Camino de Santiago, Portuguese Coastal Way, Baiona to Santiago Grade: Moderate
£1,340.00
There are many routes leading to the cathedral of St James in Santiago de Compostela and the Portuguese Coastal Way is probably the prettiest and certainly one of the quieter itineraries. Our route covers the last 80 miles /128km of the route from Baiona to Santiago and therefore qualifies for the Santiago de Compostela certificate. We can expect a wonderful mixture of coastline, quaint villages, and woodland walking plus sites of historic interest.
Our journey starts in medieval Baiona, an elegant town on the Atlantic Coast and follows a beautiful stretch of the Atlantic to Vigo with its many beaches and interesting architecture. From here, we head to Redondela and inland, merging with the classic Portuguese Way. We continue our journey passing many small villages and towns such as Pontesampaio, wonderful Pontevedra, the spa town of Caldas de Reis and Padrón, home of the famous peppers. Your main bag will be transferred each day so that you only need to carry a day pack throughout the holiday.
We stay at 1 to 3 star accommodation with the menu del dia included on all but 2 evenings – a 3 course meal with wine. Breakfast are generally basic with croissants, toast, yoghurt and fruit the staples. On the other 2 evenings your guide will organise for you to eat as a group.
Please note that although this route is called the Portuguese Way, this section is entirely within Spain. As it covers over 100km, it qualifies for the Compostela certificate.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive at Santiago de Compostela airport and transfer to Baiona
Day 2: Walk Baiona to Vigo along the coast 16.5 miles / 26km
Day 3: Vigo to Arcade coastal walk 14.5 miles / 23km
Day 4: Arcade to Pontevedra heading north away from the coast. Free afternoon to explore 7.5 miles / 12km
Day 5: Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis woodland and rural walking to a spa town 13.5 miles / 22km
Day 6: Caldas de Reis to Padron forests and rural walking 11.5 miles / 18km
Day 7: Padron to Santiago de Compostela our final approach through rural Galicia 15.5 miles/ 25km
Day 8: Departure to Santiago de Compostela airport or optional extra night (+£100 tbc on booking)
Feedback from a prevous trip: “The Portuguese Camino was a super walking holiday and well worth doing. Everything was well organized and ran smoothly. The accommodation was good. The hiking was mostly on the flat through a variety of sceneries from coastal paths to woods to cities. Clare gives snippets of interesting information along the way and guides the group to the best coffee/beer and lunch stops. We laughed our way along the Camino….even those with blisters!” Kathryn
£1,340.00