Portuguese Coast: Porto - Santiago

Arrive in Porto by your own means. Take the time to explore the second most important city in Portugal, famous for its Porto wine. Visit one of its many wineries for some wine tasting and listen to a "Fado" signing performance while you immerse yourself in the experience. Another good location to rest and enjoy some wine is the Ribeira area, where you can admire the views of the Douro river and the old historical center of Porto. Don't forget to visit the Cathedral, the Clergy Tower, the Mercado do Bolhao (market) and the Crystal Palace Gardens.

From Porto, transfer to Matosinhos to start your walk on your way to Povoa de Varzim, where you can visit its old castro ruins (Cividade de Terroso), more than 3,000 years old on which the actual city stands. Take some time to visit its bullfighting rink (Praca de Touros) and tour the historical old town. This stage is a bit long, as you have 30km (18.5 miles) from Matosinhos to Povoa, but we can transfer you to Praia de Lexa da Palmeira to shorten the total distance to 25 Km (15.5miles) if that's more comfortable for you.

Leave Póvoa de Varzim by St. Joseph of Ribamar's church and continue walking along the waterfront until you reach a small path that would lead you to St Andrew's Chapel. After reaching Agucadoura on the boardwalk, you will cross the National Park where you can see a variety of landscapes and the estuaries of the Neiva and Cávado rivers, where there are over 200 plant species and birds. Through a mostly flat route, you will continue through Fao, cross the Cávado river and arrive at Esposende.

From Esposende you will leave behind the Fort and the lighthouse and crossing the beach, arrive at Marinhas. Continue by the sea crossing beaches and dunes, pass by S. Bartolomeu do Mar church and several other beaches until you arrive at the Neiva's river delta, across the Parish of Castelo de Neiva. You will deviate from the coastal path here, for about a mile inland, until you get back to the Amorosa beach. From there, on the boardwalk you will walk over dumes until Rodanho's beach. Finally, you'll reach a forest path that will lead you through Cabedelo, crossing the Eiffel Bridge, to the town of Viana do Castelo.

Viana do Castelo has one of the best preserved historical centers in Portugal and it makes for an impressive sight. Among others, take the time to visit the main church (Igreja da Nossa Senhora de Conceicao), the Minho or the Santiago da Barra Castles, the Cathedral of Viana do Castelo, the Temple of Santa Luzia and the Traditional Goldsmith's Museum.

Before you leave Viana do Castelo, take the cable car to visit the St. Luzia Mountain and the Temple of the Sacred Heart, where you will enjoy incredible views of Viana. Back on the flat ground and walking along the coast you will cross numerous beaches on the boardwalk, leaving behind villages like Areosa, Carreco or Afife, until you reach Vila Praia de Ancora, where your stage will end. If the weather permits, take the opportunity to go for a swim on its beaches.

Leave town passing through the Moledo beach until you reach Caminha, the last portuguese city on this route, located at the Minho river delta. In Caminha, you will board the ferry boat that will take you to the Spain side of the river in Camposancos. Cross the Santa Tegra mountains and follow the Camino along the coastal road. Soon you will reach A Guarda, a fisherman's town where you will be able to visit the Praza do Reló and the Church of St. Mary, and where your stage will end.

This Camino stage is 10 miles long and you will be walking with the Atlantic Ocean on your left. This is a relatively flat stage along the coastline which ends at the historical site of Santa Maria de Oia's monastery.

Today you will leave the seaside village of Oia as you walk by the rocky coastline surrounded by cliffs until you reach the Lighthouse at Cape Silleiro, the main reference point for vessels sailing on the Ría de Vigo. After climbing to Baredo you will reach the castle of Monterreal, which has been transformed into a high end hotel. Short after that, you'll reach Baiona, the first European port to receive the news that Columbus had reached America. 

Vigo's Ría (estuary) starts in Baiona surrounded by the Cies Islands, at the center of the National Park of the Atlantic Isles. Your walk will start from this point, surrounded by the impressive landscape, as you pass by the historical fountain of O Pombal. On this stage you will cross two ancient Romanesque bridges, one over the Groba river and the other in A Ramallosa. As you reach Nigrán, you will see its famous Templo Votivo do Mar, and finally arrive in Vigo.

Walking along the Lagares riverbank you will reach As Travesas. Climb towards the Castle of Saint Sebastian and down to the O Berbes neighborhood, close to A Pedra, a section well known for its restaurants and where you can enjoy oysters from Vigo's estuary. Leave Vigo through the Teis neighborhood and continue walking along until you reach Redondela, where the Portuguese Coastal Camino meets the regular (interior) Portuguese Camino. After you cross Redondela's historical town center, walk uphill until you arrive in Cesantes. From Cesantes you will continue downhill to Arcade.

After Arcade, crossing its historical medieval bridge Pont Sampaio over the Verdugo river. Climb towards Vilaboa and walk by St Mary's Chapel as you make your way to Pontevedra.

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!