The Camino Portugues, as its name suggests, is the pilgrim path that runs through Portugal from south to north, from Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela. A total of 620 kilometres divided into 25 stages that vary from 15 to 32 kilometres in length.
Like most of the itineraries on the Camino de Santiago, the final destination is clear, the tomb of Santiago located in the heart of Galicia. However, the start can be made from any place on the Camino Portugues. Each pilgrim chooses from where to begin their pilgrimage, depending on the section they wish to visit, as well as their available time.
Lisbon is the official start of this itinerary towards Santiago de Compostela. However, Santarem, Coimbra, Oportoand Braga are also common starting points on the route, among the pilgrims who choose this path to travel the Camino de Santiago.
The old town of Tui, the gateway to Spain from Portugal, is another of the most common starting points. Given its proximity to the capital of Compostela, it is one of the favourite starting points among those who have a few days (a long weekend, for example), but wish to complete the tour visiting the tomb of the Apostle.
Between the two routes that cross through Portugal to reach Galicia, this is the most well-known and crowded. One could say that the Camino Portugues is the official route of the nation, the backbone of the network of Pilgrim’s paths in Portugal. The other great alternative is known as the coastal Camino Portugues, and this enters Galician territory at A Guarda.
The Camino Portugues is one of the most popular alternatives among all the options that the Camino de Santiago offers us in general. It is for several reasons that are precisely what we want to explain in this article. Above all, we want to give you the opportunity to know that, surely, the route from Portugal can be one of the best alternatives if you what you want is to enjoy an unforgettable experience in a privileged environment.
Why choose the Camino Portugues?
Camino Portugues
1.-The Camino de Santiago Portugues is the second most chosen by pilgrims. However, it is not a road that is very crowded, although it is possible to make new friends and enjoy great experiences with new people. So then, this Portuguese route has a perfect balance between the number of pilgrims who travel and the conditions it possesses.
2.-The Camino Portugues to Santiago de Compostela begins its journey in Lisbonnormally. However, there is another alternative to complete the Camino along the coast.This increases our chances of experiencing our pilgrimage the way we would like it.
3.- It is blessed with a magnificent infrastructure. In fact, practically throughout the whole year, it has accommodation and services available, so it is very easy to organize the journey and complete with the best possible guarantees. This infrastructure is well-developed, especially in the Spanish part of the route.
4.-The Camino Portugues to Santiago is one of the alternatives within the Camino de Santiago that has fewer slopes. Therefore, it is an excellent alternative for beginners as well as for those people who require a less physically demandingroute. We could say that the difficulty of the Camino Portugues is low.
5.-The landscapes of the Camino Portugues to Santiago are spectacular. It is one of the roads that has the greenest areas and that crosses more forests. If you are a nature lover it is, without doubt, your ideal route.
Information about the Camino Portugues
In this guide for the Camino Portugues, we should start by saying that this route is one of those that have experienced the greatest growth in recent years.
In addition to the reasons that we have previously shown, there are others that have to do with the exquisite gastronomy that is found along the route, as well as the historical enclaves that are encountered along the way.
In general, we could say that the Camino de Santiago Portugues has a special charm that comes from its past legend. The total road distance from Santiago from Portugal is 620 kilometres. They are distributed in 25 stages in the case of the pilgrims who decide to go on foot.
It is a route of medieval origin that accessed Galicia from Portugal. A part of its route is made on the banks of the River Miño amidst some places of remarkable beauty.
On its route, there are monuments that date back to Roman and medieval times (such as those of Sampaio, chapels, roads, etc.) and other historical evidence of more recent times that give us an idea of the authentic nature of this route.
The quietest routes on the Camino Portugues
Among the options available on the Camino Portugues to Santiago we want to talk about are the quietest routes. These routes are so successful that they have several of the reasons that we have commented on previously before and can be the beginning of points of special interest for many pilgrims.
At the same time, they are an easier option, and the best way to allow us to enjoy a full experience from start to finish.
On its complete route, The Camino Portugues crosses both Portuguese and Galician (Spanish) towns. In Portugal, it crosses 8 districts: Lisbon, Santarem, Leiria, Coimbra, Avero, Oporto, Braga and Viana do Castelo. In Spain, it crosses 3 Galician provinces: Pontevedra, A Coruña and Orense.
The Camino Portuguese is a different route in relation to the classic Camino Frances.On this route, the pilgrim does not have to cope with high altitudes, nor deal with complicated slopes as happens on The Camino Frances and on other itineraries that cross the Iberian Peninsula.
In the gentle run of The Camino Portugues, the pilgrim crosses spectacular forests across magical trails. You will find the ancient crossings that evoke the songs of the medieval troubadours and you will have as a travelling companion, countless churches and convents.
Several charming locations, such as Coimbra, Portugal, or Pontevedra, in Spain, will appear during the Pilgrim’s journey. Historic monuments and beautiful Roman or medieval-style bridges, such as Ponte Sampaio, complement the spectacular nature of the tour.
Map of the Camino Portugues to Santiago de Compostela
Next, we attach the map of the route from Portugal to Santiago so that you have all the information you need for your own use.
Map Camino Portugues to Santiago
Profile of The Camino Portugues
Profile Camino Portugues
As we have previously said, the Camino Portugues to Santiago is one of the easiest to do. The profile of the stages of the Camino Portugues to Santiago is fairly flat.
In its high altitude stretch, it does not reach above 500 metres. This means that it is a route especially suitable for those who want to start in the adventure and passion of the Camino de Santiago.
It is also a route especially suitable for elderly people or those who simply want to enjoy the scenery without worrying about the severity of the road. This is also true for those who travel by bicycle: It has no mountain passes and the slopes are never too inclined.
Some of the stretches are made in the midst of nature, although there are also urban sections where there are places of unparalleled beauty like Iria Flavia or Pontevedra.
As we have already pointed out, throughout its profile we will find good infrastructure and all the necessary equipment to be able to carry out our pilgrimage in perfect conditions related to safety and manoeuvrability.
Infrastructure
The accommodation infrastructure and signage on the Camino Portugues is adequate, especially from Oporto.Given the variety of pilgrimage routes that were used throughout the centuries of consolidation of the Camino Portugues, the network of hostels is much less developed than in other itineraries, such as the Camino Frances.
The weak network of hostels is more evident in the stretch between Lisbon and Oporto. Nevertheless, this fact should not discourage the pilgrim to take this route, since both in this section and along the whole Camino Portugues, the path crosses very populated urban centres that guarantee the existence of lodgings and services to the walkers.
To this end, it must be added that since the Camino Portugues is much less crowded than other routes, such as the Camino Frances, the pressure on the network of accommodation is lower. The Pilgrim can enjoy the tour without needing an unnecessary race for their accommodation.
With regard to signs, as is the case with the hostel network, this improves from Oporto. In the Galician section, it is even better, where continuous pillars placed by the Xunta de Galicia indicate distances.
In the signalling of the Camino Portugues, the performance of associations such as Friends of the Camino de Santiago, both Portuguese and Galician, have been decisive to ensure a well-signposted main route.
A negative element of this route is that, at present, the road linking Vigo and A Coruña (N-550), imposes upon the route constantly and interferes on the Camino Portugues. This fact is compensated by the magnificent views over the Ria de Vigo.
To this end, it is necessary to mention the existence of several level crossings on the railway tracks that do not have barriers. The pilgrim should be extremely cautious around these points.
Stages of The Camino Portugues
Next, we detail what are the stages of the route from Portugal. With it, we hope you can get an idea of the great adventure that awaits you and how it will be organized.
How long will the Camino Portugues to Santiago take?
As we have indicated, the Camino Portugues to Santiago has 25 stages for those who do it walking, and 5 stages for those who do it on a bicycle.
It has a length of 620km that can be divided into several days. It depends on the route we choose from among the possibilities of the Camino Portugues to Santiago, so this route will vary in its duration.
In particular, the length of the Camino Portugues to Santiago from Lisbon lasts 5 nights and 6 days. The Camino Portugues from Santaremlasts 7 days and 8 nights.
The best time of the year to complete the Camino Portugues to Santiago de Compostela
First of all, it must be said that when it comes to doing the Camino Portugues to Santiago, there is no better time than another. However, there are differences between doing it, for example, in winter and doing it in summer. This is precisely what we want to talk to you about.
We also want to remind you that, thanks to Santiago Ways, it is possible to live your dream and have an unforgettable adventure at any time of the year.
Spring
Spring is a time of year where the most important handicap can be the weather. You also have to take into account possible allergies. In fact, the weather may be more unstable, although the entire Camino Portugues is well-conditioned for any eventuality.
On the other hand, one of the advantages of doing the Camino Portugues to Santiago at this time is that there will not be so many people and it will be easier to find accommodation.
Summer
In the whole of Spain, and also in the north, the summer weather usually is very stable. While in the rest of the country doing any trekking is crazy in summer, in the Portuguese and Galician area the temperatures will be milder in comparison. That will allow us to complete the Camino Portugues in a very easy way.
And while this is the time with the greatest number of pilgrims, remember that the Camino Portugues to Santiago is not crowded and during this time we will not have problems to find accommodation.
Autumn
Autumn has a great advantage over the rest of the seasons: the enormous beauty of the landscapes of the Camino Portugues to Santiago during this time. However, climate instability will be greater than in summer. In spite of this, it is also a good time for completing the Camino Portugues to Santiago.
Winter
Winter can also be very beautiful in terms of the landscapes that we can find in Portugal and Galicia. The cold and the rain can be a problem, but either way, they will be part of the adventure and the charm of the Camino de Santiago Portugues.
Guide to the places that you cannot miss on the Camino Portugues to Santiago
On the Camino Portugues to Santiago, there are many places with a special charm. We want to reveal to you below some of the main ones, especially those that you cannot miss along your route.
Places of interest
The Cathedral of Santa Maria de Tui
To begin with, we must talk about the Cathedral of St. Maria de Tui. It is an imposing 12th-century construction that mixes the best of Romanesque and Gothic styles. To reach it you will have no problem because it is located at the highest point of the municipality of Tui.
The island of San Simon
It is on the island belonging to the Ria of Vigo and it was declared a site of cultural interest. It is a historical enclave that, during the Middle Ages, was a religious centre. Highlights include its connecting bridge and the chapel of San Pedro.
The river and garden of Caldas de Reyes
It is one of the most important sites of interest. It is a beautiful botanical garden on the banks of the River Umia.
Padron
The town of Padron is one of the most important points of this Camino Portugues to Santiago. In fact, this town has become famous especially for its peppers that, of course, we can taste and savour.
However, it has other charms that we cannot overlook and that have to do with its history, its culture and especially its great beauty.
Where to sleep – The best lodgings
Thanks to Santiago Waysyou can have peace of mind in that you will be staying in hostels, hotels and rural houses with all the charm and the pampering that you deserve.
We take care of the smallest detail both in service quality and in other important aspects such as the surroundings of the chosen sites.
Where to eat – The best restaurants
Since it is also very important to eat well along the whole route we would like to provide a list of the best restaurants where you can taste some of the specialities of each site and each stage.
A mesa da Pedro: Located in Monteverdi, in this inn we will be able to taste the best specialities of the whole region with products of great quality.
El Argentina: In Cabamelas, we want to present this restaurant where we can recover strength with some of the most typical dishes and preparations from Galicia such as a good pot of Galician stew.
Finally, in Santiago de Compostela we recommend you visit the restaurant A Barrola, full of specialities prepared with ancient tradition and with the aim of honouring you when you arrive finally at your destination: Santiago de Compostela.
History of the Camino Portugues
The origin of the Camino Portugues, like other routes of the Camino de Santiago, goes back to the discovery of the remains of the Apostle James the Greater,in the year 813. While during the Middle Ages other routes, such as the Camino Frances, lived their moment of splendour, the Camino Portugues had a more hesitant start.
After the discovery of the remains by Bishop Teodomiro, from the Diocese of Iria Flavia, King Alfonso II ordered the construction of a church on the site where the discovery was made, where the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is erected today.
From that moment, many Christians from Europe and Portugal began their pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Although the Camino Portugues was not the busiest road at that time since the 10th century some of the most devout parishioners began their journey along the Portuguese paths to reach Galician lands.
As in other routes of the Camino to Santiago, the route of the Camino Portugues was formed from ancient routes and paths that had been inherited from the Romanesque period. An example is the Via XIX, created in the 1st century A.D. to unite Braga and Astorga, and known as the itinerary of Antonio.
Origin of the Camino Portugues
This route began to be important in the 12th century. As we always remember, the different routes of the Camino de Santiago are not just pilgrimage routes. They were also important commercial routes that connected points of special vitality for trade and medieval production.
In this way, they also served to establish cultural exchanges between Portugal and Galicia after independence.
King Don Manuel I of Portugal was one of those who completed the Camino Portugues from Lisbon. In particular, he did it at the beginning of the 16th century.
Other historical figures were also added later and contributed to making this route one of the most important to understand the history of Europe. A route that, because of its charm, its gastronomy and the points of interest that it possesses you cannot afford to miss.
Consolidation of the Camino Portugues
The importance of the Camino Portugues becomes latent from the 12th century, after the independence of Portugal led by King Alfonso I. From that moment, a dense flow of people to the city of Compostela was established, without it being affected by the reforms and counter-reforms that crossed the country.
During the 12th and 13th centuries, the pilgrims who crossed the Portuguese lands to the north of the Iberian Peninsula did so for various reasons, beyond the religious ones. The geographical proximity between two neighbouring territories that belonged to different countries, one of them recently independent, generated economic and cultural links that increased the route’s importance.
It was in the 13th century that Afonso II (1186-1223), King of Portugal, completed this historic journey to Santiago de Compostela. The monarch was known as “The Fat One” because of a disease he suffered.
The Pilgrimage of Queen Elisabeth of Portugal in the 14th century is the milestone that just consolidated the Jacobean tradition in the Portuguese country. This visit and the pilgrimages of numerous other personages of the nobility, kings and clerics are those that allow us, at present, to have many documented reports of the history of the Camino Portugues.
The Pilgrimage of Saint Elisabeth of Portugal
In the year 1325, Saint Isabel of Portugal, wife of King Don Dinis, began her first journey to Santiago. The story tells that she stayed in Rua a Raina, in Lisbon, in a simple and popular hospital for pilgrims. Upon arrival in Compostela, the Queen offered before the altar of the Apostle James the Elder, her crown of Empress of the Holy Roman Empire.
A decade later, Queen Isabel of Portugal repeated the experience and began a second pilgrimage to Galician lands. On this occasion, when she arrived in Santiago de Compostela she stayed in modest accommodation in the old town. At present, the street where this lodging was located, bears her name.
Queen Elizabeth passed into history being known as the “Holy Queen”. His remains are to be found in Coimbra next to a pilgrim’s refrain, just as she had written before her death.
Other illustrious characters of the Camino Portugues
Another illustrious character who toured Portuguese lands to reach the heart of Galicia and which shows the country’s strong commitment to the Camino de Santiago was King Don Manuel I of Portugal, known as “The Lucky One”.
The monarch began his pilgrimage from Lisbonin the year 1502. It was this lucky king who ordered the installation of a lamp in the Cathedral of Santiago to light up both day and night.
Throughout the 16th century, other relevant personalities were also motivated to undertake the route to the tomb of the Apostle. Among them, the Jesuit Fathers, in the year 1543, who departed from Coimbra, or the painter and Portuguese architect Francisco de Holanda, in 1549.
In this century, the Camino Portugues welcomed one of the visits that would contribute most to the documentation of the route of the Camino de Santiago by Portuguese lands, the pilgrimage of Juan Bautista Confalonieri.
This Italian priest toured the route from Lisbon to Santiago on horseback, in the year 1594. His stories about the tour have been one of the most outstanding when it comes to documenting and elaborating guides on the Camino Portugues. Today, his text is preserved in the Vatican Library.
The 17th century saw other relevant clerics crossing the Portuguese causeway, such as the Bishop of Tui in 1604. The visit of Ponte de Lima in the year 1610, constitutes the testimony of the presence of the nobility on the Camino Portugues during this century.
The stories collected through the pilgrimages of monarchs, clergymen, nobles, as well as other relevant society figures of the time, constitute the proof of the long tradition that the Camino Portugues has. As living proof of its importance, the numerous chapels in the north of Portugal are conserved which honour the Apostle James the Elder.
Likewise, the numerous carvings, coats of arms and symbols that dot the Portuguese territory on their way to Galician lands are preserved, Coimbra being their most significant point.
The apparition of the Virgin of Fatima and its impact on the Camino de Santiago
The appearance of the Virgin of Fatima to three pastors in the 20th century had an important impact on the importance that was given in Portugal to the Camino de Santiago.
After the apparition of the Virgin, the Sanctuary is built in its homage. The prominence that the sanctuary of the Virgin of Fatima acquired in the nation was to the detriment of the tradition of walking to Santiago de Compostela. However, the flow to Santiago of Portuguese parishioners never ceased.
At present, and after the boom experienced by the Camino de Santiago from the 20th century, and with the declaration of the Camino Frances as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Camino Portugues has experienced its second moment of splendour. It is currently the second most travelled route of the Camino de Santiago.
The route has gained in international recognition. Today, it is frequented by both Portuguese and other pilgrims who travel from different parts of the world to visit it.
The legend of the Barcelos Rooster
The tradition of the Camino Portugues as a route to Santiago de Compostela is not only collected through stories of illustrious and architectural expressions or ornamentation. The legends and traditions associated with this route also attest to its importance in the development of the Jacobean culture.
An episode popularly is known as the case of the miracle of the Barcelos Rooster The legend takes place in Barcelos, a locality of the north of Portugal. Although on the Camino Frances, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, is the scene of the same legend.
According to popular testimonies, a Galician pilgrim embarked on the Camino de Santiago from Barcelos, a locality belonging to the Braga district. There he was accused of stealing money from a landowner and condemned to the gallows.
Before he was hanged, the Pilgrim asked as his last wish, to be brought before the judge. Upon the arrival of the pilgrim in front of the judge, he was eating a roast chicken (or rooster). The Galician pilgrim told the judge that he was innocent and that as proof of it, the rooster which he was eating would arise and sing.
The judge ignored the Pilgrim’s words and threw the dish aside. However, at the very moment, the defendant of the robbery was being hanged, the judge saw the rooster on his plate, stand up and sing.
Astonished and aware of his mistake, the judge ran to the gallows to try to make amends. When he got to the gallows, he discovered that the pilgrim was still alive thanks to a poorly made knot.
Legend has it that years after being saved from the gallows, the Galician pilgrim returned to Barcelos to spit on the cross of the Lord of the Rooster, which is currently preserved in the Archaeological Museum.
This legend has endowed the country with one of its most popular symbols, the Barcelos Rooster. This symbol is depicted in brightly coloured ceramic pieces in the very form of a rooster.
The Camino Portugues with Santiago Ways
Book with Santiago Waysfor your next route. We take care of organizing all the details of the Camino. Accommodation in hotels, rural houses, stately homes and charming hostels.
In addition, we move your baggage between the different stages of the Camino Portugues. We also have a 24-hour hotline and emergency vehicle in case of an emergency.
You can read more information about the Camino Portugues here.
Here you can find the opinion of users who have completed the Camino de Santiago from Portugal with us and have fulfilled one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives.
My partner and I finally got to experience our 5 day Camino pilgrimage walk from Sarria to Santiago in June 2022 - organized through Santiago Ways (SW) - after over 2 year delay due to Covid. We couldn't have been more thrilled from our experience once we landed in Spain from Canada.If you are travelling overseas, trying travelling direct to Spain and avoid the lower cost European routes (i.e. easyjet) - flight cancellation/delays is about as common as the sun rising now so plan for this in your travels.SW staff were very professional and very helpful in answering all our questions prior to our trip. The Dossier and Vouchers that were sent to us were very clear and helpful to describe the route each day and where we stayed. Recommend you review your hotel locations on Google so you know where to find them once you arrive at each town/city.Our experience on the walk included breakfast, lunch and dinner for each day and the luggage transfer was a life saver allowing us to pack lightly each day. Strongly recommend you include you transfers as well to and from the airport to enjoy more time and less worry.The accommodations for our walk were well above average and more than we expected. Very clean, showers were hot (likely on demand) and the staff were very friendly at each of our stops.The staff at each place were very friendly but language barrier was there at times but never a problem.I strongly recommend using Santiago Ways in your Camino planning. Wouldn't think of any other group to help out. The peace and tranquility of walking on the countryside, the scenery, and laid back life was truly wonderful. Meeting so many pilgrims from all over and sharing our experience together was amazing and unforgettable.We are looking forward to doing this again in the future with the help of Santiago Ways.Buon Camino!Francesco & Claudette
John Murray
Great five days of walking in the warm weather. Lovely Pilgrims from around the world all with a story to tell. A week l will never forget. Back 2023 to begin from St Jean. Santiago Ways highly recommended.Good Luck and Happiness to you all.
Patricia H
My husband and I completed the Portuguese Camino from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela in June 2022. From the planing to the completion of our trip everything exceeded our expectations.Santiago Ways did a wonderful job of having everything perfectly scheduled, from the airport transfers in Vigo and Santiago de Compostela to the luggage transfers each day and the detailed information about each days walk. Numerous pilgrims commented on how much better our directions were and they were depending on our directions many times. The hotels we stayed at were amazing and the hosts at each hotel were always very helpful with recommendations on what to do and where to eat in each town. We had amazing food and drink along our whole journey and saw so many beautiful places.We have lifetime memories of the Camino thanks to everyone at Santiago Ways.If you are considering doing The Camino with Santiago Ways do not hesitate, go for it you will have the experience of a lifetime!
Ed Vegliante
I highly recommend Santiago Ways for anyone considering walking the Camino de Santiago. Everything went smoothly and all of the accommodations Santiago Ways booked were nicer than I expected. A well organized itinerary contributed to our great experience on the Camino.
Ingrid Gutierrez
What a wonderful company! Santiago Ways was very reliable and helpful. The accomodations were beautiful and clean. The luggage transfer was always on time. I am very thankful for the excellent experience. If you are looking for a company to plan your next Camino trip, I highly recommend Santiago Ways!
Barbara Kamali
This was a long awaited trip : originally booked in 2020 . The service of Santiago Ways was perfect throughout . As 2 couples we wanted the best en-suite accommodation on the way , our luggage transported and also we are vegans/vegetarians .Everything was perfect including a wonderful range of meals in all the accommodation and help when we struggled to get in contact with one accommodation owner . No issues with baggage transfer and the transfer to Porto to Ourense was again perfect .Santiago Ways enables us to have the full Camino experience without any stress . Ylenia was reassuring and knowledgeable in the original planning and at no time did we feel that our quieres were not dealt with well.We all wholeheartedly recommend Santiago Ways to anyone planning to do the Camino .Thank you
John Spencer
Highly recommended. Great help with planning and execution. No problems at any point. Will use them again.
Steve McManus
Well organised trip, good communication throughout. All accommodation was clean and comfortable with luggage transfers working perfectly.
anthony golden
A delay of 2 years but my wife, Geraldine and I have just returned from our Camino from Sarria to Santiago about 120km.Santiago Ways we’re excellentAll hotel bookings, luggage transfers, meals etc sorted out efficientlyWe had a great Camino thanks to all the staff at Santiago WaysWould recommend themGoing with them again next yearCan’t waitThanksTony and Geraldine Golden
Sarah McCleary
I had zero issue with my trip. The baggage transfer worked like clockwork, and I loved having the confidence of a 'local' number to call in case of emergency. (Never needed to call, but it felt good).
Darlene B
I would like to thank Alba Martinez and the whole team of Santiago ways for the job well done. My Husband really enjoyed the experience, of course without the helps of Santiago ways in organising everything, the Camino hike would be a very tough journey otherwise. But the attention to details, communication, and so on..were excellent and highly recommended.
Jerry Campbell
If you are planning a Camino pilgrimage I highly recommend this company. Very professional yet personable. The accommodations they arranged for me across Spain on my Camino were very good. They are reliable and provide good value. I would use them again if I plan my next Camino.
Bill Bearce
Four of us 65 years old, used Santiago Ways (SW) and they took great care of us every step of 500 miles. This included one (1) night when, after some slow going, they even called us to make sure we found the hotel! (We did!) SW and their professional handling our our itinerary could not have been better. Our top recommendation for them! Fourontheway- October 2021 Falmouth MA USA
Jerry Campbell
If you are planning a Camino pilgrimage I highly recommend this company. Very professional yet personable. The accommodations they arranged for me across Spain on my Camino were very good. They are reliable and provide good vale. I would use them again if I plan my next Camino.
Tina Marchetti
We were very happy with our experience with Santiago Ways. They were very professional, very responsive, extremely organized, and booked lovely places for us, including an exceptional casa rural. They provided detailed instructions about where we were staying and our luggage was always waiting for us at our destination. All this at an excellent value. For reference, we completed the last stage of the French Camino, from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela. Five stars for Santiago Ways!
Samira Miranda
Such a wonderful experience!From the beginning of the entire management, everything has been very easy. All the questions that I've had have been answered by mail or by phone and they always had been very kind.They made me a budget adjusted to my needs and it has been the best way to make the Camino de Santiago for the first time with the security that I always had them for anything I needed! I would definitely book them again since I'm thinking about doing another part of the Camino next year 🙂
Shaoor Ali
hello santiago ways....i travel with santiago ways... i have very Good time with them... i did walk hike with them....they have v nice people who guide people with very good behivour... i know one of best Representatives in santiago ways which name is Cristina Ostraiz... she guide me v well..i must want to tour again with you... best wishes for all of you....RegardsShaoor Ali Basheer
Ed Akavets
Did the camino with guys ! Everything was great!
Karin E
Excellent company. They were super helpful in putting together my last minute trip to do the camino inglés. I will definitely use them next year when I do another route. Thank you SantiagoWays!
Lisa B
Fabulous experience. Santiago Ways made this trip such a memorable trip. I will definitely be using their amazing service again for the next 200 km. The accommodations were super. The transfers and itinerary were perfect . Thanks Ylenia ans everyone at Santiago Ways!
Fabiana Lima
Very good service. Ylenia Conesa was the one who helped me and she was always very effective and courteous. Will definitely use them again!
Christine Tranchina
My husband and I hiked the Camino De Santiago from Pamplona to Logroño. We used Santiago Ways to help plan our adventure... booking our hotels, breakfast, picnic and dinner as well as transferring luggage during the hike. It was extremely helpful because we traveled in February which is not a popular time and all services are not available. The communication and service was excellent. Before, after and during the hike Angie Rinaudo kept in contact and answered all our questions in a timely manner. All the accommodations were excellent. We are planning to do more sections in the future and will definitely use Santiago Ways again.
Karen Srajer
We took the French Way, Leaving from Saint Jean Pied de Port. Santiago Ways booked our rooms the entire trip and make sure our luggage was transported. The rooms were a delight the walk was wonderful. Santiago Ways made sure to have support for us on the trip as well as needed. I would highly recommend this company. The entire group was a delight to work with and Cristiana on it especially was helpful.If we should decide to do another way, we would definitely use this company.
Diane Nunez
This was our first time in Spain and first time walking on a daily basis. Santiago Ways answered our many questions and concerns over many emails. We started our walk September 1st 2019 in Sarria and took 10 days to walk to Santiago de Compostela. Santiago Ways booked our lodging in 10 different places along with luggage transfers. We asked that all breakfasts,dinner and picnic lunch be included. Our accommodations varied from Albergues. Inns, Boutique hotel, to Bed and Breakfast. We truly enjoyed our picnic lunch as we could stop anywhere and enjoy the view. The accommodations - private room and private bathroom as we requested were not disappointing. We would recommend Santiago Way to anyone that needs some assistance in walking The Way.
Richard Luna
I changed my itinerary about 10 times before finalizing my vacation, 2 weeks prior to my trip date. Santiago Ways (Sara Mateo) was so polite and understanding throughout the entire process. My wife and I loved our great 2 week walk on the Camino. Every reservation, baggage transfer, excursion and transportation worked out exactly as planned. Thank you Sara for our memorable vacation.
Mark Nichols
This is a very professional company that helped create a fantastic journey. My contact person, Ylenia, responded to my emails and answered my questions. I highly recommend this company.
Kat Cust
I have walked with Santiago Ways twice and have been impressed by their professionalism and services both times. I wanted to support a Spanish company for the walks, and found them to be a competitive option - in a crowded industry. Am planning to walk with them again as I’ve enjoyed my caminos so much!
Richard Luna
I changed my itinerary about 10 times before finalizing my vacation, 2 weeks prior to my trip date. Santiago Ways (Sara Mateo) was so polite and understanding throughout the entire process. My wife and I loved our great 2 week walk on the Camino. Every reservation, baggage transfer, excursion and transportation worked out exactly as planned. Thank you Sara for our memorable vacation.
Richard Luna
I changed my itinerary about 10 times before finalizing my vacation, 2 weeks prior to my trip date. Santiago Ways (Sara Mateo) was so polite and understanding throughout the entire process. My wife and I loved our great 2 week walk on the Camino. Every reservation, baggage transfer, excursion and transportation worked out exactly as planned. Thank you Sara for our memorable vacation.
Rachel Mckeeve
We recently walked part of the Camino de Santiago Trail. Our trip was arranged by Santiago Ways. We were part of a larger group we had a tour guide and our luggage was transferred each day. Our trip was an immense success, everything went very smoothly and that in part was down to Veronica who arranged the trip. She was very helpful throughout the whole planning procedure even arranging for a private transfer from the airport to Sarria, our start point. I would recommend Santiago Ways and Veronica and would definitely use them again.
Eilish Bye
After comparing several agencies, our group of 7 decided to go with Santiago Ways for our first Camino experience as they offered an all round better price for our customised package that included insurance, meals, accommodation, luggage transfers and any required transportation to accommodation. The booking process was straightforward, they responded quickly to various enquiries and changes that we requested and they provided guidance on preparation and the Camino route which we referred to throughout our trip.We had a couple of issues including one of our group injuring her ankle but Santiago Ways were available 24 x 7 and they resolved everything efficiently including all communications required with local accommodation providers, taxis etc. which was very reassuring. Pilgrims we met who organised their accommodation en route had to deal with lack of accommodation in some locations and then they had to organise transport to and from the nearest hostels. We didn’t have any stress like this at all which left us free to enjoy the stunning scenery and great camaraderie on this wonderful trip. We will use Santiago Ways again and we can highly recommend them.
Kerry Mannette
I booked my Camino de Santiago for Sept 2019 through Santiago Ways and the company made the experience absolutely wonderful. Vanessa Veiga was a pleasure to deal with, very professional and informative and made it very easy to arrange the entire trip. The accommodations and board booked through Santiago ways were amazing, we were very pleased with the diversity (B&B, hotel, hostel) of the accommodations along with the service and cleanliness of the accommodations. The luggage transfer worked flawlessly. I would rate Santiago Ways 10 out of 10 and recommend them to anyone looking to book their Camino.
Karen Henderson
I was so pleased with the trip Santiago Ways set up for me to Walk The Camino Francés. My first experience was when I requested a quote in October 2018 for a August 2019 walk. Ylenia went above and beyond to answer all our questions and to provide numerous options for me before I made my final decision on the trip. She was patient and thorough as I gathered information. Her follow up was amazing and her attention to detail was very assuring! Once I booked the trip she continued sending updates until we departed for Spain. Once we arrived in Spain Ylenia and the Operations team stayed in touch via email to answer any questions. The hotel accommodations for 39 days were all wonderful and the baggage transfer was perfect. Every day our bags were at the hotel by the time we arrived. One day my friend left her hat in the hotel room and Santiago Ways Operation team sent an email saying the hat would be waiting at our next hotel. That’s going “above and beyond”. I highly recommend using Santiago Ways for your Camino!!!!! We walked with numerous people who had used other companies and they all thought Santiago Ways had the best hotels. I’ve already referred a friend to them and definitely will use them for my next Camino. Thank you Santiago Ways!!!!!!!!
Alison McEvoy
Ylenia Conesa from Santiago Ways was very helpful answering all my question prior to my Camino trip. A truly memorable experience beautifully organised by Santiago Ways
Chantal Ryan
This was a great experience from start to finish. From the on-line booking team that answered my numerous questions and comminucated with me in an efficient and friendly manner to the amazing guide we had and the quality of the hotels we stayed in. It all exceeded my expectations
Jon Lucas
Excellent company with excellent staff, couldn't fault their organisation and execution of my Camino walk. My special thanks to Ylenia who looked after my bookings and organised things for me.
LUCIA CARABINE
Fantastic service and Ylenia Conesa who handled the booking was a delight and very efficient
Jasmine Pantuso
Santiago Ways, and our advisor Ylenia Conesa , provided an outstanding travel experience! Ylenia answered every question that I had during my trip planning process! The accommodations were absolutely charming, and the food was perfect! Thank you for the experience of a lifetime!
Yuko Fujita
Celebrating 60th birthday, we walked 100 kilos for 10 days. No pain and no blisters. Santiago ways transported our luggage on time every day even we changed one of the hotel to Paradores. Taxis were always on time waiting for us. All hotels were clean, friendly and conveniently located. The food and buildings and history of each accommodations were all unique and wonderful! I will use Santiago ways for my next Camino. Andriana was very helpful. Thank you! Muchas Gracias!
Yana Mileva
We booked our "Camino" trip via this agency. Our agent was Vanessa and we are ecstatic with the service! The booking went very smoothly. All our questions were answered and all our wished addressed in a very quick manner. Actually, the agency had to ping us a few times via email and WhatsApp, as we were the ones too slow to answer them. They even made arrangements for us to take our dog on the trip and book the appropriate hotels. The luggage transfer was wonderful. We had a pickup from Santiago to our starting point on "Camino" that also worked perfectly. We can highly recommend the services of this agency. I have to admit that I have not compared prices and if there is something cheaper on the market, but the service we received here was impeccable. We had a wonderful trip and are planing to come back next year and walk another "Camino" again. Buen Camino everyone!
Peggy White
Walking the Camino was the best experience of my life! Partially because I had such a great support crew of Santiago Ways! I worked with Vanessa Veiga who organized my trip to suit my needs. When some details needed to be changed, she kindly worked with me to make it happen. My accommodations were all very different- from Casa Rurals to hostels to Pensions, but they were all excellent. The luggage transfer worked perfectly, too. I highly recommend this company to anyone planning to walk the Camino!
Tamir Shemer
excellent experience with Santiago way team, all that was promised accomplished to the last detail , the transportation, the hotels choices , the path segment choice, the information provided ,the luggage transfer just a perfect vacation
mary ellen canal
Santiago Ways is the perfect agency to help you plan you Camino de Santiago.Since the first day that i wrote my email the response was very fast, gladly i began speaking to the agent Vanessa Viega and she made sure i had all the information and helped me plan everything, she was really great .i really enjoyed my Camino, i was looking forward for it and it did satisfied my expectations.This experience for me was the most special in my life, i am really thinking about doing it again starting in Portugal
Winston Fernandez
I used Santiago Ways on my first Camino in March this year. The trail that I did was from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela. The experience was truly fantastic ….. mainly because of Santiago Ways.My contact person at Santiago Ways was Vanessa Veiga. Right from the onset Vanessa was extremely helpful , sensitive and very attentive to all my requests. She responded swiftly to all my mails. She selected the right hotels which were excellent and the luggage always arrived on time.I am planning my second Camino next April and I would continue to use Santiago Ways and in particular Vanessa. Thanks a million Vanessa and continue the good work to all the pilgrims who want to experience a true Camino.Winston FernandezKuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Marion Tilley-Vyner
Santiago Ways made it possible for me to do the pilgrimage. At 69 I did not like the idea of staying in a hostal, I like a bit of privacy and comfort! And I could not have done the walking while carrying my luggage. Adriana at Santiago Ways helped me work out my route and booked hotels and luggage transfers. Also, having them there in case I had any problems, was very reassuring. Adriana was only a phone call away. I recommend using Santiago Ways for anyone having doubts about doing the pilgrimage - they make it so much easier!
Tammy Shain
Vanessa was awesome and we loved Santiago Ways! We had a group of 8 college friends that were all around 50-years old. The deciding factor in choosing Santiago Ways was the group discount offered for groups of 6 or more. All other companies threshold for a discount was 10 people. Vanessa and the staff were awesome to work with throughout the process. We did the five day hike from Sarria to Santiago. We requested superior accommodations in places that were on the trail. The accommodations were top notch and 4 of the 5 places were directly on the trail. The exception was our night in Lavacolla in which we were .4 miles off the trail. It was our choice to stay in that location in order to have a shorter walk to Santiago on our final day so we could make the noon mass. We were pleasantly surprised at how clean each place was and they all had great bar and restaurant choices in close proximity - with the exception of Lavacolla so we recommend eating on-site - it was very good.
Sandi Frost Steensma
We had an excellent experience on the Camino with Santiago Ways. We had 14 women and everything was wonderful. We enjoyed the hotels, loved the daily luggage transport and the food was terrific. Santiago Ways communicated throughout our trip. We felt well-supported when we needed to make changes. Thank you!!
Sandi Frost Steensma
We had an excellent experience on the Camino with Santiago Ways. We had 14 women and everything was wonderful. We enjoyed the hotels, loved the daily luggage transport and the food was terrific. Santiago Ways communicated throughout our trip. We felt well-supported when we needed to make changes. Thank you!!
Beatriz Beltranena
Santiago Ways is excellent they exceeded my expectations!! they do a great JOB and we had a "Buen Camino" in part thanks to them... lovely hotels.. flawless bag transfers and great great service!!! I would totally recommend them and please look for Vanessa she is the best.
Jan Schubert
My family and I used Santiago Ways to organize our recent pilgrimage from Lisbon to Porto. They did an excellent job booking us (as much as possible) into wonderful, small, family-run hotels and coping with the many changes dictated by "group" travel. In addition, one of us was traveling by bicycle whilst the rest were walking, necessitating even more planning which Santiago Ways did with patience and grace. We recommend using Santiago Ways for Camino support and planning!!! Jan Schubert
Jill Scher
My family and I (6 of us) just finished walking the Lisbon to Porto section of the Camino Portuguese. It was a wonderful experience for us. The hotels we were booked into were well chosen and the food was great. We also found the path to be well marked making way finding fairly easy. A great relief as we had heard it was not well marked. Our luggage was efficiently transferred each day and everything ran very smoothly. Thank you Santiago Ways! We would definitely recommend your services to our friends. Jill
Kenneth E. Nowell
Santiago Ways made my memorable hike trouble-free. I had excellent hotels, tasty breakfasts, dependable baggage forwarding, informative advance information, and a dependable drive to deliver me to Sarria. I really appreciate their attention to detail!
Margo Gosia Barker
We booked our El Camino with Santiago Ways and we were very lucky to have Silvia as our agent. She did a fantastic job organizing our trip, always promptly responding to our inquiries, impeccable English, all accommodations that she arranged for us were great, and our luggage was always delivered to the next location timely, before our arrivals to sites. I would definitely recommend Santiago Ways and ask for Silvia to be your representative.
Patricia Bazán
This trip changed my life in ways I could not describe! I knew the hiking was going to be a challenge, but Santiago Ways made it so easy to plan and execute. They are truly the best and I am already planning my next trip with Santiago Ways and would not think of going anywhere else. Silvia Rivera was particularly helpful in the planning, as she answered all my questions patiently, and help me through the process. Great job, Guys, and I will see you next year!
Roberto Canto
Have just finished El Camino de Santiago from Sarria with the help of Santiago Ways. They have been extremely accesible from day one. The transfer of the luggage throught the five days was impecable, always finding the luggage in the room on every stage of the way. The food and lodging was very acceptable. If I were to do it again I would not hesitate to contact them once more for their assistance! "Buen camino".
Edmee Flores
Our experience with Santiago Ways was flawless. We highly recommend this outfit for your Santiago way experience. A perfect 10!
Barbara Melinska
Very nice experience. Good and professional organization.Nice and friendly environment during the event. Recommended 100 %. Saludos para Jose 😉
Hanna Ringel
Simply put - an incredible experience! This agency looks after every last detail. I walked the last 100 km of the Camino with their help and I definitely want to go back soon and do a longer part of the route. When that happens (which I hope is soon) I'll definitely be using Santiago Ways again! Thanks for everything.
