Cycling the Full Coastal Portuguese Camino

Porto, world capital of Port wine, is a great place to begin your journey. There is plenty to impress you in this colourful city, from the old city centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the picturesque riverfront with its period wine boats to the tasty local cuisine. Enjoy a relaxing tour of the city and charge up for the adventure ahead.

Overnight: Porto

It is recommended to take a Metro to Matosinhos to avoid the industrial outskirts of Porto. From Matosinhos, sandy beaches and fresh sea air will guide you to the town of Vila do Conde, an important old fishing village with numerous historical and architectural points of interest. After leaving Vila do Conde you will reach the seaside resort of Póvoa de Varzim. Continue spinning the pedals, beautiful beaches on your left, agricultural lands on your right, before reaching the town of Esposende on the estuary of the River Cavado.

Overnight: Esposende

Leave Esposende and hug the coastline northwards, passing small villages like Marhinas, Behinho, Neiva and Darque until you reach the town of Viana do Castelo. You will cross a 600m iron bridge built in 1878 and designed by Gustave Eiffel. Delve deeper into the countryside, the path taking you past old farmsteads and the villages of Areosa, Afife and Carreço, as well as the old fishing port of Ancora. Continue towards the town of Caminha, perched upon the estuary of the river Miño.

Overnight: Esposende

This stage begins with a ferry crossing of the river Miño to enter Galicia and Spain. Land ashore at A Guarda, then follow a roadside trail through Portecelo and Val da Aguieira. After the chapel of San Sebastián, you will begin your approach to Oia, which boasts the impressive 12th-century Monastery of Santa Maria de Oia. Leave Oia and weave between beaches, cliffs and cultivated fields, amid the sound of the sea slapping the rocky shore. Today’s Camino ends in Baiona, a popular seaside town with lovely beaches, impressive fortifications and a vibrant atmosphere. Baiona is also a very important town in the history of maritime exploration as it was the first port in Europe to receive news of the discovery of the New World.

Overnight: Baiona

Leave Baiona and bike towards the town of Nigrán, whose long beach is a nice spot to stop for a relaxing dip in the ocean. Continue along the shore, enjoying constant views of the magnificent Islas Cíes and the Vigo Estuary. Cross the city of Vigo and cycle as far as Redondela, where the coastal route converges with the original inland Portuguese Camino. Now you follow a more typical Galician landscape of wooded trails interspersed with clustered villages—without ever losing sight of the tranquil waters of the Vigo Estuary. Head north as far as Arcade, a town famous for its oysters and featuring a magnificent old bridge over the River Verdugo

Overnight: Arcade

Today your stage starts off along the cobbled medieval alleyways out of Arcade before entering sloping woods and small villages clustered together in valleys. After coasting through the beautiful old city of Pontevedra, the Camino will pass through chestnut groves and run parallel to a railway line for a time. Stroll through the pretty villages of Alba, A Portela and Briallos, as well as charming vineyards and forests of eucalyptus and pine trees. Your destination today is the town of Caldas de Reis, which is well known for its hot springs and which sits at the confluence of the Bermaña and Umia rivers.

Overnight: Caldas de Reis

Leave Caldas de Reis and pass through more fields and quiet hamlets before descending to cross the river Fontenlo. Come to the town of Padrón, believed to be not only the place where the Apostle James preached in Spain, but also the place his body landed ashore when it was brought to Santiago de Compostela by his disciples. Leave Padrón and cycle through a number of small villages on your way to the historical sanctuary of A Esclavitude. Today you will also see some of the oldest wayside crosses in Galicia. Soon you will be able to see the spires of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Descend through the outskirts of the city, then weave through the narrow streets of the old town until you reach Plaza do Obradoiro and the beautiful Gothic façade of the Cathedral.

Overnight: Santiago de Compostela

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the end of your Camino adventure. See you next time!