Traditional Portuguese Way from Tui to Santiago de Compostela: 6 stages

Information about the trip: Traditional Portuguese Way from Tui to Santiago de Compostela: 6 stages

This is the Camino that starts from the border between Spain and Portugal to Santiago de Compostela.
The Portuguese traditional route covers the last part of this Way in Spain and includes O Porriño, Arcade and other charming historic towns and cities in Galicia. You will walk in wooded areas, farmlands and hamlets, as well as historic towns and cities.

This itinerary covers the last 100 km of the Portuguese Traditional way, which is the minimum required to get your “Compostela” certificate.

Travel itinerary (Summary)

DAY 1: Arrival to Tui
DAY 2: Stage 1, Tui, O Porriño 16,1 km 3/5
DAY 3: Stage 2, O Porriño, Redondela 15,8 km 2/5
DAY 4: Stage 3, Redondela, Pontevedra 19,6 km 3/5
DAY 5: Stage 4, Pontevedra, Caldas de Reis 21,1 km 1/5
DAY 6: Stage 5, Caldas de Reis, Padrón 18,6 km 2/5
DAY 7: Stage 6, Padrón, Santiago de Compostela 24,4 km 2/5
DAY 8: Return

Travel itinerary (Detailed)

ProgramDAY
1

Arrival to Tui

112 km/ 70 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. Explore the streets of this Medieval village until you reach its famous Cathedral.
ProgramDAY
2

Stage 1, 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.
ProgramDAY
3

Stage 2, 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.
ProgramDAY
4

Stage 3, 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.
ProgramDAY
5

Stage 4, 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.
ProgramDAY
6

Stage 5, 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.
ProgramDAY
7

Stage 6, 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.
ProgramDAY
8

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

7 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)