The Coastal Camino de Santiago from Porto
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136 km
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8 days / 7 nights
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The Camino Portugues to Santiago from Porto to Baiona is part of the first section of the Camino Portugues Coastal Route.
Porto is an impressive city that was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is famous for being the birthplace of Port wine.
Once we leave Porto, the Camino Portugues continues north until we reach Baiona.
As we follow the Camino Portugues Coastal Route, we will be able to enjoy a wide range of coastal landscapes.
The city of Porto’s old quarter has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. You will love visiting Porto. Here we can enjoy the colourful shore of the River Duero with its vintage boats passing through the area, or the city’s exquisite cuisine.
Overnight: Porto
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.
Length: 27 km
Overnight: Povoa de Varzim
We recommend walking through the port of Povoa 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.
Length: 22 km
Overnight: Esposende
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 quarter and also try the local cuisine. Another good idea is to take the funicular railway that goes up to the Basilica of Santa Luzia where you can enjoy some excellent views.
Length: 24 km
Overnight: Viana do Castelo
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.
Length: 19 km
Overnight: Ancora
Today’s stage is much more urban. To leave Portugal we will pass through the town of Caminha and then cross the River Minho in a boat that we will take on our own account. This will take us to A Guarda, located in the Autonomous Community of Galicia, Spain.
When we get to the other side of the river, we will cross a mountain covered with eucalyptus trees to go to the centre of A Guarda.
Length: 13 km
Overnight: A Guarda
A Guarda is a beautiful fishing village. We will continue on the Camino de Santiago northwards, enjoying magnificent views over the Atlantic Ocean. We will walk until reaching the town of Baiona.
Length: 30 km
Overnight: 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.
End of our services.
All the rooms you book with Santiago Ways to do the Camino de Santiago have a private bathroom and all the necessary services to ensure your best comfort.
Our team checks on site the quality of all the accommodation offered in order for pilgrims to have a comfortable and unforgettable experience on the Camino de Santiago.
When working with quality accommodation with limited capacity, the exact name of the accommodation will be provided 30 days before the start of the Camino.
All accommodation on the Camino de Santiago is subject to availability. In case we can’t offer any of them due to lack of capacity, we’ll accommodate you in one of equal or better quality.
Single rooms are subject to availability. Reservations must be made in advance and come at an additional cost.
All our accommodation has been selected to ensure tranquillity, rest and enjoyment during your Camino de Santiago:
Accommodation in Hotels and Country Cottages.
Rooms with private bathroom.
Meal plan of your choice.
Baggage transfer between stages.
24 hours Telephone assistance on route.
Travel navigation app made for each traveler.
Complete route itinerary.
Assistance vehicle in case of emergency.
Information pack for the Camino de Santiago.
VAT.
Additional single room.
Extra night in Baiona.
Transfer from Baiona to Porto (includes airport).
Travel assistance insurance.
Cancellation insurance.
In order to resolve pilgrims’ doubts, here we answer the questions that are most frequently asked when we receive your enquiries.
If you have any other questions, you can contact us and we will be happy to help you resolve all your queries.
We will talk to you about the Camino de Santiago from Porto to Baiona, one of the stretches of the Camino Portugues Coastal Route. It is one of the most spectacular routes that we can travel among all those possible on 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.
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 completing the Camino Portugues coastal route from Porto to Baiona.
1.-Its heritage: One of the most important incentives to do the Camino de Santiago Portugues Coastal Route from Porto to Baiona is in its heritage. In fact, we will not only pass through villages, 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 do the Camino Portugues Coastal Route from Porto 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 journey along our route. Crucial aspects especially for those who do the pilgrimage for the first time.
3.- Low numbers: Despite having an excellent infrastructure, the Camino Portugues Coastal Route is not as overcrowded as the Camino de Santiago Frances. In fact, there are not so many pilgrims on their journey: this benefits us when it comes to our 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 do the Camino 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 nearby 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 doing our pilgrimage near the coast is that the climate will be very fresh. That’s right: the influence of the Atlantic Ocean makes the temperatures mild throughout the year. Later, we will detail which is the best season to do the Camino Portugues Coastal Route from Porto to Baiona.
The Camino Portugues from Porto to Baiona has a total 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 city of Porto.
It ends in a fishing village called Baiona. Along its route, we will enjoy the best of the coastal and forest environment.
We now offer you the maps of the Camino de Santiago Portugues Coastal Route from Porto 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.
It is important to note that once you arrive in Caminha, on the stage between Ancora and A Guarda, you will need to take a ferry to A Pasaxe. The ferry times vary according to the tide, which is why each day there is a different schedule.
Porto – Povoa de Varzim
Stage map from Porto to Povoa de Varzim
Povoa de Varzim – Esposende
Stage map from Povoa de Varzim to Esposende
Esposende – Viana do Castelo
Stage map from Esposende to Viana do Castelo
Viana do Castelo – Ancora
Stage map from Viana do Castelo to Ancora
Ancora – A Guarda
Stage map from Ancora to A Guarda
A Guarda – Baiona
Stage map from A Guarda to Baiona
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.
Porto – Povoa de Varzim
Stage profile from Porto to Povoa de Varzim
Povoa de Varzim – Esposende
Stage profile from Povoa de Varzim to Esposende
Esposende – Viana do Castelo
Stage profile from Esposende to Viana do Castelo
Viana do Castelo – Ancora
Stage profile from Viana do Castelo to Ancora
Ancora – A Guarda
Stage profile from Ancora to Guarda
A Guarda – Baiona
Stage profile from Guarda to Baiona
We will talk about the stages that are taken with Santiago Ways along the Camino Portugues Coastal Route from Porto.
Stage from Porto 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
As we have said, the total length of the Camino Portugues Coastal Route from Porto 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 will give you more information in this regard below.
It is true that each person has his or her tastes when completing 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.
To assist you in your choice, we want to offer you some of the advantages and disadvantages of each season to do this Camino de Santiago Portugues Coastal Route We hope it helps you.
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 Portugues Coastal Route at this time of year. The second has to do with the many pilgrims who take advantage of Easter to make their 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, due to the proximity of 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 results in more and a 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 continues to be the most chosen time by 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 quite fresh, so an added reason to make the Camino Portugues Coastal route from Porto to Baiona is to “flee” from the torrid temperatures found in the rest of the Iberian Peninsula.
Autumn is a time when the risk of precipitation increases again. Pilgrim movements decline 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 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 accommodation throughout the entire tour.
Although the risk of precipitation can increase at this time of year, the truth is that temperatures are mild precisely because there 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.
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.
We will begin by talking about some places of special patrimonial, natural and historical interest
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 quarter, but also because of the Cividade de Terroso ruins, which are very well-conserved.
It is one of the places most named by the pilgrims who complete the Camino 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.
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.
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.
We will now tell you about some recommended places to eat along the Camino Portugues Coastal Route, you can’t miss them.
Restaurante Bodegao
It is an establishment located in Povoa de Varzim with a cosy family atmosphere and great customer service. We will be able to taste some of the specialities from the Porto region, one of the zones of greater gastronomic quality 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 your energy.
Restaurante Paco Durán
Located in the city of Baiona (our arrival point) 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 celebration at the end of your route.
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 a pilgrimage point of view but also from an economic point of view.
Indeed, it is a route that since the Middle Ages has been travelled 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.
So that you know the opinion of other users, we wanted to leave some of them below for you. They are people who have already completed the journey with us and can add their experience when you make your own decision.
We leave you some pictures and videos here of the Camino Portugues Coastal Route from Porto to Baiona so you can see everything that awaits you.
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.