Camino Portugues

Since 2010 we’ve organized thousands of self-guided pilgrimages on the Camino Portugués. Since we established the Camino Frances, we knew this hiking experience could be replicated with different landscape, cultures and flavors, so the Camino Portugués was the natural next step.

Macs offers self-guided hiking tours, so travel on your terms, choose your own departure date and travel companions. We provide luggage transfers every day, route info packs, and an app with easy-to-use maps that can be used on or offline. Traveling with Macs supports local small businesses, and we hold sustainable travel at high importance!

Get in touch with our specialists so we can connect you with your perfect adventure on the Camino Portugués.

1. The Cities - Encounter amazing and diverse cities on the routes following the Camino Portugués. Each bursting with local color and specialties with their own unique look and feel, these cities are a joy to visit. Lisbon, Portugal’s capital city, is full of antique trams, delicious restaurants, and artistic flare. You’ll find deep history bursting in Tomar, and ancient baroque library in the riverfront town of Coimbra. Porto is constantly growing, keeping strong ties to its people and history, and Santiago is the culmination of pilgrimage routes and a great place to celebrate your achievement.

2. The Food - Portugal is unique in its gastronomy. Although the dishes are usually centered around simple stews or grilled fish or meats, these plates are elevated by the amount of flavor and skill of cooking involved. Famous for its farm to table elements, Portugal is the master of this culinary art, marrying unique local-grown herbs with fresh seafood. Pastries are a delicacy here, with Portuguese chefs specializing in flakey Pastel de Nata, and the wine is silky smooth, produced right from the land itself.

3. The Peace - The Camino Frances through Spain is the classic pilgrimage and is high in popularity with thousands of people from all over the world completing it each year. But, if you want a quieter experience, the Camino Portugués is the way to go. Pass through quaint coastal towns, rural countryside, and scenic villages as you travel north. Starting in the UNESCO city of Porto, taste famous port wine and tour baroque churches before you begin your journey. Celebrate your accomplishment in Santiago de Compostela with other Camino pilgrims after you finish your adventure!

4. The People - Experience the warm and understated welcome of the Portuguese people, highlighting their friendly and giving presence. It is not abnormal to be invited into a stranger’s house to share a meal and sample their home-grown wine. Often, Portuguese locals may recommend you hike or go somewhere “off-the-beaten-path” that are entirely spectacular. Make sure to sample the different types of food to have a culinary experience instead of just to eat, and learning some of the local language will go a long way!

5. The Coast - There are two ways to hike the Camino Portugués. Once you reach Porto, after the first three sections, you can chose to continue on the traditional route, or deviate and take the coastal route. Both amazing, the coastal route welcomes new experiences, both in scenery and cuisine. Mostly untouched by tourism, it is a pleasure to hike along the wild Atlantic coast in solitude, and then feast on the bounties of the sea at night!