Portuguese Camino de Santiago
14 days | from 1.090€
Walk the ancient pilgrim route of the Portuguese Camino de Santiago. Luggage transfers and hotels make the challenge enjoyable.
If you’d instead take your time on your Camino de Santiago and enjoy your surroundings, our Portuguese Easy Camino is designed for you.
Stage lengths range from 7 to 18 kilometres (4.3 to 11.2 miles) per day so that you will have time and energy to explore the places you visit instead of punishing yourself with a more demanding itinerary.
Setting off from the medieval border town of Tui, you will cover the distance required to qualify for your pilgrim passport (Compostela). The 116 km journey is divided into nine walking days that take you through gorgeous forests, fields and villages in the Galician countryside as well as interesting towns and cities such as Pontevedra, the spa town of Caldas de Reis and Padrón, where the boat bearing St. James’ body is said to have come ashore. Santiago de Compostela is a joy to explore, not only for the iconic cathedral but also for its ancient streets.
Opportunities to sample delicious local fare abound, and you’ll discover the joys of tapas served with all manner of drinks, fresh tortillas, succulent seafood, and Padrón peppers.
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival in Tui
When you check into your Tui 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 Tui to Porrino
Distance: 17 km (10.5 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Begin your Easy Camino in the picturesque medieval town of Tui and walk through some outlying villages into charming woodland. Using a detour to avoid Porriño’s industrial zone, you will spend most of the day surrounded by greenery and birdsong.
Accommodation: 2-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Walk from Porriño to Redondela
Distance: 15 km (9.3 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Start the day by walking through a series of villages as you climb steadily to the Chan das Pipas pine forest. Views of the Ria de Vigo estuary accompany your descent into Redondela, famous for its two viaducts and church of St. James.
Accommodation: 2-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Walk from Redondela to Arcade
Distance: 7 km (4.3 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
This is the shortest walking day of your Camino, leaving you with ample time to enjoy the river beach and fresh oysters in Arcade, even if you have a lazy start to the day.
Accommodation: 2-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Walk from Arcade to Pontevedra
Distance: 13 km (8 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
This enjoyable stage follows ancient stone paths through woodland and pretty countryside with a recommended riverside detour to the charismatic centre of Pontevedra, with squares and tapas bars aplenty.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Walk from Pontevedra to San Mauro
Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Exchange the lively city for yet more quiet country lanes and the ancient Roman road. Enjoy the shade of a pleasant woodland section before the day’s walk ends. Transfer back to Pontevedra for the night.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Walk from San Mauro to Caldas de Reis
Distance: 12 km (7.5 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Pick up your Camino where you left off the day before and head downhill, past fields, vineyards, and numerous stone crosses, to the thermal waters awaiting you in the ancient spa town of Caldas de Reis.
Accommodation: 2-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Walk from Caldas de Reis to Padron
Distance: 18 km (11.2 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Start with a gentle climb through attractive countryside, punctuated by hamlets and churches and shaded partly by the Valga forest. End the day in Padrón’s historical centre and discover where St. James is originally said to have been buried.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9: Walk from Padron to Teo
Distance: 11 km (6.8 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
See the beautiful carvings on the Romanesque church of Iria Flavia shortly after leaving Padrón. Walk through more villages and woodland to reach Parada da Francos’s ancient oak grove and stone cross.
Accommodation: 3-star country hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10: Walk from Teo to Santiago de Compostela
Distance: 14 km (8.7 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
The first part of this final stage passes through delightful woodland. Once in the Santiago suburbs, you’ll see the cathedral and city in the distance. Descend through hamlets to cross the River Sar before steadily climbing towards your destination.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11: 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
Easy Caminho de Santiago
GENERAL CONDITIONS
Duration: 10 nights | 9 walking days
Tour type: Self-guided
Nº of people: From 1
Walking grade: Easy
Total walking distance: 115 km | 71.5 miles
Region: Galicia
Highlights: Relaxed pace, time for sightseeing in historical cities, ancient pilgrim trails, Roman roads, rivers, valleys, iconic bridges, beautiful churches, chapels and roadside shrines, forests, farmland, authentic villages, rural lifestyles, regional dishes, spa town, comfortable accommodations close to Camino trail.
Available: From 1st March to 31st October
Price per person
Low season: 01st March to 30th June| 16th September to 31st October
> In double room occupancy: 960 euros
> Single room supplement: 490 euros
High season: 1st July to 15th September
> In double room occupancy: 1.020 euros
> Single room supplement: 510 euros
What’s included?
- 10 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 of the way (in English);
- Private transfer San Mauro – Pontevedra – San Mauro;
- 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 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
This low-impact self-guided walking programme follows the ancient Portuguese Camino de Santiago pilgrim route along quiet country lanes and dirt paths in stunning countryside, interspersed with historical towns and cities in Northern Portugal and Spain. The pace of this itinerary is slow enough to allow clients plenty of time to enjoy their surroundings and connect with nature.
In the information we give our clients, we explain the importance of leaving no trace by not littering or damaging any natural or built heritage they encounter. Since there are plenty of drinking water fountains along the Camino, and the tap water is of good quality, we recommend that our clients bring refillable water bottles and encourage them not to buy disposable ones.
To keep the pace of this programme more relaxed than our standard Camino itinerary, we use as much as possible accommodations that are on or very close to the trail, meaning that transfers are kept to an absolute minimum. Where they are unavoidable because of a lack of suitable accommodation to break up a long distance, we use local taxis to keep the carbon emissions down and keep money in the local economy. Whenever possible, we combine luggage transfers with those of other clients to minimise the amount of road transport. We also encourage clients to either fly out of an airport near Santiago de Compostela or to use public transport to return to Porto.
Community
The route passes through numerous small villages and towns far off the tourist trail. Many of the local shops, cafés, and restaurants rely on the income generated by pilgrims like our clients. We recommend local restaurants and dishes throughout the journey, including the delicious Galician-style octopus and pimientos de Padron.
We encourage clients to seize the opportunity to talk to local people and learn something of their lifestyles. That’s why our info packs provide advice about how to respect local cultures and interact without accidentally offending anyone, as well as some helpful phrases in Portuguese and Spanish. With the relaxed pace of the Easy Camino, there is more time for these rewarding interactions.
Our office is in Ponte de Lima in Northern Portugal, a small town along the Camino route. Our team are from this region and know it intimately. Our location and specialist local knowledge enable us to quickly and smoothly provide local help and support to any of our clients who need it on their journey. It’s fundamental to our business that our staff feel valued and respected and fairly recompensed for their dedication to our clients and the community.
DIGITAL DETAILED ITINERARY
Click on the button below to download the itinerary with day-by-day details, highlights, prices and the respective general conditions.
