The Portuguese Coastal Camino from Porto

Coastal Camino de Santiago Itinerary from Porto

The city of Porto’s historic centre has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. You will love visiting Porto. Here we can enjoy the colourful shore of the Duero River with its vintage boats passing through the area, or the city’s exquisite cuisine.

Once we leave the city of Porto, we will continue walking along the coast, passing by fishing villages, chapels and fortresses. We will also have the opportunity to explore the prehistoric fort of San Paio. If the weather is good, we recommend spending some time on the sandy beaches.

We recommend walking through the port of Póvoa de Varzim, in addition to exploring the city’s medieval architecture. We will continue to follow the Camino until we reach the convent of Santa Clara, from where we can take in beautiful views of the city and the surrounding coastal area.

We continue our journey crossing through the Northern Littoral Natural Park before reaching Viana do Castelo. Here you should take a walk through the city’s historic centre and also try the local cuisine. Another good idea is to take the funicular that goes up to the Basilica of Santa Luzia where you can enjoy some excellent views.

We will continue our Camino de Santiago along the Atlantic coast. One recommendation is to explore the small fishing villages that we will encounter during our walk along the Camino, before arriving at Ancora.

We continue to walk, following the estuary of the Minho River. We will arrive at Caminha from where we will take a ferry to get to Galicia. Once we get to A Guarda, we should visit the fort.

A Guarda is a beautiful fishing village. We will continue on the Camino de Santiago towards the north, enjoying magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean. We will walk until reaching the city of Baiona.

Baiona has a wonderful marina. During your stay in Baiona, you should visit the Caravel Pinta Museum and the “Meeting of Two Worlds” monument.

Coastal Camino de Santiago Accommodations from Porto

Accommodation in hotels, country homes, guesthouses, traditional Galician homes and charming hostels.

All rooms have a private bathroom and all the necessary facilities to ensure your comfort. Our accommodations have been selected to guarantee your rest and relaxation so that you have a pleasant stay along the Camino de Santiago.

All of the accommodations that we offer are personally checked on-site by our team. We also double check them by referring to the opinions of our customers.

Since we work with quality accommodations that have limited capacity, the exact name of the accommodation will be provided 30 days before the start of the Camino de Santiago.

Coastal Camino de Santiago Services from Porto

INCLUDED SERVICES

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

About the Camino de Santiago from Oporto to Baiona

We will talk to you about the Camino de Santiago from Oporto to Baiona, one of the stretches of the Camino de Santiago Portugues coastal route. It is one of the most spectacular routes that we can carry out among all those possible of the Camino de Santiago in general.

Therefore, we want to offer you all the necessary information to complete it and, at the same time, everything that you should know to benefit from the service of Santiago Ways.

Why choose the Camino de Santiago Portugues coastal route from Oporto to Baiona?

Although it is true that each person has their own different reasons from everyone else to make one or another route, one of the most special aspects of the Camino de Santiago is that it has so many possibilities that in all probability we can choose our own.

Therefore, we want to talk about the main reasons for carrying out the Camino Portugues coastal route from Oporto to Baiona.

1.-Its heritage: one of the most important incentives to make the Camino de Santiago Portugues coastal route from Oporto to Baiona is its heritage. In fact, we will not only pass through towns, towns and cities with great history but also through environments that have scattered authentic architectural jewels.

Later on, in places of interest that you cannot miss, we will talk about them more in detail.

2.- Infrastructure: Another reason why it is worthwhile to make the Camino Portugues coastal route from Oporto to Baiona is its magnificent infrastructure. This not only has to do with the supply points and rest necessary for the pilgrim.

It also has to do with other important aspects such as the well-endowed communications and indications to carry out our route. Crucial aspects especially for those who make the pilgrimage for the first time.

3.- Low numbers: despite having an excellent infrastructure, the Camino de Santiago Portugues coastal route does not have as much overcrowding as the Camino de Santiago Frances. In fact, there are not so many pilgrims on their journey: this benefits us when it comes to gaining tranquillity and being able to opt for more and better services. All this, only can be bettered if you travel with Santiago Ways.

4.- The surroundings: one of the characteristics that all pilgrims that make the Camino de Santiago Portugues coastal route most emphasize is the beauty of its natural landscapes.

As a result of that, it crosses areas of oceanic climate where the vegetation is abundant and, at the same time, it has the attraction of the coast. To be able to make our pilgrimage right next to it we will be able to enjoy a calm and an unparalleled environment.

5.- The climate: Another consequence of making our pilgrimage near the coast is that the climate will be very fresh. That's right: the influence of the Atlantic Ocean will make the temperatures mild throughout the year. Later we will detail which is the best season to make the Camino de Santiago Portugues coastal route from Oporto to Baiona.

Information about the route of the Camino de Santiago Portugues from Oporto to Baiona

The Camino de Santiago Portugues from Oporto to Baiona has a length of 105 kilometres, one of the shortest routes that, however, can be extended following beyond Baiona. It is the first section of the so-called Camino Portugues coastal route and part of a city declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO: the emblematic and historical port.

It ends in a fishing village called Baiona. Along its route we will enjoy the best of the coastal and forest environment.

Route of the Camino Portugues coastal route from Oporto

Maps of the Camino Portugues coastal route from Oporto

We now offer you the maps of the Camino de Santiago Portugues coastal route from Oporto to Baiona.They are fundamental to be able to plan the route and know its points of interest: something especially important for those who are completing the route for the first time. To do it with Santiago Ways is to win in tranquillity.

Oporto - Povoa de Varzim

Map stage from Oporto to Povoa de Varzim

Povoa de Varzim - Esposende

Map stage from Povoa de Varzim to Esposende

Esposende - Viana do Castelo

Map stage from Esposende to Viana do Castelo

Viana do Castelo - Ancora

Map stage from Viana do Castelo to Ancora

Ancora - A Guarda

Map stage from Ancora to A Guarda

A Guarda - Baiona

Map stage from A Guarda to Baiona

Profile of the Camino Portugues coastal route from Oporto

We will now talk about the profiles of the Camino Portugues coastal route. In this part, we will talk about the difficulty of the whole route in terms of average altitude, length of the stages and, in general, everything included in these points may interest the pilgrim: especially relevant for those who will be completing the route for the first time.

Oporto - Povoa de Varzim

Profile stage from Oporto to Povoa de Varzim

Povoa de Varzim - Esposende

Profile stage from Povoa de Varzim to Esposende

Esposende - Viana do Castelo

Profile stage from Esposende to Viana do Castelo

Viana do Castelo - Ancora

Profile stage from Viana do Castelo to Ancora

Ancora - A Guarda

Profile stage from Ancora to Guarda

A Guarda - Baiona

Profile stage from Guarda to Baiona

Stages on foot of the Camino Portugues coastal route from Oporto

We will talk about the stages that are taken with Santiago Ways along the Camino Portugues coastal route from Oporto.

Stage from Oporto to Povoa de Varzim

Stage from Povoa de Varzim to Esposende

Stage from Esposende to Viana do Castelo

Stage from Viana do Castelo to Ancora

Stage from Ancora to A Guarda

Stage from A Guarda to Baiona

How long does the Camino de Santiago Portugues coastal route from Oporto to Baiona take?

As we have said, the total length of the Camino Portugues coastal route from Oporto is 105 kilometres. This route is done in a total of 8 stages with 7 corresponding nights.

This duration is perfect, therefore, for any time of the year and is, in fact, one of the reasons why it is a very popular route among those people who are encouraged to do at Easter. We give you more information in this regard below.

Best time to do the Camino de Santiago Portugues coastal route from Oporto

It is true that each person has his or her tastes when making any of the possible routes of the Camino de Santiago in general and the Camino Portugues coastal route in particular. However, there are certain characteristics in each of them that make one season better than another in each case.

On an indicative level, we want to offer you some of the advantages and disadvantages of each season to make this Camino de Santiago Portugues coastal route We hope it helps.

Spring

It is a season that is gaining in popularity in recent times. This is due, first of all, to the benign temperatures on the route of the Camino de Santiago Portugues coastal route at this time of year. The second has to do with the many pilgrims who take advantage of Easter to make the journey.

As for the first one, it must be said that the weather is very mild during this time, precisely because it is like this all the way close to the Atlantic coast.

It is true that, at the same time, the risk of precipitation increases, so we must be very careful and choose the right clothing and the precautions that we take. However, another advantage of this time of year is that the number of pilgrims is lower which has the repercussion of more and better number of services available.

Finally, there is an especially important reason for nature lovers and it is precisely the emergence of life and nature that is happening all along the route.

Summer

Summer continues to be the most chosen time for pilgrims. It must be said that this season can have serious drawbacks if you do not travel with Santiago Ways in the case of the more crowded routes, such as the Camino Frances. However, in the case of the Camino Portugues coastal route as we have said previously, the excessive influx of pilgrims is not a problem.

Despite this, it is best to leave everything in the hands of Santiago Ways to make sure that everything goes to plan. We must say that summer in this area is very fresh, so an added reason to make the Camino de Santiago Portuguese along the coast from Oporto to Baiona is to "flee" from the torrid temperatures of the rest of the Iberian Peninsula.

Autumn

Autumn is a time when the risk of precipitation increases again. The turnout of pilgrims declines considerably, and to plan against increased rains we must increase our planning.

However, one point in our favour is that the whole region, dotted with deciduous vegetation, offers an incredible spectacle. That is why it is another highly recommended time if we take advantage of the last breath of summer.

We want to remind you that with Santiago Ways it is possible to book at any date of the year. At the same time, we remind you that it is not necessary to do so in advance and that, in fact, we are open to possible changes you may want to introduce.

Winter

Winter has gained popularity in recent years as a result of the Christmas break. There are many pilgrims who live a different Christmas in the neighbouring country. The disadvantage for those who do not travel with Santiago Ways is that most of the lodgings are closed during this season. With us, however, you have guaranteed rest throughout the entire tour.

Although the risk of precipitation can increase at this time of year, the truth is that the temperatures are mild precisely because they are areas of oceanic climate. The influence of the ocean makes temperatures fall and remain stable throughout the year.

In the case of this route, winter is clearly a real option: quite the opposite of other routes such as those of the Camino Primitivo that runs through mountains.

Guide to the places you cannot miss on the Camino de Santiago Portugues coastal route from Oporto to Baiona

We have previously said that this particular route has a lot of incentive to complete it. One of them was its heritage, however, there are others that have to do with the gastronomy of the surroundings and, at the same time, and in regards to doing it with Santiago Ways it has to do with the quality of its hotels.

Therefore, we have prepared a selection of places of interest and the best restaurants to eat along the way. At the same time, we present some of the hotels that will welcome you.

Places of interest

We will begin by talking about some places of special patrimonial, natural and historical interest

Póvoa de Varzim

This town is of medieval origin and the first mentions of the post-Roman era of its existence are made in the 10th century. It was an enclave of great importance already even before the arrival of the Romans and was, in fact, one of the points of a fiercer struggle between these and the Portuguese in command of Viriato.

The town is at least 3000 years old. It was within an area of strategic importance for owning gold and tin. It is a place that you cannot miss, not only because of its medieval historical centre but also because of the ruins of the Cividade de Terroso, which are very well-conserved.

National Coast Park

It is one of the places most named by the pilgrims who make the Camino de Santiago Portugues coastal route. In fact, it is an area full of vegetation where we will be able to cross forests of breath-taking beauty and serenity. It is an especially suitable stop for nature lovers.

A Guarda

This picturesque town has a great heritage despite its reduced dimensions. We recommend visiting El Castro and its magnificent cathedral: one of the most beautiful in the Iberian Peninsula.

Where to sleep – The best hotels

With Santiago Ways you will stay in the best hotels. We take care that you have the best rest with all the attention you deserve. Here are some examples to give you a clear idea of what we are talking about.

Where to eat – The best restaurants

We will now tell you about some recommended places to eat along the Camino de Santiago Portugues coastal route You can't miss them.

Restaurante Bodegao

It is an establishment located in Póvoa de Varzim with a cosy family atmosphere and great customer service. We will be able to taste some of the specialities from the Oporto region, one of the zones of greater gastronomic richness in the world.

Restaurante O´Roxo

This restaurant has a terrace with spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean located on top of the wonderful town of A Guarda. It is one of the biggest attractions in the municipality and a spectacular point to stop to recover energy.

Restaurante Paco Durán

Located in the city of Baiona (our point of arrival) This restaurant offers a warm atmosphere with the best specialities of a fishing village that stands out for the great quality of its seafood. Ideal for a well-deserved homage at the end of the route.

Origin of the Camino Portugues coastal route from Oporto to Baiona

We can say that the Camino de Santiago Portugues in general and the Camino Portugues coastal route, in particular, have great importance not only from the point of view of the pilgrimage but also from the economic point of view.

Indeed, it is a route that since the Middle Ages has been transited by thousands of merchants and pilgrims. It does so by connecting and revitalizing an area that has a profound historical significance. After the gradual progress of the reconquest was made through the Roman roads that still remained.

The Camino de Santiago from Oporto with Santiago Ways

Recommended footwear for the Camino Portugues coastal route from Oporto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD2iNi6nO_E

Other sections of the Camino Portugues coastal route

• Oporto – Baiona
• Baiona – Santiago de Compostela

Other sections of the Central Camino Portugues

• Lisbon-Santarem
• Santarem-Coimbra
• Coimbra-Oporto
• Oporto-Tui
• Tui-Santiago de Compostela

Other users’ opinions about the Camino Portugues coastal route from Oporto

So that you know the opinion of other users, we wanted to leave you some of them below. They are people who have already completed the journey with us and can add their experience when you make your own decision.

Santiago Ways

4.9

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!!

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.

Next Reviews

Photos and videos of the Camino Portugues coastal route from Oporto

We leave you some pictures and videos here of the Camino Portugues coastal route from Oporto to Baiona so you can see everything that awaits you.

The Camino de Santiago with Santiago Ways

Other Caminos de Santiago

• Camino Frances
• Camino Portugues
• Camino Portugues coastal route
• Camino del Norte
• Camino de Finisterre
• Camino Ingles
• Camino Primitivo
• Camino Lebaniego
• The Way of Lighthouses
• The Via de la Plata

Here you can see all the stages of the Camino de Santiago.

In Santiago Ways, we will advise you on which route of the Camino de Santiago is the best fit for you.

Other ways to complete The Camino de Santiago

• The Camino de Santiago in an organized group
• The Camino de Santiago with a dog
• The Camino de Santiago on bike
• The Camino de Santiago as a couple
• The Camino de Santiago at Easter

The quietest Caminos de Santiago

• Camino de Santiago from Sarria
• Camino de Santiago from Roncesvalles
• Camino de Santiago from Tui
• Camino de Santiago from Baiona
• Camino de Santiago from Ferrol