Full Camino Portugues Coastal Route

The entire old city of Porto became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996 and there’s plenty going on here to warrant that title. Set on the bank of the Douro River near the Atlantic Ocean, the city is perhaps best known globally for its famous Port wine, wine that goes down very well on the countless terraces and restaurants in Porto!

From the city centre of Porto you will head out along the Douro River to the Atlantic coastline, which you will follow north. To shorten the day you can take the metro from the city centre to the coast to start from there. Passing by tranquil beach resorts, you may be tempted more than once to dip your toes in the sea. By the end of the day you will reach the coastal villages of Vila do Conde and Povoa de Varzim.

Continuing to follow the coastline, you will pass glorious beaches and coastal towns. The second part of the day will see you move slightly inland; however, there is also an option to go back along the coast rather than through the Parque Natural do Litoral Norte. Crossing the Cavado River you will arrive into the city of Esposende.

Passing by lighthouses whilst leaving Esposende you will continue along an inland route that has some gentle climbs. Today will see you on a combination of dirt paths, forest tracks and some tarmac roads as you weave your way through hills past beautiful churches to the River Lima. Crossing the main bridge over the river you will arrive into Viano do Castelo and your stop for the night.

A gentle walk along the coast today will take you to Villa Praia de Ancora. Here you can relax and, if you haven’t already been tempted, dip your toes in the cool Atlantic Ocean and sample some fresh seafood. The crab and mackerel are particularly notable here.

Continuing onto the beach at Praia de Moledo, then walking through a forest, you will come back to a boardwalk before arriving into Caminha. This is the last town before crossing the border to Spain via a ferry to A Guardia. On your arrival you can walk around the peninsula and then stop for a coffee or lunch with magnificent beach scenery before heading to the
small village of Oia. The walk along the coastline is easy.

From Oia, you will walk along a coastal footpath away from the main road. After 10km, you will continue along gorgeous coastline on boardwalk with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Cies Islands.

The way out of the stunning town of Baiona will have you alongside a sandy beach for most of the day. You will have regular opportunities to stop in cafes along the beach. You will then enter the very active city of Vigo, which will reach after a 3km walk through the harbour.

This relatively short day mostly an uphill walk going out of Vigo, for which you are rewarded with wonderful views of the city and harbour. As this is not a very long day walking you may want to spend some time in Vigo and explore the bay area which is one of the settings for Jules Verne’s novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. It is here that Captain Nemo pilfered his wealth to fund his submarine Nautilus from the galleons sunk by the British during the Battle of Vigo Bay in 1702.

Leaving Redondela, which is known as the Village of Viaducts due to the two 19th Century railroad viaducts in the town, you will proceed to the village of Arcade. From here you cross a Romanesque bridge where Napoleon was defeated by the Spanish during the War of Independence. Arriving into Pontevedra you will head through the narrow streets before reaching the 13th Century Church of Santa Maria. Of interest to pilgrims is the Capela da Peregrina which, although it appears round, is actually in the shape of a scallop shell.

Passing chestnut groves, the Camino leaves Pontevedra and runs parallel to the railway for a while. After passing through the hamlet of Ponte Cabras, we encounter the rectory of Santa Maria de Alba, tucked away among pine and eucalyptus trees. Emerging from the dense woods of Lombo da Maceira, you’ll see a statue of St James, his staff pointing the way to proceed. Passing the lovely village of Tibo, with its fountain, public washing place and stone cross, brings us to Caldas de Reis.

Exiting the town, we take a bridge over the River Umia that leads us to a fountain of hot spring water that has lent the town its name since Roman times. Entering the woods once more, the Camino makes its way gently uphill to the hamlet of Santa Marina. Going downhill, we cross the river Fontenlo. Finally, we catch up again with the river as we arrive in Padron. Padron is famous for being the first land sighted by the ship bearing the body of St James.

The Camino passes through many small hamlets before arriving at the Baroque sanctuary of A Esclavitude. On a hilltop to the left stands the mysterious ruins of the hillfort Castro Lupario. A few kilometres later, we come to the oldest wayside crossing in Galicia. As we near Agro dos Monteiros, it’s now possible to see the spires of the cathedral in Santiago. Finally, the Camino passes by the ruins of a castle known as A Rocha Vella, before entering the city of the Apostle.

After breakfast, we bid you farewell.
If you wish to stay in the area, we recommend that you:
– Take your time and visit the magnificent historic centre of Santiago.
– Continue with us along the wild Camino Fisterra (Finisterre Way), and stay overnight at the hotel in the lighthouse!
– Or take a bus to Fisterra to visit the unspoilt sandy coves and beaches of the west coast. With very few tourists, you are guaranteed a very special experience. Buses depart from Santiago Bus Station at 9am and 10am. Buses return to Santiago at 4:45pm and 7pm. The journey takes 3 hours.