhaps catch up with other pilgrims that you met but are 1-2 days behind you.

[@gracefuldetours]

@@hidavidwen This is insightful! There are reasons to have a couple of days at both ends of the camino journey. Many thanks!

[@gracefuldetours]

@@hidavidwen I'm happy to report that I will be flying into Porto on 9/9 and plan to start walking on the 13th. Going to watch each of your videos now to see how each segment is. I tried to see if there is an alburgue in Labruge but it looks like the are closed, so I'll aim for Via Cha instead. You were an important source of information and inspiration for me to take this leap. Thank you so much!!

[@hidavidwen]

@@gracefuldetours Oh how exciting! I'm so happy to hear. September is a great time to go too. You know...I wanted to stay in Vila Cha but it was too late and I was too tired...but Vila Cha is a nicer place to stay (I know a few who stayed there). Bom caminho!

[@julesfancher4707]

What month did you travel on this Camino? Thank you.

[@hidavidwen]

April, buen camino!

[@emmaulep]

Hi David- I enjoyed watching your camino videos. i just want to know if your camino is DIY or did you request help from a tour agency like Santiago Ways. ( agency I think who prebooks rooms and meals for a pilgrim) . What is the first step- who should I contact? Were you provided information like maps rooms meal arrangements? Thank you

[@hidavidwen]

Hi Emma - thanks so much for watching! My camino was all DIY. I wanted the flexibility. And it's completely doable DIY. If you do DIY...the first step is booking your ticket to get there =) I usually do quite a bit of research in the form of reading blogs, watching videos, and browsing the Facebook groups to get tips. But what I usually do is just arrive, start walking, and go with the flow. I usually plan my day the night before or the day of...and in terms of accommodation, it depends on where I end up or who I meet. You can download apps like (Camino Ninja) and use Google Maps as well. There are plenty of signs once you're on the path (may be tricky getting out of the city)...but just follow the arrows. In Porto, the pilgrims office next to the cathedral will give you a map and tips to start you off. As for restaurants, there are restaurants along the way and in the towns. Also you will go by small and big towns with supermarkets and everything you need. Hope this helps. I know this isn't a normal "holiday vacation" but that's also the point of the Camino if you have time and decide to do it DIY...personally for me, it's a learning experience in itself of letting go and going with the flow vs. planning planning planning.

[@rovalq1]

@David where were you when you decided to walk the Camino just few days previously, if you don't mind me asking?!

[@hidavidwen]

Hi Robbie - I live in Amsterdam. So only a few hours flight away =)

[@rovalq1]

The advantage of living in Europe! Planning now to walk the Portuguese way, just not sure if should walk by coast, since I want to do it during the summer.... I will be going from Brasil.

[@hidavidwen]

@@rovalq1 ah yes. I had the same question…so I started off doing the coastal route (beautiful on Day 1 vs. the central route out of Porto which I hear is not so nice). And then I switched to central on Day 2. You could also switch later on if you feel like too so there’s a lot of flexibility

[@rovalq1]

@@hidavidwen I'm following you! Later let me know what do you think and feel about a woman walking alone!? I know I can join a group (paid) but I loved the freedom of not really knowing where I'd stay for the night or if I'd stay for more than one night at the same pueblo when I did my 1st camino (and only so far) . I walked the French way. The whole thing from SJPP.

[@cestsibonlavie]

Hi David, what camera or phone did you use for the videos on the camino portugal ? Thanks

[@hidavidwen]

iPhone 12. Cheers!

[@cestsibonlavie]

@@hidavidwen thank you

[@hidavidwen]

@@cestsibonlavie sorry it’s actually iPhone 12

[@cestsibonlavie]

​@@hidavidwen thank you, a few more questions: 1. how much storage space on your iphone 12? 2. how much GB did you use for 12 days videos and photos on the camino portugues? 3. did you keep all the videos on your phone, then you uploaded to the computer when you got back home? 4. which video editor did you use? Thank you in advance. :) 😀 I would love to take some videos when I walk, but my phone doesn't have much storage, wondering how did you make it?

[@hidavidwen]

@@cestsibonlavie I have 256gb. No Idea how much storage I used. Yeah all videos on phone transferred to my desktop at home. I use Da Vinci Resolve

[@emilyg8774]

When you flew into Porto did you stay at a hostel for a night before starting the Camino? Where did you stay ? Also do you think it’s safe for a female to do this alone ? Want to go so bad!!

[@hidavidwen]

Hi Emily - I stayed at the Wine Hostel in Porto for 1 night before starting. Very unique hostel! Yes, completely safe! Most of the people I met (women included) went solo...and the beautiful thing is you will meet other people...and so you are never alone. You end up walking together and bumping into the same people. You can 100% do this alone-most do. I hope you make it!

[@emilyg8774]

@@hidavidwen oh wonderful!! Thanks so much :) I’m hoping to go next month, is august a good time you think?

[@hidavidwen]

@@emilyg8774 Yes =) I did the Camino Frances in September...a. bit later...and it was great. Any time is a great time to go!

[@peterselie6500]

...an expresso...huh

[@hidavidwen]

☕️☕️☕️☕️

[@mutyagiron2560]

Hi Mr David! Just a question.. do you an fb account by any chance? I have been quietly watching you vlogs, especially your pilgrimage. Am a middle aged woman who is at a lost right now. I know it's presumptuous of me to think, you will be interested to interact with me,- a lost stranger from nowhere. But somehow your adventure as a pilgrim somehow enkindle the faint hope in me, that maybe there is more to life. I asked if you have an fb account because that could mean you might have a messenger. Thus, maybe I can sometimes throw some questions to you just to hear my self too. Sometimes I talk to my self, but I get no answer. Maybe someone like you might sometimes give me enlightenment. This is really a presumptuous and brazen idea of mine to just communicate with anyone who might want to listen or give me some time and thoughts to live by. Just hoping... to get by with the others' help. Buen Camino!

[@hidavidwen]

Hi Mutya - thanks for stopping by and sharing, I appreciate it. While I am not in your shoes, I can understand how it feels like to feel lost. In many ways, that was what the camino brought for me…connecting with others and myself…knowing that everyone is going through something and we’re all human. I am one with many thoughts too…I don’t know how to explain it but walking for a long time and connecting with people…helped me process those thoughts. I’ve been inspired by hearing the stories of many…that there is so much to that I do not know…and the more I know, the less I feel I know (and in a way, that makes life a bit more exciting). Are you considering doing a camino? I am not very active on fb and keep it mainly private. But feel free to chat here if you feel comfortable ..I try to respond. And if you have questions about the camino, let me know. I hope you know that you are not alone. Take care David

[@mutyagiron2560]

@@hidavidwen thank you for your response. Yes, I am very fascinated and interested to do the Camino, but not yet. Right now I just have to wade my way through my clutter mentally and literally. And yes, I have so many questions and wondering about life in general. Lately my feeling of being lost, overwhelmed and stuck are prevalent for me these past months.. and when I wrote my message yesterday, it was more of an outcry of the overwhelming turmoil I was having at that very moment. I needed to throw it our there right away. Luckily, yesterday was a Sunday, and I was able to go attend the Mass- (the Catholic worship I do.), and somehow some wisdom from the Scriptures and the sermon resonate and answered my immediate turmoil. But I would honestly be a little embarrassed to ask life's queries here. I'm not very confident to be too public about my confusions, that's why I was hoping to do it in messenger, for a little privacy. But thanks again really for your assuring response. Yes, we are never alone indeed. I will continue watching your vlogs, and maybe other that being entertained and encouraged by your sharing of life's quips and reflections, I will pick up an answers or two my questions.. Hopefully, I will be able to achieve my goal to the Camino- maybe the Portuguese route first in the near future. When it is already a clear possibility, I will ask my questions. Stay safe and thank you for sharing inspiring vlogs! Keep them coming! Buen Camino!🙂

[@peterselie6500]

I like your vids but sometimes...

[@dianawanderlust]

Hey David! You’re still doing the Camino? It’s funny I just posted about my first day of the Camino and came here to search for it and saw this 🥹 Buen Camino!

[@hidavidwen]

Hi Diana! I recently finished and now posting the videos. I wish I was still on it though! Buen camino, you'll have a great time =)

[@dianawanderlust]

@@hidavidwen Oh, great! I thought it would be wonderful to connect but I’m glad you get to finish it! Maybe next time ❤️