Camino Portugués from Porto to Santiago

Porto is the second most important city in Portugal after Lisbon. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known for its architectural appeal, its spectacular river, and its famous and delicious sweet Port wine. It is well worth spending a full day exploring this beautiful city. We are sure you will want to return.

A transfer will take you from Porto to Moreira de Maia, where the first stage of this journey begins. Although this stage does not stand out for its scenic beauty, as it runs almost entirely through urban areas, it is well signposted and, as we approach Arcos, the landscape becomes more rural. One highlight along the way is the Zameiro Bridge.

Today we enter a wine-growing region full of small villages, but also with paved sections. The ascent to Portela de Tamel, which is 130 meters above sea level, is the most difficult part of this day.

The closer we get to Galicia, the more green hills flood the landscape. The difficulty of our route remains low, with a short climb in Vitorino dos Piaes and then down to the Lima River, the river that gives its name to the town where our day ends. In Ponte de Lima, the old town is particularly worth seeing.

Due to the climb to Alto da Portela Grande de Labruja, which reaches 315 meters, we will have to tackle the most difficult stage of the entire route. Once this is overcome, a pleasant descent to Rubiaes begins, which follows the Roman road into the town.

Today we leave Portugal and enter Galicia, Spain. It is a stage with moderate slopes and no major difficulties. We will cross the border between the two countries over the international bridge over the Miño River to reach Tui. In Tui, we recommend visiting the cathedral.

This stage is probably one of the most difficult, but also the most beautiful, of the entire journey. We will cross the Miño River and climb up to Ribadelouro. It may take a while, as a large part of the route passes through paved and urban areas, but for pilgrims who prefer a more natural environment, an alternative has been provided that crosses the As Gándaras Natural Park to O Porriño. This alternative is also well marked.

The climbs on this stage are challenging, but the beautiful views from above reward the effort. Once we reach the charming town of Mos, we encounter the first ascent to Alto de Inxertado. Once this is overcome, we begin a gentle descent toward Redondela

We begin the stage heading toward Setefontes and Arcade (famous for its oysters). Accompanied by the Vigo estuary, we pass through lush forests until we reach the historic ‘Puente de Sampaio’ bridge on the way to Pontevedra.

A calm and pleasant route. We move away from the uneven terrain of the previous sections to enter much flatter and more level ground. We will pass through several villages until we finally reach Caldas de Rei, where pilgrims who wish to relax can unwind in one of the famous spas.

Today’s stage is scenic, one of the most beautiful and varied. Vineyards, grain fields, the Bermaña Valley, chestnut forests, eucalyptus… we enjoy agricultural Galicia. We arrive in Padrón, where we must not miss the opportunity to try the famous peppers.

The final stage of the Camino. We will cross the N-550 road several times and follow the railway line. We first walk toward Iria Flavia and then begin a climb to ‘O Milladoiro’ to finally see the cathedral towers as we approach Santiago. Here, the desire to arrive mixes with the bittersweet feeling that this unique experience is coming to an end.

Day in Santiago de Compostela — the end of our services.

Buen Camino!!