Camino Portuguese
Porto → Santiago

If you arrive in Porto today, we suggest arriving as early as possible to explore the hilly, riverside city. As a group, we will enjoy a port house tour and a port tasting in the late afternoon. We will also enjoy dinner together. This will be a dinner with those who are walking in our first group from Tomar to Porto, and those who are just arriving in Porto.

This day will include another tour of a porthouse, a port tasting, and time to explore on your own. You'll want to explore the churches, the porthouses, and even the Harry Potter bookstore! In the late afternoon, we will have a shell ceremony to help get our minds ready for the pilgrimage, followed by dinner as a group.

Leaving the city, the Camino quickly leads us to the coast. Boardwalk paths hug the Atlantic as waves crash nearby — an unforgettable way to start the pilgrimage. This is a long day because it takes a bit to get out of Porto. There will be the option to take a taxi ahead to shorten your day. It is one of the three longer walking days; fortunately, it’s relatively flat. We overnight in Vila Chã, a quiet fishing village where the pace of life instantly slows.

Today continues along sandy beaches and wooden walkways. We pass traditional fishing platforms and small coastal communities before arriving in Aguçadoura, known for its dunes and wide-open shoreline. This walk is all about easy walking and big views — a great day to settle into the Camino rhythm. Today you will have the opportunity to leave your burdens (or shells) on the Caminho Shell Bar “wall.” If you are lucky, you will see a working windmill.

The Camino turns slightly inland, weaving between coastal paths and rural farmland. We end the day in Marinhas, just outside Esposende, where cafés and pastelarias reward us for our miles. Oh, the pastries, I hope you are not coming to lose weight because those pastries are extremely tempting!

One of the most scenic days in Portugal. We cross rivers, walk quiet paths, and arrive in the elegant city of Viana do Castelo. This day is special because of the history, architecture, and a lively town in the evening. Before we enter Viana do Castelo for a rest day, we cross an Eiffel Bridge.

Those who want can take the funicular or climb to the Basilica of Santa Luzia for jaw-dropping views over the coast. This byzantine gothic church was completed in 1946. This is a gorgeous place for a rest day. Settle in and enjoy this beautiful city in Portugal.

This is your second-longest walking day, but you just enjoyed a beautiful rest day (if you did in fact rest!). The Camino traces the coastline again before heading toward the mouth of the Minho River. We arrive in Caminha, a charming border town where Portugal and Spain meet. Tonight, you will enjoy a sunset over the river and a sense of crossing into something new.

We love to balance the long walking days with the shorter ones. It gives you the opportunity to challenge yourself and then recover. Today, you have a shorter, gentler walk along the Minho River inland. Art installations, vineyards, and peaceful paths lead us to Vila Nova de Cerveira, known for its creative spirit and relaxed atmosphere.

We cross the border into Spain today — a big Camino milestone. After crossing the bridge over the Minho River, we arrive in Tui, home to an impressive hilltop cathedral and medieval old town. You are lucky because on this trip you will experience the wonderful cuisine of Portugal and the delicious cuisine of Spain, specifically in the region of Galicia.

The Camino heads inland through forests, villages, and industrial areas — a reminder that pilgrimage isn’t always postcard-perfect, but always meaningful. O Porriño welcomes us with friendly bars and pilgrim energy.

A beautiful ascent followed by a scenic descent with sweeping views of the Vigo estuary. We arrive in Redondela, famous for its viaducts and welcoming pilgrim scene. You will enjoy a gorgeous sunset over the water.

Today we will enjoy stone paths, forest trails, and historic bridges that guide us into Pontevedra, one of Galicia’s most beloved cities. Its old town is lively, walkable, and full of charm.

Today, we leave the main Camino to begin the Spiritual Variant — often described as one of the most meaningful sections of the entire route. A steady climb takes us into the hills and to the Monastery of Armenteira, surrounded by forests and silence.

We descend through the stunning “Ruta da Pedra e da Auga” (Route of Stone and Water), following rivers, old mills, and mossy bridges all the way to the coast. Vilanova de Arousa welcomes us back to the sea. This is one of the most beautiful walking days in Spain!

A highlight of the Spiritual Variant: we travel part of today by boat, retracing the legendary route of St. James’ remains up the river. After docking, we walk into Padrón, famous for its peppers and Camino history.

The final walk. The last, long walk. Emotions run high as we pass through forests, villages, and finally into Santiago. The first glimpse of the cathedral towers is unforgettable. The walk into Santiago is absolutely epic. You came alone or with a partner, but you leave with a band of pilgrim friends.

This will be a busy “rest day” with much to see and do. We will start our day getting our compostelas, then head over to hear the stories of the Portal of Glory, followed by a rooftop tour of the cathedral. There is a mass at noon for pilgrims, where you can stick around afterwards to tour the inside of the cathedral. After dinner, we will enjoy a traditional Queimada ceremony and find the shadow pilgrim who only comes out after dark. This will be a late night as it’s still light out at 10:00 p.m.!

These are supplemental days because we know not everyone has the time to add on a few more days. But for those who want to go to the end of the Earth, we have the opportunity. The cost of the supplemental days is $450. To complete our pilgrimage, we travel west by bus to the Atlantic coast and the legendary Cape Finisterre. Here, pilgrims have long come to burn old clothes, reflect, and symbolically begin anew at the edge of the world. But please don’t burn your clothes, as it’s illegal now! We will hunt for scallop shells on the beach and enjoy some shopping in the village. At 6:30 p.m., we will walk together the final 3 kilometers to the lighthouse to see the zero-kilometer marker and enjoy a final meal together. After dinner, we will watch the sunset and then walk the 3 kilometers back to the village. Tomorrow we will transport you back to Santiago, where you can enjoy one more day of tourism and shopping. We will arrive in Santiago at about noon. On this final day in Santiago, we will explore Abastos Market (the traditional fresh market and home to Michelin-rated restaurants), tour the Pilgrims Museum (on your own), have more time to tour the cathedral museums, and enjoy a tapas dinner. You will depart home on August 5, 2027.

• Lodging in private rooms, two people per room with private bathrooms (in a house or small apartment you may share bathrooms with the group). Check-in typically about 3 p.m. Air conditioning cannot be guaranteed.
• All breakfasts (typically a pastry, coffee, and juice)
• All dinners with multiple courses; water and wine included. Dinner usually begins at 8 p.m. and lasts about 2 hours.
• Optional opportunity to attend mass daily, as available
• Daily luggage transfer (limit 30 lbs, bag no larger than 25" tall)
• Taxi transfer (at your expense) on any day you need to shorten your walk (arranged by 8 p.m. the night before)
• Your pilgrim shell and your credential
• Participation in a port wine tour and tasting
• Tours along the route, outlined in detail during the online meetings
• Two online meetings with your group, help securing airfare, and on-demand phone or video calls
• Photos and video filmed throughout the trip; a Google Drive link with all photos and edited videos after the trip

• Airfare
• Transportation to/from the airport
• Lunch, snacks, and cocktails throughout the day