COASTAL CAMINO PORTUGUES GUIDED TOUR FROM PORTO TO BAIONA
ITINERARY
DAY 1 – PORTO
Today you will flying from Dublin to Porto, in Northern Portugal. The group will be picked up at the hotel and transferred to the hotel, centrally located. We recommend you explore the picturesque Ribeira and visit the Cathedral so you can get your Pilgrim passport stamped, the official start to your Camino journey!
The group will enjoy dinner together, a great opportunity to meet each other.
DAY 2 – WALKING FROM MATOSINHOS-PORTO TO POVOA DE VARZIM – 25 kms approx.
After breakfast, the bus will take the group to Matosinhos to start your walk on this coastal suburb of Porto, on the Douro Estuary; avoiding the outskirts of the city.
From Matoshinos to Vila do Conde and then Povoa de Varzim, you will be following the coastal path passing villages and sandy beaches, as well as the Castro de San Paio historic fort. Take a rest in Povoa and make sure to stamp your pilgrim passport along the way.
The group will be picked up in Povoa de Varzim and travel back to the hotel in Porto for the night.
DAY 3 – WALKING FROM POVOA DE VARZIM TO ESPOSENDE – 22 kms approx.
After breakfast, the group will travel back to Povoa de Varzim to continue the Camino walk. From the harbour in Povoa de Varzim, the trail continues north taking pilgrims along the beachfront enjoying fantastic views of the Atlantic Ocean. Today you will be crossing the stunning Parque Natural do Litoral Norte Natural Park, spotting the unique Apulia windmills before heading for our destination: the pretty fishing village of Esposende.
Take a rest in Esposende and stamp your pilgrim passport. The group will be picked up after the day’s walk and travel back to the hotel in Porto for the night.
DAY 4 – WALKING FROM ESPOSENDE TO VIANA DO CASTELO – 24 kms approx.
After breakfast, the group will travel back to the Camino trail in Esposende. The Senda litoral continues along the Atlantic Ocean, enjoying wonderful views on our way to charming Viana do Castelo. As you get approach Viana you will spot the Santa Luzia Basilica crowning the mountain overlooking this little city (it was granted the title of city in the 1800s).
Rich in history and culture, Viana is definitely worth exploring after your walk, admiring its Praca da Republica, the Cathedral or relaxing by the waterfront. Viana was an important port for traders during the Age of Discoveries and many of the grand buildings and impressive architecture in the historic quarter date back from that time.
The group will be picked up after the day’s walk in Viana, and travel back to the hotel in Porto.
DAY 5 – WALKING FROM VIANA DO CASTELO TO VILA PRAIA DE ANCORA – 19kms approx.
This morning the group will check out of the hotel in Porto and travel back to Viana do Castelo to resume the Camino journey.
From Viana do Castelo to Vila Praia de Ancora we continue our walk on coastal pathways, admiring lovely sandy beaches along the way. It is worth noting there is an inland route that is better marked but the coastal path is easy to follow, more scenic and both trails then converge in Ancora.
After the walk, the group will be picked in Vila Praia de Ancora and travel to the hotel in Baiona/Vigo.
DAY 6 – WALKING FROM VILA PRAIA DE ANCORA TO PORTECELO-A GUARDA – 19kms approx.
After breakfast, the group will be picked up at the hotel and travel back to Ancora to walk the last stage of the Coastal Camino Portugues in Portugal. From Vila Praia de Ancora, you will continue along the coast and the beach, then across a pine forest into the town of Caminha on the estuary of the Minho River that is the natural border between Portugal and Galicia. It is approximately 10kms. In Caminha, you can have a little break for a snack or an early lunch.
Many pilgrims take the ferry boat to cross the river into A Guarda but our coach will pick the group up and take you across to Galicia (it is a 30 min drive approximately). After being dropped on the other side of the Minho River, we will continue our walk towards the coastal town of A Guarda, flanked by the iconic Tecla Mountain, famous for its ancient ‘castro’ hill fort.
*Remember to move your watches forward (GMT +1 hour) as there is one hour time difference between Portugal and Spain.
From A Guarda you will continue North following the Atlantic coast to the little village of Portecelo, our stop for the day.
The group will be picked up by the bus and travel back to the hotel.
DAY 7 – WALKING FROM PORTECELO-A GUARDA TO BAIONA – 24kms approx
Today will be our last walking day on the Camino. After breakfast at the hotel, the group will be picked up and travel back to Portecelo. We will be taking in the wonderful coastal landscapes of Southern Galicia, passing the picturesque Oia Monastery, a lovely place to have a rest and a snack.
Our destination is the town of Baiona, with its wonderful historic quarter of cobbled streets and fantastic views over the Bay of Vigo. Today the group will enjoy dinner together, an opportunity to share your impressions of the journey.
DAY 8 – RETURN HOME
After breakfast, the group will be picked up from the hotel and travel to the airport for our flight back to Dublin. We hope you have enjoyed this wonderful Camino experience.
*Itinerary may be subject to change.
