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14 Days - 13 Nights
Self-guided
from 1 person
March to November
If you enjoy spending time in the countryside rather than urban areas, our Camino in Country Inns is designed with you in mind. End each walking day in a characterful and cosy country house where you can unwind in a peaceful setting.
Your hosts will give you a warm welcome and provide delicious home cooked meals that showcase traditional Portuguese and Galician gastronomy.
Your Camino route follows the Central Way of St. James from Porto, through the beautiful Minho region of northern Portugal and onwards into Spain.
Along the way, you’ll spend time on forest footpaths, country lanes, and in villages where time appears to have stood still. You’ll also pass through fascinating riverside towns and small cities including Barcelos, Ponte de Lima and Valença do Minho in Portugal and Tui, Pontevedra, Caldas de Reis and Padrón in Galicia. End your remarkable journey in the ancient tangle of streets that emanate from Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.
Meeting with a member of our team for a briefing and to collect the documentation.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (17 km / 10.6 Miles – 4/5 hours)
→ Transfer: Porto – Vilar do Pinheiro*
On the first stage you can appreciate the progressive transition from urban into rural areas. You will go through Vilarinho and cross the medieval bridge over the Ave before reaching the village of Arcos where the first stage ends.
→ Accommodation: Country inn
→ Meals: Breakfast and dinner
→ (20 km / 12,5 Miles – 4/5 hours)
You will start walking in “Arcos” in direction to the old village of “Rates”. You pass the villages of Courel and “Pedra Furada”, and then on rural roads you will reach the town of Barcelos where the stage ends.
→ Accommodation: Country inn
→ Meals: Breakfast and dinner
→ (15 km / 9.3 Miles – 3/4 hours)
You will leave from Barcelos, and following minor roads you will enter in the rural area and cross the small villages of Tamel and Aboim in direction to the river Neiva.
→ Accommodation: Country inn
→ Meals: Breakfast and dinner
→ (18 km / 11,1 Miles – 3/4 hours)
The day starts crossing the river Neiva, by a medieval bridge just before the village of Balugães. This is a day of rural roads, and a magnificent journey until reaching Ponte de Lima, where you will be dazzled by the stunning landscape.
→ Accommodation: Country inn
→ Meals: Breakfast and dinner
→ (22 km / 13,6 Miles – 5/6 hours)
Leave the medieval town of Ponte de Lima and go into the rural world. On the middle of the stage you will arrive to Labruja mountain, 2 uphill km who are the most demanding of the whole Way. From the top to the end of the stage it is a easy walk.
→ Accommodation: Country inn
→ Meals: Breakfast and dinner
→ (16 km / 10 Miles – 4/5 hours)
Head downhill from Cossourado to River Pedreira where you will cross a Romanesque bridge then enter a patch of pretty woodland before the urban outskirts of Valença. Take some time to explore this fortress town before walking across the International Bridge into Spain. Tui’s historical centre is delightful and the cathedral well worth a visit before you make your way to your lodgings.
→ Accommodation: Country inn
→ Meals: Breakfast and dinner
→ (17 km / 10,5 Miles – 4/5 hours)
Soon after leaving Tui, you will find yourself in the woodlands that surround Ponte das Febres. After crossing the medieval bridge near Orbenlle, use the new route through the forest and countryside to reach Porriño without the need to cross the industrial estate.
→ Accommodation: Country inn
→ Meals: Breakfast and dinner
→ (15 km / 9,3 Miles – 3/4 hours)
From Porriño, you’ll pass through a series of villages, including Mós and Santiaguinho de Antas, and the pine forest of Chã das Pipas. As you walk down the hill to Redondela, you’ll see the beautiful Ria de Vigo estuary below.
→ Accommodation: Country inn
→ Meals: Breakfast and dinner
→ (20 km / 10.5 Miles – 5/6 hours)
After crossing the first forested hill and the riverside village of Arcade, you will follow an ancient stone road that leads up into another wooded area. When you reach the tiny chapel of Santa Marta, take the riverside detour along the River Tomeza to stay the peaceful green surroundings to reach the city of Pontevedra. There are plenty of squares and tapas bars here as well as ancient monuments.
→ Accommodation: Country inn
→ Meals: Breakfast and dinner
→ (22 km / 13,6 Miles – 4/5 hours)
Start this stage walking from the old city of Pontevedra to the millennial bridge, O Burgo, over the Lérez River. Continue along the beautiful Valley of the Gandra River until San Mauro and from there, until Caldas de Reis.
→ Accommodation: Country inn
→ Meals: Breakfast and dinner
→ (18 km / 11,2 Miles – 4/5 hours)
Leave Caldas de Reis along some enchanting stretches, following a path that leads you to the church of Santa Maria de Carracedo and then you will cross a particularly luxuriant landscape along the side of the Valga River until Padron.
→ Accommodation: Country inn
→ Meals: Breakfast and dinner
→ (25 km / 15,5 Miles – 5/6 hours)
The last stage starts leaving Padron through Galician villages until the magnificent sanctuary of Nossa Señora da Escravitute. Continue for Teo and following broad streets and narrower shortcuts you finally arrive to the suburbs of Santiago that lead us through a labyrinth of streets to the Cathedral of Santiago.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ After breakfast: end of our services
* On the second day, in Oporto, after breakfast you will meet a member of our team who will drive you until the small village of “Vilar do Pinheiro” to start walking. With this you avoid the busy roads through urban areas of the cities of Porto and Maia and their suburbs. If you wish you can start walking in Oporto – contact us for more information.
Like what you see but it’s not quite a perfect fit?
Simply tell us what you’re looking for. We’ll happily adapt this itinerary to suit your personal interests, needs and schedule to create your ideal holidays.
Prices per person
-In double room occupancy: 1390 euros
-Single room supplement: 540 euros
