Coastal Portuguese Way from Oporto to A Guarda

from 
470 

Coastal Portuguese Way from Oporto to A Guarda

from 
470 

We present the Portuguese Way along the coast. Start walking in Oporto, bordering the mouth of the Douro River and heading north along the mighty Portuguese seafront. Pass through towns such as Labruge, Barcelos, Póvoa de Varzim or Viana do Castelo to Caminha and cross the Miño River by ferry to reach A Guarda, the southernmost point of the Galician coast. A route that is an ode to the sea and a monument to Atlantic culture.

Itinerary

Portuguese Way along the coast from Porto

Day 1. Welcome to Porto and the Portuguese Way along the coastline

When we talk about tourist destinations in Portugal, the city of Porto comes to mind almost immediately.

Hanging over the mouth of the Douro River, its past, its architecture and its wine-making tradition, linked to the famous sweet wine that is produced a few kilometres upriver and which is shipped here to countries all over the world, are striking. It also has one of the most beautiful and beloved bookshops in the world, its Torre dos Clérigos and its bustling Cais da Ribeira.

One of the best places from which to start the Portuguese Way along the coast or inland, either to reach the goal in Compostela or to reach the Galician border towns of Tui or A Guarda (depending on the way we choose).

Day 2. Stage Porto - Labruge

Distance: 23.1 km.
Duration: 5:30 hours
Accommodation: Labruge

Start your Portuguese Way along the coast from Porto at one of the critical points of the route. Different possibilities open up here: the Central Portuguese Way; the Braga variant, further inland; the Via Veteris, which progresses slowly to the coastline; or the called Portuguese Way from Oporto along the coast, which takes a short detour following the last stretch of the Douro River to turn north along the Portuguese coast from its mouth.

If you opt for this route, which is the one we describe here, you can expect kilometres and kilometres of almost straight coastline, long open ocean beaches and the constant presence of the Atlantic. It is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular routes on the Way of St. James. It is no coincidence that in recent years it has gained in popularity.

Get ready to walk along the riverside path of the Douro River to its mouth and then turn northwards in a hand-in-hand with the Atlantic to Labruge.

Day 3. Stage Labruge - Póvoa de Varzim

Distance: 13.5 km.
Duration: 3:30 hours.
Accommodation: Póvoa de Varzim

Long beaches, moving dunes, wooden walkways and the ocean are the dominant feature of this short stage between Labruge and Póvoa de Varzim.

Along the way, Vila do Conde, a town founded before the 10th century at the mouth of the river Ave and one of the jewels of this coastal route of the Portuguese Way, is a surprise.

Undoubtedly, a peaceful stretch along this rectilinear Atlantic coastline between sailors' houses and summer residential areas, always in search of introspection, saltpetre, gastronomy and the enigmatic poveiras marks.

Portuguese Way along the coast from Porto

Day 4. Stage Póvoa de Varzim - Esposende

Distance: 20.4 km.
Duration: 5 hours.
Accommodation: Esposende

Another day's journey along the long, straight Portuguese coast, without leaving the sand until almost the end, when the Way takes a brief detour to return to the ocean.

Between Póvoa de Varzim and Esposende, beaches, gulfweed, traditional boats and old windmills reconditioned to welcome visitors in the summer seasons.

Day 5. Stage Esposende - Viana do Castelo

Distance: 25 km.
Duration: 6 hours.
Accommodation: Viana do Castelo

Sometimes a coastal path turns away from the breakers to find places that are worthwhile. This is the case of this stage, whose route gradually leaves the sea to meet the River Neiva and, further on, the River Lima. On its riverside rises the town of Viana do Castelo, which has one of the most beautiful and best preserved historic centres in Portugal.

Day 6. Stage Viana do Castelo - A Guarda

Distance: 31.6 km (with ferry transfer across the Minho estuary)
Duration: 7 hours.
Accommodation: A Guarda

The last Portuguese stage of the Portuguese Way along the coast from Oporto. With the sea always on our left, along coastal paths, asphalted tracks and dirt roads, the pilgrim crosses here from river to river, from the Lima to the Minho.

From Caminha, the last Portuguese town, you take the ferry to cross one of the oldest borders in the world - and probably one of the most meaningless - to finally enter Galicia.

Day 7. Discover A Guarda

After a well-deserved rest, it is the perfect time to visit A Guarda, the southernmost of the Galician municipalities and a beautiful fishing village that has kept its essence alive.

It is also the perfect starting point to complete your Camino with a route that starts from here. If you like wine culture, we recommend you to visit the vineyards and wines of the sub-area of O Rosal, of the Rías Baixas designation of origin.

And if you prefer a different type of visit, we recommend a short trip to Oia, where the Cistercian monastery of the cannoneer monks awaits you. There are a multitude of options. The choice is yours.

Portuguese Way along the coast from Porto
The Portuguese Way from Oporto, along the coast (to A Guarda) or inland (to Tui)
Tailor-made

and get your discount from 5%

The basic programme includes these services. Configure the rest to your liking.

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Lodging

During the Camino, sleeping well and resting is essential. Here are some images of some of the accommodation we work with on this route.

Frequent Asked Questions

Yes, in our programmes you choose the starting date. The Camino de Santiago can be done all year round, although in January and February many accommodations are closed for rest, so if you want to do it in those dates, we recommend you that you consult us first

Most of the accommodation is located next to the Camino, at the place where you will finish each stage. When you make your booking we will generate for you the documentation with the exact address and other location data. 

If the available accommodation is more than 1.5 km from the Camino, we will provide a transfer at no extra cost to you. 

In our programmes we include the option of hiring a luggage transfer service, with a limit of 1 piece of luggage of up to 20 kg per person. There is the option to increase the number of items, but this is not usually necessary. In addition, we will give you luggage identifiers (similar to those at airports) so that you can leave your backpack with the accommodation staff, properly identified, and the shuttle will pick it up there. It is important to do this before 8:00 am, so that our team can take it to the next accommodation before your arrival. In addition, if you plan to travel with more luggage than the Camino, we can also transport the luggage you are not going to use to your last accommodation, so that you can then continue your journey.

Although the Camino is done on foot or by bicycle, you may need a vehicle from the airport to the starting point of your pilgrimage or to make a trip to a place of interest near the end of your stage. In these cases, we provide you with private transport vehicles whose price varies depending on the distance. You can see it among the options by clicking on "I want to book my Camino".

By default and compulsory, all our programmes include travel insurance with specific coverage for the Camino de Santiago. You can see the details in the section Insurance of our website. 

All our programmes include a 24-hour telephone support service, should you need help at any time during your experience. This means that you can also contact us outside office hours (when you are on pilgrimage). 

If you want to book this programme, you have the following options available a form where you can indicate the starting date, the type of accommodation and a series of optional services. The price will be updated according to the options you choose, so you have full control. Once you have configured your trip, click on "Book" to make the payment.

Once we receive your request, you will automatically receive a proof of purchase and within 48 working hours we will contact you to confirm the details of your booking and provide you with the documentation. 

In Proguías we also work with tailor-made programmes (short stages, intermediate rest days, itineraries different from those proposed, etc.). If you are looking for a Camino that meets your needs/preferences, you can ask us for a quote here.

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The pilgrim's backpack

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Request a quote for this programme

We prepare a personalised quote and send it directly to your e-mail. 

Person responsible for processing: Your data will be processed by ALBA RODRIGUEZ SILGO with registered office at Rua do Rego 6C 5°D - Milladoiro, 15895 - Ames (A Coruña). Purpose and legitimacy: Your data will be processed for the purposes specified in the reason for contact and in order to respond to your requests or queries, legally based on express consent. Transfers: they will not be transferred to third parties, unless legally obliged to do so. Term: Your data will be processed for the time strictly necessary to fulfil the specific purpose or purposes for which they were collected, until the loss of relevance of their use or, in any case, until they are cancelled in response to the exercise by the owner of the corresponding rights. Rights: We inform you that you can exercise your rights of access, rectification, cancellation and opposition to the processing of your data through this contact form or by sending an e-mail to the following address: [email protected], or in writing, attaching a copy of a document proving your identity to the address: Rua do Rego 6C 5°D - Milladoiro, , 15895 - Ames (A Coruña). Additional information: You can consult additional and detailed information on Data Protection in our privacy policy.

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