Camino de Santiago: From Porto to Santiago de Compostela

Camino de Santiago

The coastal variation of the Portuguese Camino will take you from Porto to Santiago de Compostela on a bike tour by the medieval and romantic cities of the north of Portugal and Galiza.

Always accompanied by the ocean, this is a less steep track than the Central Camino. The medieval Camino is an epic journey-turned-bike-tour that started in the 9th Century with the discovery, in Galiza, of the remains of St. James. In 1325, the Portuguese queen Isabel made a pilgrimage to Santiago following a route very similar to the one that today is marked with yellow arrows, crossing the then recently built Barcelos bridge.

Now it's your time to trail the Way of St James.

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Highlights

• Historic Camino de Santiago, the Way of St. James
• Porto, settled in the 4th century during the Roman occupation Visit its UNESCO world heritage sites and its unique traditions, architecture, port wines, and cellars
• Medieval villages like Ponte de Lima, Barcelos and Valença
• Scenario of Minho and Galicia
• Roads and trails of the woodland areas, small villages, and "pueblos" that still seem to be in the Middle Ages
• Taste the Port and Green wines
• Santiago de Compostela, designated UNESCO world heritage site and admire the shrine of Saint James The Great

Learn More

Not sure which type of tour to book? Learn about the differences between guided and self-guided tours.

Daily program

Day 1: Arrival and transfer from Porto airport
Pick up from the airport and transfer to the Ipanema Park Hotel or riverside Pestana World Heritage hotel (included in the "premium" option), 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 – Ofir (40 miles/65km)
After breakfast, transfer from your hotel to the Porto Cathedral from where you’ll begin your pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, cycling the Camino. In Sé Cathedral, you can enter and pick-up your pilgrim passport, that you can ask to be stamped in several hotels and restaurants as you go through the Camino.

From Sé, you’ll start your adventure through the city, descending Sé Velha and Mouzinho da Silveira street, to Porto’s riverside, cycling by the cycle paths alongside the Douro river, until you get to Leça da Palmeira. From here on, you'll start following the yellow arrows north along Portugal's coastline.

From Leça da Palmeira, the Camino will be a mix of cycle paths, paved roads, and walkways all the way until you reach the historical city of "Vila do Conde" and the beach resort and fishermen's town of "Póvoa do Varzim" – both of which offer good stops for lunch. After "Póvoa do Varzim," keep riding by small fishermen's villages until you reach Fão, where you'll turn left towards the ocean once more and the pine tree forested area of Ofir.

Day 3: Ofir – Caminha (37 miles/59km)
After breakfast at the hotel, start your day riding north, crossing the river to Esposende and alongside the Cávado river – then, start going inland, through the quaint villages of the north of Portugal.

At the 15th km, you'll start climbing and enter a more technical trail until you cross a very narrow bridge across the Neiva river – another climb will follow until you reach Viana do Castelo, across the river, where you will be able to see the "Santa Luzia" church on top of the sierra nearby. The historical city center is a good option to stop for lunch and visit.

After Viana, keep riding north by inland, by the Sierra – some urban single tracks and ancient paved roads will follow, until you reach "Vila Praia de Âncora," from where you'll ride by the Ecopista, by the shoreline, until you reach your hotel.

Day 4: Caminha – Baiona (24 miles/39km)
Leave Caminha by ferry boat (there's one every hour, except on Monday), towards "A Guarda," entering Spain. The initial part of the day offers no big climbs, just ups and downs, until you reach Bayona, a beautiful coastal town. Meanwhile, enjoy the medieval villages across the Galician coastline, tasting wonderful tapas and seafood along the way.

Stop in Bayona for lunch to admire this beautiful city and restat the local "Parador", located by the Marina of this piscatory city. This is a short but sweet ride, toprepare you for your next day, which is the toughest ride of the wek, so take your time to relax in Baiona.

Day 5: Baiona – Vigo – Pontevedra (39 miles/62km)
This might just be the toughest day of your Camino! After breakfast, resume your ride towards Vigo which is 25km away, tackling a short, but steep climb to reach Saigráns and to experience one of the most beautiful views in the region: Vigo's "Ria," where the sea water mixes with the river, and you'll be able to see the "bateas" where mussels are produced (a local delicacy) and the Ciés islands in the background –a natural park in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

You will then descend into the busy city of Vigo and then back up, towards a mountain range that overlooks the Ria de Vigo – 12km of macadam trails overlooking the Ria, followed by a descent towards Redondela – from Redondela, the "central camino" and the "coastal camino" become one! Another climb near Cessantes and then a descent to cross the Verdugo river over the romanic bridge of "Ponte Sampaio."

One final push after and then, from km28 on, it's a long descent until you reach Pontevedra and its beautiful Parador right in the middle of its historical center. Take your time to explore Pontevedra's center on a walk at nighttime by the Galician plazas of Ourense and Ferraria, where you'll find the city's Basilica and Chapel.

Day 6: Pontevedra – Padrón (25 miles/41km)
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 (16 miles/26km)
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, the 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. Check in at your hotel, and then dedicate the rest of your afternoon to visit the pilgrims' office and discover this medieval city's traditions, culture, and heritage.

Day 8: Departure
Breakfast at your hotel, followed by check out. At the scheduled time, transfer from Santiago de Compostela back to Porto airport or hotel.

Surface and terrain

You'll face beautiful rolling, mountainous terrain on this tour.

Rolling/mixed/mountain: Cycling the Camino, you'll experience some Roman stone pavement, macadam trails, and oceanside views. You'll experience forested areas in the central Minho and Galicia with small villages and pueblos, explore the Portuguese coastline, medieval cities of Spain like Baiona or Vigo, up to Santiago de Compostela.

Mountain stages: Mountainous area from to Baiona to Pontevedra.

Hilly stages: Most of the way of St James is hilly while crossing the Minho and Galicia.

Hotels

These are sample hotels and may vary by availability.

Premium hotels: 5-star hotels (or best possible a each location)

Pestana Heritage, Porto
www.pestana.com

Axis Ofir Hotel, Ofir
www.axishoteis.com

Design & Wine, Caminha

Parador de Baiona, Baiona
paradores.es/en

Parador de Pontevedra, Pontevedra
www.parador.es

Os Lambrans, Padrón
www.oslambrans.com

Parador de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela

Standard hotels: 4-star or charm hotels

Ipanema Park Hotel, Porto
www.hfhotels.com

Hotel Suave Mar, Esposende

Hotel Portas do Sol, Caminha
hotelportadosol.com

Parador de Baiona, Baiona

Parador de Pontevedra, Pontevedra
www.parador.es

Hotel Pazo de Lestrove, Padrón
www.pousadasdecompostela.com

Virxe de La Cerca, Santiago de Compostela
pousadasdecompostela.com

Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.

How to get there

Tour start and end
Nearest airport: Porto airport
Nearest train station: Porto airport station

Upon your arrival to Porto, you will be transported from the airport to tour start. At the end of the tour, you will be transported back to the Porto airport.

Tips on getting to and from your tour

Dates

Prices

Included services

Self-guided package includes:

• 7 nights accommodation in 4-star hotels (Premium upgrade includes 5-star accommodations)
• Breakfast each day
• Luggage transfer
• Transfer from Porto airport to tour start and from tour end back to Porto airport
• Access to App to navigate and explore restaurants, museums, and sightseeing
• Garmin GPS, with preloaded daily tracks for your navigation and power bank
• Detailed briefing and route book provided on the starting date of the tour
• Rental of a Scott Touring or Mountain bike with helmet and spares
• Accident insurance during the ride
• If the dinner package is booked, these will be in your hotel

Guided package includes:

• 7 nights accommodation in 4-star hotels
• Breakfast each day
• Luggage transfer
• Private guide accompanying your group, providing daily guided cyling tours, restaurant reservations, booking of local experiences and all passenger transfers throughout the tour
• Support vehicle (SAG Wagon) and mechanical support throughout all the rides
• Transfer from Porto airport to tour start and from tour end back to Porto airport and during the tour as needed
• Access to App to navigate and explore restaurants, museums, and sightseeing
• Garmin GPS, with preloaded daily tracks for your navigation and power bank
• Rental of a Scott Touring or Mountain bike with helmet and spares
• Detailed briefing and routebook provided on the starting date of the tou
• Accident insurance during the ride
• Nutrition and hydration during the rides
• Jersey
  
  Guided Premium package includes (all of the above PLUS):
• 5-star accommodations
• 7 dinners and 6 lunches at selected restaurants
• A second guide, cycling with your group, for upgraded service throughout the tour
• Entrance in museums, wineries and other selected experiences
• Bib shorts and cycling cap (in addition to the jersey)

Bike rentals

Bikes available on this tour and included in the tour cost (must be reserved in advance at the time of booking):

• Mountain or touring bikes (Scott Aspect 29")

Bikes available to rent for an additional fee (must be reserved in advance at the time of booking):

• Electrically assisted bikes (available upon request)*

*More about electrically-assisted bikes >

Mountain bikes are the safest and most comfortable bike for this route.

Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals, but mountain bike pedals are also available (SPD, SPD-SL, Look, etc). If you want to bring your own shoes that require a specific pedal, please reserve them in advance at the time of booking and make sure you bring the correct shoes and cleats for those pedals.

Helmets:
Helmets are available on this tour; however, we recommend that you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene purposes.

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