Portuguese Coastal Way Hike

Introduction
Minho Portugal
The historical and spiritual Portuguese Coast Camino de Santiago offers a wide range of scenery, experiences and flavours.

The landscapes you’ll encounter in Portugal and Spain are varied and beautiful, as are the inland stretches where you will wend your way through woodland, farmland, country villages and historical towns through Northern Portugal and Galicia. You’ll witness the cultural contrast between seafaring people, traditional village life and the comparative bustle of the ancient towns and cities along the Camino.

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. We will transfer you to Matosinhos where you will walk alongside the ocean towards the pretty old town of Vila do Conde, with a lace-making tradition and strong naval history. 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.

Accomodation

Accommodations
Your package includes accommodation in 2 and 3* hotels along the way. It is possible to upgrade to 4* and 5* hotels upon request (extra fee).

Accommodation Itinerary - subject to changes based on availability
Night 1: Hotel in Porto
Night 2: Hotel in Vila do Conde
Night 3: Hotel in Esposende
Night 4: Hotel in Viana do Castelo
Night 5: Hotel in Vila Praia de Ancora
Night 6: Hotel in A Guarda
Night 7: Hotel in Oia
Night 8: Hotel in Baiona
Night 9: Hotel in Vigo
Night 10: Hotel in Arcade
Night 11: Hotel in Pontevedra
Night 12: Hotel in Caldas de Reis
Night 13: Hotel in Padron
Night 14: Hotel in Santiago

Room Occupancy
Solo travelers will need to pay a single supplement fee.


Meals
All breakfasts are included. Lunches and Dinners need to be paid extra.

Special diets and dietary restrictions:
We can cater to dietary requirements with advanced notice.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

Itinerary

Sample Itinerary - Subject to changes

Day 1: Arrival to Porto
One member of our team will meet you at the hotel to welcome you and provide a full briefing and all the documentation you’ll need.
Meals included: none
Overnight in 3* hotel in Porto

Day 2: Walk from Porto (Matosinhos) to Vila do Conde
After breakfast you will meet a member of our team who will drive you to Matosinhos to start your hiking journey. By doing this, you avoid the busy, noisy roads through urban areas of Porto and its suburbs. 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.
Hiking about 20 km / 12.4 miles
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in 3* hotel in Vila do Conde

Day 3: Walk from Vila do Conde to Esposende
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.
Hiking about 25 km / 15.4 miles
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in 3* hotel in Esposende

Day 4: Walk from Esposende to Viana do Castelo
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.
Hiking about 23.5 km / 14.5 miles
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in 3* hotel in Viana do Castelo

Day 5: Walk from Viana do Castelo to Vila Praia de Ancora
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.
Hiking about 19 km / 11.8 miles
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in 4* hotel in Vila Praia de Ancora

Day 6: Walk from Vila Praia de Ancora to A Guarda
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.
Hiking about 15 km / 9.3 miles
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in 2* hotel in A Guarda

Day 7: Walk from A Guarda to Oia
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.
Hiking about 13 km / 8 miles
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in 2* hotel in Oia

Day 8: Walk from Oia to Baiona
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.
Hiking about 17.5 km / 10,9 miles
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in 3* hotel in Baiona

Day 9: Walk from Baiona to Vigo
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.
Hiking about 25 km / 15,5 miles
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in 3* hotel in Vigo

Day 10: Walk from Vigo to Arcade
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.
Hiking about 22 km / 13,5 miles
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in 2* hotel in Arcade

Day 11: Walk from Arcade to Pontevedra
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.
Hiking about 13 km / 8 miles
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in 3* hotel in Pontevedra

Day 12: Walk from Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis
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.
Hiking about 22 km / 13.6 miles
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in 2* hotel in Caldas de Reis

Day 13: Walk from Caldas de Reis to Padron
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.
Hiking about 19 km / 11.5 miles
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in 3* hotel in Padron

Day 14: Walk from Padron to Santiago
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.
Hiking about 25 km / 15.5 miles
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in 3* hotel in Santiago

Day 15: Departure
After breakfast, prepare for your onward journey. If you have time, explore the old city of Santiago de Compostela before you leave.
Meals included: Breakfast

Rates and Dates for Portuguese Coastal Way Hike

Dates Note:

Other Info
Meeting: Porto
Airport: Porto Airport
Transfer:

Climate:
                                                Esposende area