The Camino Portugues coastal route is one of the most popular routes on the Camino de Santiago. It is the one that is experiencing more growth thanks to the beauty of its unique natural environment.
We would like to talk to you about one of the most beautiful routes on the Camino de Santiago. In particular, we refer to the Camino Portugues coastal route: a route that crosses its pilgrimage to Santiago through an incomparably beautiful environment.
By the way, we’ll also tell you about their stages are and what specific indications to follow to enjoy the experience to the fullest. We hope to be of help and remind you that the easiest way to complete the Camino de Santiago is called Santiago Ways.
The Camino Portugues coastal route is an ideal route for pilgrims who want to enjoy a rural experience whilst enjoying the beautiful Atlantic coast along the Camino de Santiago.
We will walk through spectacular landscapes, between cliffs, mountains and estuaries.
We will leave the city of Oporto and pass through Viana do Castelo and Caminho. Then, we will cross the mouth of the River Miño and continue to La Guardia, Bayonne and Vigo until you reach Redondela. In Redondela, the Camino Portuguese coastal route joins the inner Camino to reach our destination, Santiago de Compostela.
Throughout the Camino Portugues coastal route, we will relish a natural environment unique in the world.
Why choose the Camino Portugues coastal route?
1.- Unparalleled landscape environments: one of the most noteworthy aspects of the Camino Portugues coastal route is its landscapes. They are of enormous beauty and perfectly reflect the influence of an ocean such as the Atlantic. Among other points, the mouth of the River Miño and the numerous cliffs and peaks give evidence of this.
2.- Bestowed with great patrimonial richness: One of the great advantages that the Camino Portugues coastal route has compared to other alternatives is the great number of patrimonial treasures with which it counts. In fact, in addition to Roman and medieval constructions (which we will with detail later), throughout the route, we can also enjoy the unique beauty of cities like Oporto.
3.-Contrast of cultures: when travelling through two different nations, we can appreciate the cultural nuances of both territories. It is a very good opportunity to learn more about culture, customs and history, while we enjoy a unique adventure.
4.-The climate: one of the biggest advantages of the Camino Portugues coastal route is the climate. Especially if we do it during the summer, we will benefit from the freshness of the local climate and proximity to the ocean that we find during our journey. It will give us, in fact, fresh winds that contribute to making our pilgrimage much more enjoyable.
5.-It is not so crowded: Certainly, the Camino Portugues coastal route is nowhere near as crowded as other alternatives offered by the Camino de Santiago. That means that most of the surroundings will be just for us and that at the same time we will have no problems with accommodation or restaurant reservations.
Information about the Camino Portugues to Santiago coastal route
The Camino Portugues coastal route is the best route for those who want to enjoy a rural experience. At the same time, the Atlantic coast offers an incomparable setting throughout our pilgrimage to Santiago.
In it, we can find not only authentic natural and landscape gems but the best of Portuguese gastronomy and, of course, Galician.
The Camino Portugues coastal route to Santiago, which has a total distance of 150km, begins in the city of Oporto and ends, as it could not be otherwise, in the city of Santiago de Compostela, passing through such unparalleled places as the mouth of the River Miño.
The quietest routes on the Camino Portugues coastal route
We would now like to talk now about what are the options available when completing the Camino Portugues coastal route. They are two very interesting routes and that, in fact, will give you more freedom when it comes to planning a route and an alternative to your own taste. Take careful note, because I’m sure you will want to know more about them.
The Camino de Santiago from Oporto by the coastal route
The Camino de Santiago from Oporto along the coastal route is part of the first section of the route we are talking about. It starts in Oporto, a city declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO, and it continues to Santiago offering on the way landscapes and unforgettable experiences. It has a length of 105 kilometres, spread over 7 nights and 8 days.
The Camino de Santiago from Baiona by the coastal route
This second and final part of the Camino Portugues coastal route starts from the charming village of Baiona. Indeed, it is a fishing history village endowed with the Castle of Monte Real and a spectacular seafront promenade.
At the same time, seafood gastronomy is highly specialized and recommended. However, if you prefer local products, we must add that on this route we pass through Padron, the home of the famous peppers.
On its complete route, the Camino Portugues coastal route runs through both Portuguese and Galician (Spanish) towns. In Portugal, it crosses 3 districts: Oporto, Braga and Viana do Castelo. In Spain, it crosses 2 Galician provinces: Pontevedra and A Coruña.
The Camino Portugues coastal route is a smooth one, without great difficulties on the ground. This fact makes it worthy of being considered one of the best itineraries for cycling.
This route of the Camino de Santiago offers two variants on arrival in Galicia. One is that which arrives in Redondela and links with the interior Camino Portugues, much more popular and well- travelled. The other, continues via Pontevedra, linking with Caldas.
All the itineraries that lead to Santiago de Compostela are a unique experience. But the Camino Portugues coastal route offers the possibility of doing it surrounded by an extraordinary landscape and away from overcrowding. This route allows the pilgrim to move forward on a good part of the journey enjoying beautiful white sandy beaches.
You can’t miss the enchanting monasteries and extraordinary panoramic views of the estuaries. In addition, and since most of the tour is taken through Pontevedra, the Pilgrim will have the possibility to get to know in this magnificent province of Galicia in depth.
Map of the Camino Portugues coastal route to Santiago
So that you have all possible information, we want to provide you with the maps of the Camino Portugues coastal route. With this, you can get a visual idea of all the stages it includes, as well as the wonderful places you can pass through. It is a piece of very important information that we must always take into account for the correct planning and anticipation of our adventure.
Map of The Camino Portugues Coastal Route
Profile of the Camino Portugues coastal route
Profile of The Camino Portugues Coastal Route
We will now talk about the profile of the Camino Portugues coastal route. In it, we will refer to its average altitude, its difficulty and its greater or lesser adaptation to the different pilgrims according to their age, fitness and their own plans that they may have.
So, we must say that the Camino Portugues coastal route is not a difficult route. It is quite straightforward for those who want to start the challenge of the Camino de Santiago because it does not have many complicated slopes or climbs and, in general, all of the route can be completed without too many complications given by the terrain.
Infrastructure
The infrastructure and signposting of the Camino Portugues improve from Oporto. The diversity of routes within the Portuguese country has greatly hindered the consolidation of crossings. A reason why the pilgrim should expect to see a signposted route, but not as many as those you will find in other options such as the Camino Frances, for example.
Something similar happens with the accommodation options. However, the succession of small villages that appear along the pilgrim’s path will allow them to satisfy their needs. If you prefer, you can contact usand we will take care of the entire logistical organization of this adventure.
Stages on foot of The Camino Portugues coastal route
Of course, the first stage that starts from Oportois of greater length than the second one, which starts from Baionaand arrives in Santiago de Compostela.
This means that the approximate duration of the road that starts in Oporto is 7 nights and 8 days with a distance of 105km until you reach Baiona.
If, for example, you want to go walking more slowly, you can take a few more days. There are also other factors such as climate or, simply, those that have to do with wanting to enjoy a particular spot for a longer time.
Best time of the year to do the Camino Portugues coastal route to Santiago de Compostela
It is always advisable to say that, in reality, the most beneficial time to complete the Camino de Santiago in general and the Camino Portugues coastal route in particular, depends on each person’s individual tastes.
It is true that each season has its advantages and that sometimes it is better to choose one in particular according to criteria such as possible climatological predictions or the amount of assistance that we can find at the end of a particular season.
However, and in order to contemplate all the options we are going to pick each season and look at what are their strengths and weaknesses.
Spring
Spring has the disadvantage of unstable weather. Indeed, it is difficult to predict when we will be met by rain. However, we can ensure that the temperatures will be mild thanks to the beneficial influence of the Atlantic Ocean.
At the same time, we must add that spring has the outburst of colour that brings flowers and life to the landscape. Taking into account that most of the Camino Portugues coastal route to Santiago passes through natural environments, this is a big point in its favour.
Summer
Summer is the most popular time to do the Camino de Santiago in general. In this sense, the Camino Portugues coastal route is no exception: the hostels will have more people and the restaurants will be more crowded.
Autumn can contribute significantly to make the entire environment even more beautiful on the Camino Portugues coastal route to Santiago. In fact, we will be going through environments that are mostly deciduous. This means that the landscape will be dressed in rich shades like green, yellow and brown, in contrast to the blue infinity of the ocean.
On the other hand, the only bad thing that it has (like springtime) is the possible unstable climate conditions. Nothing that can’t be solved with good planning.
Winter
Everyone says that winter is a hard time to do the Camino de Santiago. This may be true for the rest of the routes, however, in the case of the Camino Portugues coastal route it is not so.
As you walk near the Atlantic Ocean, you will feel that temperatures are milder. It is true that there is a risk of increased rainfall, but we can be prepared for it.
Guide to the places you cannot miss on the Camino Portugues coastal route
Also, the Camino de Santiago in general and the Camino Portugues coastal route, in particular, offer us the possibility of enjoying wonderful enclaves which will delight our senses. For this reason, we would like to recommend some places of interest that you should visit to enjoy the best of your experience and give you some unforgettable memories.
Places of interest
We would like to tell you what are the most important places of interest in the two alternatives along the route of the Camino Portugues coastal route.
The Camino Portugues coastal route from Baiona
Baiona: The municipality of Baiona is a spectacular coastal area that you should not miss. You can take advantage of that is the starting point of the route to give you a walk through its historic centre. Its seafront promenade is a real gem. We also recommend you to visit Monterreal Castle.
Padron: Throughout our journey, we will arrive in Padron, the hometown of the immense poet Rosalía de Castro and also the cradle of the famous Padron peppers. Take advantage of them to recuperate your strength!
The Camino Portugues coastal route from Oporto
Oporto: The city of Oporto is of cultural interest declared by UNESCO. The Don Luis I Bridge or its Stock Exchange Palace are obligatory stops. Otherwise, we recommend that you let yourself be carried away and enjoy the natural surroundings that will surround you until you reach Baiona.
Where to sleep – The best lodgings
Thanks to Santiago Waysyou can have the peace of mind that you will be staying in hostels, hotels and rural houses with all the charm and the attention that you deserve. We look after 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
If you are going to spend time in the city of Oporto we recommend that you visit the restaurant of Portuguese gastronomy, O Paparico, and enjoy its specialities. For example, fish and shellfish are some of them, with all the genuine taste of Portuguese gastronomy.
In Baiona we recommend you to visit Casa Rita, home cooking at its best, with the most popular and classic dishes of Galicia where the best thing you can do is to let them take care of you and add another delightful experience to all that the Camino Portugues coastal route can offer you.
The history of the Camino Portugues coastal route
The discovery of the remainsof the Apostle James the Elderwas the origin of the pilgrim routes. However, the awakening of these pilgrimage paths in the Portuguese country was somewhat belated.
Although, during the 10th century, some of the most devout pilgrims began their journey to Galician lands. The true awakening of the Jacobean tradition in Portugal came after the independence of the country, by the hand of King Alfonso I.
During the later centuries, the pilgrims who crossed Portugal to the Northern part of the Peninsula did so for different reasons, not only religious ones.
The proximity between the Portuguese nation and Spain and the newly-released independence of Portugal generated cultural and economic links that fuelled the Camino de Santiago.
The landmark that finished consolidating the Jacobean tradition in Portuguese lands was the pilgrimage of Queen Elisabeth of Portugal in the 14th century, one in the year 1325, a visit in which she offered her crown to the Apostle’s tomb, and another in 1335.
However, the route followed by the monarch is the one that is currently known as the Camino Portugues (Central).
If the Queen had chosen the interior or the coast, we will never know. Since, in the past, to cross the Miño and access Galician lands, it was essential to do so through the historic town of Tui, as it was the only place where there was a bridge.
Subsequently, other infrastructures were built that allowed to save the river, in places like Guardia and Goian.
At that time, both populations formed the path of the Camino de Santiago. Therefore, it is at this time that we begin to consolidate the way of the Camino Portugues coastal route.
The origin of the Camino Portugues coastal route
There are testimonies of pilgrims, pre-dating the construction of the new infrastructure in Guardia, who toured this route, making the crossing by boat. This, together with the presence of hospitals built in previous times, demonstrate the operation of this route since the dawn of the Jacobean tradition in Portugal in the 12th century.
The first testimonies of the Camino Portugues coastal route date back to the 12th century and relate the pilgrimage of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Saint Thomas Becket. According to the available accounts, the monk used the Monastery of Oia as a shelter, while making his pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
There are also writings that situate the origin of the emblematic Shell of the Camino de Santiago, on the coast between Porto and Vigo. A fact that also points to the Camino Portugues coastal route, which gives a much greater tradition than could be pre-supposed.
The origin of the Shell of the Camino de Santiago
Legend has it that when the Apostle’s body was moved from Jerusalem to Galicia by his disciples, a surprising fact happened. When the ship that transported the remains of Santiago reached the area of the Cies Islands, the pilgrims observed that a wedding was taking place on the shore.
In it they were playing a peculiar game,which consisted of horse riders, throwing a spear in the air and having to pick it up before it fell to the ground. When the bridegroom’s turn came, he threw the rod into the air and it went towards the sea. The groom, in an attempt to reach it, bolted into the sea with his horse.
In the eyes of all present, the bridegroom, the horse and the spear sank into the water, but suddenly reappeared along with the boat carrying the remains of the apostle. The amazing thing about the story is that when the groom reappeared next to the boat, he was completely covered with scallop shells, from head to toe.
The disciples of Santiago interpreted what happened as a miracle and the young man was taken to the ship to transport him to the shore. On the way, according to legend, the men commented on the miracle that happened.
Both the groom and many of the wedding guests, who had seen the facts were stupefied and decided to convert to Christianity.
The boat with the remains of the funeral continued towards the Estuary of Aurosa. There they landed to bury James the Apostle and this unusual event gave rise to the well-known tradition of the Shell on the Camino de Santiago.
The decline and present-day situation of the Camino Portugues coastal route
The appearance of the Virgin of Fatima to three pastors in the twentieth century had an important impact on the importance that was given in Portugal to the Camino de Santiago. From that moment on, the Camino Portugues coastal route, as well as the other Portuguese routes, began a slow decline.
The revival of the Jacobean tradition that came in the 20th century, with the declaration of the Camino Francesas a UNESCO World Heritage site, did not affect this route. It is not until the 21st century, when rehabilitation began on this pilgrim path, being formalized by the Xunta, in the year 2016.
Still, it continues to be a very little known route, both for the pilgrim community and for the residents who live in the localities through which the Camino Portugues coastal route runs.
The Camino Portugues coastal route with Santiago Ways
Book your next Camino with Santiago Ways. We take care of organizing all the details of your chosen route. Accommodation in hotels, rural houses, Galician stately homes and charming hostels. In addition, we move your baggage between the different stages of the Camino Portugues coastal route.
We also have a 24-hour hotline and emergency vehicle for urgent situations.
Ideal footwear for the Camino Portugues coastal route
Opinions of other users on the Camino Portugues coastal route
And so that you can know what other users think, some have already completed the route of the Camino Portugues coastal route to Santiago with us, so here we leave some of their comments. We hope they will serve to help you know everything good that is waiting for you if you finally persuade yourself to experience this pilgrimage with Santiago Ways. You won’t regret it!
Excellent trip. Thanks to Ylenia at Santiago Ways our trip was amazing. Accommodations and meals, she booked for us and day trip to Finisterre - PERFECT. Ylenia, was very patient with us. Our reservations had to be modified several times due to Covid and number of people in our group changing. We have used Santiago Ways several times. Will use them again for our next “Camino Trail” adventure. Connie Earwood
John Harris
Our contact person with Santiago Ways was Ylenia Conesa. She was excellent to work with, she responded quickly to all our emails with all of our questions. I highly recommend her. Our trip was very well organized, we received all our information for the trip in a timely manner. We enjoyed all our hotels, they were easy to find. The breakfast and dinners were adequate. We did not have any problems the whole trip. We had a wonderful time. Thank you Ylenia, we’ll contact you when we decide to do the Camino Portuguese. Buen Camino!
Tito P
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.
There are also writings that situate the origin of the emblematic Shell of the Camino de Santiago, on the coast between Porto and Vigo. A fact that also points to the Camino Portugues coastal route, which gives a much greater tradition than could be pre-supposed.
