Camino Portugués Variante Espiritual from Vigo to Santiago

You arrive in Vigo.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.