Before you begin your Portuguese Coastal Way to Santiago, pay a visit to the 12th century Porto Cathedral and take time to explore the city. Transfer to Matosinhos to walk alongside the ocean towards the pretty old town of Vila do Conde, with a lace-making tradition and strong naval history. The coastal towns of Povoa da Varzim, Esposende and Vila Praia de Âncora offer particularly fresh seafood. Viana do Castelo gives you the chance to explore its medieval history and detour to visit Santa Luzia basilica for magnificent views. Then weave your way through Portuguese countryside and back to the Atlantic Portuguese coast near Caminha, just across the river from Spain.
A scenic ferry ride takes you to A Guarda for a beautiful stretch of unspoiled coastline towards the attractive town of Baiona and its tapas bars. Between Vigo and Redondela, you’ll be able to see the Ria de Vigo lagoon, dotted with the Cies islands and floating mussel farms. Meet fellow pilgrims as you merge with the Portuguese Central Way of St James in Redondela. Take time to enjoy Pontevedra’s charming historical center and relax in one of its attractive squares. More forests, fields, rivers, villages and valleys lie between here and the spa town of Caldas de Reis. Explore Padrón, its peppers and its links to St. James before the final journey to Santiago de Compostela.
Day 1: Porto
One member of our time will meet you at the hotel to welcome you and provide a full briefing and all the documentation you’ll need.
Stay in a 3-star hotel
Day 2: Porto (Matosinhos) ⇒ Vila do Conde (21 km / 12.9 miles)
Start the Portuguese Coastal Camino de Santiago in Matosinhos after transferring from Porto. Wooden boardwalks and pavements will lead you along the coastline via a series of wide sandy beaches, nature reserves and fishing villages to the historical coastal town of Vila do Conde.
Stay in a 3-star hotel
Day 3: Vila do Conde ⇒ Esposende (25 km / 15.4 miles)
Cross the residential areas that connect Vila do Conde with the seaside resort town of Povoa de Varzim. Spend a significant portion of the day walking alongside the coast between flowers and sand dunes and across beaches then head inland towards Esposende via market gardens, forest and villages and a bridge across the wide Cávado estuary.
Stay in a 3-star hotel
Day 4: Esposende ⇒ Viana do Castelo (23.5 km / 14.5 miles)
After leaving the coast behind, you’ll pass through various villages and some delightful sections of woodland and rivers. The exceedingly long Eiffel bridge into Viana do Castelo, an attractive town famous for its ancient and contemporary architecture offers magnificent views over the Lima valley and estuary with views of distant mountain ranges.
Stay in a 3-star hotel
Day 5: Viana do Castelo ⇒ Vila Praia de Ancora (19.5 km / 12.2 miles)
Today’s journey is largely inland, with occasional coastal views from a string of hillside villages. Enjoy the shade of the eucalyptus forest as you make your way uphill before descending to the low-key beachside resort town of Vila Praia de Âncora.
Stay in a 4-star hotel
Day 6: Vila Praia de Ancora ⇒ A Guarda (14 km / 8.7 miles)
A level coastal path connects Âncora with Moleda and then continues to the charming town of Caminha. If there’s time, take a detour through the pine forest beside the beach before catching the ferry across the River Minho to the peaceful fishing town of A Guarda in Spain, a great place to tuck into fresh seafood.
Stay in a 3-star hotel
Day 7: A Guarda ⇒ Oia (14 km / 8.7 miles)
Try to make time for a detour to the Santa Tegra Celtic settlement before leaving A Guarda – the views are spectacular. Follow the Camino through the town center and out towards the rugged coastline. Use coastal paths, forest tracks and tarmac roads to reach the small beachfront village of Oia, dominated by its 12th century monastery.
Stay in a 3-star hotel
Day 8: Oia ⇒ Baiona (17.5 km / 10.9 miles)
The day begins with tiny fields, scattered houses and a few villages along the coast before a change of scenery and terrain as you cut across the mountains. A final descent through the countryside and outlying villages bring you into the medieval center of Baiona via two ancient churches.
Stay in a 3-star hotel
Day 9: Baiona ⇒ Vigo (25.5 km / 15.8 miles)
Once you leave the residential areas around Baiona, the terrain becomes ever more rural with villages and patches of woodland. There is a brief section along a busy road after which you’ll back among villages on the approach to Vigo. The Camino takes you through Castrelos Park to avoid walking through the city.
Stay in a 3-star hotel
Day 10: Vigo ⇒ Arcade (22 km / 13.5 miles)
Walk along Vigo’s main shopping street and out of the city onto a long road that connects a string of peaceful hillside villages with views across the city, estuary and port. Around halfway into the journey you’ll exchange houses for trees before the steep descent towards Redondela. Climb through the woods before heading down to Arcade, a riverside town famous for its oysters.
Stay in a 3-star hotel
Day 11: Arcade ⇒ Pontevedra (13 km / 8 miles)
Leave Arcade via its iconic bridge. Follow ancient stone paths up through another forest then take a scenic detour along the River Tomeza to approach Pontevedra surrounded by birdsong and greenery instead of traffic. Explore the historical city center, its atmospheric squares and tapas bars.
Stay in a 3-star hotel
Day 12: Pontevedra ⇒ Caldas de Reis (22 km / 13.6 miles)
Today’s walk to Caldas to Reis takes you through attractive countryside and a section of forest to the riverside spa town of Caldas de Reis. Bathe your weary feet in the thermal spring when you reach the main square.
Stay in a 2-star hotel
Day 13: Caldas de Reis ⇒ Padron (19 km / 11.5 miles)
Begin the day with an easy ascent through a series of small villages and the delightful Valga forest. Several impressive churches and stone crosses line the route to Padrón, the riverside town where St. James’s body is said to have been laid to rest by his faithful followers.
Stay in a 3-star hotel
Day 14: Padron ⇒ Santiago (23 km / 14.3 miles)
The final stage of the Camino is largely through the countryside with a pretty area of woodland. Only the final few kilometers are in busy urban areas and once you enter the ancient narrow streets of the narrow medieval center of Santiago, the atmosphere changes on your approach to the cathedral square.
Stay in a 3-star hotel
Day 15: Leave Santiago
After breakfast, prepare for your onward journey. If you have time, explore the old city of Santiago de Compostela before you leave.
* Notes: After breakfast on your second day in Porto you will meet a member of our team who will drive you to Matosinhos to start your Portuguese Coastal Way of St James. By doing this, you avoid the busy, noisy roads through urban areas of Porto and its suburbs. If you wish you can start walking in Porto – contact us for more information.
El Camino de Santiago Walk Map
If you would like any additional nights in Porto or Santiago, please don’t hesitate to ask for a quote.
Upgrade for 4*, 5* Hotels and Paradores available
You can choose to start in Viana do Castelo / Caminha / Baiona and Vigo in case you want to do a shorter version of the Portuguese Coastal Way to Santiago.
You will start your return trip from Santiago on your own or book a comfortable private transfer to Porto or Lisbon through us.
For more itinerary suggestions, please consult our specialist Portuguese Camino de Santiago site: www.portugueseway.com
Self-guided | 9 days | from 855€
See the best of northern Portugal and Galicia as you cycle the Portuguese Coastal Way to Santiago along the coast and through gloriously green countryside. Between the fascinating cities of Porto and Santiago de Compostela, you’ll discover hamlets, pretty towns and bags of history.
Self-guided | 8 days | from 695€
This self-guided Cycle the Portuguese Camino de Santiago follows the ancient pilgrim route from Porto to Santiago de Compostela. Experience the natural beauty of northern Portugal and Spain and discover their long histories as you ride between villages, towns and notable cities.
Self-guided | 14 days | from 830€
Walk the ancient pilgrim route of the Portuguese Camino de Santiago. Luggage transfers and 4-star hotels make the challenge enjoyable.
15 days / 14 nights
Self-guided
From 1
Moderate
260km
Minho and Galicia
From 1st March to 1st November
In double room: 895€
Supplement for single accommodation: 340€
Supplement for June and September: 70€
Supplement for July and August: 150€
Self-guided | 9 days | from 855€
See the best of northern Portugal and Galicia as you cycle the Portuguese Coastal Way to Santiago along the coast and through gloriously green countryside. Between the fascinating cities of Porto and Santiago de Compostela, you’ll discover hamlets, pretty towns and bags of history.
Self-guided | 8 days | from 695€
This self-guided Cycle the Portuguese Camino de Santiago follows the ancient pilgrim route from Porto to Santiago de Compostela. Experience the natural beauty of northern Portugal and Spain and discover their long histories as you ride between villages, towns and notable cities.
Self-guided | 14 days | from 830€
Walk the ancient pilgrim route of the Portuguese Camino de Santiago. Luggage transfers and 4-star hotels make the challenge enjoyable.
