The Portuguese Camino
There are as many different Caminos to Santiago as there are nationalities enjoying the walks. The French Way, the English Way, the Silver Route, and the Portuguese Central Route are just some of the more well known routes.
The origin of the Portuguese Camino dates back to the 14th century when Queen Elizabeth of Portugal walked twice to Santiago de Compostela and the tomb of Saint James the Apostle. The Portuguese Coastal Way is a recent Jacobean route and was only declared an Official Route in April 2016.
The route is perfect for the European summer months as a constant sea breeze lowers the often super hot weather conditions that affect other Caminos at this time. It is a much easier walk than the French Camino, as a great deal of the walk is on the flat and there are no steep mountain climbs. Our walk takes us from the wooden board walks by the ocean and along sandy beaches to rural roads and forest paths. We also walk through small towns and villages reflecting the local rural life of the area and on to the cobbled streets of the historic centres of the larger cities such as Vigo and Pontevedra. We start and finish in two UNESCO World Heritage cities, Porto and Santiago.
Portugal has some of the best wine in Europe but it is important that we keep this secret to ourselves. On the Spain side, Galicia is famous for its white wines in particular those made from the Albariño grape.
The full walk from Porto to Santiago de Compostela is 280 kms. Global Drift has put together a journey that includes the more interesting and beautiful sections that are representative of the many different regions to add up to a total of 115 kms walking.
Are you ready? Vamos!
- There are options on most walks to finish early if your feet are sore, the skies open up or you are just hankering for a glass. Similarly, if you like, there are times when you can extend your day's walk. We will keep you informed about these options as we prepare for each day. And if you want a full day off from walking, also no problem whatsoever
- Due to the logistics and nature of this tour we require a minimum of 8 travellers to run the departure
| 12 Day Itinerary | ||
| Departure: | 5th September 2026 | (Saturday to Wednesday) |
|---|---|---|
| Price: | AUD$3490 | |
Day 1 - Porto - Arrival day We have an arrival meeting then an optional dinner at one of our favourite very old restaurants enjoying excellent traditional Portuguese fare Day 2 - Porto We settle in for an interesting day in Porto. Start the day with coffee at the Majestic café the oldest café in town and close by. We head down to San Bento Train Station, with its atrium lined with tiles then continue down the hill to the old Ribeira district of Porto. Crossing over the bridge we can enjoy an optional Port wine tour and tasting possibly at the legendary Cálem or Sandeman. This is an excellent spot to begin a free afternoon perhaps taking in a river cruise or more exploration on foot. Meet back on the other side of the river for a gorgeous outdoor dinner on the riverside Day 3 - Porto to Esposende 1st walk 15 kms. Labruge beach - Vila Chã – Vila do Conde – Póvoa de Varzim.
We avoid walking through the industrial zone of Porto as transport takes us north to Labruge Beach. From here we hug the coast as we make our way to Póvoa do Varzim. The walk today moves along coastal wooden planks then passes through small villages and towns. In Vila do Conde we can enjoy the historic centre, the San Juan fortress, and the beautiful aqueduct. There are plenty of places to stop for coffee or lunch along the way. From Póvoa de Varzim a minibus will take us Esposende where we enjoy the evening and spend the night in this lovely port town with sand dunes, beach, and a historic old town with plenty of restaurants and bars Day 4 - Esposende to Viana do Costelo 2nd walk 18 kms. Belinho – Castelo do Neiva - Chafé – Viana do Castelo.
After breakfast we have a short ride to Belinho. Today’s walk takes us along forest paths and through small towns and villages with plenty of choices for coffee and lunch stops. There is a small waterfall at the river crossing just before Castelo do Neiva which is a quaint town with a restaurant and a shop. The last section of the walk takes us through the streets of Viana do Castelo. This is a beautiful city perched on the banks of where the Lima River meets the Atlantic Ocean. The compact historic centre has many cafes, ornate religious buildings and narrow shopping streets. There is also a funicular to the Santuário de Santa Luzia for a panoramic view. Viana is rich in palaces, churches and monasteries, monumental fountains and water features that constitute a wealth of heritage. We have a treat tonight staying at the celebrated Casa Melo Alvim Day 5 - Viana do Costelo to Caminha 3rd walk 17 kms. Carreço – Âncora – Moledo – Caminha.
We transfer to Carreço where we start our last stage in Portugal and one of the flattest. We are presented with views of the coast, as well as military fortifications and windmills from bygone eras. We pass through the popular resort of Ancora, then move on to Moledo. Continuing on through forests to the river Minho we find this waterway to be the border between Portugal and Spain. We then walk along the estuary until we reach the delightful small town of Caminha. Today’s walk is a pleasant stroll with slight ups and downs through small hills, forests and towns along the coast Day 6 - Caminha to A Guarda 4th walk 16kms. Camposancos – Punta de Santa Trega – Miradoira de Santa Trega - A Guarda.
We say goodbye to Portugal and Hola to Spain as a small boat ferries us across the estuary from Caminha to Camposancos. We walk along the estuary to meet the ocean at Punta de Santa Terga. Turning right we follow the coast line past the Selinas de Seixal (the old salt making fields) and on to Senda Litoral beach, a beautiful flat and easy coastal walk. As we enter the outskirts of A Guarda we take the road that leads up to the Castro de Santa Terga where you can take in the spectacular views from the lookout; on one side looking down to the estuary of the Miño River as it flows into the Atlantic ocean to a backdrop of the mountains and coastline of Portugal and on the other, Spain’s beautiful coast stretching north. The castro is a pre roman village where there is also a museum. Walk back down the hill and into A Guarda and down to the historic centre by the sea and our hotel for the night in an old convent Day 7 - A Guarda to Vigo 5th walk 16 kms. Oia – Viladesuso – Mougas – Baiona.
We move on to Oia with its seafront monastery to commence today’s walk. On the walk to Baiona we start by following the coastline through small villages. Then on the second half, the trail moves uphill through the beautiful forests from where we enjoy splendid views of the coast and a lighthouse. The picturesque coastal town of Baiona has plenty to offer with its harbour and seafront and the the narrow streets of the old city with its many cafes and restaurants. Baiona has great historical significance for Spain as this was where the first news of "The New World" of America was delivered by Martín Alonso Pinzón in 1493. Later we take a vehicle from Baiona to Vigo for our two night stay Day 8 - Vigo Rest day. Today we can relax and enjoy the town of Vigo with its shops, museum, art gallery and an interesting historic centre. For lunch why not take the ferry across the bay to Cangas which specialises in fish restaurants down by the water’s edge. Still keen to walk then perhaps take an optional boat trip to the Cies Islands. These islands are the Vigo estuary’s greatest treasure, and are part of the Atlantic Islands National Park. No cars allowed so leave the boat and walk to quiet beaches and enjoy the nature Day 9 - Vigo to Pontevedra 6th walk 21 kms. Redondela – Cesantes – Arcade – Figueirido – Pontevedra.
We move on to Redondela where we begin our day with an easy, uphill walk along forest paths and through small villages. Along the way we will see the famous stone crosses (Cruceiros), which for centuries have guided and protected pilgrims on their way to Santiago. Several of these small masterpieces date back to the 15th Century. Along our route we will pass through Arcade which is a village famous for its oysters. We then cross the beautiful bridge of Pontesampaio of medieval origin with its ten arches. Passing Figueirido we start to encounter more houses as we approach Pontevedra. The historical quarter of Pontevedra is the second most popular of the Galicia region, right after Santiago de Compostela. The Church of La Peregrina stands out in the centre of city as it is the only circular church in all of Spain. Here, the Pilgrim Virgin, welcomes all walking the Portuguese Camino Day 10 - Pontevedra to Santiago de Compostela 7th walk 21 kms. Caldas de Reis – Padrón / O Milladoiro – Santiago de Compostela.
Our final walking day begins by transferring through typical Galician villages to Caldas de Reis, a village known for its spas and water sources with medicinal properties. We walk up and down hills through forests and villages until reaching the Romanesque church of San Xulián near Pontecesures. Here we will enter the province of A Coruña after crossing the Ulla river and continue our way to the town of Padrón, known for its famous green peppers. Padrón was the destination of Saint James the Apostle around year 34 A.D. and was the starting point of the Jacobean tradition of the Camino de Santiago. After the death of Saint James the Apostle in Israel, his remains were transported by boat to Padrón then moved to the place where nowadays it resides in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. From Padrón we transfer to O Milladoiro to walk the final 6kms to the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral and the end of our camino Day 11 - Santiago de Compostela After breakfast in one of the oldest cafés in Santiago we enjoy a short walking tour of the historic centre to learn more about this ancient city. The walk ends at the large local market full of the meats, cheeses, seafood and fresh produce from Galicia. The afternoon is free for shopping or more exploration before we meet up to celebrate our wonderful journey and enjoy a farewell dinner together Day 12 - Santiago de Compostela - Departure Day |  |
Local Payment
Your Local Payment is collected by your group leader in cash at your group meeting on Day 1 of the trip and is part of your tour price. The money is spent locally on your tour.
Inclusions and Exclusions
Extra Accommodation
Pre and post trip accommodation is offered on most journeys pending availability. Please indicate in your enquiry if you require any rooms before or after your tour and the amount of nights requested.
For tours where the start and finish points are different w can assist you with your arrangements in both locations.
Single Traveller
Global Drift encourages interactive experiences for all of our travellers. As such we presume that you will be happy to share accommodation with a same sex person should you be travelling alone.
However, for those that would prefer a single room for the tour we do offer a single supplement. This also applies to single travellers who we are not able to match up.
It must be stated however that on many of our tours we stay in small family owned guesthouse accommodation. In certain instances with full groups the passenger combinations may not always allow you to enjoy a single room. Please keep this in mind when booking your single supplement. We will however, always do our best to accommodate you.
Please make your request for this service a minimum of 3 months prior to your journey.
The quoted extra payment is for the entire trip.
Single Travellers
Global Drift encourages interactive experiences for all of our travellers. As such we presume that you will be happy to share accommodation with a same sex person should you be travelling alone.
Due to the exploratory nature of this journey no single supplement is offered.
Airport Arrival Transfer
Global Drift offers an optional arrival transfer to your hotel at the quoted fee.
In your trip dossier you will receive directions on how to make your way to your starting point hotel. It is quite easy and possibly cheaper than we are able to offer it.
Should you require this service please advise us at the time of your booking.