"Sometimes you walk alone, but you always carry the stories and smiles of other pilgrims with you."

Traditional Portuguese Way from Oporto to Santiago de Compostela: 11 stages

Information about the trip: Traditional Portuguese Way from Oporto to Santiago de Compostela: 11 stages

The Camino from Portugal and Spain to Santiago de Compostela is also called the Portuguese Way or Central Route.
The itinerary in this case covers the last 240 Km of the Portuguese Route and begins in Oporto.

This Camino takes in wooded areas, farmlands and hamlets, as well as historic towns and cities. On this section of the Portuguese Route, you will walk long ancient paths used in the 13th century by Queen Isabel of Portugal on her way to Santiago de Compostela. You will cross the river Minho out of Portugal reaching Tui in Galicia, and continue north towards Santiago.
The itinerary also includes Padrón, the home town of Galicia’s most acclaimed poet, Rosalía de Castro.

Travel itinerary (Summary)

  • DAY 1:  Arrival to Oporto
  • DAY 2: Stage 1, Oporto, Sao Miguel De Arcos  34 km 2/5
  • DAY 3: Stage 2, Sao Miguel De Arcos, Barcelos  19,8 km  2/5
  • DAY 4: Stage 3, Barcelos, Ponte de Lima  34,5 km 3/5
  • DAY 5: Stage 4, Ponte de Lima, Sao Bento  21,8 km 3/5
  • DAY 6: Stage 5, Sao Bento, Tui  14,7 km 1/5
  • DAY 7: Stage 6, Tui, O Porriño  16,1 km 3/5
  • DAY 8: Stage 7, O Porriño, Redondela  15,8 km 2/5
  • DAY 9: Stage 8, Redondela, Pontevedra  19,6 km 3/5
  • DAY 10: Stage 9, Pontevedra, Caldas de Reis  21,1 km 1/5
  • DAY 11: Stage 10, Caldas de Reis, Padrón  18,6 km 2/5
  • DAY 12: Stage 11, Padrón, Santiago de Compostela  24,4 km 2/5
  • DAY 13: Return

Travel itinerary (Detailed)

  • 1

    Arrival to Oporto


    240 km/ 150 mi separate the start of this itinerary from Santiago de Compostela, the final destination.
    Fill in your pilgrim’s passport and visit the fantastic monuments in this UNESCO-listed old town, and stroll along the picturesque riverfront in the home of port wine.
    Discover the best of Portuguese hospitality before you begin walking.

  • 2

    Stage 1, from Oporto to Sao Miguel De Arcos


    Distance : 34 km Difficulty : 2/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. We recommend you take the metro to Moreira de Maia (not included), so you can skip the suburbs of the city (walking 21km), optional we can offer you a transfer.
    The “Caminho” starts at Oporto Cathedral. From Moreira de Maia, you will be walking on a quiet country route with many interesting churches along the way, for instance the 12th century monastery: Mosteiro de Leca do Balio. Your stop for the night is the village of Arcos.

  • 3

    Stage 2, from Sao Miguel De Arcos to Barcelos


    Distance : 19,8 km Difficulty :  2/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. This stage begins in Arcos and leads towards to the old village of Rates, where you can visit the beautiful church of a former convent. There are no major changes of scenery, although there is an increasing amount of woodland.
    You will pass by the villages of Courel and Pedra Furada, before following country roads to reach the town of Barcelos, where you will have time to visit the main monuments in this old market town.

  • 4

    Stage 3, from Barcelos to Ponte de Lima


    Distance : 34,5 km Difficulty : 3/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. This stage is too large, so we suggest to walk to Vitorino de Piaes, then we offer you a transfer to Ponte de Lima (walking only 22 km)
    You can also optionally split the stage in two parts and stay overnight at Balugaes.
    Today’s stage leaves Barcelos and follows minor roads until the river Neiva, which is crossed by a Medieval bridge just before the village of Balugães.
    This is a day of country roads and a magnificent stroll through the hamlets of Facha, Seara and Correlhã, finally reaching Ponte de Lima along the Avenue of Plátanos, beside the river with its stunning views.

  • 5

    Stage 4, from Ponte de Lima to Sao Bento


    Distance : 21,8 km Difficulty : 3/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. Today we have a short but hard stage. We leave the Medieval town of Ponte de Lima by crossing the impressive Romanesque-Gothic bridge, with its 22 arches, over the river Lima.
    At the far side of the bridge, you will take a right turn into the countryside and the farming parish of Arcozelo.
    Agriculture becomes scarce after Labruja with the landscape until Portela Pequena turning into a tree-covered upland. After the climb to Cossourado, there is a short and easy walk to the end of this stage.

  • 6

    Stage 5, from Sao Bento to Tui


    Distance : 14,7 km Difficulty : 1/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. You will leave the valley of the River Coura and start a gentle climb to S. Bento da Porta Aberta, the site of a famous religious festival.
    The route continues on to Fontoura through fields and brushwood's until we reach the fortified town of Valença.
    Cross the River Minho on the metal bridge inspired by the work of Gustave Eiffel and take a walk through the streets of the Medieval village of Tui until you reach its famous Cathedral.

  • 7

    Stage 6, from Tui to O Porriño


    Distance : 16,1 km Difficulty : 3/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. From Tui we go through the tunnel of St Clare's Convent and past the churches of Saint Dominic and Saint Bartholomew. After crossing the Veiga bridge, you will reach one of the most beautiful stretches on the entire route, the river Louro valley.
    At the end of the stage, you will reach an industrial estate before arriving in the city of O Porriño.

  • 8

    Stage 7, from O Porriño to Redondela


    Distance : 15,8 km Difficulty : 2/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. From O Porriño, we head north. Along the way, you will be close to the Pazo de Mós, Santiaguiño de Antas and Chan das Pipas.
    A steep descent starts here that leads us towards the end of this stage initially reaching the centre of Redondela.

  • 9

    Stage 8, from Redondela to Pontevedra


    Distance : 19,6 km Difficulty : 3/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. The route continues to Arcade, a place renowned for having the best oysters in Galicia. Then to Pontesampayo where we will cross a long medieval bridge over the River Verdugo and then enter a cluster of narrow streets. That will guide us to one of the most beautiful stretches on the Caminho: a series of old by-ways which climb up the slope of Canicouva to Cacheiro.
    After crossing the mountains, the track, now dominated by fields, vineyards and orchards, widens again until we reach Pontevedra for a well-deserved rest.

  • 10

    Stage 9, from Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis


    Distance : 21,1 km Difficulty : 1/5

    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.

  • 11

    Stage 10, 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 an picturesque trail through forests and meadows.
    After crossing the River Ulla, we arrive at Padron, the place where, according to legend, the stone ship with the body of the Apostle James (Santiago) was moored.

  • 12

    Stage 11, from Padrón to Santiago de Compostela


    Distance : 24,4 km Difficulty : 2/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. This last stage starts by leaving Padron 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.

  • 13

    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

  • 12 nights in handpicked hotels and inns, all with en-suite accommodation, on a bed and breakfast basis.
  • Luggage transfer from hotel to hotel: 1 bag max. 20kg/ 44 lbs 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: € 380
    • Dinner supplement: € 350
    • Superior category supplement: € 555
    • Superior category single room supplement: € 450
    • Superior category dinner supplement: € 380
    • Tourist taxes.

      • Accommodations

      All accommodations have rooms with en-suite facilities.

      Conditions


      Price per person based on double room

      Daily departures form April to October

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