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| Take a look at a typical Portuguese Camino walk |
Day
1
Collection day from Porto airport. Collection time to be confirmed. After just under an hour’s drive we arrive at our first night’s stop over at Viana do Castelo, one of Northern Portugal’s most beautiful cities. There is also an option to take a direct train from Porto and arrive earlier in the day. Our hotel for the night is the Hotel Melo Alvim, the oldest urban manor house in the town dating back to 1509. A welcome dinner in the evening.
Day 2
This first day’s walk we connect with the sea following the Camino along the Senda Litoral. Walking on good pathways and boardwalks the route traverses the sand dunes and small villages. The lofty waves of the Atlantic turn to a surprising calmness as we round the corner into Caminha, with Spain now visible in the distance. Lunch is in the town of Ancora. After lunch, the walk follows the coastline and then through a very beautiful avenue of trees and into Caminha.
A 40 minute drive takes us to our next destination, Ponte de Lima, where your hotel for this night looks over the river Lima and the historical centre tempts you to explore the narrow streets where you have a free evening to dine at your leisure.
* In adverse weather conditions we will most likely change the walk to a more suitable stage for wet weather.
Day 3
Today’s walk starts from the hotel and crosses the famous medieval and Roman bridge at Ponte de Lima. The yellow arrows of the Camino guide you through the rural farming landscapes, vineyards and quaint villages. After a short drive to take out the steep climb to the Alto de Portela Grande we end the mornings walk in Rubiaes where we stop for a hearty pilgrims lunch at a local tavern. The afternoon walk is mainly on Roman roads crossing small bridges alongside rivers and waterfalls. We spend the night at the Parador Hotel in Tui, where Galicia borders Portugal. Free evening to explore the historic centre of Tui
Day
4
We leave Portugal behind and take a 30 minute drive to Vigo where today’s walk follows a variant of the Camino known as the Ruta de Agua. Highlights of today’s walk include beautiful panoramic views of the Ponte de Rande, the Rias and the Cies Islands. With easy walking on good forest tracks you get to enjoy glimpses of the Rias Baixas through the breaks in the trees. A stop for lunch in Redondela followed by a choice of walks in the afternoon starting from the very narrow Ponte Sampaio bridge. This evening we spend the night in an impressive 16th Century palace in the historical centre of Pontevedra. Free time to explore Pontevedra.
Day 5
A magnificent day ahead following a Camino variant along the Spiritual Route of Water and Stones.
Our first stop, Combarro, for a warm up stroll of the historical centre famous for it’s raised granaries, sea houses and crosses. Initiating today’s walk from the monastery of Armenteira, we follow the river with the same name, crossing stone bridges with cascades and flanked by vineyards.
Lunch is at a family run bodega Don Olegario where you will sample the local Albariño wine.
A short walk after lunch take us back to the coast.
A 30 minute drive to tonight’s accommodation, Torre do Rio in Caldas de Rei, where dinner will be laid on in the evening. |
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Day 6
A very beautiful and a relatively easy walking day as we edge our way closer to Santiago, the highlight of which is the crossing of the River Ulla and into Padron, famous for the green peppers with the same name. You will walk through vineyards, small farms and picturesque villages. A visit to the church in Padron is a must as it houses the Pedron stone. According to Galician history, it was he stone that the boat carrying the body of St James was moored up to. After spending a short while in Padron the walk continues on to Teo.
Tonight’s accommodation and dinner are at the beautiful Os Lambrans just off the Camino and set in it’s own magnificent grounds. The hotel is made up of various smaller buildings, one which has a spa and relaxation area for their guests to use.
Day
7
A shorter symbolic walk leads you into Santiago where you will arrive in time to attend the noon pilgrims mass before resting up at the Hotel Monumento San Francisco for the evening. We get together as a group one final time for a farewell dinner at the Hotel restaurant.
Day
8
Departure
Day
Sadly, the end of the tour.
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