Portuguese Coastal Way from Porto to A Guarda

In recent years, it has been attracting numerous pilgrims, due to the beauty of the route, an eminently rural route, the possibility of walking by the sea, even stepping on the sand of its beaches; as well as for the cultural wealth that it treasures. These are the most characteristic signs of this Jacobean route.

It runs along the Atlantic Ocean, beginning its journey in the city of Porto. The most important towns on the route are Vila do Conde, Povoa de Marzin, Esposende, Viana do Castelo, Caminha, all of them in Portuguese territory. Once in Spain, if we continue our Camino to Santiago, we will visit A ​​Guarda, Baiona, Vigo and Redondela, where it joins the Central Portuguese Way, coming from Tui. Finally we end up passing through Pontevedra, Caldas de Rei, Padrón and Santiago de Compostela.

Among the most significant monuments or places on this route, we point out the Dom Luis I bridge, the Cais da Ribeira in Porto, the Porto Cathedral, the Santa Lucia Monastery located in Viana do Castelo, the Santa María de I heard and we concluded with the Cabo Silleiro lighthouse located in the proximities of Baiona. On the stage from Baiona to Redondela you can enjoy the views over the Cíes Islands and the Bay of Vigo

Day 1.- Arrival in Porto. Accommodation.

Day 2.- Stage from Porto (Matosinhos) to Vila do Conde (22 Kms)

Difficulty: Low and Estimated time: 5 Hours 30′

Spectacular stage that runs almost entirely by the sea, with impressive views of the Atlantic Ocean.

We will cross areas of dunes, wooden walkways and cycle paths, as well as an ornithological reserve, archaeological remains, forts, chapels and churches. We finish in the emblematic Vila do Conde with its impressive aqueduct of 999 arches, and the Convent of Santa Clara. Also noteworthy are the churches of Santiago in Labruge, Mindelo and Azurara.

In Porto, the Cathedral (XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries) is a must, as well as the impressive Luis I Bridge, over the Tagus, the Clérigos Tower, as well as the entire Tagus riverbank and Porto’s old town.

Day 3.- Stage from Vila do Conde to Esposende (24 Kms)

Difficulty: Easy and Estimated time: 6 Hours

The section from Vila do Conde to Povoa de Varzim is eminently urban, but from here, we will walk through many sections of walkways over the dunes.

The stage is very similar, in terms of its route, to the previous stage from Porto to Vila do Conde, running close to the beach, many kilometers from it.

The second part of the stage, goes away from the sea, through cultivated lands, through Apulia and Fao where we will cross the Cávado river to finish in Esposende, through the beautiful Luis Filipe metallic bridge.

Day 4.- Stage from Esposende to Viana do Costelo (26 Kms)

Difficulty: Medium and Estimated time: 6 Hours 30′

Today’s day is the first in which we will not set foot on any beach. The points of greatest interest will be the passage of two rivers, the Neiva and the Lima, the visit to the church of Santiago de Castelo do Neiva, with eleven centuries of history, and the beautiful city of Viana do Castelo. We enter Viana by crossing the Lima River over the Eiffel Bridge, 560 meters long; It was built by the famous French engineer in 1878, ten years before the construction of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

The most important monuments of this town are: the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Sé Catedral and Monte Santa Lucia from where spectacular panoramic views of Viana are obtained, forming part of the fabulous cultural heritage of this beautiful city. Viana is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful and best preserved cities in Portugal.

Day 5.- Stage from Viana do Castelo to Caminha/A Guarda (27 Kms)

Difficulty: Medium and estimated time: 6 Hours 30′

This stage is one of the longest of our entire route on the Camino Portugues along the coast to Santiago, with 27 kilometers, but its route is completely flat.

We start in the city of Viana do Castelo, at the mouth of the Lima River (Limia). We continue along the coastal path, always close to the coast, crossing numerous beaches along wooden walkways over dunes, stone paths, dirt tracks or promenades. The route is also rich in rock art and other ethnographic elements such as the Montedor windmills.

After passing through Areosa, Carreço, Afife, Vila Praia de Âncora and Moledo, we will reach the end of our stage, Caminha, at the Miño River estuary. This will be the last Portuguese city that we will find on our pilgrimage and border with Spain.

Once there, to continue our Camino, we will take a boat that crosses the Miño, leaving us in the town of Camposancos, and continuing the route in the direction of Santiago de Compostela.

From here, we can continue our Portuguese Way along the Coast from Porto, where through the towns of A Guarda, Baiona, Vigo, Redondela, Pontevedra, Caldas de Rei and Padrón, we would end our pilgrimage in the city of the Apostle.

PRICE: €450 PER PERSON IN DOUBLE ROOM