THE CAMINO PORTUGUÉS – PONTE DE LIMA TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
ABOUT THE CAMINO PORTUGUÉS
The Camino Portugués is an enchanting, unique, and peaceful alternative to the buzzing excitement of the Camino Francés. Over 155 km and 10 days, you will get to know the quaint hamlets, bucolic country lanes, lush forests, picturesque coasts, and historic towns of both Portugal and Spain. You will eat the best food that these countries have to offer and wake up feeling fully refreshed in charming traditional hotels and manor homes.
Our adventure begins in Porto, one of Portugal’s most renowned cities. There, you’ll meet your Andaspain guide(s) and fellow pilgrims before traveling to Ponte de Lima, where we start our walk. Over the next few days, we will enjoy the sights, smells, and tastes of Portugal with dishes such as the sweet pasteis de natas and the fish dish, bacalhau a bras.
After crossing into Spain over the international bridge of the Río Minho, we will finish our walk in the verdant oasis of Galicia. Here, you can indulge in the famed Galician wines (both red and white), abundant seafood from the Atlantic, and flavorful cheeses. Our pilgrims always highlight the food as central to their experience of the Camino. We choose only the best restaurants for your tour, and when it’s time for you to explore the cuisine on your own, we will give you recommendations and assistance in ordering.
Besides the food, our pilgrims love our accommodations. Every hotel, converted monastery, parador, and manor house is meticulously chosen for its proximity to the Camino and its charm. Whenever possible, we opt for accommodation that perfectly embodies the best that the region has to offer in traditional food, service, & architecture. You can always count on a peaceful and comfortable night’s sleep on any Andaspain tour.
You will complete your tour in the Plaza de Obradoiro and present yourself in the Pilgrim’s Office to receive the Compostela certificate issued by the Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela. This coveted certificate attests to the completion of the pilgrimage and is available to all who cover at least the last 100 kilometers of any Camino de Santiago route. Finally, you will end your journey with a tour of the famed Cathedral of Santiago and a celebratory good-bye dinner.
The Camino Portugués is a fully supported walking tour of the Camino de Santiago. From Porto to Santiago de Compostela, we handle all luggage and transportation. Each tour also features a support vehicle, which will meet you at various checkpoints throughout the day to provide you with water, delicious energizing snacks, and access to other essentials that you can store in a day bag.
Last but not least, your Andaspain guide(s) will be there with you every step of the way. All of our guides are passionate Camino experts, fully bilingual, and ready to make your experience truly one to remember. The Camino Portugués is a one-of-a-kind variant of the Camino de Santiago and we can’t wait to share this amazing route with you.
PRICE
- Price per person sharing a double/twin room: 3950 EUR
- Price per person for a private room: 5150 EUR
HIGHLIGHTS
- Discover the vibrant cities and quaint towns of Portugal and Spain.
- Rejuvenate in the hot thermal spring of Caldas de Reis.
- Bask in the breathtaking beauty of the waterfalls in Río Barosa Nature Park.
- Forge lasting relationships with fellow pilgrims from around the world as you walk this unique route of the Camino de Santiago.
- Visit Padrón, the town where Saint James started his ministry in the Iberian Peninsula.
- Learn the legend of his remains, which are alleged to have arrived in a boat from Jerusalem.
- Celebrate your pilgrimage at your destination, the Plaza de Obradoiro, and receive your Compostela certificate.
- Take a private tour of the Cathedral of Santiago and lose yourself in its captivating history, art, and architecture.
TRIP FACTS
- Trip Duration: 10 days/9 nights
- Walking Distance: 155 km/96 mi
- Meeting Point: Porto
- Departure City: Ponte de Lima
- Arrival City: Santiago de Compostela
- Tour Availability: Guided group tour with fixed trip dates
- Accommodation: Excellent hotels, casas rurales, pazos, and manor houses
- Transportation: Van or bus (depending on group size)
- Language: English
- Guides: English, Portuguese, and Spanish-speaking Camino experts
- Walking Hours: 6-8 hours per day
What’s Included
Ready to start walking?
- 9 nights’ accommodation
- All breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners, including wine and other drinks (While we guarantee the number of meals provided, the schedule outlined in the daily itinerary is subject to change based on restaurant availability, weather, and other factors)
- Pick up in Porto center and transfer to Ponte de Lima
- Guided private tour of the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela
- Water and snacks along the way
- Luggage transport (limited to one 23 kg/50 lb piece of luggage per person)
- English and Spanish speaking guide(s)
- The Pilgrim’s Credencial, or Pilgrim’s Passport, and scallop shell
- Camino Portugués Guide Book
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
- Travel to the start of your tour or from its end
- Meals and drinks not included in your tour
- Extraneous items purchased on your behalf by your Andaspain guide
- Guide gratuity (150 EUR/person/guide is suggested)
- Additional activities not outlined in the What’s Included section
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY
This part of the Camino is very well marked and follows mainly forest trails, paths between villages and some secondary roads. While this section of Portugal and Spain is not a mountainous region, it has its fair share of hills. You will be walking up and down a lot, so a reasonable level of fitness is necessary. The distances we plan for you are the same as the typical stages of the Camino.