Portuguese Camino – Last 100km
8 days | from 625€
Begin your Portuguese Way at the fortress town of Valença in Northern Portugal. From here, you’ll cross the border formed by the River Minho and head north through Galicia.
Begin your Portuguese Coastal Way at the coastal town of Baiona.
Baiona is one of the most attractive and important coastal towns in Galicia. Its protected bays offer beaches with character and a safe harbour in its fishing port. There’s no shortage of fresh seafood in the town’s many tapas bars and restaurants so tuck in!
Before leaving Baiona to begin your Camino, take some time to explore its medieval streets and churches and the Monterreal fortress on the peninsular. Then follow the Camino da Costa through the countryside, forest and villages to the city of Vigo, looking out for views of the Cies islands in the Ria de Vigo estuary.
Your route merges with the Central Camino de Santiago in Redondela, taking you through more delightful Galician countryside. You stop in historical Pontevedra, the spa town of Caldas de Reis, and Padrón, a town strongly linked to the legend of St. James, before reaching the ultimate destination of Santiago de Compostela and its magnificent cathedral.
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival in Baiona
When you check into your Baiona hotel, you will receive your Welcome Kit, which contains all the information you need to enjoy this self-guided walking holiday fully.
Accommodation: 2 or 3-star hotel
Day 2: Walk from Baiona to Vigo
Distance: 25.5 km (15.8 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
As you pass through the outskirts of Baiona, you’ll encounter a few historical monuments and have coast views before you head inland through the countryside. Walk through villages and forests and then a stretch of busy road in Coruche before re-entering rural territory on the approach to Vigo. Cut through Castrelos Park to avoid the urban jungle and reach your hotel.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Walk from Vigo to Arcade
Distance: 22 km (13.5 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Walk along Vigo’s bustling shopping street and out of the city. You’ll follow the same road, at times tarmac, at others unpaved, through a row of peaceful villages spread across the hills with views of the Ria de Vigo. The next few kilometres are spent in a leafy forest before heading downhill to Redondela, famous for its two viaducts. The final stretch takes you out of Redondela and up through another forest before you reach Arcade, where you can sample their famous oysters.
Accommodation: 2-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Walk from Arcade to Pontevedra
Distance: 13 km (8 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Today’s walk is short and one of the most attractive on the Camino. Cross the ancient Ponte Sampaio to leave Arcade and follow a well-worn stone path past small fields and uphill into a forest. Use our scenic detour to approach Pontevedra via a riverside path in the shade of trees rather than the main road. Once settled, take your pick from an array of atmospheric squares to relax in.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Walk from Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis
Distance: 22 km (13.6 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Get a glimpse of Pontevedra’s Roman heritage as you leave the city to follow the railway line north through the valley and patches of forest. After the village of San Amaro, continue through the countryside, decorated with tall grape vines, to the tiny village of Tivo. From here, it’s a mere two kilometres before you enjoy the warm thermal springs in Caldas de Reis.
Accommodation: 2-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Walk from Caldas de Reis to Padron
Distance: 19 km (11.5 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Shortly after leaving the medieval spa town behind, you’ll walk through the pretty Bermaña Valley to reach Santa Mariña church. Once you reach Cortiñas, it’s downhill almost all the way through the Valga woods and over the Ulla River to the intriguing town of Padrón, where you’ll find many references to the legend of St. James.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Walk from Padron to Santiago
Distance: 25 km (15.5 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Today, there are inevitably several periods of road walking, but these are interspersed with stretches of peaceful woodland. Of note are the Romanesque church of Santa Mária de Iria and the Marian shrine at A Escravitude. Ancient oak trees and a remarkable stone cross add to the charm of Parada de Francos. Follow Rua Franco all the way to Praza do Obradoiro to reach the awe-inspiring cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, prepare for your onward journey. If you have time, explore the old city of Santiago de Compostela before you leave.
Meals: Breakfast
Like what you see but it’s not quite a perfect fit?
Simply get in touch to tell us what you’re looking for. We’re happy to make changes to create your ideal holiday.
For more itinerary suggestions, please consult our specialist Portuguese Camino de Santiago website: www.portugueseway.com
Map
Portuguese Coastal Way (Last 100km)
GENERAL CONDITIONS
Duration: 7 nights | 6 walking days
Tour type: Self-guided
Nº of people: From 1
Walking grade: Moderate
Total walking distance: 126 km | 78 miles
Region: Galicia
Highlights: Historical cities, ancient coastal pilgrim trails, valleys, rivers, iconic bridges, beautiful churches, chapels and roadside shrines, forests and farmland, authentic villages, rural lifestyles, regional dishes, spa town.
Available: From 1st March to 31st October
Price per person
Low season: March, April, May and October
> In double room occupancy: 690 euros
> Single room supplement: 340 euros
Mid season: June and September
> In double room occupancy: 730 euros
> Single room supplement: 360 euros
High season: July and August
> In double room occupancy: 770 euros
> Single room supplement: 390 euros
What’s included?
- 7 Nights of accommodation with breakfast included;
- Luggage transfer between accommodations (1 bag per person – maximum 15 kg/bag);
- Roadbook with tips, maps and detailed information about the way (in English);
- Pilgrim Kit: Credencial (passport) and Vieira (shell);
- Welcome Kit and pre-departure information;
- Pre-tour briefing;
- 24/7 Emergency support.
What’s not included?
- Arrival and departure transfers; Lunches and dinners; Insurance; Tourist taxes; Personal equipment; Other personal expenses; All items not mentioned in the “Included”.
Optional extra services:
- Extra nights in Porto (3-star hotel): On request.
- Extra nights in Santiago (3-star hotel): On request.
- Upgrade for 4-star and 5-star hotels and Paradores: On request.
- Transfer from Porto city/airport to Baiona: 220 euros for up to 3 people; 280 euros for 4 to 7 people.
- Transfer from Vigo airport to Baiona: 70 euros for up to 3 people; 105 euros for 4 to 7 people.
- Transfer from hotel to airport in Santiago de Compostela: 55 euros for up to 3 people; 80 euros for 4 to 7 people.
- Transfer from Santiago de Compostela to Porto city/airport: 360 euros for up to 3 people; 420 euros for 4 to 7 people.
- Transfer from hotel to airport in Porto: 50 euros for up to 3 people; 80 euros for 4 to 7 people.
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?
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 countryside of rural Galicia is beautiful, with many traditional villages and stone buildings. It’s important to us that guests respect and appreciate the unspoilt nature of this area by doing nothing to harm it. The fact that they are on foot is already a significant advantage in terms of having negligible environmental impact. Still, we also clarify their responsibilities in the travellers’ code of conduct, which explains how to leave no trace by avoiding common Camino practices such as cairn-building.
To reduce the amount of plastic and waste, we recommend that our clients bring refillable water bottles. Tap water is perfectly safe, and there are fountains along the route where clients can top up their supplies with drinking water. We combine luggage transfers with those of other clients and use a local service to minimise the amount of road transport for this part of our service.
Community
The route passes through numerous small villages and towns far off the tourist trail. Many local shops, cafés, and restaurants rely on the income generated by pilgrims like our clients. We recommend independently owned local restaurants and tasty regional dishes throughout the journey, e.g., oysters in Arcade and the Galician empanada (pie).
We encourage clients to make the most of the opportunities to talk to Portuguese and Galician people and learn something about their culture, which is why our roadbooks provide advice about how to interact, causing offence, as well as some helpful phrases in Portuguese and Spanish.
Our office is in the small town of Ponte de Lima in Northern Portugal, not far from the starting point for this programme. Our location and specialist local knowledge enable us to rapidly organise local help and support to any of our clients as required. It is vital to us and our clients that our staff feel valued and respected, so we make sure they are fairly recompensed for their dedication to our clients and the community.
DIGITAL DETAILED ITINERARY
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