Camino Portugues

Day 1: Arrival
Start your Camino portugues on the coastal route at your pilgrim hostel in Porto.

Day 2: Porto - Matosinhos (approx. 7.0 miles / approx. 3.5 hours / very easy)
On your first day of your pilgrimage, you will take a shorter boarding route from Porto to Matosinhos. This gives you time to get in the rythm of your pilgrimage and if you didn't have enough time for Porto on the day of your arrival, you can still enjoy the city of port wine today.

Day 3: Matosinhos - Vila do Conde (approx. 13.7 miles / approx.6.5 hours / easy)
From here the Way of St. James is well signposted out to the sea, along the coast often on wooden plank path to Vila do Conde. Don't miss out on jumping into the sea.

Day 4: Vila do Conde - Apúlia (approx. 10.7 miles / approx.5 hours / easy)
After leaving Vila do Conde, your pilgrim's stick will lead you across the beautiful beach of the Atlantic coast, through the former fishing village of Póvoa de Varzim, which has been developed in the meantime into a small tourist town. For about 7 kilometers we continue on the wooden plank path along the shore to Aguçadoura, from where it goes through forests and fields and smaller towns into the green Portuguese countryside to Fão, over the Cávado river, back to the coast through the nature park Litoral North to Apúlia.

Day 5: Apúlia - Anha (approx. 16.2 miles / approx.8 hours / middle)
From Apúlia you make a pilgrimage to Esposende and leave the coast for today's stage. You hike into the beautiful green interior of the country and can enjoy the scent of eucalyptus, especially in spring. But you will also pass a few small Portuguese villages.

Day 6: Anha - Vila Praia de Âncora (approx. 14.6 miles / approx.7 hours / middle)
From Anha it is only a few kilometers to Viana do Costelo. It is one of the most beautiful places on the Portuguese coastal path. The beautiful old town invites you to take a long break. Take this opportunity to visit the Santuário de Santa Luzia church, which is one of the most beautiful in Portugal.
We continue slightly uphill towards Vila Praia de Ancora. On today's stage you will also be able to look down on the beautiful sea from above and experience the sound of the sea even from this distance.

Day 7: Vila Praia de Âncora - Oia (approx. 15.5 miles / approx.7.5 hours / middle)
Today your pilgrimage on the Camino portugues coastal route takes you to Caminha, which is about 8 km away and also the last Portuguese city. Enjoy the wonderful, delicious Pastel de Nata in one of the beautiful cafés in the city center.
You leave Portugal by ferry directly in the port for about €1.50. But be careful during the pandemic, the ferry runs out and small private taxi boats are offered for around €5. There are notices at the port where you can find them. Or you walk back a bit and leave the shore on your right until you reach the boat docks, where the taxi boats are also signposted.
After crossing the river Miño, it goes steeply up the small mountain of Monte Santa Tegra, further to A Guarda, along the coast until you reach the small fishing village of Oia - after a total of almost 25 km. Here you can visit the Cistercian monastery of Santa María.

Day 8: Oia - A Ramallosa (approx. 13.9 miles / approx.6.5 hours / easy)
Today it is a somewhat more relaxed stage. In the morning you walk your pilgrimage along the cliffs, past the Cabo Silleiro lighthouse and the Parador Monte Real Castle to the port of Baiona. This is the first European port where the discovery of America became known. Enjoy your well-deserved break in the old town of Baiona, which was still an important trading center until the late 19th century. From here it is only about 1.5 hours to the end of today's stage.

Day 9: A Ramallosa - Vigo (approx. 14.0 miles / approx. 7 hours / easy)
"Through small villages and forests, it goes over various hills from which you can enjoy a beautiful panorama of the Ria of Vigo and the Islands of the Gods (the Islas Cies).
The Bay of Ría de Vigo is densely populated, you walk comfortably along the beautiful beaches until you reach the large port of Vigo. If you still have the strength for some sightseeing today, why not visit Berbes, a small fishing village, Castro de Vigo and of course the old town of Vigo."

Day 10: Vigo - Redondela (approx. 9.9 miles / approx.5 hours / very easy)
Today it's a leisurely 16-kilometre ride along the coast to Redondela, where the Portuguese Coastal Path meets the main path.

Day 11: Redondela - Pontevedra (approx. 12.2 miles / approx.6 hours / easy)
The path now becomes a bit hilly and leads through many forests to the capital of Galicia, to Pontevedra, where you will have enough time today for the beautiful old town and cathedral and also the church Capela da Virxe Peregrina, whose floor plan is the image of the scallop shell. Let yourself be surprised.

Day 12: Pontevedra - Caldas de Reis (approx. 13.1 miles / approx.6.5 hours / very easy)
Today's topic is diversity. Because today's stage leads through the beauty of Galicia with its beautiful forests, meadows and small rivers to the thermal springs of Caldas de Reis.

Day 13: Caldas de Reis - Padrón (approx. 11.6 miles / approx.5.5 hours / easy)
It is your penultimate stage of your pilgrimage on the Camino portugues coastal route. Enjoy the picturesque, hilly landscape of Galicia one last time.
Padrón is known for the legend that the ship docked here after carrying the body of Saint James. The small, famous green Pimientos de Padrón also come from here.

Day 14: Padrón - Santiago de Compostela (approx. 15.1 miles / approx.7 hours / easy)
Your last stage bids you farewell with the beautiful fragrant eucalyptus and pine forests.
After 2 weeks, coming from the south, you will reach the historic old town with its imposing cathedral. If you like, crown your Camino with the pilgrim mass in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
Celebrate your Camino portugues in the atmospheric streets of Santiago tonight.

Day 15: Santiago de Compostela
Relax and discover the diversity of one the most important old town in Europe.
You have the whole day to maybe visit the pilgrim museum or even the rooftop of the cathedral.

Day 16: Departure
Today your pilgrimage on the Camino portugues coastal route concludes, it's time to say goodbye and, if possible, slowly enjoy your way home.
Alternatively, we recommend that you continue your trip to the "end of the world" - to Cape Finisterre, which is not quite the westernmost point of Europe.

Apparel    
    backpack (incl. rain protection): 35-50 l - max. 2 Kg/ 4.4 lbs
    sleeping bag (alterntively a thinner sleeping bag made of silk or cotton) - 0.2-1.0 Kg/ 0.4-2.2 lbs
    2 pair of trekking pants: 1 convertable with zipper & 1 shorts
    2 shirts (functional material such as merino wool)
    1 long sleeve (best merino wool)
    2 pairs of hiking socks (compression socks are also recommended)
    (possibly also nylon stockings - under the hiking socks against blisters)
    2 funtional underpants
    hiking boots (no seakers)
    1 sweater
    flipflops or crocs and/ or sandals
    rain jacket & pants (or poncho) - max. 0,5 Kg/ 1.1 lbs
    wind stopper
    small travel towel
    sun hat
    possibly tent & camping mat - max. 2 Kg/ 4.4 lbs
    poss. swimming clothes (for the portugese and spanish Camino de la Costa)
    
Sanitary Articles    
    washbag (or big Zip-Lock-Bag)
    shower gel (small travel version)
    toothpaste (small travel version) & dental floss
    toothbrush
    disinfectant, needle & thread (best to treat blisters) or blister pads
    deer cream (to prevent blisters) - 50-100 ml
    magnesium
    sun cream - 50-100 ml
    deodorant
    headache pills (preferably Ibuprofen 400)
    razor
    ear plugs
    tissues
    tiger balm
    
Technical Equipment    
    headlamp
    ebook-reader
    phone
    camera
    pocket knife
    
Documents & Money    
    purse
    cash
    credit card
    passport (for non-europeans) or ID
    train tickets
    health insurance ID (or travel health insurance for non-europeans)
    emergency phone numbers of your insurance and bank
    
Miscellaneous    
    Pilgrim Guide & Itinerary
    Pilgrim’s Credencial
    diary & pen
    St. James's scallop
    sunglasses
    drinking system (e.g. camel bag) - max. 2 l
    zip lock bags or 10 liter freezer bags (for the modular pack system)
    first aid kit
    trekking poles or hiking/ pilgrim stick
    stone as symbol (especially for the Camino Francés)

Services included:

• Accomodation with breakfast (in either single resp. double room with shower/wc in simple to medium category)
• Pilgrim´s Starter Kit (Pilgrim's Guide, Pilgrim's Pass, Pilgrim's Shell, description of stages)
• Luggage transportation service (exclusion of luggage transport upon request)
• Typical galician cheese tasting in the old town of Santiago de Compostela
• 24h emergency number
• Transfers
   

Dates:
All year/ best travel period from the beginning of April until the mid of October.

Add-on:
Camino Finisterre afterwards within about 3-4 additional days.

Notes
You can choose your travel period individually. We recommend a travel time between mid-April to mid-October. Please try to register your trip with us up to 6 weeks before departure.
Arrival arranged independently on your own. We would be happy to help you find a suitable train connection.
Transfers to/from the train station are not included unless otherwise stated. On request, we would be happy to organize a transfer from/to the train station or airport (price for a maximum of 3 people with luggage). Upon request, we can help you book a private transfer for departure. Otherwise, we recommend taking a taxi or public transport to your first (or from your last) accommodation. For more details see the recommendations in our itinerary.
Changes to the pilgrimage route according to individual wishes are possible, such as stage combinations for instance. Price on request.
Remember your identity card or passport.
We recommend - depending on the level of difficulty - to ensure that you are in good physical condition. Sure-footed mountaineering boots are also necessary. A head for heights is also advantageous.
Please note the current entry and health regulations and recommendations, according to which a corona vaccination is also essential.
Take a look at the health and entry regulations of your travel country.
There is no minimum number of participants.
The organizer of this trip is SLOWTRAVEL.