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15 Days - 14 Nights
Self-guided
from 1 person
March to November
During the Middle Ages there were many routes that crossed the countryside leading towards Santiago de Compostela, amongst which the routes from Portugal had special importance. One of these pilgrim routes is the “Portuguese Coastal Way”, which runs from Porto through Vila do Conde, Viana do Castelo, Caminha, La Guardia, Baiona and Vigo before joining the more traditional Portuguese Way to Santiago.
This Coastal Camino de Santiago was followed by pilgrims from western lands and those who arrived in Portuguese ports from overseas countries and who sought to get to Compostela following this coastal way. Its importance is shown by place names, and elements of Jacobean devotion, old hospitals and pilgrim hospices, as in Viana do Castelo and Caminha.
From Caminha you will cross the Minho River by boat to La Guarda, continuing through Baiona and Vigo, reaching Redondela where you join the same route that was followed by pilgrims on the traditional Portuguese route to Santiago.
Meeting with a member of our team for a briefing and to collect the documentation.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (20 km / 12,4 miles)
→ Private Transfer: Porto – Matosinhos *
Start in Matosinhos to avoid the outskirts of Porto. On the first stage you will walk along the Atlantic coastline.
The ocean and miles of golden sandy beaches will accompany you until you reach Vila do Conde with an ancient medieval shipyard full of historical and architectural interest.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (25 km / 15,5 miles)
The second stage starts in Vila do Conde, crossing the town by the historic centre and in a couple of miles you will reach Povoa de Varzim, a popular town with strong maritime links.
Continue heading north along the coast crossing the Coastal Natural Park and the Cavado river in direction of Esposende, an old fishing village with a great setting on the estuary of the River Cavado.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (23,5 km / 14,6 miles)
Leave Esposende by walking along a cycle-track and continue close to the coast as you travel north admiring fine views and the peace of the route.
You will visit the villages of Marinhas, Belinho, Neiva and Darque before reaching the historic town of Viana do Castelo by way of Eifell’s old iron bridge over the Lima River.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (19 km / 11,7 miles)
Leave Viana do Castelo and enter the world of “old farms”. You will pass through the villages of Areosa, Afife and Carreço walking through old narrow roads that pass between several 19th Century farmhouses. Continue until the old fishing village of Âncora.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 4*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (15 km / 9.3 miles)
Follow the coastal path between Âncora and Moledo and then continue to the pretty town of Caminha via a possible detour through the pine forest that borders the beach.
A short, scenic ferry journey takes you across the Minho River to the fishing town of A Guarda in Spain.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 2*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (13 km / 8.1 miles)
Start crossing through A Guarda and leave it in the direction of the beaches. At the northern end of these follow a trail that leads between the sea and the C-550 road, reaching “Portecelo”.
Pass alongside several beaches and from “Val da Aguieira”, next to the chapel of San Sebastian and a stone cross, you start approaching Oia, where you can find Santa Maria de Oia monastery, which gives its name to the route “Camino Monacal” (Monastic Way).
The stage ends just after the Monastery.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 2*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (17.5 km / 10.9 miles)
Leave Oia and continue alongside beaches and cliffs, between cultivated fields, enjoying the waves beating on the rocks.
Before reaching “As Mariñas”, you get to the top of “Cape Silleiro”, this path crosses the road again and rising up circles around the top of Silleiro, where there is the chapel of “Virgen de Cela”, entering in “As Cadeiras” before continue along a track towards “O Ponte”.
Follow the road PO-2203 to finally cross under the highway and enter “Baiona” where you finish this stage.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (25 km / 15,5 miles)
Start this stage from the church of “Santa Maria”, continue parallel to the beautiful town harbour.
The route approaches the river Miñor, which you cross over a beautiful stone bridge that brings you to “A Ramallosa” and Nigran.
After crossing “As Nogueiras” begin a gentle climb up “Mount San Roman” and continue to admire the wonderful view of “Islas Cies” as you climb to “Castro Alto da Medoña”. Enter the city of Vigo by crossing the city Park (Park Castrelos) and following the “Lagares” river until reaching the “Avenida de Madrid” where this stage ends.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (22 km / 13,6 Miles)
Leave Vigo straight ahead until you get to the square of “Santa Rita”. Continue by skirting around “Alto da Encarnacion”, where you can admire the river and “Rande Bridge”.
After the “Rio das Cabras” and “Coto da Fenteira”, start the descent through “Cedeira” and “Cruzeiro” from where you reach Redondela.
Leave Redondela along by-ways until you reach Outeiro de Penas, a place with an excellent view over the Ria de Vigo. Eventually you will reach Arcade, a place renowned for having the best oysters in Galicia.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 2*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (13km / 8 miles)
From Arcade, continue to Pontesampayo where you will cross a long medieval bridge over the Verdugo River and then enter a cluster of narrow streets that will guide you to one of the most beautiful stretches of the Caminho: the very old by-ways which climb up the slope of Canicouva until Cacheiro.
After crossing these hills the track widens again, now dominated by fields, vineyards and orchards until you reach Pontevedra, for a well-deserved rest.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (22 km / 13,6 miles)
Start this stage at the historical centre of Pontevedra walking from the old city to the millennial bridge, O Burgo, over the Lérez River.
Continue along the beautiful Valley of the Gandra River until San Mauro. From there, the path widens and as you walk further you will experience a peaceful and serene atmosphere. From here you will start seeing the first crosses, some of them magnificently carved.
Enter Caldas de Reis alongside the church of Santa Maria, close to the bridge over the Umia River, where this stage ends.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 2*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (19 km / 11.5 miles)
Leave Caldas de Reis along some enchanting stretches of the Way, across the medieval bridge over the Bermaña River and follow a path that leads us to the village of Cruceiro, on an unforgettable stretch through forests and meadows.
Pass near the church of Santa Maria de Carracedo and then you will cross a particularly luxuriant landscape alongside the Valga River, continuing to S. Miguel de Valga, where you head to Pontecesures. After crossing the Ulla River you arrive at Padron where the stage ends.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (25 km / 15,5 miles)
Start this last stage through Galician villages until the magnificent sanctuary of Nossa Señora da Escravitute. From here you will reach Rua de Francos following broad streets and narrower shortcuts.
Finally you will start to see Santiago de Compostela and a little further on, at Agro dos Monteiros, you can see the towers of the Cathedral for the first time.
After crossing the Sar River, continue through the suburbs of the city that lead us to the Faxeira gate, the entrance of the Portuguese Way into this old city. Through a labyrinth of streets you continue to Obradoiro square and to the Cathedral itself were the Apostle waits for us.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ After breakfast: end of our services
* On the first stage, we suggest start waking in “Matosinhos” and thus avoid the busy roads through urban areas of the city of Porto and its suburbs. You will meet a member of our team who will drive you until the start point. If you wish you can start walking in Porto itself – contact us for more information.
For a less strenuous walk we can split the long walking days in two – contact us!
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