Flavours of The Camino and Costa Verde

Day 1: Arrival in Ponte de Lima

Make your way to the pretty town of Ponte de Lima and check into your comfortable modern hotel. When you check-in, you will receive your Welcome Kit, which contains all the information you need to enjoy this self-guided walking holiday fully. For the rest of the day, Enjoy Ponte de Lima’s atmospheric squares and restaurants. The small medieval centre holds treasures such as a Gothic parish church and fortified prison tower.

Accommodation: 3-star hotel

Day 2: Walk from Ponte de Lima to Cossourado

Distance: 22.2 km (13.8 miles)

Elevation (gain/loss): +562m / -322m

Join the pilgrims as they make their way north along one of the most beautiful sections of the Portuguese Camino. The spectacular views from Labruja Mountain justify the challenge of walking uphill.

Accommodation: Country House

Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Day 3: Walk from Cossourado to Valença do Minho

Distance: 12.8 km (7.9 miles)

Elevation (gain/loss): +120m / -316m

Today’s walk is more leisurely and brings you to the fortress town of Valença with time to explore the ramparts and squares in the historical centre or even venture across the river into the Spanish town of Tui.

Accommodation: 4-star hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Walk from Valença do Minho to Vila Nova de Cerveira

Distance: 15.8 km (9.8 miles)

Elevation (gain/loss): +107m / -156m

Head down to the River Minho this morning and follow the boardwalk and country lanes all the way to the pretty little town of Vila Nova de Cerveira. See how many works of art you can spot dotted around the town centre or simply relax with a tasty meal and a glass of vinho verde (Portuguese green wine).

Your accommodation this evening is in a historical Quinta with an outdoor pool.

Accommodation: Country house

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Walk from Vila Nova de Cerveira to Vila Praia de Âncora

Distance: 22.7 km (14.1 miles)

Elevation (gain/loss): +173m / -176m

A walk through the sculpture-filled park takes you out of Vila Nova de Cerveira beside the tranquil waters of the River Minho. Head inland to walk through a village before returning to the waterfront as you approach the estuary. Cross the wetlands into the historical centre of pretty Caminha.

See bobbing fishing boats and neighbouring mountains as you walk along the river to the pine forest at the very tip of Portugal. Emerge at the wide sandy beach of Moledo, then follow the coastal trail to the fishing town of Vila Praia de Âncora.

Accommodation: 3/4-star hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Walk from Vila Praia de Âncora to Viana do Castelo

Distance: 19.4 km (12 miles)

Elevation (gain/loss): +132m / -130m

Cross the sand dunes by boardwalk to yet another ancient fortress. Today’s trail weaves between stunning stretches of coastline, attractive countryside and small villages to bring you back to the delights of Viana do Castelo.

Enjoy a well-earned rest at a comfortable hotel in Viana do Castelo.

Accommodation: 4-star hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7: Free day in Viana do Castelo

You’ll have plenty of time to see what the city offers, such as the restored Gil Eannes hospital ship, the colourful Costume Museum, the Decorative Arts Museum and the Medieval architecture in Praça da República and surrounding streets. Try a freshly baked custard doughnut while you’re here.

Accommodation: 4-star hotel

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Departure

Check out of the hotel in time for your onward journey.

End of our services.

Meals: Breakfast

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Map

Flavours of the Camino and Costa Verde

Duration: 7 nights | 5 walking days

Tour type: Self-guided

Nº of people: From 1

Walking grade: Moderate

Total walking distance: 92.5 km | 57.5 miles

Region: Minho

Highlights: Delightful small cities and towns like Ponte de Lima, Viana do Castelo and Valença, rural villages, the Atlantic Ocean, an ancient pilgrim trail, fishing communities, coastal trails, fortresses, rural farming practices, verdant landscapes, the Minho and Lima rivers, beautiful beaches, stunning views, tasty local dishes, and vinho verde wine.

Available: From 01st March to 31st October

Price per person

• In double room occupancy: 790 euros
• Single room supplement: 390 euros

What’s included?

• 7 Nights’ hand-picked accommodation with breakfast;
• Dinner (without drinks) on day 2;
• Welcome Kit and pre-departure information;
• Pre-tour briefing;
• Detailed route notes (in English);
• App with trail information for use on a smartphone;
• Luggage transfer between accommodations from days 2 to 6 (1 bag per person – maximum 15 kg/bag);
• 24-hour emergency contact number (English-speaking).

What’s not included?

• Transfer from Porto to Ponte de Lima (day 1); Transfer from Viana do Castelo to Porto (day 8); Meals not mentioned above; Insurance; Tourist taxes; Gratuities; Personal expenses; Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above.

What you need to bring:

• Most of this walking holiday is off-road on rugged terrain, so you will need proper walking shoes with cushioning and support.
• There is little shade, so adequate weather protection is also vital.
• We recommend you bring walking poles.

Optional extra services:

• Extra nights in Porto (3/4-star hotel): On request.
• Extra nights in Viana do Castelo (4-star hotel): On request.
• Transfer from Porto to Ponte de Lima: 140 euros for up to 3 people; 170 euros for 4 to 7 people.
• Transfer from Viana do Castelo to Porto: 120 euros for up to 3 people; 160 euros for 4 to 7 people.
• Transfer from Porto Hotel and Porto Airport: 50 euros for up to 3 people; 80 euros for 4 to 7 people.

At Portugal Green Walks, we firmly believe that travel should be a safe and rewarding experience for all concerned, including the destinations you visit and the people you meet.

Please find out how we embrace sustainable and responsible travel.

Environment

The trail follows sections of the inland pilgrim path, the Camino de Santiago, through verdant countryside and small villages. We then follow the River Minho to its mouth, mainly along a cycle and walking path through areas of natural beauty to reach the Atlantic Ocean in Caminha. From there, we follow more eco trails and boardwalks through forests, coastal villages, sand dunes, and protected natural areas.

When planning this route, we considered environmental issues and designed it to have a negligible harmful impact. To achieve this, we followed the guidelines laid out by the Portuguese Nature Conservation and Forestry Institute (ICNF), which protect and preserve the areas of natural beauty and environmental significance in which we operate.

We provide our self-guided clients with a full briefing and detailed instructions of their route, which includes a traveller’s code of conduct. This includes guidelines for avoiding damage to the landscape and advice on minimising waste. To help with this, we recommend that our clients bring a refillable water bottle and clarify that tap water is perfectly safe to drink.

Clients can use public transport to reach the starting town of Ponte de Lima, and the endpoint at Viana do Castelo. This programme does not require other transport other than local taxis for luggage transfer services.

We provide an app for clients to use during their tours with us to reduce the need for printing information. It is a simple and straightforward navigation tool that will give them all the directional information they need and peace of mind that they are on the right track. It also contains information about points of interest along the route and the location of useful services such as cafés and grocery stores.

Community

We have always carefully designed our tours to respect the way of life of the local populations and provide clients with an intense and authentic experience. For example, one of the accommodations we use in Vila Nova da Cerveira is an 18th-century manor house, where the clients have the opportunity to experience a family atmosphere. The route also offers opportunities for clients to see and interact with villagers who are growing their crops along the Camino trail. We supply some handy phrases and tips for greeting people respectfully to make these encounters mutually beneficial.

The difference that clients will notice in the fishing boats used along the River Minho, compared to the coastal towns of Camina and Vila Praia de Âncora, illustrates how communities have adapted their boats and practices to the different fishing conditions.

Viana do Castelo is home to filigree jewellery, notably in the shape of the Viana’s heart, and beautiful embroidery; these handmade crafts make lovely gifts and souvenirs. Vila Nova de Cerveira hosts a Biennial International Arts Festival, which provides additional opportunities to explore the town and its culture.

We are a local company based in Northern Portugal, so we have developed deep, long-term relationships with our partners and providers and, of course, our favourite restaurants, which we recommend for each day.

Click on the button below to download the itinerary with day-by-day details, highlights, prices and the respective general conditions.

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