The colorful town of Caldas De Rei on the Camino Portuguese
The colorful town of Caldas De Rei on the Camino Portuguese

Portugese Camino, Tui to Santiago

Level
3
Distance
110 km
Duration
8 days | 7 nights
period
Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
price from
€ 585
CO2 footprint
157 Kg/person
  1. Spain
  2.  | 
  3. Self-Guided
  4.  | 
  5. Tourcode VE-16

The final section of the Portuguese Way starts from Tui and continues towards Santiago through Galicia and the northern part of Spain: it is the extension of the Portuguese Jacobean Way into the lands of Galicia.

The destination, as with all the Caminos, is Santiago: along the way, you'll encounter eucalyptus forests and cathedrals, coastal villages, and others known for their hot springs.

It's a peaceful route, perfect for those who want to challenge themselves with their first pilgrimage and enjoy their initial experience in complete serenity.

Highlights

  • Stop at the Hermitage of Santiaguino de Antas, a perfect place to get some rest
  • Walk across the Sampaio bridge, where the army of Napoleon suffered one of the greatest defeats during his battles in Galicia
  • Visit Padron, one of the important places related to the history of the Camino: according to the tradition, the ship carrying Saint James' body disembarked here
  • Get your Compostela when you arrive in Santiago

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Tui

Arrival in Tui

Today you will arrive in Tui

If you wish to add the transfer service from Madrid, the bus leaves at 11.00 from the Las Matas station.

Day 2

From Tui to O Porriño, 16 km

From Tui to O Porriño, 16 km

Aftera good breakfast, your adventure begins! You will first walkthrough the Tui town centre: do not miss the majestic Cathedral of St Maria de Tui, the church of San Telmo, and the International Bridge (built under the guidance of Gustave Eiffel). The walk exits the town through tree-lined paths and across rivers. Today, you will encounter one of the most iconic sight of the walk, the Ponte Veiga, built on river Louro.Take the chance to visit the Pazo de Mos foundation and the Santiaguiño chapel.

Day 3

From O Porriño to Arcade, 23 km

From O Porriño to Arcade, 23 km

In this second stage, you will delighted by the beauty of the galician countryside: green meadows and boundless sights on river Vigo, inviting you to stop and savour the breathtaking scenario. The path continues through the village of Arccade, famous throughout the world for its oysters and Ponte Sampaio, known for a battle against the french troops.

Day 4

From Arcade to Pontevedra, 12 km

From Arcade to Pontevedra, 12 km

Today you will venture even more to the rural heart of Galicia, between tight paths and isolated houses lost in the lush vegetation.

The day ends with a visit to the splendid town of Pontevedra, with its town centre full of fascinating little squares. Pontevedra represents a very interetsing urban experiment, as cars are forbidden here!

Day 5

From Pontevedra to Caldas dei Rei, 21 km

From Pontevedra to Caldas dei Rei, 21 km

Today's walk will take you through the villages of Alba, a Portela and Briallos, crossing the vineyards of the famous Albariño wine. The most interesting town though is Caldas do Reis, at the confluence of two rivers: it is known for its hot waters. Take the chance to visit the stone tavern "O Muiño"

Day 6

From Caldas de Rei to Padron, 18 km

From Caldas de Rei to Padron, 18 km

Today we will follow a soft, silent and hilly path, ideal for meditation and peace. Every now and then, you will encounter a quaint village or one of the "cruceiros" scattered around this corner of Galicia. You will then arrive in Padron and Iria Flavia, places of strong jacobean connotation. According to the legend, it is here that the ship carrying the body of Saint James ran aground, against a stone (pedròn). Nowadays, that stone is kept in the city cathedral.

Day 7

From Padron to Santiago, 20 km

From Padron to Santiago, 20 km

In the last stage taking you to the heart of Santiago, you will also walk on paved roads, in a scenario that is less rural compared to the prevoius days. However, as you are getting closer to the destination of your trip you will be able to breathe the mysticism surrounding the places where the legend of St James is set.

 

 

Day 8

Santiago!

Santiago!

Our services end after breakfast, 

however if you wish to explore Santiago and spend more time there, we suggest you book an additional night.

Details

Is this for me?


This journey is excellent training for those who would like to walk the French Way but want a taste of adventure first: the Portuguese Way is relatively short and not too challenging, given the low altitudes.

Some training is still needed to cover so many kilometers each day, but otherwise, it's a manageable first trail.

Included


What is included

  • 7 Nights in double room in ** hotels , B&B and guest houses with breakfast
  • luggage transportation from hotel to hotel
  • support van 24/7
  • maps and detailed description of the itinerary
  • Pilgrim Passport
  • Medical and luggage travel insurance
  • 24h phone assistance

What is not included 

  • Transfers to the starting location and from the arriving location of the tour
  • lunches and dinners, if not otherwise stated
  • visits and entrance fees - tips
  • personal expense
  • possible sojourn taxes
  • everything that is not mentioned in the "What is included" section.

Optional Services

These services can be added to the ones included in the base price of the tour:

  • Single room supplement
  • cancellation insurance

Accommodation


Hotel Villablanca - Tui
Hotel Duarte - Arcade
Hotel Avenida - Pontevedra
Hotel O'Cruceiro - Caldas de Rei
Hotel Rosalía - Padron
Hotel Lux Santiago - Santiago

When to travel


The region of Galicia is part of the lush northern sector of the country, “Green Spain”, and its climate and landscape are influenced by moist winds blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean. Galicia enjoys relatively mild, rainy winters and cooler, fairly sunny summers. In summer short heat waves may occur with highs around, or even above, 30ºC. In colder months, the wind blows frequently and the weather can be stormy. Fog is also common at any time of the year. The region gets about 1200 mm of precipitation a year, making it one of the wettest in Spain.

What to bring


Clothing and other items
You will need your regular walking/cycling gear, including some sort of reflective garment. For the evenings, smart outdoor style trousers (or shorts) are invaluable, as are quick-dry t-shirts. These can be washed easily and will dry overnight and still look good for sightseeing or having a drink in town.

Take as little as possible to avoid potentially lugging a heavy suitcase up three flights of stairs at the end of the day. Please be aware that laundromats (“Laverie”) are not common in rural areas, so plan to do handwashing of small items.

Lightweight walking shoes/ trainers
For wearing around towns & villages. They can also be a back-up pair.

Socks & underwear
Take only good quality socks with quick-dry and insulating qualities. Road test them before you go on the trip. Take a suitable quantity of underwear as washing facilities are limited.

Warm jacket, hat, gloves
Bring a fleece, Polartec or warm layers for the evenings especially in spring or autumn; be sure it is totally suitable for your needs.
A fleece jacket which blocks the wind (Wind-stopper) is the most preferable. In the summer months a lightweight jacket is suitable for evenings.
If you are cycling/walking in mountainous or coastal areas, even in the height of summer, the weather can change very quickly and unexpectedly and you should be prepared for fog, mist, rain, snow or hail at any time. Always take an extra layer with you, as well as a warm hat and gloves.

Waterproof jacket & trousers
If you are caught in heavy rain, with good waterproof clothing you should remain dry. Remember that most garments will lose their properties over time. Few will remain waterproof for more than five years and many deteriorate in three years or less. We recommend a rain jacket with a good hood and collar and waterproof or thermal walking/cycling trousers or tights.

Dress code
In general, you should wear suitable clothing when entering a church (in many places, it is considered unacceptable to go inside wearing shorts or a tank-top). We suggest that women carry a shawl to cover up bear shoulders or low-cut tops. It also comes in handy when your shoulders get sunburned!

It is considered inappropriate for men to go without a shirt / T-shirt (other than at the beach).

Trekking poles (adjustable)
Highly recommended. A pair works best, depending on what you are comfortable with. If you suffer from back or knee pain this should be considered essential. Remember to practise walking with your pole(s) on different types of terrain in the months preceding your trip.

Walking boots
The importance of good footwear cannot be stressed enough. Your boots should be sturdy and of good enough quality to handle all types of terrain. Lightweight boots, (cordura/leather boots) which have Gore-Tex or sympatex water-proofing are most suitable for this trip. They should provide good ankle protection and be well broken in. Waxing leather boots regularly prolongs their life.

Walking tops & trousers
We recommend walking trousers and shorts and quick-dry wicking t-shirts. These can be washed easily and will dry overnight and still look good for sightseeing or having a drink in town. Wicking T-shirts are fast drying, keep moisture away from your skin and are available at outdoor stores. You should also bring one pair of loose-fitting trousers to wear in cities and for evenings out, etc. Shorts or zip-off trousers are useful in warmer weather.

Practical info

Mobile App


Use the SloWays APP for iOS and Android smart phones in combination with the written documentation provided.

The App has the detailed tracks and maps that you can use offline and without roaming. Thanks to the phone’s internal GPS, you can check your exact position on the map, so you always know exactly where you are. It also helps you self-navigate you way while travelling. More information on how to use the App inside the roadbook documents.

The navigation features include:

  • Offline navigation. Mobile data not required after initial download
  • Accurate GPS tracks
  • Autorotation of the maps
  • Daily route summary and elevation chart
  • Panorama of the track and at street level
  • Alarm and vibration that alerts you in case you go off track.
  • Emergency SMS button with position coordinates
  • Possibility to record and take georeferenced photos of problems on route alerting fellow travelers
  • Hotel information
  • Points of interest along the way
  • Historical background

Wanderlust Nominee Best Specialist Tour Operator 2023
Wanderlust
Nominee Best Specialist Tour Operator 2023
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Touroperating
S-Cape Countryside Travels srl
Borgo Allegri 16R
50122 Firenze FI
P. IVA 05227330486

 
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Touroperating S-Cape Countryside Travels srl Borgo Allegri 16R 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
VAT Nr 05227330486

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