<p class="ql-block"><b style="color:rgb(22, 126, 251);">Portuguese Camino Prelude </b></p> <p class="ql-block">In the spring of 2023, six of our hiking friends including me completed the 100 km Camino de Santiago pilgrimage and received our certificates. That same year, in the fall, Sean and I also finished the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage hike. As a result, Sean and I are the only two in our hiking group to have earned dual UNESCO pilgrimage certificates.</p><p class="ql-block">Several friends have been considering hiking the Portuguese Camino, but Maywan is the only one who has committed to it. I was interested but couldn’t make a decision due to uncertainties in my schedule, especially with my 40th wedding anniversary coming up in May 2025. Finally, after getting the green light from my husband, I joined Maywan, Daisy and Ying on our journey to Portugal and Spain. By the way, four of us were among the six completed the 2023 Camino Frances pilgrimage.</p> <p class="ql-block">Received UNESCO dual pilgrimage certificate at Honguchohong. After Portuguese Camino I will try to get a dual certificate issued by Santiago.</p> <p class="ql-block"><b style="color:rgb(22, 126, 251);">Overall Planning </b></p><p class="ql-block">?Maywan to provide more insights later </p> <p class="ql-block">Maywan researched several tour options but found that the itineraries weren’t suitable for us, and the costs were significantly higher than our self-planned Camino Frances trip. After some discussion, we decided to organize the trip ourselves again. Maywan took the lead in determining the dates and duration of the hike. Since I didn’t commit until later, I participated in the discussions but didn’t contribute any input until I officially joined.</p> <p class="ql-block">Our trip is scheduled from May 18 to June 5, 2025. We’ll meet in Lisbon and spend two days there before heading to Porto for another two days. From Porto, we’ll hike through several Portuguese towns, heading north until we cross the border into Tui, Spain, where we’ll begin our 100 km Portuguese Camino hike.</p><p class="ql-block">After completing the pilgrimage, we’ll revisit Portomarin, a town we passed through on our last hike before driving along Spain’s northern coast to Bilbao for a few days. We missed Bilbao on our previous trip as well. Finally, we’ll fly home from Bilbao, connecting through London before arriving back in Los Angeles.</p> <p class="ql-block">Overall maps </p> <p class="ql-block"><b style="color:rgb(22, 126, 251);">Accommodations </b></p><p class="ql-block">?Maywan to provide more insights later </p> <p class="ql-block">Maywan handled all the Airbnb and hotel bookings for this trip. On our last Camino, we stayed at two “paradores” Leon and Santiago, which are historic monasteries converted into luxurious five-star hotels. It was a wonderful experience, but this time we’ll skip them since we’re only passing through Santiago de Compostela rather than staying overnight.</p> <p class="ql-block">Leon Parador, grand & luxury, off busy street, very tranquil.</p> <p class="ql-block">View of the Cathedral from our room in Santiago Parador</p> <p class="ql-block">Santiago Parador is right next to the Cathedral, I made a point to go out late in the night to capture a quiet Cathedral.</p> <p class="ql-block"><b style="color:rgb(22, 126, 251);">Transportations:</b></p> <p class="ql-block">Flights</p><p class="ql-block">?Maywan plans to take a transatlantic cruise before the Portuguese Camino and will meet us in Lisbon. Daisy is flying business class on her own, while Ying and I will travel together in economy on the same Air Canada flights. Ying purchased her tickets directly from Air Canada, but I had trouble booking through their website, so I ended up buying mine through United Airlines in late February.</p><p class="ql-block">The first hiccup of the trip came on April 2, just two days after Ying received her flight confirmation from Air Canada, when I got a notification from United Airlines. Air Canada had moved up our connecting flight from Montreal to Lisbon by two hours, cutting our layover from three hours to just one hour. Even with an on-time departure, a one-hour layover would be extremely tight.</p><p class="ql-block">After waiting exactly one hour on hold, I finally spoke to an Air Canada agent. She suggested several options but advised me to contact United Airlines since they had issued my ticket. Fortunately, I didn’t have to wait long to speak with a United agent, who was very helpful and rebooked me on UA flights through Newark. The new layover is five hours, longer than ideal, but far better than the stress of a one-hour connection.</p> <p class="ql-block">Train</p><p class="ql-block">?Over the years, we’ve taken many train rides across Europe, and our experiences have taught us to always book tickets directly through the official train operator’s website rather than using third-party platforms.</p><p class="ql-block">For our journey from Lisbon to Porto, we plan to take the Portuguese train. Discounted tickets will become available for purchase 60 days before departure. After comparing the differences between first and second class, notably, three seats per row in first class versus four in second, we decided that second class would be perfectly comfortable for the three-hour trip.</p><p class="ql-block">Since I was in charge of transportation, I handled the ticket purchase and selected seats on the left side of the train. Heading northbound, the Atlantic Ocean will be on the left, and research suggests that much of this route offers stunning scenic views.</p> <p class="ql-block">Lisbon to Porto train ticket </p> <p class="ql-block">Trams</p><p class="ql-block">?Lisbon and Porto are famous for their iconic trams, which are major tourist attractions. We’re excited to ride them, along with exploring the cities by bus and metro.</p> <p class="ql-block">Tram 28 route</p> <p class="ql-block">Lisbon metro map </p> <p class="ql-block">For taxis, we’ve downloaded Bolt, a popular ride-hailing app similar to Uber. I’ve noticed that Bolt allows advance bookings, so I’ll reserve a few rides as our travel dates get closer.</p> <p class="ql-block">Rental Car</p><p class="ql-block">On our last Camino, we spent three days in Santiago de Compostela. This time, we’ll just pass through Santiago and stay overnight in Portomarin, a charming town we passed through quickly last time and vowed to return to someday. From there, we’ll head to Bilbao, a destination we missed on our previous journey.</p><p class="ql-block">Unfortunately, there’s no direct or easy way to travel between Portomarin and Bilbao. I suggested renting a car (I’ve driven in France, Iceland, and Italy without issues), but Maywan was hesitant. Instead, she contacted a private car service and was quoted €700 for the 5-hour ride, far better than some online quotes of €1,200.</p><p class="ql-block">Just as we were about to book the private transfer, I stumbled upon a well-produced YouTube road trip video (linked below) showcasing the drive from Bilbao to Santiago - the reverse of our route. The video was so convincing that Maywan finally agreed to rent a car.</p><p class="ql-block">I immediately booked a fully insured automatic SUV through Sixt for three days, with pickup in Santiago and drop-off in Bilbao. Though European rental companies have never asked me for an International Driving Permit (IDP) in the past, I decided to play it safe and obtained one from AAA, valid for a year.</p><p class="ql-block">[Bilbao to Santiago Road Trip Video]</p><p class="ql-block">?(https://youtu.be/yvBnEjJlEG4?si=hRVqHsp38XErLlYt)</p> <p class="ql-block">Rental car reservation </p> <p class="ql-block"><b style="color:rgb(22, 126, 251);">Luggage transfer </b></p> <p class="ql-block">While many pilgrims carry their own backpacks, the four of us opted for luggage transfers again this time. Each day, we’ll only carry the essentials in our backpacks, leaving the bulk of our belongings to be transported ahead.</p><p class="ql-block">I researched several luggage transfer companies recommended by fellow pilgrims and emailed each with our itinerary and accommodations to request quotes. Every company responded promptly, and Top Santiago offered the most competitive rate at an average of €7 per bag per day. After a few quick email exchanges to confirm details, I finalized our booking with them. Now, with our luggage tags printed and everything arranged, we’re all set for the journey!</p> <p class="ql-block">Luggage transfer tag </p> <p class="ql-block"><b style="color:rgb(22, 126, 251);">City planning </b></p> <p class="ql-block">Lisbon</p><p class="ql-block">?This will be my second visit to Lisbon, the first was a brief cruise stop in 2017, little more than a quick glimpse. To me, Lisbon feels like a more intimate, European version of San Francisco, with its hills, trams, and waterfront charm.</p><p class="ql-block">With just one and a half days to explore this vibrant city, making the most of our time is essential. As always, we dove into research: guidebooks, travel blogs, and countless videos helped us narrow down the sights that resonate most with us.</p><p class="ql-block">One standout plan? A 3-hour walking tour of Alfama, promising to hit 19 stops, an ambitious pace that has me equal parts intrigued and skeptical. How will it work? We’ll soon find out.</p> <p class="ql-block">Lisbon Guru walking tour will cover 19 attractions in 3 hours </p> <p class="ql-block">Porto</p><p class="ql-block">?A friend who hiked the Camino Frances years ago confessed he left Porto disappointed. Yet everyone else I’ve spoken to raves about it, and I suspect I’ll side with the latter. Porto’s rich history, legendary seafood, and warm locals seem tailor-made for my tastes.</p><p class="ql-block">We’ll only have a day and a half to experience this layered city, an impossibly short time to soak in its architecture, decorative blue tiles, riverside charm, and breathtaking viewpoints. Like Lisbon, we’ve researched relentlessly, prioritizing what speaks to us most.</p> <p class="ql-block">For Bilbao and San Sebastián, we’ve already secured walking tours to help us uncover the essence of each city. The Bilbao Guggenheim Museum is, of course, a non-negotiable highlight, but beyond that, we’re keeping our plans flexible. We’ll wander at our own pace, soak in the atmosphere, and let each city reveal itself to us naturally.</p> <p class="ql-block"><b style="color:rgb(22, 126, 251);">Tickets to Museums, Libraries, Churches, Walking Tours, Fado show </b></p> <p class="ql-block">For our Lisbon visit on Sunday and Monday, we're mindful that most museums will be closed on Monday, so I'll be visiting the Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery solo on Sunday because I will arrive in Lisbon early morning. To maximize my time, I plan to get a 1-day Lisbon Card, which covers unlimited metro, bus, and tram rides plus entrance to many museums.</p><p class="ql-block">In Porto, Maywan has taken charge of reserving 9 am tickets for both the Palacio da Bolsa and Livraria Lello to beat the crowds. For other museums and the Fado show, we'll purchase tickets as our visit approaches, keeping our schedule flexible.</p> <p class="ql-block">Guru walking tours </p><p class="ql-block">We've reserved three excellent walking tours through Guru - in Lisbon, San Sebastián, and Bilbao. What impressed us about Guru was their user-friendly website that made booking effortless, with no upfront payment required. Their suggested donation of €10 per person for 2.5 to 3 hour tours seems very reasonable for the experience offered.</p> <p class="ql-block">https://www.guruwalk.com</p> <p class="ql-block"><b style="color:rgb(22, 126, 251);">Food </b></p> <p class="ql-block">We can’t wait to indulge in Portugal’s incredible flavors - platters of just-caught seafood, warm pasteis de nata with their caramelized tops, and rich port wine, all at prices that make savoring them even sweeter.</p><p class="ql-block">Daisy, our resident food expert (who’s orchestrated many unforgettable meals on past trips), will pick daily dinner spots in addition to already curated dinner restaurants in Lisbon and Porto. She’ll also helm our breakfasts, lunches, and snack attacks, no doubt with her usual impeccable taste.</p><p class="ql-block">If anything, our wishlist of dishes might outpace our stomach capacity. But even the thought of those seafood paella, smoky chourio, and custard tarts dusted with cinnamon is enough to make us grin.</p> <p class="ql-block">Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau</p><p class="ql-block">?Av. de Diogo Leite 122, 4400-111 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal</p> <p class="ql-block"><b style="color:rgb(22, 126, 251);">Hiking days</b></p> <p class="ql-block">Thanks to Sean, our incredibly organized hiking leader, we’re all set with meticulously prepared GPS maps for our trekking days. With navigation covered, we can fully embrace the spirit of adventure, no rigid schedules or over-planned routes, just the freedom to enjoy the journey as it unfolds.</p> <p class="ql-block">Hiking GPS maps </p><p class="ql-block">?The vertical line traces our upcoming Portuguese Camino, with each color representing a different day’s trek. Cutting across it horizontally is the Camino Frances completed in May 2023.</p> <p class="ql-block"><b style="color:rgb(22, 126, 251);">Road trip </b></p> <p class="ql-block">As mentioned above, we will rent a car for 3 days. On the first day we’ll drive from Portomarin to Bilbao, but instead of driving straight for 5 hours, we’ll stop in Lugo to see the Roman wall, visit a few coastal towns, see the highest village in the region, and drive through a national park. The second day we’ll take a day trip to San Sebastián. On the third day before returning the car, we’ll visit Altamira Cave and <span style="font-size:18px;">Gaztelugatxeko Doniene</span>, the small island connected by a bridge where Game of Thrones was filmed.</p> <p class="ql-block">Replica painting at Cave Altamira, far more advanced and detailed than other ancient paintings</p> <p class="ql-block">Gaztelugatxeko Doniene</p> <p class="ql-block"><b style="color:rgb(22, 126, 251);">Google maps </b></p> <p class="ql-block">I can’t imagine how people traveling internationally with paper maps in the old days. Google Maps is one of my most essential travel tools. Before every trip, I download offline maps on my iPhone to ensure access without internet. For self-guided day trips, I save all attractions in a map list and optimize the visiting order for efficiency. Google Maps accurate transit details (like bus routes and timings) are invaluable, and I love being able to share saved maps with travel companions in case we get separated.</p> <p class="ql-block">Portugal offline map</p><p class="ql-block">?</p> <p class="ql-block">Northern Spain offline map </p><p class="ql-block">?</p> <p class="ql-block">Porto day 2, activities are primarily on the south side </p><p class="ql-block">?</p> <p class="ql-block">Bus from Airbnb to Palacio da Bolsa on 5/21/25 </p><p class="ql-block">?</p> <p class="ql-block"><b style="color:rgb(22, 126, 251);">Sharing Trip information </b></p> <p class="ql-block">This time, I’m organizing all trip details through iPhone Calendar since our entire group uses iPhones. For each event, I’ve included comprehensive details - addresses, websites, reference videos, blog links, and map locations. By inviting the others to each calendar event, they’ll have instant access to all the information once they accept the invite to each calendar event . </p> <p class="ql-block">5/21/25 detail plan, it may look like a lot of activities, it’s just a guidance, we can easily skip some stops if we want to spend more time in other stops.</p><p class="ql-block">?</p><p class="ql-block">?</p> <p class="ql-block">Palacio da Bolsa event</p><p class="ql-block">?The top time is Pacific time for Los Angeles, the bottom time is Portugal time. Spain is one hour ahead of Portugal, however London is in the same time zone as Lisbon and Porto.</p><p class="ql-block">?</p> <p class="ql-block"><b style="color:rgb(22, 126, 251);">Ready, Set, Go </b></p> <p class="ql-block">We’ve enjoyed many self-guided trips in the past, where I typically handled all the planning while incorporating everyone’s suggestions. This time, Maywan has taken the lead as our organizer, researching daily attractions and booking all accommodations, museums & Fado show. She asked me to assist with transportation arrangements, a role I happily accepted. Collaborating with Maywan on this trip has been truly enjoyable. As they say, half the fun is in the planning itself. Here’s hoping for perfect weather, good health throughout our journey, and wonderful shared experiences.</p>