Guided 2025: Oia Variante Espiritual with Boat Journey

Relax on your first night in this beautiful coastal village, which is also home to the Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Oia and typical Galician restaurants and cafes.

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.

On this trip, we will transfer you from Vigo to the start of your walk today in Redondela (10km from Vigo). Once dropped in Redondela, you will join the traditional Portuguese Way. You will start seeing more pilgrims along the Camino. You will pass through typical Galician landscape with rural areas and lush green Eucaliptus forests. Before the halfway mark, you will cross Ponte Sanpaio where Napoleon troupes were defeated.

The arrival into Pontevedra offer a slightly shorter but along the road option or a slightly longer shaded option. Your final stop of the day has a lovely center with pedestrian streets and lovely cider bar/restaurant behind the church.

One of the highlights along this stretch is the town of Combarro, renowned for its unique Galician architecture and the presence of ‘horreos’ (traditional granaries). Exploring the narrow cobblestone streets and admiring the horreos against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean offers pilgrims a taste of the local culture and heritage.

Approaching Armenteira, the landscape opens up to reveal breathtaking vistas of vineyards and olive groves. Armenteira itself is a tranquil village, featuring the impressive Armenteira Monastery. The monastery offers a sense of spiritual refuge and has played a significant role in the region’s religious and cultural heritage.

From the peaceful village of Armenteira, the path leads through vineyards and verdant landscapes, creating a picturesque setting for walkers to enjoy. Continuing on, the path eventually approaches the coastline of the Ria de Arousa, one of Galicia’s stunning coastal inlets.

As the journey progresses, walkers will reach the town of Vilanova de Arousa, a coastal town known for its maritime. Pilgrims can experience the town’s coastal ambiance, explore its charming streets, and savour the local seafood delicacies.

Starting from the coastal town of Vilanova de Arousa, pilgrims embark on a boat journey that embraces the essence of the Camino. After a short 2km walk, pilgrims board a boat to sail the Ria de Arousa, relishing the mesmerising views of sparkling waters and lush landscapes before navigating the Ulla River.

Their boat journey concludes at Pontecesures, where they set foot on land once more. From there, pilgrims follow well-marked trails and country roads to reach the town of Padrón. This town holds a special place in the annals of the Camino de Santiago. Notably, Padrón is believed to be the landing site of the Apostle St James’ boat. Additionally, it is the birthplace of the renowned poet and clergyman, Rosalía de Castro. The combined weight of religious, historical, and cultural significance makes Padrón an enriching stop for every pilgrim.

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.