A route full of history, culture and traditions!
The Portuguese Camino de Santiago, also called “Way to Santiago” or “St. James Way”, starts in Porto and enters Galicia via the City of Tui. In Portugal the cities of Porto, Barcelos, Ponte de Lima and Valença do Minho are some of the highlights of the journey.
In Tui, the Cathedral offers the pilgrims a large but intimate place for reflection. Continuing along the route we come to las Gándaras de Budiño (O Porriño), an environmental paradise. In the Province of Pontevedra historical heritage becomes the major attraction. The town of Padrón, steeped in legends, reveals the origins of the Jacobean traditions as do O Santiaguiño do Monte (where Saint James preached) and Iria Flavia, home of the Bishop Teodomiro the discoverer of the Apostle’s tomb.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Walk through a thousand years of history on the worlds’ grandest historical and religious trail, retracing the steps of countless pilgrims.
- Discover the historic city centre of Porto, a World Heritage site, and indulge in the combination of ancient and contemporary architecture.
- Explore the Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architecture of Santiago de Compostela, classified by UNESCO as World Heritage.
- Relish in the rich and varied gastronomy of Northern Portugal and Galicia, accompanied by locally produced wines.
- Enjoy the sounds of nature and exquisite beauty, and witness age-old traditions when walking through the Portuguese countryside.
Itinerary
Meeting with a member of our team for a briefing and to collect the documentation.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (17 km / 10,6 Miles)
→ Transfer: Porto – Vilar do Pinheiro*
On the first stage you can appreciate the progressive transition from urban into rural areas. You will go through Vilarinho and cross the medieval bridge over the Ave before reaching the village of Arcos where the first stage ends.
→ Accommodation: Country Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (20 km / 12,5 Miles)
You will start walking in “Arcos” in direction to the old village of “Rates”. You pass the villages of Courel and “Pedra Furada”, and then on rural roads you will reach the town of Barcelos where the stage ends.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (15 km / 9.3 Miles)
You will leave from Barcelos, and following minor roads you will enter in the rural area and cross the small villages of Tamel and Aboim in direction to the river Neiva.
→ Accommodation: Country Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (18 km / 11,1 Miles)
The day starts crossing the river Neiva, by a medieval bridge just before the village of Balugães. This is a day of rural roads, and a magnificent journey until reaching Ponte de Lima, where you will be dazzled by the stunning landscape.
→ Accommodation: Country Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (22 km / 13,6 Miles)
Leave the medieval town of Ponte de Lima and go into the rural world. On the middle of the stage you will arrive to Labruja mountain, 2 uphill km who are the most demanding of the whole Way. From the top to the end of the stage it is a easy walk.
→ Accommodation: Country Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (13 km / 8 Miles)
Start leaving the valley of the river Coura and gentle climb to “S. Bento da Porta Aberta”. Continue to Fontoura through fields and brushwoods until we reach the fortified town of Valença.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (20 km / 12,4 Miles)
Cross Rio Minho and enter Spain. Walk through the streets of the medieval town of Tui until reach its famous Cathedral. From Tui follow the Valley of the River Louro until reach the city of O Porriño.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 2*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (22 km / 13,6 Miles)
In this stage you will pass close to the Pazo de Mós, Santiaguiño de Antas and Chan das Pipas before reach the centre of Redondela. Continue to Outeiro de Penas, and then finally you reach Arcade.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 2*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (13 km / 8 Miles)
Leave Arcade in direction to Pontesampayo and then to one of the most beautiful stretches of the Caminho: the very old by-ways which climb up the slope of Canicouva until Cacheiro, where the track widens again, until reach Pontevedra.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (22 km / 13,6 Miles)
Start this stage walking from the old city of Pontevedra to the millennial bridge, O Burgo, over the Lérez River. Continue along the beautiful Valley of the Gandra River until San Mauro and from there, until Caldas de Reis.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 2*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (19 km / 11,7 Miles)
Leave Caldas de Reis along some enchanting stretches, following a path that leads you to the church of Santa Maria de Carracedo and then you will cross a particularly luxuriant landscape along the side of the Valga River until Padron.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ (25 km / 15,5 Miles)
The last stage starts leaving Padron through Galician villages until the magnificent sanctuary of Nossa Señora da Escravitute. Continue for Teo and following broad streets and narrower shortcuts you finally arrive to the suburbs of Santiago that lead us through a labyrinth of streets to the Cathedral of Santiago.
→ Accommodation: Hotel 3*
→ Meals: Breakfast
→ After breakfast: end of our services
