Camino Portugués Coastal Way: Stage 2
- Enjoy a quieter Camino experience away from the crowds
- Arriving in Santiago and gaining your Compostela certificate
- Explore the medieval towns of Baiona, Pontevedra and Padron
- Feast on delicious Galician seafood including the famous Pulpo (Octopus)
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive A GuardaArriving in A Guarda, explore its port, bustling town square with its impressive clock tower and the Church of Santa Maria. It is possible to reach A Guarda by flying into Vigo Airport and then it is a 30min bus journey to A Guarda.
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Situated in the centre of this village, this accommodation is 12 minutes´ walk from the beach. It has 21 spacious rooms with simple decoration and with floor tiles. Also equipped with flat screen TV and private bathroom. The hotel also offers TV lounge, pub, playroom, laundry and a terrace for smokers.
With the Atlantic Ocean as your constant companion, just take the time to enjoy the tranquillity of walking along the coast on this stage with wide open views of the sea. Arrive at the fishing village of Oia with its historic Monastery of Santa Marta de Oia. Enjoy an evening meal of grilled fish and sip on a glass of Vinho Verde as you take in the sea views.
Ascent: 163m (545ft) Descent: 197m (645ft)
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This traditional country house built in 1699 was restored in 2000 to become in a tourist accommodation with modern facilities but respecting the charm and simplicity of those typical houses. With eight rooms different equipped with heating, flat screen TV, a small desk and private bathroom with towels included and hairdryer (on request). There is also free Wi-Fi and staff offers a laundry service. On the ground floor are the common areas: the dining room for guests, a lounge with fireplace. It has also a cafeteria/teahouse that opens every afternoon. The house also has a spectacular garden with direct access to the sea.
Leaving Oia behind, walk at the foot of impressive cliffs until reaching the Lighthouse of Cabo Silleiro, the main point of navigation for ships sailing along the Ria de Vigo. Ascend to Baredo and a few kilometres later arrive at the 12th century Castle of Monte Real, now the luxurious Parador de Baiona hotel - speak to us about upgrading your overnight stay to here! Continue to Baiona, the first port in Europe to receive the news of the discovery of America.
In the evening take a wander through the narrow streets of the old town and enjoy an evening meal in one of the atmospheric restaurants — perhaps the delicious Pulpo (octopus) or Merluza a la Gallega (hake).
Ascent: 103m (338ft) Descent: 282m (925ft)
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This hotel is a historic building in Baiona Port. It is right on the beach, just a 3 minute walk away.
Walk alongside the Ria de Vigo which is protected by the beautiful Cies Islands archipelago, home to some of the most beautiful beaches. If you want to visit the Cies Islands add an extra night in Baiona from where you can take one of the regular boat services to the islands (only available in summer). This does need to be booked in advance however as visitor numbers to the islands are limited to protect the fragile environment. Pass the historic fountain of O Pombal, before crossing two Romanesque Bridges and continuing into the marshland area of Foz del Rio Minor. Visit the Votivo do Mar Temple in Nigran before reaching the city of Vigo.
Ascent: 336m (1102ft) Descent: 269m (883ft)
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This hotel located in a privileged area (between the old part of the city and opposite to the sea) has 91 rooms decorated with elegance and sobriety and equipped with whirlpool baths and free WIFI connection. It has also a restaurant.
Leaving Vigo by a pleasant river walk takes you to the Castle of San Sebastian. Descend to the Barrio de O Berbes, an area well known for its wonderful restaurants and where you can sample Ostras de la Ria (oysters of the river). Continue to Redondela, where the route meets the main Camino Portuguese way and cross the historic centre of Cesantes before descending to the seaside village of Arcade.
Ascent: 321m (1053ft) Descent: 336m (1102ft)
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The Hotel Isape is located on the outskirts of Arcade, with views over the river and hills beyond. This hotel offers a warm, welcoming and friendly atmosphere and has a café and a garden terrace.
Begin the day by climbing the ancient stone road of the Verea Vella da Canicouva past small fields and into a forest area. Explore the 13th century Church of Santa Marta with its panoramic views over the Bay of Vigo before arriving in Pontevedra. This bustling city has a wonderful atmosphere and some great restaurants offering fine Galician cuisine.
Ascent: 168m (551ft) Descent: 174m (571ft)
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This hotel is located in the financial and commercial centre of the city of Pontevedra, just 100 metres from the old town. The hotel also has its own café and restaurant. Close by you will find the interesting places San Francisco Monastery and Provincial Museum of Pontevedra.
Walk through the historic centre of Pontevedra this morning until you reach the Puente del Burgo bridge over the Lerez River. Skirt around the marshland area of A Xunquiera de Alba before entering the beautiful landscapes of Bosques de Reiris and Lombo da Maceira. Walking through fields of crops you eventually reach the pretty spa town of Caldas de Reis.
Ascent: 150m (492ft) Descent: 124m (407ft)
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Hotel O Cruceiro is a family establishment situated in the town of Caldas de Reis. It has 30 double rooms, spacious lounges, terraces, a café and restaurant.
Leaving Caldas de Reis, cross the area of Mount Castelo where deep forests are dotted with the waters of the Valga River and ancient mills. Cross a bridge separating the provinces of Pontevedra and A Coruna to find Padron, home to illustrious Galician writers such as Camino Jose Cela and Rosalia de Castro.
Ascent: 180m (591m) Descent: 191m (627ft)
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A Casa Antiga do Monte offers recently refurbished apartments with comfortable rooms, located very close to Padron.
Your final day’s walking and a definite highlight brings you to the famous Santiago de Compostela. First of all visit the Sanctuary of Escravitude, and the Alto de O Milladoiro, where pilgrims used to kneel when they first saw the Cathedral of Santiago. Shortly after, arrive at the historic centre of Santiago by A Porta Faxeira and continue to the famous Plaza del Obradoiro, where the beautiful Cathedral sits and where all pilgrims converge.
Ascent: 432m (1,417ft) /Descent: 171m (561ft)
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The Lux Santiago Hotel is located in the centre of the Galician capital. It has an exceptional location that allows you to explore the city in depth. The hotel is just 800 metres from the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.
We strongly recommend adding an additional night in Santiago to allow you to attend the Pilgrims Mass at the Cathedral which takes place at noon each day. Otherwise, enjoy breakfast before checking out and making your way back to the airport.
This trip has a carbon score of 15kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our best trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 15kg is equivalent to 88.5 candy bars. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips.
Other Information
Is it for me?This is a great alternative to the main Camino Portugues route if you are looking for a quieter trail away from the crowds. Graded moderate, you will walk for between 13 and 26km a day on mostly flat terrain. Overnight stays are in small hotels and guesthouses or larger hotels in the big cities. This is the final stage of the walk from A Guarda to Santiago and will enable you to qualify for your Compostela certificate having walked the final 100km.
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.
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens
The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years
This walk is graded as moderate overall and includes daily walks of between 13 and 26km 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.
9 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.
The Camino Portuguese coastal route is not as well way-marked as the main Camino Portuguese. You can use the Macs Adventure Smartphone App which has maps, GPS tracks, and daily route information for straightforward navigation. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation will be simple, and you can’t get lost. You will find more information on downloading the app in your Macs Adventure Account.
- Accommodation in small rural hotels and hostels in twin/double rooms with en-suite W/C
- Daily Breakfasts
- Daily Baggage Transfers
- Pilgrim Passport and shell
- Access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app
- All your trip documents provided digitally through your online Macs “My Account”
- 24/7 Emergency support
- 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
- Additional nights accommodation along the way.
You can start your walk anytime between the beginning of March and the end of October subject to availability. July and August can get very hot so please bear this in mind if walking at this time of year.
Ferry between Portugal and Spain
The short ferry between Caminha and A Guarda only takes 5-10 minutes and should be booked in advance. There are two companies which run it - Taxi-Mar who can be reached on +351 915 955 827 - and Xacobeo Transfer who can be reached on +34 613 011 226 or xacobeotransfer.com.
The best time to walk the Camino depends on your personal preference!
Spring (April to June) is a fantastic choice. Expect pleasant temperatures, blooming landscapes, and fewer crowds than summer. Be prepared for the potential of spring showers.
Summer (July and August) brings sweltering heat to much of Spain, but the northern regions remain refreshingly mild thanks to their coastal climates. If you're a social butterfly, this is your season! The trails are buzzing with fellow pilgrims, creating an unbeatable atmosphere for meeting people, local festivals, and sharing stories.
Autumn (September to early November) is another excellent time to go. You'll enjoy milder temperatures, stunning autumn colors, and quieter trails as the summer crowds dwindle. But, much like spring, there's still a chance of rain—because nature loves keeping us on our toes!
By Air: The closest airport to A Guarda is Vigo which you can reach by flights via Madrid with Iberia. From here, you can then take the bus to A Guarda but it involves 2 changes and takes just under 3 hours. Instead, we recommend taking a taxi straight from the airport or we can pre-book this for you at an additional cost.
Alternatively, you can fly into Santiago de Compostela. From there, take the shuttle bus to the train station in Santiago and travel from there by bus via Vigo to A Guarda (approx 3hrs). We recommend checking timetables in advance at the useful travel planning website www.rome2rio.com
By Air: If flying to the UK, low-cost airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair offer direct flights to London Stansted and London Gatwick. For travelling to the rest of Europe or the US, you can fly from Santiago via Madrid with Iberia, via Frankfurt with Lufthansa or via Paris or Barcelona with Vueling. Other options are available and you can check Santiago Airports website for more information.
By Rail: It is also possible to take the train from Santiago to Madrid (approx 7hrs). Train timetables and fares can be viewed at RENFE.
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.
The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.
Online Documents
At Macs Adventure we care about the environment! We’re taking action to minimize the impact we have by converting the majority of our tour documentation for online delivery.
On this tour, all your detailed tour information will be digitally delivered. You will have access to this documentation via “My Account” on our website.
Pilgrim Passport & Compostela
Your Pilgrim Passport (Credencial del Peregrino) and scallop shell will be waiting at your first accommodation. The Passport isn’t just practical—it’s a beautiful record of your Camino journey, officially issued by the Church of St. James. Along the route, you'll collect stamps (sellos) from albergues, churches, cafes, and more. Each stamp is a colorful reminder of your journey. To earn your Compostela Certificate in Santiago, you must walk at least the final 100 km, with your stamps serving as proof of this accomplishment.
Spring (April to June) is a fantastic choice with pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds for a relaxing experience. The northern regions remain refreshingly mild in July and August thanks to their coastal climates, especially in comparison to central and southern Spain. The trails are buzzing with fellow pilgrims during the summer months. Autumn (September to early November) is another excellent time to go, with stunning autumn colors, and quieter trails. During the spring and autumn, it's more likely to experience a shower here or there. There's really no bad time to travel on the Camino.
Good news! Your Pilgrim Passport (“Credencial del Peregrino”) and shell will be waiting for you at your first accommodation on Day 1. Think of the Pilgrim Passport as a record of your incredible journey along the Camino, issued by the Church of St. James. The Scallop Shell (or "Concha de Vieira") is an iconic symbol of the Camino and is like a badge of honor. You'll see fellow pilgrims proudly displaying theirs on backpacks or hanging them from walking sticks as a sign of their trek to Santiago.
But here’s where it gets fun—you’ll collect stamps (called "sellos") on your Passport at albergues, churches, cafes, and other stops along the route. To receive your Compostela Certificate at the end of your pilgrimage in Santiago, you need to walk at least the final 100km of the Camino. For other sections of the trail, the Passport serves as a stunning keepsake featuring all the colorful stamps you collect along the way.
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At Macs, we don’t do tour buses, groups, or guides. Instead, we give you the freedom and confidence to have your own self-guided hiking or biking adventure.
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Getting from A to B under your own steam is intensely rewarding. With Macs, you'll see the world, and yourself, differently.