CAMINO PORTUGUES FROM PORTO ITINERARY
DAY 1 – PORTO
Today you start your Camino Portugues from Porto, a fantastic UNESCO-listed city in Northern Portugal.
Explore its historic Old Town, soak in the atmosphere of the Ribeira by Douro River, visit one of the Port wineries and sample the many regional delicacies.
It is said that Portugal has 356 different ways of cooking cod fish, one for each day of the year, so this is a good place to start the tasting!
Let our travel experts know if you would like to add an extra night so you have time to explore before starting your journey on the Camino Portugues from Porto.
DAY 2 – WALKING FROM PORTO TO FAJOZES – 14-25KMS
Having explored Porto and stamped our pilgrim passport at the Cathedral, it is time to start the Camino Portugues from Porto.
You can either start your walk from here or take a short metro trip to Maia to skip the city suburbs, approximately 11kms. Your destination is the village of Fajozes.
DAY 3 – WALKING FROM FAJOZES TO ARCOS – 13KMS
From Fajozes to Arcos, the Camino Portugues trail offers another easy stretch in the Portuguese countryside, walking on country roads and pine forests, stopping in small villages along the way.
Stop to admire the 11th Monastery of Sao Simão da Junqueira.
DAY 4 – WALKING FROM ARCOS TO BARCELOS – 20KMS
From Arcos, the Camino Portugues trail takes pilgrims further inland, passing the village of Rates and its Romanesque São Pedro Church.
Your destination for the day is the market town of Barcelos, which is home to Portugal’s national emblem: the Barcelos rooster, ‘galo de Barcelos’.
You will enter Barcelos by its iconic Medieval bridge. Take some time to wander its cobbled old streets and admire the many beautiful medieval and Baroque churches and buildings.
Thursday is market day in Barcelos and the town brims with people coming from all over the region to the town’s outdoor market, selling from fruit and vegetables to the classic ‘galo’ and other souvenirs and trinkets.
Barcelos is well known for its pottery making traditions and the town has its own pottery museum.
DAY 5 – WALKING FROM BARCELOS TO PONTE DE LIMA – 34KMS
We leave Barcelos town to continue our Camino journey and today will be a very long walking day with 34kms to go until we reach our destination: Ponte de Lima.
The trail for today takes pilgrims mainly on cobbled lanes and small country roads, and the terrain becomes a bit hillier than on previous stages.
There aren’t many villages on this stretch but the landscapes are lovely companions.
Ponte de Lima is considered the oldest town in Portugal and takes its name after the medieval bridge over the Lima River, ‘ponte’ meaning ‘bridge’. Explore the quaint old town or go for a stroll by the river if you get a chance.
OPTIONAL BREAK STOP – BALUGAES
Talk to our travel experts if you’d like to break today’s stage in two, stopping in the quiet little village of Balugaes for one night.
DAY 6 – WALKING FROM PONTE DE LIMA TO RUBIAES – 18KMS
From Ponte de Lima to Rubiaes, pilgrims on the Camino Portugues will follow the Labruja River, by lovely forests and mountains.
It is a shorter stretch than the day before but with a bit of climbing to do, particularly to the highest point of the stage at Alto da Portela Grande (410 metres).
Take a moment to rest after the climb and enjoy the panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
Your stop for the night is the small village of Rubiaes with a population of just 500 inhabitants and lovely Romanesque church and bridge.
DAY 7 – WALKING FROM RUBIAES TO TUI – 20KMS
Today, pilgrims on the Camino Portugues will continue from Rubiaes to Valenca do Minho and leave Portugal, finally reaching Galicia.
Explore Valenca do Minho with its fort-citadel and wonderful views of the Minho River before crossing the 19th International bridge into Galicia and Tui, your stop for the night.
In Tui, explore the Old Town and visit the 12th century Fortress Cathedral.
RECOMMENDED REST DAY – Tui
After a week walking you are halfway through your Camino journey and we recommend taking a rest day in Tui before continuing.
DAY 8 – WALKING FROM TUI TO O PORRINO – 18KMS
Today you will leave Tui’s lovely Old Town behind to continue on to Santiago, 119kms aways.
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 9 – 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 10 – 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 11 – 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 12 – 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 13 – 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. Get your Compostela certificate at the Pilgrims Office.
The atmosphere as you arrive in Praza do Obradoiro and the Cathedral, is of pure joy and elation as pilgrims hug, smile and celebrate their achievement. You have arrived! Enjoy this magic moment.
DAY 14 – EXPLORING SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Make sure you explore the Old Town in Santiago de Compostela before you head back to the airport for your flight home.
Let our travel experts know if you’d like to spend an additional night in Santiago to explore this magnificent city.
DAY 15 – SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA AIRPORT
Please note the Camino Portugues from Porto self guided tour is flexible and can be adapted to your requirements, talk to our travel experts for advice.
