Camino Portugués Coastal Way: Stage 1
7 Days & 6 Nights 4 Read 6 reviews- Enjoy a quieter Camino experience away from the crowds
- The vibrant UNESCO heritage city of Porto
- Spot birdlife such as mallards, grey herons and cormorants in the Natural Park of the Northern Portuguese Coast
- Explore the beautiful historical centre of Viana do Castelo
What To Expect
Trip Type:
Pilgrimages | For those looking to follow a path of self-discovery. Our Pilgrimage and Camino routes take you on a journey through diverse landscapes and local flavours, while meeting like-minded adventurers along the way.
Activity:
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&B’s, inns, and guesthouses.
This trip is suitable for:
Solo Travellers
Ideal if you have an interest in:
- Long-Distance Trails
- Coastal Walking
Grade & Terrain
This walk is graded as moderate overall and includes daily walks of between 19 and 25km on mostly flat terrain. You will follow a mixture of coastal paths, wooden walkways, dirt tracks and some roads closer to the bigger cities and towns.
Navigation
The Camino Portuguese coastal route is not as well way-marked as the main Camino Portuguese but we provide detailed route notes and maps as well as a guidebook. You will also have access to the Macs Adventure Smartphone App so you can follow the route using your phones GPS so you will have no problems finding the way.
Accommodation Information
6 nights accommodation is included in small rural hotels and hostels. You will always have a private room and en-suite bathroom. In the larger towns, you will stay in 3* hotels.
You can add extra nights at any point during your stay, and we particularly recommend extending your stay in Santiago.
Solo Walkers & Single Rooms
This trip is available to solo walkers for a supplement. Single rooms are also available for a supplement.
Meals
A local breakfast is included each morning which usually consists of a coffee and bread with jams. Lunch and dinner are not included as standard so you are free to choose from the available options.
- 6 nights in small rural hotels and hostels in twin/double rooms with en-suite W/C
- 6 Breakfasts
- Daily Baggage Transfers
- A detailed information pack including route notes, maps and local information
- Access to our smartphone app & GPS tracks
- 24-7 emergency support from our local and UK offices in the event of a problem
- Return travel to Portugal/Spain
- Lunches, snacks or drinks
- Travel Insurance
- Personal Equipment
- Taxi transfers or public transport should you need to skip a stage
- Metro on Day 2 to Matosinhos (approx €3)
- Ferry from Caminha over River Mino (approx €3)
- Additional nights accommodation along the way.
When To Go
You can start your walk anytime between the beginning of March and the end of October subject to availability. As the ferry between Caminha and A Guarda does not operate on a Monday it is not possible to start this tour on a Wednesday. Please also keep this in mind if you are adding any additional nights. July and August can get very hot so please bear this in mind if walking at this time of year.
Getting to the Start
By Air: Porto is easily accessible from London and many airports throughout Europe on a direct flight or you can also fly via Lisbon and take a train to Porto (2.5h). Airlines flying to Porto include low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and Easyjet and other options include British Airways, TAP, KLM and Lufthansa.
By Rail: Porto is one of the main railway hubs in northern Portugal and is therefore easily reached by train. It takes approx 3 hours by train from Lisbon to Porto.
By Road: Porto enjoys good connections by road to the rest of Portugal. It takes approx 7 hours to drive from Lisbon to Porto.
Getting from the End
By Air: The closest airport to A Guarda is Vigo which you can reach by flights with Iberia via Madrid. The other option is to fly into Porto, but it is a 4-hour bus journey from there to A Guarda.
Baggage Transfer
Baggage transfers are included (max 20kg per person). Your main bag will be transferred each day between your overnight accommodation so that you only need to walk with a day pack.
General Information
The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.
Equipment
Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, lightweight clothes, waterproofs and a day pack.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Porto Day 2 Metro to Matosinhos, walk to Povoa do Varzim - 23 km 16 miles / 26 km Day 3 Walk to Esposende - 24 km 12.5 miles / 20 km Day 4 Walk to Viana do Castelo - 24 km 16 miles / 25.5 km Day 5 Walk to Vila Praia da Ancora 11.5 miles / 18.5 km Day 6 Walk to Caminha, ferry to Spain, walk to A Guarda - 19 km 11.5 miles / 18.5 km Day 7: Onward Travel from A GuardaThe Macs Adventure Way
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