Coastal Camino Portugues

This first section of the Camino Portugues Coastal from Porto to Oia takes you along the sealine past beaches and spectacular ocean views on flat boardwalks. It honours historical figures, including the city’s native son and one of the patrons of Portuguese exploration, Henry the Navigator! Following the Camino de Santiago from Porto in Portugal​, you can start by exploring the compact historic city centre with its many cafes, ornate religious buildings and narrow shopping streets. Then walk out past Viana de Castelo and its surrounding beaches and forested hills on the road to Oia.

This second section from Oia to Santiago de Compostela takes you along the coast around to the Vigo estuary. You will get the opportunity to stay in the beautiful coastal cities of Baiona and Vigo before rejoining the traditional Camino Portugues from Redondela to Santiago de Compostela. This part of Portugal's Camino de Santiago coastal route​ is known for its seafood, in particular its oysters and scallops. Wash it down with the local Albarino wine for a true gastronomic delight.

This second section from Oia to Santiago de Compostela takes you along the coast around to the Vigo estuary. You will get the opportunity to stay in the beautiful coastal cities of Baiona and Vigo before rejoining the traditional Camino Portuguese from Redondela to Santiago de Compostela. This region is known for its seafood, in particular its oysters and scallops. Wash it down with the local Albarino wine for a true gastronomic delight.

The Variante Espiritual de Camino de Santiago from Oia is a lesser-known yet profoundly rewarding pilgrimage route that diverges from the traditional Camino Portuguese trail. Starting in the charming coastal town of Oia, situated in the Galicia region of Spain, this trail offers pilgrims a spiritually enriching experience. The journey begins amidst the quaint beauty of Oia, where the sound of crashing waves and the salty breeze of the Atlantic Ocean create a serene and contemplative atmosphere. As pilgrims set forth on this path less traveled, they leave behind the bustling crowds and embark on a more secluded and introspective adventure. The route meanders through picturesque landscapes, lush forests, and rolling hills, providing pilgrims with ample opportunities to connect with nature and find solace in its beauty. The route's origins stem from the execution of the Apostle James in the year 44 AD. Following his death, a group of Spanish disciples clandestinely placed his body in a boat made of stone and, guided by angels, sailed to the mouth of the Ulla River and landed at Iria Flavia (present-day Padrón). From there, the disciples carried the body of the Apostle James to the site of what is now Santiago del Compostela.

This walking route is an alternative to the traditional Camino Portuguese which traverses an inland path to Santiago de Compostela. The Camino Portuguese Coastal Route, as its name suggests, takes you up the coastline of northwest Portugal. It crosses the border into the coastal region of Galicia, before moving back inland to join the traditional Camino Portuguese to Santiago de Compostela.