You begin your journey in Galicia’s largest city Vigo, taking the Camino along the estuary to Redondela. Your first three days are on the well-sign-posted coastal and central Portuguese routes, which separate, meet and separate again, hiking north through the Spanish countryside to the medieval town of Pontevedra. Leaving Pontevedra, you turn off onto the Variante Espiritual, first visiting the Monastery of Poio and the coastal village of Combarro, known for its fishing fleet and traditional grain stores.
Next, a short but rewarding climb leads to Armenteira, where you can explore the Cistercian Monasterio de Armenteira. Descend via woodland on the Ruta da Pedra e da Agua, following the ancient path to the coastal town of Vilanova de Arousa, where your pilgrim boat is berthed at the marina.
Embark on the Traslatio sea route from Vilanova, pass ancient stone crosses – this is possibly the world’s only marine Way of the Cross, then disembark in Pontecesures and walk via Padron and Teo. You have now rejoined the main pilgrim path towards Santiago de Compostela, where you can attend Pilgrim Mass, collect your Compostela certificate, and explore the historic city.
Consider adding a day trip to Cape Finisterre, visiting the 0.0 km way-marker and the Santuario de la Virgen de la Barca in Muxia.
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Price Includes
Price Excludes
Single Supplement
£145
To earn the Compostela certificate you must prove you have walked a minimum 100 km to finish in Santiago de Compostela. In practice, that means starting from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela – a total of 110 km / 61 miles completed over 6 walking days / 7 nights.
We highly recommend spending a second night in Santiago, so you’re not under pressure to hurry the final walk into Santiago for Pilgrim Mass in the Cathedral which takes place daily at noon.
Our popular 7-day itinerary starts at Vigo on the coast. We can tailor the itinerary below to suit. If you do not want to take the boat journey, you can walk the Camino and have an extra night in the village of Carril on the coast.
Want to explore other Camino itineraries? Take a look at our other Camino Walking Routes.
This is a wonderful town to explore on foot, as most vehicles are entirely barred from the town centre. Don’t miss the Santuario da Peregrina, an 18th-century church with a scallop shell floor plan, and the 16th-century Basilica of Santa María a Grande with its stunning Plateresque facade. Also, see the Sanctuario da Aparicións, where Sister Lúcia of the Fátima miracle once lived.
Stop at the 15th-century Benedictine Monastery of San Xoan de Poio en route to Combarro. The monastery features an 80-meter stone mosaic depicting a pilgrimage to Santiago and a grand hórreo, with grounds that are perfect for a picnic.
The steep hike from Combarro to Armenteira is short but offers rewarding views. Visit the 12th-century Monasterio de Armenteira, where nuns produce crafts and organic goods. You may join them for Vespers, a serene way to end your day.
The river stage of the Spiritual Variant from Vilanova de Arousa takes you by boat along the Ría de Arousa, passing ancient stone crosses and Viking Tower ruins. Disembark in Pontecesures and continue on foot through Padron to Teo, rejoining the Portuguese Way with fellow pilgrims.
For any traveller on the Camino, nourishment and refreshment is an essential 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 a few or no places to stop for food and drink, so check your information pack before you set out and shop for a picnic before you leave town.
The local bars and cafes offer light snacks, seasonal plates of freshly prepared food, tapas and refreshments. As you pass through cities, towns and village you will encounter local specialities – often of the hearty, traditional variety that best sustains a weary, hungry walker.
All our itineraries are booked as 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
You will find local wine called Albariño, cervezas (light beer), and licores (strong spirits). Spain has a great wine-making culture and Galicia is a very distinctive producer which has become well respected internationally. This grape variety tingles the palate and makes a light-bodied, straw-coloured wine. Grown in the Rias Baixas area of Galicia this wine is also fruity and aromatic, with a bracing hint of the sea. It’s a perfect match for signature fish and seafood dishes of the area.
Hand-picked comfortable, small establishments with high levels of personal service is our style of 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 daysack with your essential items.
