CAMINO PORTUGUES FROM TUI ITINERARY
DAY 1 – TUI
Today you will make your way to the town of Tui, in the South of Galicia to start your Camino adventure walking the last 100kms of the Camino Portugues. Make sure you pay a visit to the medieval fortress style Tui Cathedral built in the 12th century; where you should get your first stamp for the pilgrim passport, credencial.
If you arrive in town with plenty of time, explore its medieval old quarter and we also highly recommend walking across the international bridge over to the other side of the River Minho; to twinned town Valenca do Minho, in Portugal.
DAY 2 – WALKING FROM TUI TO O PORRINO – 18KMS
Today you will leave Tui’s lovely Old Town behind to start your journey on the Camino Portugues. It is 119kms to Santiago.
This walking stage is quite easy with no major difficulties, as pilgrims follow the Louro River along tracks and country roads. Getting into O Porriño, there is a scenic alternative path along the river and all the way into town, in order to avoid the town’s industrial estate which is on the traditional Camino trail.
DAY 3 – WALKING FROM O PORRINO TO REDONDELA – 15KMS
From O Porriño, we have another relatively easy walking day to Redondela, passing small villages along the way and some great examples of Galician ‘pazos’, manor houses.
As you arrive into Redondela you will enjoy views of San Simon island in Vigo Bay. Your stop for the night is the market town of Redondela, which we recommend exploring on foot. The local Tourist Office has bicycles available for visitors, if you prefer exploring on two wheels and give your feet a break.
DAY 4 – WALKING FROM REDONDELA TO PONTEVEDRA – 19KMS
Just outside Redondela you will catch a great panoramic view of Vigo Bay. On your way to beautiful Pontevedra you will pass Arcade, famous for its oysters and the Romanesque bridge of Pontesampaio. While the Camino trail doesn’t take you to Arcade harbour, you can take a small detour to enjoy a break there. From there, it is back to forest tracks and small country roads lanes all the way to Pontevedra city where you should explore its magnificent Old Town.
DAY 5 – WALKING FROM PONTEVEDRA TO CALDAS DE REIS – 21KMS
From beautiful Pontevedra’s Old Town you will head for the spa town of Caldas de Reis, passing many small little hamlets and villages on your way, back to rural tracks. Caldas de Reis is named after its hot springs that you can see in the historic part of town and that can also be enjoyed the traditional ‘balneario’.
DAY 6 – WALKING FROM CALDAS DE REIS TO PADRON – 18KMS
After Caldas de Reis the Camino Portugues trail takes pilgrims back to oak forests, paths among vineyards and tiny villages with pretty Romanesque churches, such as the Church of Santa Mariña de Carracedo.
The stop for tonight is the town of Padrón, which is believed to be the place where the body of Saint James first landed when it was brought back Santiago de Compostela by boat after the Apostle’s death. It is also the home of ‘Padron peppers’ and Galicia’s most illustrious poet: Rosalia de Castro. Explore the old quarter, its churches and quaint squares; and don’t leave without tasting its world famous peppers.
DAY 7 – WALKING FROM PADRON TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA – 25KMS
Today is your last day walking the Camino Portugues as you leave Padron and walk the last 25kms into Santiago de Compostela. It’s both the least and the most exciting day of the journey, as pilgrims must leave the countryside behind and navigate the city suburbs as you near Santiago. It is also the most exciting day of the journey as today you will finally reach Santiago de Compostela and its cathedral. You will enter the Old Town by the Alameda Park and down Rua do Franco, always lively and vibrant with students, pilgrims and locals. The atmosphere as you arrive in Praza do Obradoiro and Santiago Cathedral, is of pure joy and elation as pilgrims hug, smile and celebrate their achievement. You have arrived! Enjoy this magic moment.
DAY 8 – SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Today you will have time to explore the wonderful UNESCO-listed Old Town in Santiago de Compostela before travelling back to the airport.
Find inspiration in our blog post Things to do and see in Santiago de Compostela.
Let our travel experts know if you’d like to spend an additional night in Santiago to explore this magnificent city.
