Camino Portuguese
Camino Portuguese
Combining the Interior and Coastal Camino de Santiago trails in northern Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, the tour explores the historical wealth and beauty of these borderlands
Enchanting borderlands, coast and rural landscapes en route to Santiago de Compostela!
Using the Caminho Português (in Portuguese)/Camino Portugués (in Spanish) as the backdrop for this culturally rich 7-day tour, we will be following the trails taken by pilgrims heading from Lisbon, Portugal to the tomb of the apostle James in Santiago de Compostela. The riverside, historical town of Vila do Conde (15km from the Porto international airport) will be our launching point for our journey that explores the historical wealth and beauty of these borderlands.
From the city of Porto there are two principal Camino trails heading to Santiago de Compostela: the coastal Camino and the interior Camino. We have selected what we believe to be the best sections of these two trails for this tour. Along the way you will learn many fascinating aspects of Portuguese and Spanish (specifically Galician) history, folk life and culture as well as enjoy the delicious foods and wines of these areas.
Northern Portugal and southern Galicia are both characterized by green rolling hills separated by expansive valleys whose inhabitants have managed to retain their largely rural lifestyles. In both areas we will enjoy the bounty of their gardens, pastures and sea beds as well as their world-famous wines including Port from Porto, Vinho Verde from the river valleys north of Porto and the white Albariño from southern Galicia. The very comfortable accommodations that we have selected will also enhance your enjoyment of the areas as they are conveniently located in the historical quarters where we stay.
Camino Portuguese: From Vila do Conde to Santiago de Compostela
Tour Dates: 17-23 April 2024
Walking Level: Medium. Walks range from flat to rolling terrain with minor ascents and descents (5-15 min without rest stops); while most trails have even walking surfaces not all sections of each trail are groomed. We will be walking on a variety of surfaces included asphalt, cobblestone paths, dirt track and boardwalk through villages, agricultural areas, forests and coastal trails. On some of the days, we can shorten the distances to accommodate walkers who would like to do a 2-3km less.
Tour Length: 7 days & 7 nights (5 nights in Portugal and 2 nights in Spain)
Total Walking Distance: 88 km/54.6mi With Optional Walks: 106km/65.7mi
(In the itinerary everything is optional. If you don't feel like walking any section, of course, that is up to you. If you did all of the walking - scheduled sections plus sections marked optional - then your total distance would be the 'With Optionals' figure).
Tour Start/End Point: The tour starts in Vila do Conde, Portugal and ends in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The town of Vila do Conde is 15Km from the Porto international airport (code: OPO) and easily accessible from Porto city by public transport if you want to visit it before the tour starts. Santiago de Compostela international airport (code: SCQ) would be your closest return airport.
Group size: The tour is limited to a maximum of 15 participants.
Tour Price: 2575E
Single Supplement: TBA
Weather: The region is blessed with mixed Mediterranean (warm and dry) and Atlantic (temperate and humid) climates. In July expect possible temperatures from 16 to 26 C / 61 to 80 F with sunny and partly cloudy skies. Being the Iberian Peninsula`s greenest corner watered by weather off the Atlantic, it is possible to have a rain shower in July or coastal fog in the morning in northern Portugal and Galicia.
What is and isn`t included:
The trip price includes accommodations (double occupancy), all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) each day (except for two dinners), all entry fees, pre-departure information, experienced guides (Nancy & Jose), air-conditioned support vehicle, and all scheduled transportation during the trip.
Tour does not include: Airfare to and from the start/end points is not included nor is required health/travel insurance and transportation to and from the starting (Vila do Conde, Portugal) and ending (Santiago de Compostela, Spain) points. Personal amenities such as drinks and snacks at end of walks or in free time are not included.
Single Supplement: TBA
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 - Vila do Conde, Portugal
Our tour commences in the small historical port city of Vila do Conde, located on the Camino Portuguese Coastal Route approximately 25km (15mi) north of the city of Porto. We will briefly visit historical Vila do Conde to understand the birth of the pilgrimage in Portugal and the exciting period of the 15th & 16th C Discoveries of the New World and beyond . From there we will shuttle to the Parque da Memoria (Memory Park) and start our first walk along the Camino Portuguese Coastal route enjoying the soothing sound of the crashing surf as we make our way along the boardwalk leading through open areas and small villages. We will dine this evening in a charming port side restaurant and begin to enjoy the flavors of the Portuguese kitchen. Walking Distance 8km/4.8mi.
Day 2 - Guimarães, Portugal
After breakfast we will shuttle to our trailhead at a 12th century Romanesque church to walk our first section of the Caminho Portugues starting from the village of Sao Pedro de Rates (10.3km/6.4mi). You can either have free time in Sao Pedro de Rates or continue for another optional 3.5km/2.2mi along the Camino. Following rural lanes through small villages, we will wend our way through the countryside and then enjoy a picnic lunch from a lovely lookout adjacent to one of northern Portugal’s numerous centers of pilgrimage, the Santuario da Senhora da Franqueira (the sanctuary of Our Lady of the Franqueira).
After lunch we will shuttle to and cross the historic town of Barcelos on foot. Barcelos, well-known as a center of local handcrafts - especially ceramics, is responsible for the country’s national symbol, the rooster. As it turns out the rooster became important in Barcelos precisely because of the Caminho de Santiago! We`ll find out why. In the afternoon we’ll head to Guimarães considered one of Portugal`s most beautiful cities, also an UNESCO World Heritage city and the probable birth site of Portugal`s first king Afonso Henriques.
Our hotel is located in the heart of the historical quarter. This afternoon you will have the option to walk around the town to learn about its important sites: the intact stately, castle dating from the 12th century, the majestic 15th century Palace of the Dukes of Bragança as well as the charming historical quarter which includes the Santiago Square. Walking Distance 12km/7.4mi Optional Walk 18km/11.2mi
Day 3 - Ponte de Lima, Portugal
We start the day walking a lovely rural section of the Caminho de Santiago Interior that takes us directly to Ponte de Lima and our hotel. Ponte de Lima is famous for its elegant 16-arched medieval bridge of Roman origin (it retains 5 of its Roman arches!) spanning the Lima River. Ponte de Lima is set low in a rich valley surrounded by rolling granite hills covered with dense pine trees. It’s also a famous wine district and the heart of the Vinho Verde (green/young wines) denomination of origin. We will be walking through vineyards much of the day.
We will enjoy a picnic en route before reaching the hotel. This afternoon you’ll have free time to enjoy this beautiful riverside town. On our way to our evening meal we will visit the historical quarter and hear the legends that make it and the Rio Lima famous. Walking Distance: 16km/10mi
Day 4 - Viana do Castelo, Portugal
From Ponte de Lima we ascend the last great pass that separates Portugal from Spain. Our walk on the Camino Portuguese Interior starts just on the other side of the pass giving us great views north to Spain as well as close-ups of rural Portuguese life, villages and lanes. After reaching Sao Bento church we descend through lush woodlands to our picnic in the valley below.
After lunch we’ll drive to the historical coastal town of Viana do Castelo known for its beautiful filigree jewelry and embroidery used to create one of the town’s most important symbols, the Viana heart. Dinner on your own tonight in Viana. Walking Distance: 15km/9.3mi
Day 5 - Vilapraia de Ancora, Portugal
Our last walk in Portugal sets off from the outskirts of Viana and follows the Camino Portuguese Coastal Camino on a lovely stretch through small villages, rural cobbled lanes and dense forest. We will enjoy ocean views as we come in and out of the woods. At the end of our route, we’ll enjoy Jose’s picnic.
After the picnic we’ll shuttle to the coastal resort town of Vilapraia de Ancora. In your free time you can enjoy the beautiful beach and have a swim or walk along the Camino for a further distance on a beautiful stretch very close to the shore. Dinner on your own tonight. Walking Distance: 12km/7.4mi With Optional: 17km/10.5mi
Day 6 - Baiona, Spain
This morning we shuttle from Portugal to Spain crossing the border via the bridge that spans the great Rio Minho/Miño and separates these two countries. We will head towards Baiona along Galicia’s scenic southern coastline from A Guarda, Galicia’s southernmost point, and start walking from here on the Camino Portuguese Coastal route. We will enjoy our picnic at the impressive and unique coastal monastery of Oia that once protected its treasures and lives from pirates with canons mounted on its sea wall.
Our day’s destination is the coastal town of Baiona and the parador dramatically set in the 16th century Monterreal Castle that once protected the town from sea -bourne danger with its 3km of defensive walls and three towers. Baiona also happened to be the first port that the ship the Pinta reached in 1493. After lunch you will have the opportunity to enter Baiona and walk to the gorgeous Parador on foot or shuttle there and start enjoying your afternoon free time. You may want to enjoy a swim before our walking tour of the fortifications. Dinner in Baiona tonight. Walking Distance: 10km/6.2mi w/ optionals 17km/10.5mi
Day 7 - Santiago de Compostela, Spain
We'll shuttle from Baiona past Vigo, Galicia's premiere fishing port. In the 13th C, medieval minstrel Martin Codax wrote from Vigo the hauntingly beautiful medieval sung, love poetry Cantigas de Amigo. Read Nancy's article and hear one of the songs - Waves of Vigo.
Our last walk starts in the Caldas de Reis (founded by the Romans) once a thriving medieval town and currently a haven for spa lovers eager to soak in the naturally hot mineral waters that come bubbling out of the ground. We will head through lovely forested areas of native oak and chestnut trees and past thick green pastures as well as small villages and past rural churches. After our picnic we will make a brief stop in Padrón, home to one of the Camino’s most important legends and see one of the Camino’s oldest relics still in situ from the early days of the pilgrimage’s popularity.
Afterwards we’ll head to Santiago de Compostela and walk the last stretch to the Romanesque and Baroque Cathedral, the long awaited destination for millions of faithful pilgrims over the centuries. We will visit the historical quarter`s highlights and then you will have free time before we reunite to say farewell at our final dinner. Walking Distance: 15km/ 9.3 mi
