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Pilgrim on the bridge in Vigo

Portuguese Way of St. James, Valença – Santiago de Compostela

From Valença to Santiago de Compostela

8 Days / 7 Nights
Walking
Pilgrim on the bridge in Vigo

Your hiking holiday on the Camino Portugues begins in the historic fortified city of Valença in Northern Portugal. On old pilgrim paths leads you across the Minho river, which also represents the national border with Galicia. The two formerly rival cities of Valença and Tui await you with their rich historical heritage, while typical Galician towns such as Redondela, Pontevedra, Caldas de Reis and Padrón invite you to linger. You hike through wooded sceneries and green meadows through numerous small hamlets and villages where time seems to have stood still. Sample the many fresh local produce, including mussels from the Ria de Vigo and oysters in Arcade, best paired with a glass of excellent local wine. The destination of your hiking holiday is the capital, Santiago de Compostela, with its world-famous cathedral.

Lisa Marie Streitfellner
Lisa Marie Streitfellner
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Exciting cultural sights await you on this hiking holiday along the Portuguese Way of St James. Starting from Valençia in Northern Portugual, you hike in eight days and six stages to O Porriño, Arcade, Pontevedra, Caldas de Reis, Padrón and to the final destination of the hiking tour – the pilgrimage centre of Santiago de Compostela. Along the route there are numerous historical highlights in the cities such as Tui, Redondela, Pontevedra or Padrón. A culinary highlight when hiking the Way of St James in Portugal is the fresh seafood. We especially recommend the ‘pulpo a la gallega’ – a typical regional dish made from cooked octopus with peppers, sea salt and potatoes. Add a wonderful glass of red wine and the perfect dinner is served.

  • Freshly caught fish: At the end of your second stage, you can look forward to wonderful ‘catch-of-the-day’- fish dishes in the town of Arcade. After a pleasant hike, the seafood tastes even better.
  • Beneficial thermal springs: On the fifth day of your tour, the route takes you to the spa town of Caldas de Reis. The place became known mainly for its thermal springs, which promise a particularly healing effect at 15 to 72 degrees Celsius. Enjoy the beneficial effects in one of the thermal baths.
  • Pilgrim centre Santiago de Compostela: The final destination of this hiking holiday, and at the same time the capital of Galicia, is Santiago de Compostela. Numerous sights await you here: the main square Praza do Obradoiro with the impressive cathedral, the city park Parque da Alameda or the Museum of the Galician People (Museo do Pobo Galego), where you can learn a lot about the culture and traditions of the region.

This hiking holiday on the Portuguese Way of St James is assigned a level of difficulty of ‘walking’. You experience the picturesque landscape of Galicia in a particularly healthy and intense way – by foot. The daily stages are scheduled to take three to six hours of walking and lead you through beautiful nature on nice pilgrimage or forest trails. With a basic fitness level this hiking tour in Portugal will be an unforgettable active experience.

Itinerary at a glance

Along the Minho River, you'll reach the Cathedral of Tui, and after crossing the Bridge of Arcade, you've earned yourself some fresh oysters. Through rural landscapes, you'll hike to the end of the Camino de Santiago trail (pilgrimage route): Santiago de Compostela.
Day
01
Arrival in Valença

Right at the beginning of your holiday you enjoy a wonderful view along the river Minho. You cross the bridge and land border into Spain, where the magnificent cathedral and chaming historic centre of Tui invite you to explore further. Further inland you hike along ancient trails through green fields and forests.

You walk past some sleepy villages before heading slightly uphill to the pine forest of Chan das Pipas. En route down to Redondela, gaze out over the blue waters of the Ria de Vigo, a bay reaching far inland. The stage ends in the riverside town of Arcade with its impressive bridge. Be sure to try the fresh seafood and oysters.

You leave Arcade and proceed on old stone paths into the hills. Through charming scenery and in the shade of the trees along the Tomeza river. Your Day Finish Pontevedra is the largest city on your route and impresses with historical buildings worth seeing and the spectacular location on the Ria de Pontevedra and the Atlantic Ocean.

Through the winding alleys of Pontevedra out into the countryside, where you soon find yourself in an idyllic forest. Across colourful fields and through the vineyards, you follow the pilgrimage path to the medieval spa town of Caldas de Reis, charmingly situated on the Umia river. The place is best known for its thermal springs, which are said to have healing properties.

Initially steadily uphill through a series of green hamlets, up to the forest of Valga. Once outside, the many intricately carved wooden crosses will show you the way to Padrón. According to legend, this is where the boat with the body of Saint James was washed ashore.  

Your final day on the Camino is largely rural, so enjoy the beauty of the Galician countryside once again before reaching the outskirts of Santiago. The last strides lead you through winding alleys and lively streets into the city centre to the Praza do Obradoiro, the main square of the old town with its impressive cathedral, destination of countless pilgrims from all over the world and at the same time the end of your picturesque hiking holiday along the Camino Portugues.

Day
08
Departure or extension

Difficulty level

Walking

You hike through the green scenery of Galicia on good pilgrim- and forest paths. For the daily walking times up to a maximum of 6 hours and the gentle ascents and descents through the hills, you need some stamina and a good basic fitness level is sufficient.

Prices & Dates

Prices per person in EUR

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accommodation in pretty 2** -and 3***-hotels
  • Breakfast
  • Luggage transfer (1 piece of luggage per person, max. 15 kg)
  • 1 pilgrim pass
  • Carefully elaborated route description
  • Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English)
  • GPS-data available
  • Service hotline

Optional

  • In case of half board dinner (mostly multi-course, 5x, not in Valença and Santiago de Compostela).
  • Transfer from Porto airport to Valença, EUR 199 per ride (up to 3 persons), EUR 255 (up to 7 persons), reservation required, payable in advance.
  • Return transfer from Santiago de Compostela to Porto Airport, EUR 399 per ride (up to 3 persons), EUR 465 (up to 7 persons), reservation required, payable in advance.

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Porto airport and from there by bus (www.rede-expressos.pt) in approx. 3 hours to Valença.
  • Parking: public parking spaces near the hotels.
  • Return journey by bus from Santiago de Compostela in approx. 30 minutes so Santiago airport or in approx. 4 hours to Porto airport.

Things to note

  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
  • This tour is a partner tour.

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accommodation as already mentioned
  • Breakfast
  • Luggage transfer (1 piece of luggage per person, max. 15 kg)
  • 1 pilgrim pass
  • Carefully elaborated route description
  • Detailed travel documents 1x per room
  • GPS-data available
  • Service hotline

Optional

  • In case of half board dinner (mostly multi-course, 5x, not in Valença and Santiago de Compostela).
  • Transfer from Porto airport to Valença, cost per trip EUR 190 (up to 3 persons), EUR 230 (up to 7 persons), reservation required, payable in advance.
  • Return transfer from Santiago de Compostela to Porto Airport, cost per trip EUR 360 (up to 3 persons), EUR 400 (up to 7 persons), reservation required, payable in advance.

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Porto airport and from there by bus (www.rede-expressos.pt) in approx. 3 hours to Valença.
  • Parking: fee-based parking spaces near the hotels, no reservation.
  • Return journey by bus from Santiago de Compostela in approx. 30 minutes so Santiago airport or in approx. 4 hours to Porto airport.

Things to note

  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
  • This tour is a partner tour.
Lisa Marie Streitfellner

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Lisa Marie Streitfellner
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