"Santiago is not the end of the journey, but the beginning."

Paulo Coelho

Coastal Portuguese Way from A Guarda in charming accommodations: 8 stages

Information about the trip: Coastal Portuguese Way from A Guarda in charming accommodations: 8 stages

This is the Camino from the border between Spain and Portugal to Santiago de Compostela.
The Coastal Portuguese Route or Caminho da Costa is a stunning alternative to the traditional Portuguese Camino de Santiago.
You will follow the wild Atlantic route before reaching Baiona, at the heart of the coastal inlets or fjords known as the Rías Baixas, and then moving onto Vigo and Pontevedra, where you will pick up the traditional route once again.
This route starts in A Guarda and provides two options: an overnight stay in A Guarda or in Tui with a transfer to A Guarda.

You will overnight in the best accommodations, charming hotels, Pazos (ancient Galician manor houses) and with the last night in Santiago in 4-stars hotel.

This itinerary covers the last 100 km of the Portuguese Coastal Route, which is the minimum required to apply for your “Compostela” certificate.

Travel itinerary (Summary)

  • DAY 1: Arrival to A Guarda
  • DAY 2: Stage 1, A Guarda, Oia  12,8 km 1/5
  • DAY 3: Stage 2, Oia, Baiona  18 km 2/5
  • DAY 4: Stage 3, Baiona, Vigo  27 km 2/5
  • DAY 5: Stage 4, Vigo, Redondela  16 km 2/5
  • DAY 6: Stage 5, Redondela, Pontevedra  19,6 km  3/5
  • DAY 7: Stage 6, Pontevedra, Caldas De Reis  21,1 km 2/5
  • DAY 8: Stage 7, Caldas De Reis, Padrón  18,6 km 2/5
  • DAY 9: Stage 8, Padrón, Santiago De Compostela  24,4 km 3/5
  • DAY 10: Return

Travel itinerary (Detailed)

  • 1

    Arrival to A Guarda


    158 km/ 98 mi separate the start of this itinerary from Santiago de Compostela, the final destination.
    Fill in your pilgrim’s passport and enjoy the views of the border between Portugal and Spain.
    The fishing village of A Guarda is home to Galicia’s most impressive Galician-Roman settlements: the Santa Tegra hill fort is an authentic archaeological gem with breathtaking views over the ocean.

  • 2

    Stage 1, from A Guarda to Oia


    Distance : 12,8 km Difficulty : 1/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. This part of the route includes the best coastal landscapes in Galicia which showcase the immensity of the Atlantic Ocean.

  • 3

    Stage 2, from Oia to Baiona


    Distance : 18 km Difficulty : 2/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. An overnight stay in the village of Oia, which is famous for its impressive monastery, is the perfect way to enjoy the quiet of this hamlet and the immensity of the Atlantic Ocean.
    On your way out of Mougás/Oia stop for a while to visit Baiona to admire its fortified castle surrounded by a stormy ocean.

  • 4

    Stage 3, from Baiona to Vigo


    Distance : 27 km Difficulty : 2/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. Today you will follow the coast from Baiona to Nigrán before finally reaching the city of Vigo.
    Enjoy fantastic views over the Bay of Vigo, with the magnificent Cíes Islands on the horizon. On a hot day, stop off at the blue flag beach known as Praia América, in Nigrán for a quick swim.

  • 5

    Stage 4, from Vigo to Redondela


    Distance : 16 km Difficulty : 2/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. From the city of Vigo, continue your coastal Camino with the Bay of Vigo to your left. Vigo is one of the seven largest cities in Galicia and is currently probably the most populated one. People from the entire region and even from other parts of Spain have always flocked to this city to work in its naval and fishing industries.
    After the serenity of the isolated Mougás, Vigo will give you the experience of life in a busy town. The stage ends in Redondela where you will rejoin the original Portuguese Route.

  • 6

    Stage 5, from Redondela to Pontevedra


    Distance : 19,6 km Difficulty :  3/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. The way out of Vigo might be a bit confusing, but once you manage to leave the city, the path begins to clear and the open ocean gives way to the “rías” or Galician fjords.

  • 7

    Stage 6, Pontevedra, Caldas De Reis


    Distance : 21,1 km Difficulty : 2/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. This stage starts in the historic centre of Pontevedra, with a walk out of the old city to the millennial bridge, O Burgo, over the river Lerez, and continues along the beautiful valley of the River Gandra to San Mauro.
    From here, the path widens, making for a peaceful and serene hike. We finally reach Caldas de Reis via the church of Santa Maria, close to the bridge over the River Umia, where this stage ends.

  • 8

    Stage 7, from Caldas De Reis to Padrón


    Distance : 18,6 km Difficulty : 2/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. We leave Caldas de Reis via some enchanting stretches of the Way, across the Medieval bridge over the River Bermaña, following a path that leads us to the village of Cruceiro, on a picturesque trail through forests and meadows. After crossing the river Ulla, we arrive at Padrón, the place where, according to legend, the stone ship with the body of the Apostle James (Santiago) was moored.

  • 9

    Stage 8, from Padrón to Santiago De Compostela


    Distance : 24,4 km Difficulty : 3/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. This last stage starts by leaving Padrón and continuing through Galician villages to the magnificent sanctuary of Nossa Señora da Escravitute.
    You finally start to see Santiago de Compostela in the distance and at Agro dos Monteiros, you will be able to see the towers of the Cathedral for the first time.
    After crossing the River Sar, you will make your way through the suburbs of the city to the Faxeira gate, the entrance for the Portuguese Route in this old city. Walk through a labyrinth of streets to Obradoiro square and its Cathedral, where the Apostle awaits you.

  • 10

    Return


    After breakfast, go to exchange your pilgrim’s passport, if you haven’t already done it. Alternatively, we suggest you visit the cathedral and the surrounding areas or attend a pilgrim mass.

Included

  • 9 nights in charming hotels and rural houses, Pazos, and Boutique Hotels, on a bed and breakfast basis.
  • Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel: 1 bag max. 20kg/ 44 lbs bag per person.
  • Travel insurance.
  • Credencial (Pilgrim's passport)
  • Maps and tracks of the stages.
  • Telephone assistance (English-speaking)

    • Not included

    • Lunches.
    • Flights or trains.
    • Single room supplement: € 420
    • Dinners supplement: € 300
    • Tourist taxes.

      • Accommodations

      All accommodations have rooms with en-suite facilities.

      Conditions

      PRICE PER PERSON BASED ON DOUBLE ROOM.

      DAILY DEPARTURES.

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