Camino Espiritual Coastal

Camino Espiritual Coastal from Vigo to Santiago last 100km

Rate:
Price: From €695
  • Activity Walking or Easy Walking or Cycling or Easy Cycling
  • Distance 105 km
  • Duration 7 Nights
  • Difficulty Moderate
  • Tour Type Self-Guided Caminos
  • Time To Go March to November

Camino Espiritual Coastal Vigo to Santiago last 100km

The Camino Espiritual Coastal from Vigo to Santiago last 100km, is a beautiful trail recently approved by Santiago Cathedral as an official Camino de Santiago route.

It takes pilgrims through quaint coastal villages, lush forest tracks, vineyards, sandy beaches and ancient monasteries from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela.

This fascinating coastal Camino trail, also known as Translatio, includes a boat trip across Arousa Estuary retracing the route taken by the body of St James on its way to Santiago. This wonderful Camino combines is an alternative to the Camino Portugues Coastal Way Route.


IMPORTANT NOTE: The Camino Espiritual Coastal contains a boat trip across the Ria of Arousa (Arousa River) from Vilanova de Arousa to Padron. So, it will save you a day walk of 20km, and you will have a ‘rest day’. Note again that if you are cycling, you can decide to opt out of the boat and cycle from Vilanova to Padron instead.


Starting from Vigo, the route takes you to the stunning coastal town of Combarro, Armenteira Monastery where resident nuns sing Pilgrim Mass every day, and along superb natural trails all the way to Vilanova de Arousa.

When you reach Vilanova de Arousa, you can either continue walking along the coast or you can take a boat up the River Ulla to Padron where you will join the classic Camino Portugues to Santiago. Padrón is the hometown of Galicia’s most acclaimed poet, Rosalía de Castro, as well as the best place to try the world-famous local Padron peppers. Both options will enable you to receive your Compostela once in Santiago.

The Sea of Arousa Camino Espiritual route takes in picturesque scenery and villages in the region of O Salnes including the stunning coastal town of Combarro, Armenteira Monastery, and the path known as ‘Ruta da Pedra e da Auga’ along the Armenteira River. This fascinating Camino route is also known as ‘Traslatio’ or Camino Espiritual as it follows the trail taken by the body of St James on its way to Santiago.

It is believed the Apostle James was beheaded in 44 AD, by order of Hordes Agrippa I, having returned to Jerusalem after preaching some years in the territories of Hispania (present-day Spain). The few Hispanic disciples who had followed him to Jerusalem stole the body and loaded it on a stone ship that found its way back to Galicia, guided by the angels and a star. The boat carrying the remains of St James travelled up the River Ulla, berthing in Iria Flavia, the current town of Padrón.

Highlights of the Camino Espiritual:

  • Wonderful Pontevedra Old Town
  • Picturesque granaries in the village of Combarro
  • Forest trails to Armenteira Monastery
  • A swim at the beach in Vilanova
  • Boat trip across Arousa Bay to Padron (part of this itinerary)

Please note, if you’d like to receive the Compostela certificate in Santiago, you will need to start your Camino from Vigo (also on the Portuguese Coastal Camino) before continuing on the Sea of Arousa Camino route.

Map of the Camino Espiritual Coastal Vigo to Santiago last 100km

Itinerary of the Camino Espiritual Coastal Vigo to Santiago last 100km

Vigo

Stage: Vigo

You arrive in Vigo.

23 km

Arcade

Stage: Arcade

From the city of Vigo, you will continue on your coastal Camino with the Bay of Vigo to your left. Today is quite a short day so you can enjoy a more relaxed pace. On your way to Redondela (where you will join the original Portuguese Camino) you will spot the bay in the distance. A short climb takes pilgrims to the chapel of Santiaguiño (Little St James) de Antas, a lovely place where you can rest your legs and feet for a while. After the chapel, the Camino route enters pine forests. Before you reach Arcade, famous for its oysters and your stop for the night, you will pass the village of Setefontes.

12 km

Pontevedra

Stage: Pontevedra

Today is quite a short walking day so you can make the most of the seaside. Stop to try the famous oysters in the fishing village of Arcade. Your final point is the city of Pontevedra, with its pretty historic centre. Today is quite a short day so you will have time to explore the old town, with its many Romanesque churches and quaint granite squares.

21 km

Caroi

Stage: Caroi

Shortly after leaving Pontevedra you will veer off the Portuguese Camino and head west towards the sea. While most of todays walk is inland it follows the coast for a few kilometres through the town of Combarro. From here you will climb to the Monasterio de Armenteira in Caroi.

Easy Option: You can choose to split this day between Pontevedra and Caroi in two and stay in the town of Combarro.

24 km

Vilanova de Arousa

Stage: Vilanova de Arousa

Today’s walk follows a relatively easy route as it descends from Caroi and then travels alongside the rivers Armenteira and Umia. It then heads towards the coast and your finishing point for today, Vilanova de Arousa.

Padrón (inc Boat)

Stage: Padrón (inc Boat)

From Vilanova de Arousa you will take a boat which follows the River Ulla to Pontecesures. From Pontecesures it is a short walk (1.8km) to Padrón. The boat trip takes about 1 hour and as you make your way upstream you will be taken past the sights of the river: mussel farms, the Maritime-Terrestrial National Park and of course the stone crosses on the river banks which mark the route of the Ruta del Mar de Arousa (Sea of Arousa Camino). Pilgrims taking the boat trip still receive their Compostela in Santiago.

If you are cycling, you have the option to cycle the 36km to Padron, we will organise your luggage transfer directly to your accommodation in Padron.

Padrón is a lovely little town on the banks of the River Sar. It is believed to have been the arrival point of the body of Saint James when it was brought to Santiago de Compostela by ship.

25 km

Santiago de Compostela

Stage: Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela is a gem of a city: small enough to be explored and be discovered on foot but always vibrant and lively. Wander the cobbled streets of its UNESCO-listed old town, go for a stroll in the Alameda Park and discover regional flavours in the local market (Mercado de Abastos) and the many restaurants and bars.

Accommodation

Standard Hotels

We have hand-picked hotels and guesthouses along the Camino for their character and warm hospitality. Up to 3-stars, you will be staying in the centre of town and close to your Camino trail. All rooms are en-suite with bathroom. For our family packages, we have hand-picked establishments with outdoor space and swimming pools where possible. Where accommodation with private outdoor space is not available, we have selected comfortable hotels with spacious common areas as well as a convenient location close to recreational areas and sights. As your comfort is our priority, we try to book hotels located within walking distance of the Camino. Despite our effort, on rare occasions your accommodation can be located a few kilometers away from the trail, so we organise transportation to/from your accommodation.

Standard Hotel & Guesthouse

Superior Collection

Stay in very special hotels and unique properties along the Camino.  We have selected luxurious 4 and 5-star hotels, boutique guesthouses, relaxing country homes and stunning heritage ‘Parador’ hotels so you can feel pampered. Rest assured when you select Superior Collection, you will enjoy the full experience of our best hotels and top guesthouses when and where this option is available, however, bear in mind, that sometimes due to location factors, only our choice of standard collection hotels and guesthouses may be available. All rooms are en-suite.

Superior Collection

Access

How to Get There

Live information on Rome2Rio. We can also arrange private transfers if you prefer, just ask us

Baiona

Vigo Airport 30km: From Vigo you can take a bus to Baiona. There are buses every 30 minutes from Vigo on weekdays. On Saturdays and Sundays, there are buses every hour. More information on Rome2Rio.

Santiago de Compostela Airport 129km: From Santiago, you can take the shuttle bus to the bus station or the train station. From there you can catch a bust to Vigo Bus Station (about 2 hours, see www.monbus.es) or a train (1 hour and 30 min approximately, see: www.renfe.es). From Vigo to Baiona you can take a bus, taking about 40 min (http://www.vigobus.com/)

Porto Airport 160km: The best option is to get to Vigo either by train (www.cp.pt) or bus (www.autna.com). From Vigo city then take a bus to Baiona (http://www.vigobus.com/).

Pontevedra

Santiago Airport 73km: Take a bus from the airport to Santiago Train Station. This takes 20 minutes and they run every 10 minutes. From the train station you can get a train to Pontevedra, which takes 34 minutes, or a bus which takes 1 hour.

Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela Airport 12km: There is a shuttle bus from/ to the city to Santiago airport, departing every 30min. Bus stops include the city centre (Praza de Galicia), the bus station (Estación de Autobuses) and the train station (Estación de Ferrocarril). See www.empresafreire.com.

A Coruña Airport 70km: From Santiago you can take a train to A Coruña (30 min approximately) and then take a bus from Alfonso Molina (line 4051) to the airport (every 30 min, takes 20 min approximately). Monbus has services from Santiago to A Coruña Airport (every 3 hours), see monbus.es/en for details.

Vigo Airport 90km: From Santiago you can take a train to Vigo Guixar (see www.renfe.com) or a bus to Travesia de Vigo (every hour). You should then take a city bus from Travesia de Vigo to Vigo Airport (every 30 min).

Porto Airport 210km: There is a direct bus connection between Santiago (Estación de Autobuses) and Porto Airport once or twice a day (taking 4h or 6h resp.). See www.alsa.es.

Whats Included

  • Included: Selected accommodation with private bathrooms, Holiday Pack on your mobile phone (Route ebook and Google Maps) and a 24/7 support number providing assistance during your trip, for instance organising a support vehicle if needed.
  • Not included: Flights, drinks, city tax, Travel Insurance (Recommended)
  • Optional: Luggage transfers (On by default. One bag up to 20kg per person), dinners (On by default, where available), bike rental (On by default) and airport transfers, etc…

Note on Accommodation: We aim to book you into each of the towns listed on the itinerary, however in case of low availability we may book you 2 nights in the same town with provided transfers. If you are booking Superior collection or Country cottages, please note it is subject to availability and therefore cannot be guaranteed. Superior/Country cottage accommodation may be away from the route with included transfers. More details.

Have questions? Read our FAQ pages.

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