30 years' experience providing walking holidays worldwide
Established by 30 years' experience providing walking holidays worldwide
30 years' experience providing walking holidays worldwide
Read More Reviews
Bravo!
Auswalk Walking Holiday rated "excellent" by232 travellers
-
SELF-GUIDED
-
9 DAYS
-
Moderate
to Challenging
PRICE FROM
$ 850 per person
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
$ 315 per person
WALK MENU
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
The Portuguese Camino Spiritual Variant is said to be the first ever Camino (Primitivo being the first 'pilgrimage' route). It follows the last part of the journey of the remains of Saint James (Santiago in Spanish) from Jerusalem to the Iberian Peninsula.
The walk includes a boat ride from Vilanova de Arousa to Pontecesures and what is said to be the most important part of the Variante Espiritual route. The Spiritual way splits from the Camino Portuguese after Pontevedra and rejoins it again in Pontecesures. A very special way to obtain the coveted Camino Passport.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- The magnificent gothic town hall in the city of Porrino
- Passing through lush forest to where the central and coastal routes merge
- The wonderfully preserved old town of Pontevedra – a cultural overload!
- Stunning landscapes and ancient monasteries
- Walking alongside the beautiful Armenteira River
- A boat trip to honour the journey of St James' remains to Ponteccessures
- Enjoy the thrill of walking into Santiago de Compostela
ITINERARY
DAY one
ARRIVE IN VALENCA/TUI
Today you arrive in Valanca or Tui ( they are essentially the same place) and rest or explore both towns. Tui has some excellent restaurants and is worth a visit today, even though you pass through it almost immediately tomorrow. Before you leave Valenca/Tui make sure you visit the famous Gothic cathedral.
Accommodation: Valença, a 2-3-star country hotel
DAY two
VALENÇA/TUI TO PORRINO
The path from Tui follows the Louro Valley via a forest track and crosses an ancient stone slab bridge to a wetland area where there’s an abundance of birdlife. Today’s walk ends in the city of Porrino in Spain, noteworthy for its magnificent Gothic town hall building at its centre.
Walking: Moderate / 19 km or 11.8 miles / 5.5 to 6.5 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Porrino, a 2-3-star country hotel with breakfast included.
DAY three
PORRINO TO ARCADE
From Porrino, the walk makes its way through the forest of Chan das Pipas. As you leave the forest, you’ll pass Redondela, where the central route and the coastal route merge. You walk into the town of Arcade in Spain, a small village that is renowned for its oysters and, interestingly, as a site of a very important battle in the Napoleonic wars.
Walking: Moderate to Challenging / 22 km or 13.6 miles / 6 to 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Arcade, 2-3-star country hotel
DAY four
ARCADE TO PONTEVEDRA
From your Arcade accommodation, we traverse one of the most beautiful sections of the Portuguese Camino de Santiago. Today’s section is one of the shortest. Pontevedra is a city in northwest Spain known for its well-preserved old town. The Gothic Santa María la Mayor Basilica, the Ruínas de San Domingos (the remains of a 14th-century convent) and the nearby Sexto Edificio museum showcases Galician art. In the evening, be like the Spanish and wander from one tapas bar to another.
Walking: Easy to moderate/ 13 km or 8 miles / 3 to 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Pontevedra, a 2-3-star country hotel
DAY five
OSAINES SPIRITUAL VARIANT - PONTEVEDRA TO ARMENTEIRA
The walk starts today from Pontevedra, but the Spiritual way doesn’t begin until two kilometres out of town.
The Salnês Spiritual Variant traverses the stunning landscapes of Comarca and O Salnês via the village of Poio and its old monastery. Arrive at the coastal town of Combarro before you undertake the uphill climb to A Armenteira, the location of a magnificent 12th -century Monastery that is still in operation today.
Walking: Moderate to challenging/ 23 km or 14 miles / 6 to 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Armenteira, a 2-3-star country hotel
DAY six
OSAINES SPIRITUAL VARIANT - ARMENTEIRA TO VILANOVA DE AROUSA
Today’s walk is among the most beautiful and pleasant on the Portuguese Camino. The way from Armenteira to Pontearnelas is called the “A Ruta da Pedra e da Auga” in the municipalities of Meis and Ribadumia. The track is under treed canopy much of the way and along the banks of the Armenteira River. Ancient watermills dot the riverside, as do small waterfalls and bridges.
The reward for walking 23 km is the town of Vilanova de Arousa and its glorious beaches.
Walking: Moderate to challenging/ 23 km or 14 miles / 6 to 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Vilanova de Arousa, a 2-3-star country hotel
DAY seven
OSAINES SPIRITUAL VARIANT - VILANOVA DE AROUSA VIA BOAT TO PONTECESSURES & WALK TO TEO
This day is effectively the last day on the Salnês Spiritual Variant before rejoining the traditional Portuguese Camino.
This journey is made by taking the Translatio route (the maritime path); taking a boat up the Ulla River and therefore honouring the journey that the remains of Saint James made to Pontecessures.
From Pontecessures, where you rejoin the Camino, we walk to Teo. The walking is easy and on fairly quiet and remote roads.
Walking: Easy to moderate / 13km or 8 miles / 3.5 to 4.5 hrs
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation:Teo, a 2-3-star country hotel
DAY eight
TEO TO SANTAGO DE COMPOSTELA
The final stage from Teo begins with a gentle climb through woodlands. As you descend, the way travels long, quiet, bituminised lanes with the city of Santiago de Compostela in sight once you summit the next hill.
You’ll begin today with a steady but not arduous climb, mostly through woodlands, of 160m to a peak of 260m. As you descend, you will see the city of Santiago de Compostela ahead of you on the next hill.
About 4km from the city, you can stay amid greenery for as long as possible or stick with the original Way, which is more built up. The last few km, regardless, are on tarmac roads. But after a long walk, this will be gratifying, given the end is within reach.
Walking: Easy to moderate / 14km or 8.7miles / 3.5 to 5 hrs
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Santiago de Compostela, a 3-star country hotel
DAY nine
LEAVE SANTIAGO
After breakfast, prepare for your onward journey. If you have time, explore the old city of Santiago de Compostela before you leave, or why not add a day to relax and soak up the atmosphere of this magnificent town?
Meals: Breakfast
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Walk 128km of the Portuguese Camino de Santiago (way of St James)from Porto all the way to Santiago de Compostela
- 8 nights accommodation in 2 to 3 star character filled hotels (an upgrade to 4 star and better accommodation is available.)
- Boat trip La Translatio
- Breakfast on every day of the walk
- On the ground support from local representatives
- Our comprehensive set of notes, detailed walking itineraries, integrated maps and insider tips (where to get the best tapas plus a lot more)
- All luggage transfers
- Take advantage of nearly 30 years of experience in organising self-guided walking holidays
ACCOMMODATION & DINING
Comfort is always a priority; at the end of each day, we ensure a hot shower, a comfortable bed, an en suite and plenty of quiet. We know that a comfortable night’s sleep ensures you’ll wake refreshed and primed, ready for the next day’s walking after a full breakfast. All the 2-3-star accommodations have been handpicked to reflect the character and history of the region.
It’s not by chance that when walkers visit Portugal, they almost immediately fall in love with the food and wine here. In Portugal, all the dishes, recipes and ingredients have a story to tell. This is a world you’ll experience both on foot and with your knife and fork. The Camino travels through many towns that are renowned for excellent authentic traditional food. In the North, it is worth frequenting Spanish Tapas bars to experience the wide range of local delicacies available.
Both Portugal and Spain have very old and sophisticated wine industries, and some of the wines you’ll find on this walk you won’t find anywhere else. Please note, alcohol or drinks with meals are not included (except tea/coffee and juice with breakfast).
GENERAL INFO
AVAILABILITY
This trip is available from the 15th of March to the 31st of October.
THE WALKING
This track is well-graded and without a great deal of incline or decline. Walks on average about 19 km a day. There’s always time to walk and explore further if you’re up to it or to relax and enjoy the towns/villages each evening.
WEATHER
The route runs across northern Spain and through a variety of terrain. During the early and latter part of the season, conditions can be changeable from temperate warms days through to frosty mornings and very cool nights. From May to September, rainy days are less frequent and temperatures are steadily between 20-24 degrees, however, it is possible that you may experience a few cloudy days. See weather averages here.
HOW TO GET THERE AND AWAY
Travelling to the Start of the walk
You will need to get yourself to and from the start and end of your walk. i.e. you will need to organise your travel to the start of the walk in Valenca/Tui. To make it easy, we have collated some useful information that will assist you in making arrangements for your travel.
Porto Airport Francisco Sá Carneiro, Maia (+351) 229 432 400 is about 11 km from the city centre. There are regular flights from and to almost all major European cities. An airport bus is available from outside the terminal, which takes you to the city centre. The Metro line connects the Airport to the city centre, offering a fast and comfortable ride into the heart of the city.
The train takes just under 2 hrs to get to Valenca from Porto.
Santiago de Compostela airport is also another option; it takes 2hrs and 20 minutes by bus to get to Tui from the town centre.
To book flights we have found this site helpful
BUSES: This is information for those who may be catching a bus.
PORTO – VALENÇA: Rede Expressos (www.rede-expressos.pt) coaches from Porto transit station (Campo 24 de Agosto, 125, 4300-096 Porto, Tel: +351 707 223 344) depart daily to Valença. Tickets can be purchased from the train station or on-line on the English language pages of the railway company’s website http://www.rede-expressos.pt/default.aspx no more than 14 days before your travel date. Tickets cannot be bought on the coach.
PORTO – VALENÇA: AUTNA (www.autna.com) coaches from Porto Airport transit station (Bus stop of Galicia Bus on the Airport arrivals) depart daily to Valença (Single fare is between €9.00 and €12.00)
TRAINS: There are several trains to and from Porto (Train station of São Bento or Train station of Campanhã). Trains transit daily to Valença. The metro lines link the airport to both train stations. Tickets can be purchased from the train station or on-line on the English language pages of the railway’s company’s website https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en no more than 28 days before the travel date. Tickets cannot be bought on the train.
Our transport partners on the ground can also provide private transfers on all routes. Do not hesitate to contact us.
Travelling from the End of the walk
The walk finishes in Santiago de Compostella
By plane: There is an airport in Santiago de Compostella where you can catch flights. This site is useful in booking flights away from Santiago de Compostella.
INSURANCE
We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.
For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.
We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from our suppliers and in the office. See the FAQ section for more information.
CONTACT
If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants. You can get in touch with us via our contact form or email us at info@stroll.com
MAP
sections
Overview
The Portuguese Camino Spiritual Variant is said to be the first ever Camino (Primitivo being the first 'pilgrimage' route). It follows the last part of the journey of the remains of Saint James (Santiago in Spanish) from Jerusalem to the Iberian Peninsula.
The walk includes a boat ride from Vilanova de Arousa to Pontecesures and what is said to be the most important part of the Variante Espiritual route. The Spiritual way splits from the Camino Portuguese after Pontevedra and rejoins it again in Pontecesures. A very special way to obtain the coveted Camino Passport.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- The magnificent gothic town hall in the city of Porrino
- Passing through lush forest to where the central and coastal routes merge
- The wonderfully preserved old town of Pontevedra – a cultural overload!
- Stunning landscapes and ancient monasteries
- Walking alongside the beautiful Armenteira River
- A boat trip to honour the journey of St James' remains to Ponteccessures
- Enjoy the thrill of walking into Santiago de Compostela
Itinerary
DAY one
ARRIVE IN VALENCA/TUI
Today you arrive in Valanca or Tui ( they are essentially the same place) and rest or explore both towns. Tui has some excellent restaurants and is worth a visit today, even though you pass through it almost immediately tomorrow. Before you leave Valenca/Tui make sure you visit the famous Gothic cathedral.
Accommodation: Valença, a 2-3-star country hotel
DAY two
VALENÇA/TUI TO PORRINO
The path from Tui follows the Louro Valley via a forest track and crosses an ancient stone slab bridge to a wetland area where there’s an abundance of birdlife. Today’s walk ends in the city of Porrino in Spain, noteworthy for its magnificent Gothic town hall building at its centre.
Walking: Moderate / 19 km or 11.8 miles / 5.5 to 6.5 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Porrino, a 2-3-star country hotel with breakfast included.
DAY three
PORRINO TO ARCADE
From Porrino, the walk makes its way through the forest of Chan das Pipas. As you leave the forest, you’ll pass Redondela, where the central route and the coastal route merge. You walk into the town of Arcade in Spain, a small village that is renowned for its oysters and, interestingly, as a site of a very important battle in the Napoleonic wars.
Walking: Moderate to Challenging / 22 km or 13.6 miles / 6 to 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Arcade, 2-3-star country hotel
DAY four
ARCADE TO PONTEVEDRA
From your Arcade accommodation, we traverse one of the most beautiful sections of the Portuguese Camino de Santiago. Today’s section is one of the shortest. Pontevedra is a city in northwest Spain known for its well-preserved old town. The Gothic Santa María la Mayor Basilica, the Ruínas de San Domingos (the remains of a 14th-century convent) and the nearby Sexto Edificio museum showcases Galician art. In the evening, be like the Spanish and wander from one tapas bar to another.
Walking: Easy to moderate/ 13 km or 8 miles / 3 to 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Pontevedra, a 2-3-star country hotel
DAY five
OSAINES SPIRITUAL VARIANT - PONTEVEDRA TO ARMENTEIRA
The walk starts today from Pontevedra, but the Spiritual way doesn’t begin until two kilometres out of town.
The Salnês Spiritual Variant traverses the stunning landscapes of Comarca and O Salnês via the village of Poio and its old monastery. Arrive at the coastal town of Combarro before you undertake the uphill climb to A Armenteira, the location of a magnificent 12th -century Monastery that is still in operation today.
Walking: Moderate to challenging/ 23 km or 14 miles / 6 to 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Armenteira, a 2-3-star country hotel
DAY six
OSAINES SPIRITUAL VARIANT - ARMENTEIRA TO VILANOVA DE AROUSA
Today’s walk is among the most beautiful and pleasant on the Portuguese Camino. The way from Armenteira to Pontearnelas is called the “A Ruta da Pedra e da Auga” in the municipalities of Meis and Ribadumia. The track is under treed canopy much of the way and along the banks of the Armenteira River. Ancient watermills dot the riverside, as do small waterfalls and bridges.
The reward for walking 23 km is the town of Vilanova de Arousa and its glorious beaches.
Walking: Moderate to challenging/ 23 km or 14 miles / 6 to 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Vilanova de Arousa, a 2-3-star country hotel
DAY seven
OSAINES SPIRITUAL VARIANT - VILANOVA DE AROUSA VIA BOAT TO PONTECESSURES & WALK TO TEO
This day is effectively the last day on the Salnês Spiritual Variant before rejoining the traditional Portuguese Camino.
This journey is made by taking the Translatio route (the maritime path); taking a boat up the Ulla River and therefore honouring the journey that the remains of Saint James made to Pontecessures.
From Pontecessures, where you rejoin the Camino, we walk to Teo. The walking is easy and on fairly quiet and remote roads.
Walking: Easy to moderate / 13km or 8 miles / 3.5 to 4.5 hrs
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation:Teo, a 2-3-star country hotel
DAY eight
TEO TO SANTAGO DE COMPOSTELA
The final stage from Teo begins with a gentle climb through woodlands. As you descend, the way travels long, quiet, bituminised lanes with the city of Santiago de Compostela in sight once you summit the next hill.
You’ll begin today with a steady but not arduous climb, mostly through woodlands, of 160m to a peak of 260m. As you descend, you will see the city of Santiago de Compostela ahead of you on the next hill.
About 4km from the city, you can stay amid greenery for as long as possible or stick with the original Way, which is more built up. The last few km, regardless, are on tarmac roads. But after a long walk, this will be gratifying, given the end is within reach.
Walking: Easy to moderate / 14km or 8.7miles / 3.5 to 5 hrs
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Santiago de Compostela, a 3-star country hotel
DAY nine
LEAVE SANTIAGO
After breakfast, prepare for your onward journey. If you have time, explore the old city of Santiago de Compostela before you leave, or why not add a day to relax and soak up the atmosphere of this magnificent town?
Meals: Breakfast
What’s Included
- Walk 128km of the Portuguese Camino de Santiago (way of St James)from Porto all the way to Santiago de Compostela
- 8 nights accommodation in 2 to 3 star character filled hotels (an upgrade to 4 star and better accommodation is available.)
- Boat trip La Translatio
- Breakfast on every day of the walk
- On the ground support from local representatives
- Our comprehensive set of notes, detailed walking itineraries, integrated maps and insider tips (where to get the best tapas plus a lot more)
- All luggage transfers
- Take advantage of nearly 30 years of experience in organising self-guided walking holidays
Accommodation & Dining
Comfort is always a priority; at the end of each day, we ensure a hot shower, a comfortable bed, an en suite and plenty of quiet. We know that a comfortable night’s sleep ensures you’ll wake refreshed and primed, ready for the next day’s walking after a full breakfast. All the 2-3-star accommodations have been handpicked to reflect the character and history of the region.
It’s not by chance that when walkers visit Portugal, they almost immediately fall in love with the food and wine here. In Portugal, all the dishes, recipes and ingredients have a story to tell. This is a world you’ll experience both on foot and with your knife and fork. The Camino travels through many towns that are renowned for excellent authentic traditional food. In the North, it is worth frequenting Spanish Tapas bars to experience the wide range of local delicacies available.
Both Portugal and Spain have very old and sophisticated wine industries, and some of the wines you’ll find on this walk you won’t find anywhere else. Please note, alcohol or drinks with meals are not included (except tea/coffee and juice with breakfast).
General Info
AVAILABILITY
This trip is available from the 15th of March to the 31st of October.
THE WALKING
This track is well-graded and without a great deal of incline or decline. Walks on average about 19 km a day. There’s always time to walk and explore further if you’re up to it or to relax and enjoy the towns/villages each evening.
WEATHER
The route runs across northern Spain and through a variety of terrain. During the early and latter part of the season, conditions can be changeable from temperate warms days through to frosty mornings and very cool nights. From May to September, rainy days are less frequent and temperatures are steadily between 20-24 degrees, however, it is possible that you may experience a few cloudy days. See weather averages here.
HOW TO GET THERE AND AWAY
Travelling to the Start of the walk
You will need to get yourself to and from the start and end of your walk. i.e. you will need to organise your travel to the start of the walk in Valenca/Tui. To make it easy, we have collated some useful information that will assist you in making arrangements for your travel.
Porto Airport Francisco Sá Carneiro, Maia (+351) 229 432 400 is about 11 km from the city centre. There are regular flights from and to almost all major European cities. An airport bus is available from outside the terminal, which takes you to the city centre. The Metro line connects the Airport to the city centre, offering a fast and comfortable ride into the heart of the city.
The train takes just under 2 hrs to get to Valenca from Porto.
Santiago de Compostela airport is also another option; it takes 2hrs and 20 minutes by bus to get to Tui from the town centre.
To book flights we have found this site helpful
BUSES: This is information for those who may be catching a bus.
PORTO – VALENÇA: Rede Expressos (www.rede-expressos.pt) coaches from Porto transit station (Campo 24 de Agosto, 125, 4300-096 Porto, Tel: +351 707 223 344) depart daily to Valença. Tickets can be purchased from the train station or on-line on the English language pages of the railway company’s website http://www.rede-expressos.pt/default.aspx no more than 14 days before your travel date. Tickets cannot be bought on the coach.
PORTO – VALENÇA: AUTNA (www.autna.com) coaches from Porto Airport transit station (Bus stop of Galicia Bus on the Airport arrivals) depart daily to Valença (Single fare is between €9.00 and €12.00)
TRAINS: There are several trains to and from Porto (Train station of São Bento or Train station of Campanhã). Trains transit daily to Valença. The metro lines link the airport to both train stations. Tickets can be purchased from the train station or on-line on the English language pages of the railway’s company’s website https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en no more than 28 days before the travel date. Tickets cannot be bought on the train.
Our transport partners on the ground can also provide private transfers on all routes. Do not hesitate to contact us.
Travelling from the End of the walk
The walk finishes in Santiago de Compostella
By plane: There is an airport in Santiago de Compostella where you can catch flights. This site is useful in booking flights away from Santiago de Compostella.
INSURANCE
We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.
For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.
We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from our suppliers and in the office. See the FAQ section for more information.
CONTACT
If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants. You can get in touch with us via our contact form or email us at info@stroll.com
Faqs
FAQS
Q: What happens if I don’t want to walk one of the days, can I travel with the luggage?
Unfortunately, walkers cannot travel with the luggage. The information you are provided with has details for local taxi numbers, bus and train timetables should you wish to not walk on any day. Your accommodation hosts will also have up to date information and advice should you wish to travel to the next destination by local transport. As always, you can call us in the office should you need help during your walk.
Q: Where would you suggest adding an extra night?
Santiago, of course! This city is worthy of an extra day and not just to further explore the grand cathedral. Santiago boasts a wealth of medieval architecture, tapas bars and restaurants. We can also arrange an onward walk to the coastal point of Finisterre. Regarded as the end of the world by the Romans, many pilgrims continue on walking for several days to reach Finisterre. Having completed the Camino, it is an extra 4 days to reach Finisterre with a transfer back to Santiago on the fifth day.
Q: Can you extend our stay in Santiago de Compostela?
Of course, please let us know at the time of booking if you would like to extend your time in Santiago.
Q: Can my children walk with me?
We don't allow children under the age of 16 to do this walk.
Q: We’re travelling as friends but would like single rooms?
Subject to a single occupancy payment, single rooms are available. However, due to the limited accommodation single rooms might not always be available for every night of the tour, but we will let you know your options throughout the booking process.
Q: Can we reduce the days walked?
We wouldn’t suggest completing the itinerary in less than 8 days and 7 nights.
Q: Can we extend the days walked?
Of course, we’re happy to discuss your needs. If you feel you would prefer the ultimate Camino walk, you may wish to look at walking the full Camino route for 40 days or Leon to Santiago in 16 days.
ENQUIRE NOW
If you’re looking for further information on any of our walking holidays please fill out the enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.