Daily Program
Day 1: Individual arrival and transfer to Porto Airport
Pick up from the airport and transfer to the Fénix Hotel Porto or Pestana World Heritage, (transfer not included), located in the Ribeira, the city’s iconic living postcard. You have a free afternoon to visit the beautiful and cozy city of Porto, rich with history and monuments like the Clérigos Tower and the D. Luis Bridge.
The old quarters of Baixa with its local shops, restaurants and pastry shops, Ribeira a quarter by the river Douro, facing the wine cellars of the Port wine, full with the city’s traditions and historical connection to the wine and the wine country of the Douro. Shopping areas such as Santa Catarina and Aliados Avenue. Not to miss are the great restaurants around town with some of the tastiest food in the country.
Day 2: Porto – Barcelos (32 or 21 miles/51km or 33km)
After breakfast, transfer from your hotel to the Porto Cathedral from where you’ll begin your pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. The first day is mostly urban roads till you get to Vairão (option to start in Vairão, shortening the day’s stage to 33 km).
After Vairão you’ll start following rural roads and roman bridges to Rates and then till the centennial city of Barcelos, the city where your hotel is located. Barcelos is a city worth visiting, it has a 14th century bridge and the old historic center still has the ancient cobble stone pavement and plenty of churches, houses and buildings from the 14th century onwards. The architectural styles vary from the Manueline to the neoclassic.
Learn about the "rooster legend" and why the rooster became almost a symbol of the Portuguese. Taste the food of the Minho region, it’s just delicious. Check in at Hotel Bagoeira in Barcelos or the amazing Quinta do Convento da Franqueira, a 16th century Franciscan monastery now turned into a charming guest house.
Day 3: Barcelos – Ponte de Lima (19 miles/31km)
After breakfast you’ll start pedaling to Ponte de Lima and you’ll have the opportunity to see the changing landscape to a more rural setting, going through woodland areas, small villages and churches in the Minho region till you get to Ponte de Lima, the oldest village in Portugal, sitting by the beautiful Lima River.
This village has recently submitted its candidacy to UNESCO world heritage site due to its rich cultural, environmental and historic traditions. Don’t miss out the handcraft works, the pastries and the food. You should enjoy a wine tasting of the local "vinho verde" or green wine at our suggested restaurant for dinner, Encanada (not included in tour cost) in Ponte de Lima.
Day 4: Ponte de Lima – Tui (24 miles/38km)
After breakfast you’ll return to The Way guided by the yellow arrows of the pilgrims, the road marks of St. James, and our GPS. Today you’ll have to tackle the Labruja climb, although there’s the possibility to go around it, this is the biggest challenge of your Way.
We’re still in the middle of the Minho region, a place of lush green, woodlands and forests, great restaurants and wine. You’ll pass by Valença do Minho a fortified city on the banks of the Minho River and facing Spain. From the top of the gothic and baroque architecture fortress you can admire the scenery of this Minho area.
Cross to Spain using the old Eiffel inspired international bridge and enjoy the old medieval quarters of Tui, the Spanish city just across the river from Valença, where your hotel is located, the Parador de Tui.
Day 5: Tui – Pontevedra (25 miles/40km)
After breakfast and your first night in Spain, you’ll probably notice that beyond the language, all the costumes, traditions and landscape are very similar to Portugal, at least till Redondela, where the Way approaches the beautiful coastal area of Galicia, all the way till Pontevedra. This is the city where your hotel for the night is located and is also an important maritime city in Galicia, with an elegant historic center that boasts two major monuments, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maior and the church of La Peregrina. Walk in the old town plazas and narrow streets and enjoy the great seafood from the estuary and Atlantic Ocean.
Day 6: Ponte Vedra – Padrón (25 miles/41 km)
After breakfast you’ll continue your pilgrimage feeling you’re already getting close to Santiago. You’ll notice another change in the landscape since you’ll be abandoning the coast and returning to inland Galicia, with its lush green woods and forested areas.
Your hotel of the day is located in Padrón a village known for being the cradle of Galicia and for its Green Peppers, the Padrón Peppers. Take some time to visit the village, climb to the Santiaguiño do Monte lookout point, visit the botanical gardens or Toxa waterfall and taste the food, If you’re adventurous and it’s in season try the Lamprea.
Day 7: Padrón – Santiago de Compostela (24 miles/38 km)
After breakfast you’ll begin the last stage of your Way of St. James. This will be a small test to your will and tenacity as the route starts going uphill almost from the start. You’ll go through small villages and churches with clear signs that the end of the Way is near.
When you arrive visit the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, end point of your pilgrimage. Compostela is a millennial city with places and monuments that deserve a visit, such as its plazas in the central area of the old town, the narrow streets and traditional markets. At the scheduled time we’ll pick you up for the transfer to Porto airport.
Note: This tour ends on a cycling day. Overnight on Day 7 is not included. If you wish, you can reserve an additional night in Santiago de Compostela, enjoying the city, resting and relaxing from the pilgrimage, and transfer to Porto the following day.
Day 1: Individual arrival and transfer to Porto Airport
Pick up from the airport and transfer to the Fénix Hotel Porto or Pestana World Heritage, (included in "Premium" package), located in the Ribeira, the city’s iconic living postcard. You have a free afternoon to visit the beautiful and cozy city of Porto, rich with history and monuments like the Clérigos Tower and the D. Luis Bridge.
The old quarters of Baixa with its local shops, restaurants and pastry shops, Ribeira a quarter by the river Douro, facing the wine cellars of the Port wine, full with the city’s traditions and historical connection to the wine and the wine country of the Douro. Shopping areas such as Santa Catarina and Aliados Avenue. Not to miss are the great restaurants around town with some of the tastiest food in the country.
Day 2: Porto – Barcelos (32 or 21 miles/51km or 33km)
After breakfast, transfer from your hotel to the Porto Cathedral from where you’ll begin your pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. The first day is mostly urban roads till you get to Vairão (option to start in Vairão, shortening the day’s stage to 33 km).
After Vairão you’ll start following rural roads and roman bridges to Rates and then till the centennial city of Barcelos, the city where your hotel is located. Barcelos is a city worth visiting, it has a 14th century bridge and the old historic center still has the ancient cobble stone pavement and plenty of churches, houses and buildings from the 14th century onwards. The architectural styles vary from the Manueline to the neoclassic.
Learn about the "rooster legend" and why the rooster became almost a symbol of the Portuguese. Taste the food of the Minho region, it’s just delicious. Check in at Hotel Bagoeira in Barcelos or the amazing Quinta do Convento da Franqueira, a 16th century Franciscan monastery now turned into a charming guest house.
Day 3: Barcelos – Ponte de Lima (19 miles/31km)
After breakfast you’ll start pedaling to Ponte de Lima and you’ll have the opportunity to see the changing landscape to a more rural setting, going through woodland areas, small villages and churches in the Minho region till you get to Ponte de Lima, the oldest village in Portugal, sitting by the beautiful Lima River.
This village has recently submitted its candidacy to UNESCO world heritage site due to its rich cultural, environmental and historic traditions. Don’t miss out the handcraft works, the pastries and the food. You should enjoy a wine tasting of the local "vinho verde" or green wine at our suggested restaurant for dinner, Encanada (included in "Premium" package) in Ponte de Lima.
Day 4: Ponte de Lima – Tui (24 miles/38km)
After breakfast you’ll return to The Way guided by the yellow arrows of the pilgrims, the road marks of St. James, and our GPS. Today you’ll have to tackle the Labruja climb, although there’s the possibility to go around it, this is the biggest challenge of your Way.
We’re still in the middle of the Minho region, a place of lush green, woodlands and forests, great restaurants and wine. You’ll pass by Valença do Minho a fortified city on the banks of the Minho River and facing Spain. From the top of the gothic and baroque architecture fortress you can admire the scenery of this Minho area.
Cross to Spain using the old Eiffel inspired international bridge and enjoy the old medieval quarters of Tui, the Spanish city just across the river from Valença, where your hotel is located, the Parador de Tui.
Day 5: Tui – Pontevedra (25 miles/40km)
After breakfast and your first night in Spain, you’ll probably notice that beyond the language, all the costumes, traditions and landscape are very similar to Portugal, at least till Redondela, where the Way approaches the beautiful coastal area of Galicia, all the way till Pontevedra. This is the city where your hotel for the night is located and is also an important maritime city in Galicia, with an elegant historic center that boasts two major monuments, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maior and the church of La Peregrina. Walk in the old town plazas and narrow streets and enjoy the great seafood from the estuary and Atlantic Ocean.
Day 6: Ponte Vedra – Padrón (25 miles/41 km)
After breakfast you’ll continue your pilgrimage feeling you’re already getting close to Santiago. You’ll notice another change in the landscape since you’ll be abandoning the coast and returning to inland Galicia, with its lush green woods and forested areas.
Your hotel of the day is located in Padrón a village known for being the cradle of Galicia and for its Green Peppers, the Padrón Peppers. Take some time to visit the village, climb to the Santiaguiño do Monte lookout point, visit the botanical gardens or Toxa waterfall and taste the food, If you’re adventurous and it’s in season try the Lamprea.
Day 7: Padrón – Santiago de Compostela (24 miles/38 km)
After breakfast you’ll begin the last stage of your Way of St. James. This will be a small test to your will and tenacity as the route starts going uphill almost from the start. You’ll go through small villages and churches with clear signs that the end of the Way is near.
When you arrive visit the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, end point of your pilgrimage. Compostela is a millennial city with places and monuments that deserve a visit, such as its plazas in the central area of the old town, the narrow streets and traditional markets. At the scheduled time we’ll pick you up for the transfer to Porto airport.
Note: This tour ends on a cycling day. Overnight on Day 7 is not included. If you wish, you can reserve an additional night in Santiago de Compostela, enjoying the city, resting and relaxing from the pilgrimage, and transfer to Porto the following day.
