The Camino Portugués along the old coastal route has been revitalized with fresh waymarking, guiding pilgrims from Porto to Santiago through landscapes steeped in Celtic, Roman, and Christian history.
According to legend, after St. James’s martyrdom in AD 44, his remains journeyed from Jerusalem to Santiago de Compostela, landing at Padrón, a historic Roman site.
This tale intertwines with the discovery of his tomb centuries later, which ignited the pilgrimage known today as the Camino Portugués.
The Coastal Camino Portugués has gained popularity for its scenic seaside walks and rich heritage. Newly marked and equipped with updated amenities, this route offers a flexible journey from Porto, with starting points in A Guarda or Baiona for those with less time, tracing Galicia’s rugged “Costa da Morte” to merge with the main Camino at Padron.
From the UNESCO-listed city of Porto, traverse ancient tracks along the Atlantic, passing through diverse landscapes and historical sites on one of Europe’s original pilgrimage routes to St. James’s shrine.
The Camino Portugués is a gastronome delight, offering a taste of renowned Portuguese and Spanish wines and cuisine. With an array of dining options across each town and village, pilgrims can enjoy the local flavours every step of the way.
Still undecided on which route to take? Explore our full selection of Camino Walking Tours! If you have any questions, please get in touch.
Price Includes
Price Excludes
Single Supplement
£180
Miles: 0.0
Km:0
Location: Porto
Miles: 13.6
Km: 21.8
Location: Vila do conde
Miles: 15.1
Km: 24.2
Location: Esposende
Miles: 16.0
Km: 25.6
Location: Viana do Castelo
Miles: 16.8
Km: 26.9
Location: Caminha
Miles: 10.4
Km: 16.7
Location: Oia
Miles: 11.1
Km: 17.7
Location: Baiona
Miles: 16.3
Km: 26
Location: Vigo
Miles: 11.7
Km: 18.7
Location: Redondela
Miles: 10.8
Km: 17.2
Location: Pontevedra
Miles: 13.4
Km: 21.4
Location: Combarro
Miles: 15.4
Km: 24.6
Location: Vilanova de Arousa
Miles: 9.9
Km: 15.8
Location: Ribasar
Miles: 9.3
Km: 14.8
Location: Santiago de Compostela
You will be passing through many regions of Portugal – each distinctive with its own way. The Portuguese celebrate their unique culinary heritage with many local wines and wonderful fresh produce from land and sea and bakery…
Lisbon’s Monuments
Mosteiro dos Jeronimos is the 15th-century monastery that was built to commemorate Vasco da Gama’s “discovery” of India. Its masterpiece is the delicate Gothic chapel that opens up on to a grand monastic complex, where some of Portugal’s greatest historical figures are entombed.
Torre de Belem a symbol of maritime Lisbon, this Byzantine and Gothic tower stands out over the mouth of the Tejo, guarding the entrance to the city’s harbour. Reached via a walkway raised out of the water on timbers, the tower is filled with intricate stonework and has wide Atlantic views.
The Museu Gulbenkian houses the private collection of Armenian Calouste Gulbenkian, one of Europe’s most prized collections with paintings by the great masters and ancient artefacts.
Lisbon’s Tram 28
This old wooden tram takes you on a rumbling journey through Lisbon’s most historic streets and iconic places. Hop on at the foot of Bairro Alto and sit back to enjoy the sights; wonderful religious and state buildings and monuments. It will bring you to the cobbled streets of the Alfama and Graça neighbourhoods.
Lisbon’s Alfama Neighbourhood is the most ancient neighbourhood in Lisbon, with medieval streets that wind their way up to the Moorish Castle of Sao Jorge. The walls turn orange-red at dusk and can be seen all across the city.
Tomar – Unesco heritage town
Set along the banks of the Nabao River, this picturesque town has ancient churches, cobbled streets and traditional domestic architecture and is a fascinating place to stop and explore.
In the 12th-century, Tomar was established as the religious centre for the famed Knights Templar. Closely associated with the Portuguese monarchy, Tomar was consequently one of the most influential towns in all of the Iberian Peninsula. This powerful order ruled from the Convento de Cristo – part castle, part monastery – survives intact today as one of Portugal’s finest national monuments. The remarkable circular Charola church is at the heart of the Convento, circular in design like the great temples of Jerusalem and decorated with superb 16th-century religious art.
Porto
Whizz round the sights in a chauffeur-driven tuk-tuk and stop off to sample the famous port wines of this lovely city.
Fatima
Many of our clients are keen to make a day visit to this incredible place of pilgrimage, which you can do independently or we can arrange an escorted tour. You’ll find an amazing ambience of devotion, one of the world’s most important Christian centres. Learn about the miracle of the Virgin’s apparition to three shepherd children in 1917. Visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, which has more than 5 million visitors each year.
For any traveller on the Camino, nourishment and refreshment is an important part of the daily routine. There are many places to enjoy good local dishes to suit a variety of tastes and budgets. We also aim to cater for those with particular dietary needs.
Some of the walks may have few places to stop for food and drink, so check your information pack before you set out and take plenty of water and a picnic.
The local bars and cafes offer light snacks, seasonal plates of freshly prepared food, tapas and refreshments. As you pass through the regions you will encounter local specialities – often of the variety that best sustains a weary, hungry traveller.
All our itineraries are booked for Bed and Breakfast. Half board with dinner is possible too, but these set dinners can become repetitive, featuring similar dishes each night. We encourage you to eat out and try a wider range of local specialities.
Breakfast
Where available we always order a full breakfast spread for our clients. But breakfast does vary between establishments – from just a light pastry and hot drink to a full buffet spread. Whether you have a light or substantial offering, you can top up mid-morning at a cafe on the route. The Spanish habit is to have breakfast between 10 and 11 when cafes and bars fill with locals having their desayuno.
Lunch
Lunches on the Camino are often taken as picnics, and most places have local shops selling items of fresh local produce to purchased each morning before you set out on the trail. Certain lodgings will offer pre-ordered packed lunches. Or check your guide and plan to stop off in a cafe-bar or restaurant on the Way.
Dinner
Locals tend to have dinner from 9 pm. But on the Camino, dinner is usually served from 8 pm — so do take advantage of the habitual afternoon merienda to keep you going, once you have arrived at your daily destination. That could be cold beer cerveza and tapas or coffee and cake.
Pilgrim Menus
Many of our lodgings offer 3 course set menus with water, bread and often a glass of wine for just a few euros. These are advertised locally as “Pilgrim Menus” and available pretty much everywhere along the route. You’ll notice that there are staple common dishes as well as regional recipes according to the season.
Hydration
Hydration is essential — carry between 1.5 and 3l of drinking water, depending on the season, temperatures and distance you plan to cover. Keep a sugary and salty snack handy in your pocket or daypack – this will give you that little extra burst of energy to keep you going.
Merienda
Mid-morning or afternoon snacks known as merienda are the perfect way to sustain yourself on the Way. Especially if you are not used to the later meal times which are the norm across Spain. It is customary for Spanish people to have a mid-morning stop for breakfast and late afternoon for a bite to keep them going until the traditional late dinner.
Gastronomy
The larger towns and cities of the Camino have a variety of lively plazas with bars and restaurants, so there will be plenty of opportunities for you to enjoy a wider range of local gastronomy and a variety of local and world-famous wines.
You can choose to upgrade your accommodation standard, (available in a few selected places along the route), where you can enjoy a la carte menu and fine dining in the hotel restaurant.
Picnic Shopping
Many people enjoy shopping for lunch items and snacks in the local food shops each day. You’ll find many little stores offering local produce, fruits and vegetables, cheeses and cured meats, fresh local baked goods – ideal for making your daily picnic for the daily walk. On certain days, Markets also make an appearance in most villages and towns. Some of our lodgings will provide a picnic lunch by request.
Local Wines
Both Spain & Portugal have a great wine-making culture. All of the regions you cross produce their own wines (red and white), cervezas (light beer), and licores (strong spirits). For those looking for non-alcoholic drinks have plenty of choices as well.
Hand-picked comfortable, small establishments with high levels of personal service.
We believe that our high level of personal service and customer care offers the best in the local food, culture and history.
Hand-picked and well known to us, we usually choose comfortable, small, family-run establishments on the Camino. Your accommodation will include a variety of family run traditional farmhouses, historic homes, and two and three-star hotels. All rooms have en-suite facilities.
If your budget allows, we can suggest some superb accommodation upgrades, as we often work with the top-end establishments on the Camino. Some of these require a short transfer off the Camino to a rural setting. We think you’ll find them very charming and comfortable.
We provide fully insured and secure luggage transfers. We move your baggage from one accommodation to the next as you walk. This daily service is organised so that all you have to worry about is carrying a day sack with your essential items.
And you can always call us and request to add on the service if you change your mind.
