Select Page
Pilgrims Walking the Camino

Camino Portugués: Round Trip

Self-Guided Tour

Porto ⇒ Vila Nova de Cerveira ⇒ Valença ⇒ Porto

The Portugal Round Trip is a pilgrimage tour that combines the Portuguese coastal route and the traditional Way of Saint James.

Tour Type: Self-Guided

Availability: April through October

  • April 01 –May 31: Regular Season
  • June 01 –July 14: Mid Season
  • July 15 – August 31: High Season
  • September 01 –September 14: Mid Season
  • September 15 – October 31: Regular Season
}

Duration: 14 Days Total / 11 Days Walking

Total Distance: 219 km. (136 mi.)

Difficulty: easy/ moderate

Average distance: 21.4 km. (13.1 mi.) / Day

Prices (per person):

Double Room:
Starting from € 890

Single-Occupancy Room:
Starting from € 1.320

What’s Included:

13 nights in single / double room

En-suite facilities

English-speaking emergency assistance
i
Your full digital Travel Info Package
Details ⇒

We are proud to be working together with hand-picked, high quality and mostly locally owned and operated service providers.

Your journey will be booked through, and your Travel Package will include all the information you will need to access your lodging locations and to process your check-in.

Optional Add-ons:

Luggage transfer on walking days

Breakfasts (subject to availability)

Lodging for additional night(s) stays

Airport transfers (by taxi)
Details ⇒

If you wish to walk your Camino Stages with a light backpack, carrying only the basic necessities, we will be happy to arrange for your luggage to be forwarded from one hotel to the next on your walking days.

Breakfasts are not available everywhere, and they are often served late, starting around 8 am. However, if you wish to include brekfasts, we will be happy to do so, where possible.

Spending an extra night in a given town throughout your journey is often a good idea: you give your body a rest, relax and enjoy exploring the town. In Santiago, two nights are included in most of our Tours by default as we believe it’s the least a Pilgrim would need to enjoy the City; however, you have the option to opt out of it.

We will be happy to arrange for an airport shuttle transfer for you from your airport of arrival to the starting point of your journey. The same goes for the departure, unless you end your journey in Santiago and fly out of Santiago Airport. In that case, a taxi can be easily arranged for the time of your choice directly at the Reception Desk at your Hotel.

What’s not Included:

Flights

Travel Insurance

Tour guide

Meals
Details ⇒

We do not book flights, nor organize any rail or commercial bus-line travel. However, if you need assistance in deciding how to get to and back from your Camino Tour, we will be happy to assist you with tips and ideas!

We strongly recommend to all our travelers to get a Travel Insurance; however, we do not sell any such policies. For our international clients, it is best to get a policy in their country of residence, as some countries offer insurances only to their own residents.

This is a date-flexible tour; therefore, it is self-guided – no Tour Guide will be accompanying you. If you are interested in joining a Group Tour with a Tour Guide, please check our Guided Tours page. (Note: our Guided Tours take place on set dates that are planned ahead.)

Highlights

The Portugal Round Trip is a pilgrimage tour that combines the Portuguese coastal route and the traditional Way of Saint James.

From Porto, the route follows the coast via Vila do Conde, Esposende, Viana do Castelo, and Vila Praia de Ancora to the Spanish border in Vila Nova de Cerveira.

From there, the route continues inland to Valença. From here, the route goes back to Porto via the traditional Way via Rubiães, Ponte de Lima, Quinta da Portela, Barcelos, and Vila do Conde.

Impressions from the Camino

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Porto

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.

Day 1: Arrival in Porto

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.

Day 2: Porto – Vila do Conde • 22.8 km. (14.2 mi.)

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

Day 3: Vila do Conde – Esposende • 25.1 km. (15.6 mi.)

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

Day 4: Esposende – Viana do Castelo • 25.3 km. (15.7 mi.)

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

Day 5: Viana do Castelo – Vila Praia de Ancora • 17 km. (10.6 mi.)

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

Day 6: Vila Praia de Ancora – Vila Nova de Cerveira • 19.2 km. (11.9 mi.)

Initially, you will follow the coast for a while until Caminha, where you will turn inland and hike along the Miño. Starting from Seixas, there is a walking and cycling path that will take you to your stage destination, Vila Nova de Cerveira.

Distance: 19.2 km. (11.9 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

Day 7: Vila Nova de Cerveira – Valença • 15.3 km. (9.5 mi.)

Today, you can either continue following the banks of the Miño. Today’s destination, Valença, makes an impression with its impressive fortress. While the city is now open and well-connected to Spain, its extensive fortress reminds of the days, when the border was not always peaceful. The “International Bridge,” located just beneath the fortress walls, connects the two European countries, and you can easily cross the border by foot.

(15.3 km/9.5 mi – Easy)
Or hike the “official” way away from the river, in this case, just 13.9 km/8.6 mi.

Day 8: Valença – Rubiães • 15 km. (9.3 mi.)

Today’s walk is one the most beautiful on the Camino Portugués. You will walk over mountain passes and later alongside the river Minho to Rubiães and its church São Pedro de Rubiães.

Distance: 15 km. (9.3 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

Day 9: Rubiães – Ponte de Lima • 17 km. (10.6 mi.)

The Way of Saint James continues today to Ponte de Lima, a picturesque little town with a magnificent medieval bridge and historic center, located on the river that shares its name.

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

Day 10: Ponte de Lima – Quinta da Portela • 10 km. (6.2 mi.)

Today, there is only a short stage slightly uphill to Quinta da Portela, where you can relax for the rest of the day.

Distance: 10 km. (6.2 mi.) | Difficulty: Easy

Day 11: Quinta da Portela – Barcelos • 23.7 km. (14.7 mi.)

Through beautiful vineyards and small forests, the Way of Saint James continues until it reaches Barcelos, where the same “Miracle of the Hen” is said to have happened just as in Santo Domingo de la Calzada.

Distance: 23.7 km. (14.7 mi.) | Difficulty: Moderate

Day 12: Barcelos – Vila do Conde • 28 km. (17.4 mi.)

Just after Rates, you will leave the traditional path and join the coastal path back to Vila do Conde once again.
There is the option to take a taxi from Arcos. If you wish, we can give you the number of a taxi service in Vila do Conde beforehand.

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

Day 13: Vila do Conde – Porto

You will take the subway from Vila do Conde to Porto. Afterwards, you will have free time.

Day 14: Departure from Porto

Farewell, Porto; farewell, Camino – and sage travels on your journey back home or to your next adventure!

¡Buen Camino!

What’s gonna be your Camino?

Get your free quote

Fields marked with * are mandatory and may not be left blank.

*Accommodation Type

Breakfast (may depend on availability)

Luggage Transfer (on walking days, only available for the Round-Trip)

Additional Night Stays (beyond what's included in the itinerary)