El Camino Portugués Tour

In the afternoon, your Fresco Tours guides meet and greet you at Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal as an independent country. In 1100, Portugal’s first King, Afonso Henriques, was born inside the thick walls of the medieval castle that overlooks the town. Before dinner, we sit down for our orientation meeting to discuss our journey along the Camino de Santiago followed up by a stroll around town with our local expert.

After breakfast, we hop in the van and shuttle to Vitorino where we hit the trail and have a warm up of our week to follow. We lace up our boots to take our first steps on the Camino, getting our first stamp in the parish town of Vitorino de Piaes! We finish in the lovely river valley town of Ponte de Lima. What are all those Roman soldiers doing here?

Yesterday's walk into the river valley means that today we have to climb out on the opposite side! Our most difficult climb (while you are still fresh!), we head up and over the Alto da Portela Grande, the highest point of our walk at a mere 400 meters. Coming down to Rubiães, follow the Roman Via XIX and pass by a miliáro, ancient mile marker used by the Romans.

With our boots on, we take to the trail for our last complete stage in Portugal. We wander through various wooded pathways that lead us into the fortress town of Valença. Here we prepare our passports for a border crossing over the Miño River into Spain. Actually, as both are part of the European Union, you'll only need your Pilgrim's Passport and know that the word for stamp will change from Carimbo to Sello!

Remember to change your watches as Spain is 1 hour ahead of its neighbor. We begin our day admiring the views from the 12th century Santa Maria Cathedral in Tui. We end our day with an excursion that takes us back over 2000 years to the Celtic remains of the Castro de Santa Tecla, where the views of the Atlantic and Portugal are unmatched!

Saying goodbye to the granite cutting mills of Porriño, we get the blood going with a good climb up to the Monte de Santiago de Antas, where we find another Roman mile marker. Continuing along the Camino towards Redondela, we get our first glimpse of the Estuary of Vigo, where mussels and scallops are farmed on floating barges! Sounds delicious – anyone for a tapa and Galician white wine?

We hit the trail and soon come to the lovely stone bridge in Pontesampaio where Napoleon’s troops were defeated in the War of Independence. Here we can dip our toes into the Verdugo River before preparing for our walk into the pedestrian-friendly city of Pontevedra. Here, we must stop in and get a stamp at La Peregrina, the 18th century chapel whose floor is in the shape of a scallop shell!

Leaving the city of Pontevedra, we quickly return to nature, crossing through quiet paths where we come to the granite Cross of Amonisa with the carved figure of Santiago facing our destination. We arrive in Caldas de Reis, whose natural thermal springs have made this a place to soak your weary feet for thousands of years!

Today we arrive in Padron (or pedrón – Galician for big stone) and pay homage to the famous rock where the boat that contained Saint James was moored to upon its arrival from Jerusalem after he had been martyred. Padron is also famous in culinary circles for its little green peppers, some which are hot and others that are not.

9 days, 168 kilometers, and we have arrived in Santiago de Compostela. Congratulations! You are going to love this magical city filled with fantastic monuments and a lively buzz from the international pilgrims and university students that fill its medieval streets. After requesting our Compostela certificates at the Pilgrims' Office, we head to our hotel and get ready for our evening celebratory dinner!

After a buffet breakfast, our local historian gives us a closer look at the amazing Cathedral that has seen so many transformations since the original chapel built in the 9th century. After the tour, we sadly say our last buen camino as we leave you at the Cathedral in time for the Pilgrims' Mass at noon.

This itinerary gives you the opportunity to walk the last 100 km into Santiago. This is a requirement needed to request the Compostela, the certificate granted by the church of Santiago upon the completion of the pilgrimage. It is not mandatory, however, to walk 100 km (60 miles) to participate in this Fresco Tour. As with all our trips, your walk is accompanied by a support van and shorter walk options are available on a daily basis.

* Please note: This itinerary is subject to slight modifications due to hotel availability, weather, festivals and other occurrences.

On the Road
Getting There & Back
Before You Go / Preparing
Miscellaneous

On the Road

What is the weather like on El Camino Portugués Tour?

Fresco Tours' Camino Portugués Tour covers about 168 km of the Camino in the Northwest region between Portugal & Galicia. Here we enjoy a more temperate climate than other parts of the Camino de Santiago in Spain.

For average monthly temperatures and rainfall of Porto and Santiago de Compostela, please click below:

Porto
Santiago de Compostela

What is a typical day like on the El Camino Portugués Tour?

After breakfast, we lace up and get the blood going with a walk for a couple hours, where we will do a check point to make sure that everything is OK. You then continue along the Camino for another 1-2 hours where you will come across a complete gourmet picnic prepared with the all the freshest local ingredients. On some days, we continue for 1-2 hours more after lunch to burn off dessert.

In the afternoon, we go to our hotels, where we take a shower, siesta and just relax! We finish our day with a glass of tinto and a feast of the local gastronomy. We then retire for the night and get ready to do it again! On some afternoons, we have planned excursions, such as a visit to Celtic ruins or perhaps a massage!

Does the group stop for breaks on the El Camino Portugués Tour?

The great thing about the Camino is that it is very well-marked and we encourage people to walk at a pace that is comfortable for them - this is not a race! We want you to enjoy the route and we also like to stop with our clients for a coffee or cerveza along the way and take everything in!

What is the terrain like on El Camino Portugués Tour?

In Portugal & Galicia, the regions where we walk, the terrain is green rolling hills - there are neither steep climbs nor treacherous descents. The trail itself is a combination of very well maintained compact dirt and stone footpaths and small country roads.

What is the change in elevation on El Camino Portugués Tour?

We will be walking from Portela to Santiago de Compostela, the last 168 km of the Camino de Santiago. For more information on the distances between towns along the Camino and their respective altitudes, please click here.

How many kilometers are walked each day on El Camino Portugués Tour?

The amount of km's scheduled for each day varies from 12 km to 23 km. We have designed this tour to allow the possibility to walk the last 100 km to Santiago, which is a requirement by the Church if you are going to ask for the Compostela Certificate. However, the walks are accompanied by a support vehicle and options for less (or more!) km's are possible on a daily basis. We can tailor the Camino to suit your needs!

How can we sleep in the same hotel for 2 nights and still walk the last 168 km?

Since the distances that we walk during the day on El Camino Portugués Tour can be covered quickly in the van, we take advantage of this and stay in the same hotel for 2 nights on multiple occasions. Our walk always starts at the point where we finished the previous day to maintain our continuity along the trail. We believe that the time (and energy) saved packing and unpacking everyday makes these shuttles a great convenience for everyone.

Will I have access to WiFi?

Yes, but you will be walking in one of the most rural parts of Spain so the service may be a bit difficult or slow in certain locations. Nonetheless, many cafes along the way also offer Wi-Fi so you'll have several opportunities to be online. Finally, remember that one of the greatest joys of the Camino is cultivating the ability to disconnect and enjoy your immediate surroundings!

Getting There & Back

How do I get to El Camino Portugués Tour starting point?

For the start of your walk, we will meet the group in Güimaraes, which has train connections from both Porto and Lisbon! Your guide will meet you at a central hotel for your first day’s Orientation Meeting and local guided visit. If you need assistance with hotel arrangements, we will be happy to help.

How do I get from Santiago de Compostela to Lisbon, Porto and other cities?

There are buses that will get you from Santiago to Lisbon and from Santiago to Porto.

If you are planning to fly back to Lisbon or Porto, please click here for a complete list of companies that service the Santiago Airport. Keep in mind that there are NO direct flights to either city from Santiago.

Can I purchase online train tickets on the Comboios de Portugal site?

Absolutely! The website is quite user-friendly and you can purchase the tickets easily. Keep in mind that train tickets cannot be purchased until 60 days prior to departure. Nonetheless, please contact us if you require any assistance.

How do I get to and from the Airport?

The national organization of airports in Portugal (ANA) has a great website that explains how to get to and from the major city for your airport of choice, whether Lisbon or Porto. It also has information regarding the routes serviced, the corresponding airlines, terminal information, transportation options and more.

If you are flying into Madrid and need to get to Porto, please see Spain's (AENA) website for information on destinations and routes serviced, the corresponding airlines, and much more. You may have to re-click the "English" tab at the top once you have chosen your airport.

How do I get from the Lisbon Airport to Güimaraes?

If your flight arrives in Lisbon, you have a train that will get you from Lisbon to Güimaraes. Most trains take anywhere between 5.5 - 6 hours.

Before You Go / Preparing

What type of boots do I need for El Camino Portugués Tour?

Footwear is a very personal question - depending on how active you are and how much support you will need. Since we will be walking on a daily basis on the Camino de Santiago, I believe that comfort is key - you do not want to get blisters. You probably won't need a full high boot that covers your ankle (unless you need this support), but rather light trail walkers or even running shoes if you are used to walking. In the spring, there may be mud and water along the trail, so keep that in mind. Most important: Make sure that they are well broken in!

What sort of conditioning do I need to undertake El Camino Portugués Tour?

We encourage you to walk before and be prepared for your own enjoyment. However, this is your vacation and not boot camp! During your walk, one of the two guides will be on the trail with the group to keep an eye that all is well. Also, we have planned check points along the way with our support van to make sure you have plenty of water, if you need a change of shoes, or just feel like taking a break. In most cases, you will see the van at a minimum every couple of hours.

How do I purchase travel insurance?

If you are interested in travel insurance, we like TravelInsurance.com, which allows you to compare various policies across the top Insurance Providers. With the current situation, make sure to review their section regarding "Coronavirus Information" to select a policy that fits your needs.

Miscellaneous

Where do Fresco Tour clients come from?

We are very fortunate to have had clients join us from around the world giving us a wonderful mix of diversity. The internet allows us access to the world, and since 2006 we have had travelers from the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, the United Kingdom (England & Scotland), Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, China, India, South Africa, Namibia and even Egypt! It truly is a small world after all!