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8 Days / 7 Nights
Duration
120.3 Km
Distance
Comfortable
Grade
This route spans the final stages of the beautiful Portuguese Camino. Start at the Portuguese town of Valença do Minho before crossing the border into Spain on your first day of walking. Pass wooded trails, shaded glades and rolling pastores, as well as towns of great cultural significance such as Tui, Pontevedra and Padrón. Finally arrive in wonderful Santiago de Compostela where you can soak up the unique cultural and spiritual atmosphere of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Along the way, we pass wooded trails, shaded glades and rolling farmlands, as well as towns of great cultural significance. During our two days off in Santiago de Compostela we will explore this fabulous historic city and discover the splendor of the Galician coast on our day trip to Finisterre.
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STAGES |
Valença do Minho – Porriño (20.2 km). Porriño – Arcade (21.5 km). Arcade – Pontevedra (11.9 km). Pontevedra – Caldas de Reis (23 km). Caldas de Reis – Padrón (18.5 km). Padrón – Santiago de Compostela (25.2 km). |
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INCLUDES |
En suite hotel accommodation Breakfast Daily luggage transfers Pilgrim passport and shell Detailed information prior to start 24/7 support telephone number (self-guided) Evening dinners (guided) Two experienced guides (guided) All transfers to and from airport (guided) Flights not included |
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HIGHLIGHTS |
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Day 1. Valença do Minho
With its vast walled fortress, Valença is one of the most impressive towns in northern Portugal. Strolling through its well-preserved medieval streets and visiting the stunning viewpoints overlooking the Minho river towards the Spanish city of Tui count among the town’s highlights. Take a relaxing tour of the fortress and look forward to the walking adventure ahead over a traditional evening meal.
Overnight: Valença do Minho.
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Day 2. Valença do Minho - Porriño (20.2 km)
Time to set off. Leave Valença via the cobbled streets of its vast fortress and immediately cross the International Bridge over the Minho River linking Portugal and Spain. Enter the old city of Tui and ascend towards the compact historic quarter boasting impressive monuments such as the wonderful 12th-century cathedral. Follow a wooded trail along the banks of the Louro River until you finally reach your destination, the town of Porriño.
Overnight: Porriño.
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Day 3. Porriño - Arcade (21.5 km)
From Porriño, continue your Camino journey along a river valley, encountering clustered villages, little farm holdings and native woods as you go along. At Redondela, you will be greeted with views of the spectacular Vigo Estuary and these will last all the way to Arcade, a town famous for its oysters and featuring a magnificent old bridge over the River Verdugo, where an important battle took place in 1809 during the Napoleanic Wars.
Overnight: Arcade.
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Day 4. Arcade - Pontevedra (11.9 km)
This is a short stage that starts off along cobbled medieval alleyways out of Arcade before entering sloping woods and small villages clustered together in valleys. A pretty river path ends in the fantastic city of Pontevedra, famous for its medieval heritage and vibrant atmosphere. Being a short stage, you will have plenty of time to explore the city and visit its historic churches and monuments such as the symbolic Church of La Peregrina.
Overnight: Pontevedra.
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Day 5. Pontevedra - Caldas de Reis (23 km)
After your night in 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.
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Day 6. Caldas de Reis - Padrón (18.5 km)
Leave Caldas de Reis and pass through more fields and quiet hamlets before descending to cross the river Fontenlo. Make your way through pine forests to today’s final destination: 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—making Padrón one of the most symbolic towns along the entire Camino.
Overnight: Padrón.
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Day 7. Padrón - Santiago de Compostela (25.2 km)
Leave Padrón and walk 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. Now it’s time to relax and explore this magnificent spiritual and cultural city.
Overnight: Santiago de Compostela.
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Day 8. Santiago de Compostela
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the end of your camino adventure. See you next time!
Tour Reviews
Juan – Thank you for sending on the group picture – brings back fond memories. Although I enjoyed the trip in general, and the people we traveled with, it was a challenge for me personally since I had a bad cold the whole time and the rain for 5 days didn’t help it.
Aside from that, I am glad I was able to walk the entire route and my husband as well (who has a bad back and hips).
So it was a personal victory for us. You were good guide, although I would have liked to learn a little more about our journey as we walked each day, maybe more of the history of the area and the El Camino trail in particular. And one or two more days to complete the walk would have made it more enjoyable and less strenuous (especially the last day).
God bless you as you continue to guide pilgrims along The Way.
(USA)
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