Portuguese Way to Santiago
The Portuguese way to Santiago is the most famous after the French route and is used by
pilgrims from all over the world. In this version we present you the somewhat less well
known variant, the Portuguese way along the coast. We will follow the Atlantic coast
from Porto and cross majestic landscapes until we reach Baiona (Galicia), the last, but
for many the first stage of this path.
Porto International Airport (Google Map)
3 Hours Before Flight Time
Expect to walk 5 to 6 hours a day, between 12 and 20 km.
You will have the option of sleeping in a dormitory, inn or hotel; always keep in mind that it is possible to make the camino of Santiago de Compostela a pleasure and without suffering.
And above all, you must learn to make a break to make Compostela you must learn to take time, to respect yourself, to respect your rhythm and to respect your body and its limits.
Compostela is also a meeting of the international, rich meetings and sometimes lifelong friendships. These are historic villages, breathtaking landscapes, good « food » and also good wine! It’s self-fulfillment, self-discovery, and much more.
Porto is the second most important city in Portugal after Lisbon. It has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is characterized by its architectural appeal, its spectacular river and the so famous and delicious sweet port wine. It is worth spending a whole day exploring this beautiful city. We are sure you want to go back.
Difficulty level: Low.Transfer takes us from Porto to Matosinhos, where we start the hike. Today shows us
different beaches. This first stage leads along the banks of the Duero River and along
the coast, through flat terrain and beautiful landscapes. We will cross the dunes along
the boardwalks in a simple stage and without major bumps.
Difficulty level: Low This day brings a little bit of everything with it. We will be able to enjoy the coastal landscapes, but we will also go a little further inland and pass road sections and asphalt. We will cross the Cadavo River to reach Esposende.
Difficulty level: Medium. Domestic stage. We are moving away from the coastal landscapes that have accompanied us so far to tra e them for the nature park on the north coast. We hike down the Neiva riverbed and enter Viana do Castelo. Particularly noteworthy is the beautiful old town of this city. The fact that this stage does not run along the coast does not mean that its scenic beauty is inferior to that of the other stages.
Difficulty level: Low .Today we experience a quiet day, a pleasant walk through flat land, wooden walkways, fishing villages and again the coast. This phase has no significant height differences or complications. We leave Viana do Castelo in this last stage of the Caminos in Portugal and head towards Praia de Ancora.
We are reaching Galicia. We will cross the Miño River by ferry and leave Portugal behind to spend the last sections of this road in the Galician area. Scheduling is very important here, as the translation of the ferry varies depending on the tide. There is basically no ferry on Mondays, but we can use the taxi boats. The trip from one side of the river to the other takes around 15 minutes. Once we have reached the other side of the Miño River, we will climb the Monte de Santa Tecla to continue walking parallel to
the coast and reach A Guarda, a charming fishing village.
Difficulty level: Low .Short and pleasant stage, but of great beauty. The Galician landscapes are in no way inferior to the Portuguese. We recommend visiting the Oia monastery.
Difficulty level: Medium: In the last stage of the trip we will put the finishing touches on our experience. The first kilometers of this day lead us along the coast, then we go a little inland and enjoy a pleasant route through the mountains until we reach Villa de Baiona. Of particular note are the old town and the marina.
Difficulty level: Medium This first stage fascinates us with its landscapes. At the mouth
of Vigo, we hike to Nigrán. We pass beaches such as Panxón, Patos and Samil until
we reach the largest city in Galicia, Vigo. The difficulty today lies in the kilometers and
differences in altitude. There is also the possibility to hike inland towards Priegue and
Coruxo and then let us take you along the river path. This option can be a little less
interesting, especially access to Vigo as it’s an industrial area. Accommodation in Vigo.
Difficulty level: low.
We leave Vigo in the direction of Senda da Traida das Augas, where the route leads us to Redondela, where our route inland meets the Portuguese route. Before the Camino reaches this point, it passes near Trasmañó. Some pilgrims opt for a deviation of +/- approx. 5 km to see the impressive waterfall. The forests and the inlets remain our companions on the road during the stage. When we finally pass
Redondela, we reach Cesantes. Accommodation in Cesantes.
Difficulty level: Low
We leave Cesantes towards the Arcade, famous for its oysters.
Accompanied by the Vigo estuary, we cross lush forests until we reach the historic
Ponte Sampaio in the direction of Pontevedra. Accommodation in Pontevedra.
Difficulty level: low.
Quiet and pleasant route. We move away from the bumps of the previous sections to enter a much flatter and more level terrain. We walk through different villages until we finally arrive in Caldas de Rei, where pilgrims who wish can relax in one of the famous spas. Accommodation in Caldas de Reis.
Difficulty level: low.
Quiet and pleasant route. We move away from the bumps of the previous sections to enter a much flatter and more level terrain. We will pass through different villages until we finally arrive in Caldas de Rei, where pilgrims who want to relax can relax in one of the famous spas. Accommodation in Caldas
Difficulty level: low
The last stage of the caminos. We will cross the N550 road several times and be guided by the railway line. We first hike towards Iria Flavia and then begin an ascent to “O Milladoiro” to finally see the towers of the cathedral as we approach Santiago. Here the desire to arrive is combined with the pain of parting, that this unique experience is over.
Day in Santiago de Compostela end of our services
