Lisbon to Porto March 19 2026

 Lisbon to Porto

Tomar

March 19, 2926

Last night we were staying at a riding academy which as it turns out was quite famous in Portugal.  They turn out the horses and riders which compete in the bull fights.  

The weather forecast for today looked really rainy.  However there were quite a few breaks in the rain and the weather radar showed that there were going to be significant periods with no rain, so we were going to take advantage of the these breaks.   The second factor in today was that the first 11 kms of the walk was down a busy highway.  Not anyone's favorite especially when there is no shoulder or side walk and it has been raining.  Cars flying past blasting you with wet spray.  The second 11 kms was an off road trail through a eucalyptus forest.  The last 7 kms was down another highway into Tomar. 

We waited until the rain was past which was about 8:30 and Ken, Karen and myself took an Uber to the start of the eucalyptus forest.  It was by far the steepest section that we have encountered so far.  However it was really beautiful walking through the trees.  There were little blue flowers everywhere.  The trail was very well marked with what looked like new markers, a lot of which had stones on top. 

It didn't take long before we were in the out skirts of Tomar and walking down the busy highway into the city of Tomar.  So we ducked in to a cafe for a snack and where we called an Uber.  Timing turned out to be just right as it started to rain as we got into the car.  

A few minutes later we were in the Hotel Kamanga which is our hotel for a couple of days as we have a rest day tomorrow.

I walked up to a sporting goods store which promised to have Tilley type hats on line but didn't.  I wound up with a white base ball cap which will work to keep the sun off me.  I also found some new hiking pole tips as the others were worn out.  

Tomorrow is a layover day.  Do laundry and rest up.  Ken and Sally are also joining us tomorrow, which I am looking forward to seeing them. 

Terry

    

Lisbon to Porto March 18

Lisbon to Porto

Golega

March 18, 2026

It was another 31 kms but I knew that there was no way I was going to make 31 kms.  There was a town at the 24.5 kms make and that was my goal.  There was big rain in the forecast for the afternoon so I wanted to get to the little village and catch a taxi from there before the rain started.  

Santarem is on top of huge hill so we had a 100 meter vertical hike down to the river valley where the trail was.  It had rained quite heavily over night and the path down the hill was an extremely slippery route.  Moss and grass on the wet rocks was a bad combination.  However it was probably the most exciting part of the day.

At the bottom of the hill the trail wandered along the river.  Most of the time we were walking along farm trails though either plowed fields or fields grape vines.  Unlike back in Kelowna where a vine yard is maybe a few acres these vine yards went on for miles.  All of these trails were out in the open and the wind just howled around us.  Sometimes it was a cross wind and sometimes a quartering tail wind.  Thankfully it wasn't a head wind.

When we did get out of the fields the trail became extremely muddy and was full of huge ruts made by the tractors.  It really wasn't much fun picking your way along the muddy rutted path.

By time we got to the goal town of Azinhaga I was totally exhausted.  Ken phoned Uber and 20 minutes later we were in a Tesla which whisked us the last 6.5 kms.   The hotel is in some sort of horse riding academe.  Down stairs are a lot of stables with all the horses.  We are upstairs in the rooms, which are actually pretty nice.  

As we got settled into our hotel the skies opened up and there was 30 minute downpour.  Boy, was I ever glad to have missed that. 

Tomorrow is a 29 kms day into Tomar and our rest day.  

Terry 

 

Lisbon to Porto March 17 2026

Lisbon to Porto

Santarem

March 17, 2026

To day was a 33 kms walk so there was a lot of serious worry that this was too long a walk for us.  I was quite concerned as my physical preparation for this Camino is not very good.  Ken has a ankle issue and Karen a pulled muscle issue.  

The hotel we were at was about 7 kms out of town and we had been driven out by taxi last night so this morning we jumped in the taxi back to town and were  dropped off at the start of the Camino trail. The trail took us across the railroad tracks and wandered off through a bunch of farms.   It was pretty easy walking as it was mostly along nice flat back roads.  The roads were not very busy but when you got passed by a truck there was a lot of dust, making it better to step off the road until the dust settled down.  

We came to this one section of the trail which was on top of an old elevated rail bed.  It was quite interesting as it gave you an elevated view of the surrounding country side.  Walking down the trail in the weeds was fun.  

I was surprised at the number of stork nests there were along the trail.  Practically every tall object had a nest on it and a pair of nesting storks attending it.  They seem like really graceful fliers but their landing onto the nest seems like it involves a lot of wing flapping. 

At the 15 kms mark we came to the little village of Valadara.  It was about 11:15 and it was the decision point as the trail wandered off where there were no roads until you reached Santarem where we are staying.  Take a taxi or continue on walking the remaining 18 kms.    Ken, Karen and myself opted to take a taxi.  Barb opted to continue on walking.  Ken called an Uber and 15 minutes later we were seated in an electric Kia and on our way to the hotel.  Less than 20 minutes later we were checking in to our hotel.

Tonight's hotel is a stunning apartment with a marvelous balcony where Ken and I spent the afternoon sipping cold beer.  

Terry 

 

 

Lisbon to Porto March16, 2026

 Lisbon to Porto 

Azambuja

March 16, 2026

I was certainly glad to check out of last nights hotel.  The micro room had the absolute worst beds.  Mine had a huge saggy hole right in the middle and no matter how I lay it was uncomfortable.  It wasn't until I realized that the bottom of the bed wasn't as saggy and so by putting my pillow at the foot of the bed was I able to get some sleep.  The bathroom was so small you could not close the door with out stepping into the shower. 

The first part of the trail was along the river and it was quite pretty.  However it wasn't very far and we were into an industrial area. On the one side was the railroad tracks and the other side was industrial.  This was pretty much the way is was all day.  It wasn't until we got to the very last 5 kms that we had farm land on the one side and rail tracks on the other.  

It got quite hot during the day and there was zero shade to be had any where.  To make matters worse I lost my hat somewhere along the line.  Luckily Ken had a back up baseball cap other wise I would be fried.  Hats off to my friend Ken.  I will have to find a new one on the day off in Tomar. 

We stopped for a lunch in a small village and Ken and I each had a burger, Ken had a beer and I had a coke for a total of 9.10 Euros.  What a deal.  

Right at the end a stork was on the trail and kept walking along just in front of us.  It was probably leading us away from her nest, but it was fun following her.  

The hotel we are at tonight is away out in the country so we had to have a taxi ride out here.  They don't have any meal service so it will be dig though the packs to see what we can dig out. It is a beautiful place with great rooms.  So I am hoping for a great nights sleep.

Terry 

Lisbon to Porto March 15, 2026

 Lisbon to Porto

Vila Franca de Xira

March 15, 2026

This mornings breakfast was absolutely wonderful.  They had everything including the small sautéed mushrooms which I just love. They also had the small chocolate croissants which are a really close second in my books.  It made up for the fact that the hotel did not have a restaurant and we had to find stuff at the supermarket next door for supper.  

We were back out on the large board walk which follows up Tagus river for the majority to todays walk.  The board walk is dead easy to follow and is a really nice smooth walking surface,  however you are really exposed to the wind of which there was lots of today.  We are generally headed north along the river and the wind was straight out of the north west.  This meant one hand on your hat and the other holding your poles.  Even though it was pretty warm and would have been fine without a jacket but the wind made it so that you needed a jacket most of the time. 

At this one point we did leave the board walk and headed though this little village.  We stopped to read our maps and heard this high pitched whistle which was in short bursts.  Looking around on the other side of the road was a man calling his pigeons.  He would blow the whistle and the pigeons would circle around and land on the roof of the coop.  He would then shake their food container and guide the pigeon into the coop using a long whip like stick. More whistle blowing and more pigeons.  It was really fascinating. I had no idea as to how pigeon keepers looked after their flock. 

Later in the day we met up with an Australian lady who is walking the full Camino from Lisbon to Santiago de Compostella.  She was very nice but had very little idea of where she was going or how to get there.  So far she is the only other person we have seen who is doing a Camino.  The board walk is full of walkers, runners and cyclists but no pilgrimers. 

Today was a 20 kms walk which was really a great walk.  I must say that yesterday I was all in after the walk but today I felt just fine.  

Tomorrow is a really short day as it is only 13 kms however we do have to take a taxi to get to the hotel. 

Terry    

Lisbon to Porto March 14 2026

Lisbon to Porto 

Santa Iria de Azoia

March 14 2026

Today was our first walking day and it was supposed to be 17.7 kms however my Garmin recorded 21.04 kms.  I am not sure of how it got so far off.

We started the morning with the mandatory hotel lobby picture.  From there we were walking through Lisbon which meant lots of ups and down.  We passed the Unicorn Factory on the way to the route.  It wasn't until about kms 7 before we got to the actual Camino route.  It was quite a nice route along the river.  It was a big wide pedestrian route which followed the river. It was along the site of the 1998 Lisbon World Fair.  Now it has been redeveloped into upscale condos, parks, interesting street sculptures, and restaurants.  

At 12 kms mark we started walking up this board walk.  It was really quite the piece of infrastructure as it was easily 15 feet wide and snaked along the coast with lots of bridges.  There were a quite a few people out walking and riding bicycles.  Towards the end it looked like rain as the clouds were closing in but it held off.  Rain is forecast for over night with a nice day tomorrow. 

My lack to training was really showing as we made our way into the hotel.  I was totally all in.  

Terry 

 

Lisbon to Porto March 13

Lisbon to  Porto 

Lisbon 

March 13, 2026

Today was the last day in our Airbnb and the day which Judy headed home.  Judy was off to catch her plane quite early and everyone was up early to see her off.  We lounged around and cleaned up the Airbnb and headed off.  Karen and Judy took a Uber over to the hotel with all of the luggage and Ken and I walked over.  It was only about 2 kms so it wasn't far however you cannot go any where in Lisbon with out climbing a hill and we had more than one on the way to the hotel.  

We are staying at the Fenicius Charme hotel which is quite a nice little hotel just a couple of kilometers north of the Lisbon Cathedral.  At the hotel we collected our Camino passports and luggage tags and headed down to the Lisbon Cathedral to get our passports stamped.  While we are not going to get all the way to Santiago it is still fun to collect the stamps along the way.  After our tour of the cathedral Karen and Barb headed off shopping and Ken and I headed off down some back allies looking for a place to have lunch.  

Our first stop was a brew pub which offered 12 different beers.  The sign was cool but the beer wasn't up to snuff.  As we wandered the streets on the way back to the hotel we encountered a lot of stairs and a lot of very interesting little neighborhoods.  Some had some great wall art painted on the sides of buildings, along with a lot of very interesting peoples.  Take the picture of the dancing raven for example and in the lower right corner there is a workman sleeping in his wheelbarrow.  We stopped and had a cherry liquor in a chocolate cup from a street vendor.  We had lunch in a small café where I had the chicken couscous. It was great.  

Tomorrow morning we are off on the first day of our trek.  Our time in Lisbon has been a lot of fun but I am really excited to get going.   

Terry