This route starts from the town of Tui on the border between Spain and Portugal, across the Minho river. Medieval bridges, the historical old town of Pontevedra and the village of Padrón, famous for its peppers, are some of the interesting sights along the way. This section of the Portuguese camino will take you through green landscapes up the hills and down the valleys into a region well-known for its Albariño wines, an excellent way to explore the last 100Km of the Portuguese Camino. This trip makes you eligible to obtain your Compostela certificate when you arrive in Santiago.
- TOUR TYPE: Self-guided
- DATES AVAILABLE: Year-round
- ACTIVITY: Walking tour
- ACCOMMODATIONS: Bed & Breakfast
- TRANSPORTATION: None
From family-owned B&Bs in the smaller villages to hotels in the larger towns, all accommodations are carefully selected to ensure they are comfortable, private and provide an authentic Camino experience. You will have your own private bedroom with an en-suite bathroom.
Breakfast is included with your accommodations. Pilgrim breakfasts offer an assortment of delicious local products to prepare you for your walk. We'll also recommend what to try for your main meals and where to stop. Prefer arranged meals? Add an optional dinners-included package to your tour.
Travel light on the trail and leave your bag at your hotel when you leave every morning and we will transfer it to your next hotel for you. Live the pilgrimage experience comfortably.
Itinerary
Tui is located right on the border of Spain and Portugal, 118 Km from Santiago, on the Minho river. Take a stroll around town and visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Tui. If you have time, consider crossing the border into Portugal through the Puente Internacional to reach the town of Valenca do Minho and visit its "Fortaleza", a fortified city with well preserved walls from the 12th century and visit its famous market.
Your journey starts on the Spanish side of Minho river bank and will take you through the old town of Tui by the Cathedral before you set on into the green landscape of Galicia. Before getting to O Porriño, you will take the alternative route that avoids the industrial area of town and takes you through a much more pleasant route through shaded forest paths. At the end of the day you will be transferred back to Tui to your hotel.
You will be transferred to O Porriño to continue your Camino. On this stage you will go by the baroque church of St Eulalia in Mos and eventually get to Redondela, where you can observe a Roman mile marker on its original location on the road. Climb towards Arcade, the end of your stage, a town famous for its oysters.
Today you will cross the Roman bridge over the Verdugo river and start climbing towards A Canicouva on an impressive large stone-paved road that follows the original Roman route. When you reach Pontevedra, take the time to enjoy the old historical center of town, with the Church of the Pilgrim's Virgin whose layout is built in the original scallop shape characteristic of the Camino. Tradition has it that the Virgin of the Pilgrims led the pilgrims safely from Baiona to Santiago.
You will leave Pontevedra through the historic old town through Ponte do Burgo. Today you will go through a series of neighboring towns along the green country side in Galicia, admiring Cruceiros like the one in Amonisa, crossing small rivers every so often until you reach Caldas de Reis, a town famous for its thermal waters.
Today you will make your way through dense forest and valleys over a primarily agricultural landscape with small towns bordering the camino left and right. After you cros s the Ulla river, that forms the ria de Arousa famous for its seafood, you will reach Padrón. This city is famous for being the birthplace of Literature Nobel Prize winner Camilo José Cela, but even more so for its delicious peppers that you should definitely try. Padrón is where tradition says that the disciples arrived carrying Santiago's body around 42 A.D.
From Padrón, you will start slowly climbing towards Santiago. The first part of the stage is mostly flat but becomes more challenging as you approach the Cathedral. You will be able to see its towers from the Agro dos Monteiros (860 ft) in anticipation of the end of your journey. You will enter the historic old town of Santiago through the Porta Faxeira and end your journey at the Cathedral on the plaza del Obradoiro.
Your Camino adventure ends after breakfast today. Enjoy your morning in Santiago and visit the many landmarks around the city, or take the opportunity to attend the pilgrim's mass if you didn't have time the day before. Don't forget to stop by the pilgrim's office to request your Compostela.
If you would like to extend your tour with other activities, like a guided tour of Santiago, a day trip to Finisterre or a transfer to the airport, let us know when you make your reservation and we'll arrange them for you. Congratulations, you did it!
- * Tour prices listed are per person, in double occupancy accommodations.
- Click the OPTIONAL tab for individual supplement pricing and other optional services to add to your tour
- SINGLE OCCUPANCY SUPPLEMENT: $447
- HALF-BOARD SUPPLEMENT (5 dinners): $242
- TRANSFERS: Request a quote at checkout
- AIRFARE: Request a quote at checkout
