Your travels bring you, at last, to the beautiful City of Porto, often referred to as the cultural capital of Portugal. Check in at your hotel and spend the rest of the day and evening exploring the many amazing sites Porto has to offer, like a walk along the banks of the Duero river.

You first day on the Camino begins with a subway ride: Metro Line A will take you to get to the starting point of the Coastal Camino de Santiago. From here, you will walk along the coastline all the way until Vila do Conde. With the sea always to your left, the Camino leads over boardwalks and, later, traversing charming little villages. The farther you get from Porto, the more pleasant the scenery becomes, and there nearby Ocean will offer ample opportunities to have a quick swim.

Distance: 22.8 km. (14.2 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

Leaving Vila do Conde, you will soon be on the coast again and pass through the former fishing village Póvoa de Varzim, which is a popular tourist destination today. Much of the way can be walked on a boardwalk next to the Atlantic, before the Camino heads into the green hinterlands. Passing by vegetable fields and crossing a forest, you will finally reach Fão, cross the river Cávado and, finally, arrive at your today’s destination: Esposende.

Distance: 25.1 km. (15.6 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

After Esposende, the Camino leaves the coast for a day. The Way winds through lush forests filled with the scent of eucalyptus, and then leads through traditional Portuguese villages. Today’s destination, Viana do Castelo, is one of the most beautiful cities along the coastal Camino, boasting a magnificent, historic city center with a cathedral and two defence towers that made up a part of the city’s fortress.

Distance: 25.3 km. (15.7 mi.) | Difficulty: Moderate

Behind Viana, the Camino goes up to a ridge of hills, where the pilgrims walk until just before Ancora. The path leads through many small Portuguese villages and, between them, it leads over beautiful forest paths. Again and again, beautiful vistas of the Atlantic from above will open up, and you will hear its distant roaring from time to time. In Vila Praia de Ancora, the Camino will finally reach the coast again.

Distance: 17 km. (10.6 mi.) | Difficulty: Moderate

Your first stage of today’s lengthier journey will be to Caminha. This town, with its many bars, the traditional Portuguese main plaza, the townhouse and its clocktower, make for a opportunity to bid Portugal a proper farewell, and to, then, be welcomed into Spain. Crossing the river Miño by boat, you will enter Galicia. (NOTE: your watches will have to be reset 1 hour ahead on reaching Spain!) From there, the Camino will lead you to the fishing village A Guarda, known as the “capital of lobsters”. Following the rocky coast, you will then reach your today’s destination: Oia.

Distance: 28.3 km. (17.6 mi.) | Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging

Beyond Oia, you will continue along the coast, following narrow trails that, later, turn into paved roads. There will be some uphill and downhill terrain just before the destination of this stage – Baiona, which was an important trading hub up until the end of the 19th century. Baiona’s beautiful old town is still filled with tails of the once affluent, bustling town life.

Distance: 18.8 km. (11.7 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

Leaving Baiona, you will hike through villages and forests up the hills around Vigo. From there, pilgrims can see the estuary called Ria de Vigo, which pierces far inland. You will also be able to marvel at the picturesque Islas Cies (Isles of the Gods) until, eventually, making it into today’s final destination of Vigo.

Distance: 28 km. (17.4 mi.) | Difficulty: Moderate

Farewell, Vigo; farewell, Camino – and sage travels on your journey back home or to your next adventure! Or, here is another option well-worth considering: to continue onto our next Part 2 of the Camino Portugues Coastal Self-Guided Tour; from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela.

¡Buen Camino!

Your travels bring you, at last, to the beautiful City of Porto, often referred to as the cultural capital of Portugal. Check in at your hotel and spend the rest of the day and evening exploring the many amazing sites Porto has to offer, like a walk along the banks of the Duero river.

You first day on the Camino begins with a subway ride: Metro Line A will take you to get to the starting point of the Coastal Camino de Santiago. From here, you will walk along the coastline all the way until Vila do Conde. With the sea always to your left, the Camino leads over boardwalks and, later, traversing charming little villages. The farther you get from Porto, the more pleasant the scenery becomes, and there nearby Ocean will offer ample opportunities to have a quick swim.

Distance: 22.8 km. (14.2 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

Leaving Vila do Conde, you will soon be on the coast again and pass through the former fishing village Póvoa de Varzim, which is a popular tourist destination today. Much of the way can be walked on a boardwalk next to the Atlantic, before the Camino heads into the green hinterlands. Just behind Aguçadoura you will leave the coast and soon reach the town of Apulia.

Distance: 19.5 km. (12.1 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

Passing by vegetable fields and crossing a forest, you will reach Fão, cross the river Cávado and arrive in Esposende. Continue your Camino for a short while to finally arrive in your destination Antas.

Distance: 16 km. (10 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

The Way winds through lush forests filled with the scent of eucalyptus, and then leads through traditional Portuguese villages. Today’s destination, Viana do Castelo, is one of the most beautiful cities along the coastal Camino, boasting a magnificent, historic city center with a cathedral and two defence towers that made up a part of the city’s fortress.

Distance: 15 km. (9.2 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

Behind Viana, the Camino goes up to a ridge of hills, where the pilgrims walk until just before Ancora. The path leads through many small Portuguese villages and, between them, it leads over beautiful forest paths. Again and again, beautiful vistas of the Atlantic from above will open up, and you will hear its distant roaring from time to time. In Vila Praia de Ancora, the Camino will finally reach the coast again.

Distance: 17 km. (10.6 mi.) | Difficulty: Moderate

Your first stage of today’s journey will be to Caminha. This town, with its many bars, the traditional Portuguese main plaza, the townhouse and its clocktower, make for a opportunity to bid Portugal a proper farewell, and to, then, be welcomed into Spain. Crossing the river Miño by boat, you will enter Galicia. (NOTE: your watches will have to be reset 1 hour ahead on reaching Spain!) From there, the Camino will lead you to the fishing village A Guarda, known as the “capital of lobsters”.

Distance: 15.6 km. (9.6 mi.) | Difficulty: Moderate

On your first day in Galicia (Spain) you´re making a pilgrimage along very beautiful paths along the rugged coast to Oia, where a monastery was built in the 7th century, the successor of which can still be admired today. (12 km – easy to moderate)

Distance: 12.7 km. (7.9 mi.) | Difficulty: Moderate

Beyond Oia, you will continue along the coast, following narrow trails that, later, turn into paved roads. There will be some uphill and downhill terrain just before the destination of this stage – Baiona, which was an important trading hub up until the end of the 19th century. Baiona’s beautiful old town is still filled with tails of the once affluent, bustling town life.

Distance: 18.8 km. (11.7 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

Unfortunately, this stage cannot be shortened. So maybe it`s best to drive a few kilometers ahead in the morning. Otherwise after leaving Baiona, you will hike through villages and forests up the hills around Vigo. From there, pilgrims can see the estuary called Ria de Vigo, which pierces far inland. You will also be able to marvel at the picturesque Islas Cies (Isles of the Gods) until, eventually, making it into today’s final destination of Vigo.
Shortly after your arrival in the metropolitan area of ​​Vigo. you have once more the oportunity to decide whether you want to walk all the way to the port or treat yourself to a taxi for these “city kilometers”..

Distance: 28 km. (17.4 mi.) | Difficulty: Moderate

Farewell, Vigo; farewell, Camino – and sage travels on your journey back home or to your next adventure! Or, here is another option well-worth considering: to continue onto our next Part 2 of the Camino Portugues Coastal Self-Guided Tour; from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela.

¡Buen Camino!