Portuguese Camino Highlights Walk

Name: Portuguese Camino Highlights Walk
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 5 (4 reviews)

4 reviews

Activity

Walking & Trekking

Overview

Hike a handpicked selection of the most beautiful walking trails from Porto to Santiago de Compostela

From Porto, the Portuguese Camino splits into two: the Central Route and the Coastal Route. While many pilgrims simply follow one path on their way to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, we hike the very best sections of both, while also taking an extra-special detour to navigate the lesser-trod Spiritual Variant, said to be the original route of Saint James. The result is an unforgettable week of walking through the most picturesque sections of northern Portugal and Spain, ending with a showstopping arrival in the holy town of Santiago de Compostela.

Key Information

Trip Code: TFO
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: Portugal, Spain
Carbon Footprint: 11kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All accommodation: 1 Superior night (hotel), 7 Classic nights (6 hotel, 1 casa rural)
All breakfasts and one dinner
Immersive itinerary with all transport and listed activities
Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure
Group arrival and departure transfers available

Don't Forget To

Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations.

7 days of Walking & Trekking

Pace:

Moderate: 3mph-4mph (4kph-6kph)
Point-to-point walking with luggage transferred

Terrain:

Low altitude throughout; good paths with some steep ascents

Day 2: 21 km / 13 miles
Day 3: 23 km / 14.3 miles
Day 4: 16 km / 9.9 miles
Day 5: 23 km / 14.3 miles
Day 6: 23 km / 14.3 miles
Day 7: 2 km / 1.2 miles
Day 8: 23 km / 14.3 miles

Highlights

Explore the picturesque medieval city of Viana de Castelo
Take the lesser-known Spiritual Variant, said to be the original way of St James
Board a boat to follow the 17 crosses of the Translatio Route
Discover the 51 ancient mills and waterfalls on the Stone and Water Route
Complete your adventure with a visit to the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela

Itinerary

First Destination: Porto
Next Destination: Santiago de Compostela

Accommodation:Legendary Porto Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

Accommodation:Hotel Melo Alvim (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel Lara (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel Galicia Palace (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Villa Covelo (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Villa Covelo (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel Corona de Padrón (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel Gelmirez (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Porto
Next Destination: Santiago de Compostela

Begin your adventure in Porto, the UNESCO-listed city where the River Douro meets the Atlantic and port wine was born. Depending on the time of your arrival in Porto, your leader will arrange a short orientation tour in the historic centre.

Around 6pm, say olá to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group to learn more about the adventures ahead.

Your tour leader then ensures a big Portuguese welcome by arranging a group dinner.

Want to explore Porto further? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation:Legendary Porto Hotel (or similar)
Meals included:Dinner

After breakfast, we transfer (approximately 30 minutes) up the coast and begin our walk in the fishing town of Matosinhos.

This section is part of the Litoral Camino, which follows the Atlantic coastline along a series of boardwalks and promenades. We stop for lunch along the coast with a chance to try the local fish.

After, we carry on walking next to the sea until we reach the coastal town of Vila do Conde where we finish walking and have a transfer (approximately 45 minutes) to the picturesque medieval city of Viana de Castelo, our destination for the night.

We can walk around the medieval city centre where we see the cathedral and church and enjoy a drink by the old port.

Accommodation:Hotel Melo Alvim (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

This morning, we walk directly from our hotel on winding country lanes and forest trails, enjoying sea and mountain views. We walk through sleepy Portuguese villages on the hills parallel to the coast enjoying ocean views from time to time.

We have a forested stretch to a high point, then we descend to Vila Praia de Ancora where we stop for lunch. Vila Praia de Ancora is a former fishing village and has become a popular seaside resort with a 17^th century fort, stunning sandy beaches and dunes.

After, we walk parallel to the sea on flat terrain to Moledo do Minho railway station. From here, we transfer (approximately 35 minutes) to Valenca, another walled city which is now a shopping town known for producing linen, towels and handcrafted souvenirs.

Accommodation:Hotel Lara (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

After breakfast, we walk directly from the hotel and say goodbye to Portugal by crossing the Ponte Rodo bridge into Spain. We first explore the Spanish border town of Tui, home to a magnificent Romanesque-Gothic cathedral, before heading to San Campio chapel.

We pass the Pilgrim monument in Tui, depicting a large stone carving of a pilgrim, before we follow the scenic Louro river through pretty woodlands and along the river paths to the chapel.

On arrival, we have time for lunch before a transfer (approximately 45 minutes) to Pontevedra and enjoy time to walk around the old centre. This evening, we can enjoy dinner in one of the many restaurants with terraces.

Accommodation:Hotel Galicia Palace (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Today we start our special detour on a partly coastal section of the Portuguese Camino, named the Spiritual Variant. This pilgrimage route is considered by many to be the original path of Saint James, and therefore the origin of all the Caminos de Santiago.

After breakfast, we leave the hotel and head west towards the sea, where we walk through the pretty landscapes of O Salnés, crossing the village of Poio, home to a 17^th-century Benedictine monastery, and the compact fishing village of Combarro.

We finish the day walking through the forest to Armenteira where there is a 12^th-century monastery still fully running today. From here, we have a transfer to our hotel for the evening.

Accommodation:Villa Covelo (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

After breakfast, we take a transfer (approximately 30 minutes) to Armenteira. From here, we start one of the most beautiful stages of the Camino, taking a trail parallel to the River Armenteira called the Stone and Water Route (named for the 51 ancient mills and waterfalls it passes).

The lush green of the forest, the gushing cascades, flowing river, and ancient mills combine to make a particularly scenic stretch. In the afternoon, we take a path alongside the Rivier Umia passing Albariño grapevines and fields and finishing by the sea.

Accommodation:Villa Covelo (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

Start with a short walk to the harbour in Vilanueva de Arousa, where we board our boat to enjoy one of the only water-based pilgrimage trails in the world, the Translatio, which is also our last stretch of the Spiritual Variant.

This waterway route consists of 17 stone crosses that mark the Apostle’s final journey – the captain will point these out, while also highlighting mussel farms and the ninth-century Oeste Fortress, built to defend against Viking invaders.

Once we reach the town of Pontecesures, we walk the final stretch of the day, passing the statues of Padron’s most famous residents, Nobel Prize-winning novelist Camilo Jose Cela and poet Rosalia de Castro. We arrive just in time for lunch – we recommend trying Padron peppers, a local speciality.

Accommodation:Hotel Corona de Padrón (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

On our last day of walking, we pass through typical Galician villages and woodland before arriving in Santiago de Compostela. Our route passes the Igrexa de Santa Maria de Iria, a church destroyed in the 10^th century by the Andalusi military leader Almanzor, before being rebuilt two centuries later. It is also where Camilo Jose Cela is buried.

Upon arrival in Santiago, as part of the centuries-old tradition, we make our way through the city streets and crowds to Plaza del Obradoiro, which is dominated by the cathedral, where we can observe a mass service that may include the impressive Botafumeiro incense swinging, although it cannot be guaranteed.

In the afternoon, we enjoy a walking tour of the town, which includes a visit to the cathedral where Saint James is said to have been buried. In the evening, we have our farewell group dinner in a nice restaurant in Santiago centre, an excellent chance to relive our adventures together.

Upgrade to a room with a terrace today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Accommodation:Hotel Gelmirez (or similar)
Meals included:Breakfast

The trip ends after breakfast. Say goodbye to the group and start your return journey home. If you’ve still got the appetite for more exploration, speak to your sales representative to book further nights in our Santiago de Compostela or Porto hotels.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

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Accommodation

Places we stay

We aim to secure locally owned accommodation that is well located, offers good value for money, and plenty of comfort. To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines.

Upgrade to a room with a terrace on Day 8 of the itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details.

Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Essential Information

This trip is rated Activity Level 4 (Moderate & Challenging). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

It consists of six full walking days and one partial walking day with a 2 hour boat trip on Day 7. Your luggage is transferred between hotels, so you need only take a backpack on the walks. The terrain and path type varies and includes good quality coastal paths, gravel tracks and forest trails. The walks are not technically difficult . The walks are not technically difficult however you will need to cover distances of up to 27km and on most days there are some steep ascents and descents, so a good fitness level is required. Low altitude throughout.

The distances walked on some days are long and you are expected to walk five full days in a row so there is a high chance of blisters. We recommend comfortable shoes and bringing several types (boots, running shoes, strap sandals), allowing you to alternate.

Key information

Start hotel: Legendary Porto Hotel, Praça da Batalha 127 130, 4000-102 Porto, Portugal
Phone: +351 22 339 2300
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing around 6pm this evening.
Airport: Porto Airport (OPO)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately a 30-minute drive from the airport. Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

There’s a group departure transfer to Porto Airport (OPO) timed to coincide with a chosen flight. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.

Portugal

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Portugal. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/portugal
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/portugal
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/portugal/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Portugal.html

Spain

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Spain. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/spain
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/spain
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/entry-requirements
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Spain.html

A typical breakfast in Portugal and Spain might consist of coffee with milk, toast with ham, olive oil, tomatoes, cheese and butter and jam. Bakery items, fruit and juice are also popular. During this trip, expect different variations of breakfast at our chosen hotels, but they will all include at least some of the standard breakfast items popular in Portugal and Spain.

Northern Spain produces a wide range of delicious food, from fish and seafood to quality meat, vegetables and fruit. Your leader will recommend good places to eat. Sometimes it will be tapas, sharing raciones (literally portions) as a group, and sometimes you can choose from the menu.

On the Portuguese Camino, restaurants and bars offer set menus, which usually include a choice of five starters, five mains and dessert, coffee and drink for about €12-€15. You can also try pulpo a la feira, a delicacy in Galicia, which is sliced octopus with paprika, olive oil and sea salt. Sometimes it is also served with grelos (sliced boiled potatoes).

Mealtimes in Portugal and Spain are later than in many other countries; dinner is usually taken between 8pm and 9.30pm.

Please note, meat and fish are staples in Portugal and Spain. Vegetarians can be catered for, as can other dietary requirements, although there may not be the same choice or variety as you have at home. Please advise us upon booking.

In April and October, expect temperatures around 5C-15C (40F-60F) with a high chance of rain showers. It could also be partly cloudy and more temperate. Temperatures in May and September tend to be warmer. Expect a combination of sun, showers and clouds.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Reviews

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Lilian Kim

Added November 2025

An incredible Camino Experience!

This trip blends the best of the coastal route from Porto with the stunning, lesser-known Spiritual Variant trail. Hiking over 100 km (62 miles) along the Portuguese Camino Highlights Walk was challenging but very rewarding. The coastal walks offered stunning views of the coastline and ocean and I loved walking through the quaint fishing villages along the coast. The Stone & Water trail and the Spiritual Variant trail offered stunning scenery, peaceful forests, rivers, and charming medieval villages and country towns along the way. The food was a highlight too—fresh seafood and traditional local dishes at every stop. I highly recommend trying local dishes such as Galician Pulpo (octopus), Galician scallops (in the shell), and Padron peppers! On Day 5 and 6, we stayed at Villa Covelo and stumbled upon a local restaurant called, O Recuncho do lolo, and had an incredible local experience here! The owner Graciela was so hospitable and kind that we dined there two evenings in a row! You must try her cheesecake (she sold us by telling us it was the best in the world- and it very well might be!) The accommodations at A Casa Antiga do Monte and Hotel Melo Alvim were cozy, historic, and full of character. If you’re thinking about doing a "highlights version" of the Camino, this Exodus trip is the perfect way to do it! :)

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral with our group was an unforgettable moment. The sense of accomplishment, the energy in the square, and our celebratory dinner together made the perfect finale to this Camino adventure.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our amazing tour leader Maria brought so much heart and first-hand knowledge from her own experiences hiking multiple Camino routes. She was kind, funny, incredibly supportive, and always radiated positivity and energy.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Bring whatever footwear is most comfortable for you, whether that’s hiking boots, trail runners, running shoes, or a mix. Just make sure they’re well broken-in before the trip. Hiking boots aren’t always necessary and can feel heavy over long distances but could be useful for rainy hiking days through the forested sections with roots & rocks, so if you pack hiking boots I suggest having a couple of lighter options to bring along and change into. I even packed a pair of Merrell sandals with good tread on the bottom to hike in for certain sections or to change into after a long day of hiking. Bring Vaseline, blister plasters, or your go-to foot-care essentials to stay comfortable. Also hiking poles were useful for certain sections of the trails as well! Bring a reusable water bottle—there are plenty of spots along the Camino to refill your water as you go.

Joshua Raubenheimer

Added September 2025

Everything and more that I had hoped for!

This trip was incredible - from our amazing guide, Aitor, to the fun group we got lucky to travel with, to the special itinerary itself, this tour is incredible from start to finish! If you have ever considered walking the Camino (or at least the highlights of it), then let this be your sign to go ahead and book it! The walks themselves can be challenging, but along with your group and the motivation from the guide, you will feel accomplished by the end of each day and will wake up feeling ready for the next! Join this tour with the expectation of seeing so many scenic villages and towns, tasting different food, and getting deeper insight into how the locals live and work - as you will see all of this and more on this amazing trip. Reaching the Cathedral in Santiago is a moment I will never forget, and one which I will be returning to do again in my life.

Most Inspirational Moment

Reaching the Cathedral in Santiago with my group. Our tour leader stopped to give us a touching speech before we turned the last corner to go and view the Cathedral - it was an incredible moment!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Aitor was the perfect leader for this trip. He knew the regions so well and could provide so much extra knowledge and insight into everything we would walk past and see, also providing tips on where to enjoy our dinners etc. He was there to support and connect with each member of our group equally, and we all were sad to say goodbye at the end of the trip!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Just bring loads of pairs of good socks, so that you can change pairs in the middle of a walking day. Make sure your walking shoes are worn in before you travel otherwise the feet may get a little sore.

Rachael Davey

Added October 2024

A challenge but certainly worthwhile

The majority of the walking days followed the same pattern: Walk for approx 1.5-2 hours then stop for a coffee Walk for approx 2 hours then stop for lunch On the longer days we stopped for a coffee/break in the afternoon too. The trip notes are reasonably accurate with their description of the route and the activity times - this is the time walking, the days are linger when you factor in stops. On warmer days we took longer, on the rainy/cooler days we tended to be a little quicker. Day 6 of walking (day 7 of the trip) the walk is a bit longer than expected. It is about 30 minutes to the harbour but once you get off the boat it was about another 4km to the hotel via Padron. Pay attention to the packing list - on the early days of the walk when we were in Portugal the route was flatter and you could probably get away with trainers but from day 3 of walking (day 4 of the trip) walking boots are an advantage due to the terrain. A good waterproof coat is definitely needed as we got rained on alot. I used a single walking pole for support on the downhill sections from day 3 of walking onwards. You will stay in a mix of hotels - some were very good, others were definitely more on the cheaper side. We also really struggled to get food at a decent time in two of the Spanish hotels as the restaurants weren't open for hot food until 9pm and there was nothing else open nearby any earlier - after a long day of walking we all wanted an earlier meal and an early night.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Alfonso was great, he organised the transfers well and on days when we walked quicker than expected always tried to bring forward transfers if he could. On most days he managed to get lunch time and evening meals booked when he could so we didnt have to wait for a table big enough for the group.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you have allergies/dietary requirements take some food with you. Some of the lunch stops weren't very good for me (gluten free), on the first day of walking we stopped for lunch at a pizzeria that served me a salad with croutons despite asking for them to be left out. The supermarkets in the bigger towns had a good variety of food and drink available so I carried wraps I had made after that to make sure I got enough food. Most places will take card payments but we did come across a few smaller coffee shops while walking that only took cash. Having cash also makes settling up group meals alot easier (we stopped for lunch in one place that didn't let us split the bill). All of the hotels except one (the Casa Rural) had lifts, there were sometimes waits to use them as they were small but you can definitely take a suitcase as you aren't walking far with your bags. Having a sim card that will work for Portugal and Spain was definitely an advantage. After day 1 the group tended to split up while walking as we all walked at different speeds. We set up a whatsapp group so we could share photos but it was also useful for the guide to post links to where were stopping for food/coffee and regroup and on the odd occassion the route split into two he could let us know which path to take. The camino route is very well marked so even when we split up it was easy to know which way to walk. Take something to keep your camino passport in to keep it safe from the rain (available to buy from Porto Cathedral - our guide took us there after we got to the hotel). There is little time to explore Porto unless you have an early flight on the day you arrive, if you want to see the city arrive a day or two earlier or go back there at the end of the trip. We stayed in Porto for a couple of days - that was all you really needed to see the city. You will arrive in Santiago on Saturday afternoon - we had enough time to check in, shower and change and be back at the cathedral for pilgrim mass. Get there early if you want a seat, we got into the cathedral 45 minutes before mass started and only just got seats. There will be a large queue to get in. Also worth noting that you cannot enter the cathedral with a backpack. The 7.30pm mass was a full service which lasted approx an hour. The fumiares is brought out right at the end of the service so make sure you stay til the end if you want to see it (it is not used for every service so you are lucky if you see it). They also close the doors once the service starts to stop people coming in and you cannot walk around the cathedral whilst the mass is happening.

Rosemary Mitchell

Added June 2024

My Portuguese Camino

As a senior I found the two longer mileage days a bit of a challenge but overall it was a great walking holiday. The hotels and the food were excellent. I especially enjoyed the boat trip, as well as walking the final three days to Santiago, like real pilgrims. The medieval border town of Tui was fascinating. I loved the stone and water route on Day 6. Sadly we had to walk the last 5 miles to Santiago in the rain, which was disappointing. The scenery was varied along the way although I found some sections alongside the road tedious.

Most Inspirational Moment

Getting to the top of the hill in the forest before descending to the monastery at Armenteira! Enjoying my picnic at the top of the hill that day and our drinks at the cafe by the Monastery at the end of the walk.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Al was a very friendly guide who mainly kept to Spanish times which meant that there could be up to 3 hours between breaks and lunch was mid afternoon.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go for this holiday as you will feel a sense of achievement when you finish, despite possible sore feet. I found my poles invaluable.

Suggestions

I got my pilgrim's passport stamped and you receive your Compostela written in Latin at the end. We attended a Pilgrim's Mass in the evening on the final day before going out for our final group meal.

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