Optional Porto Douro River Walk – 5 km, rated 2A

Travelers arrive today in the historic northern Portugal city of Porto. Getting from the airport to our hotel in the historic center is easily arranged by taxi or shared ride.

Optional Day in Porto

Travelers who opt to arrive in Portugal a day early are invited to join us on a day of exploring Porto, a venerable northern Portugal town that gave its name to the famous wine—Port. The two primary parts to the day are an 5 km walk and a visit to a historic wine cellar.

Porto’s history and development is closely linked to the Douro River. Our walk winds down narrow streets, past 16th century arcaded buildings and Baroque churches, and crosses the city’s iconic 19th century iron bridge. After free time for lunch, we visit one of the esteemed Port wine cellars that has been storing and shipping Port wine for over 200 years.

Estimated price: $60 per person including guide service for the day, the walk in Porto (including IVV stamp), and entrance to the wine cellar.

The first official group activity is a Welcome Orientation this evening, followed by dinner. We look forward to getting reacquainted with travel companions from previous Adventures, making new walking pals, meeting our local Portuguese guides, and receiving the official Pilgrim’s Credential used to mark and memorialize our progress along the fabled Camino de Santiago, the Way of Saint James.

Guimarães Birthplace of Portugal Walking Tour – 3 km, rated 1A
Ponte de Lima Medieval Portugal Walk – 5 km, rated 1A

We drive north, this morning, to Guimarães, an ancient town whose renown relates to the Middle Ages and the founding of the nation of Portugal. In 1128, the key battle in the movement for independence from Spain was fought in the fields surrounding Guimarães Castle. In decades that followed, Guimarães became the center of the young state of Portugal.

The city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and our walk explores the historic core, passing the 10th century castle and wandering picturesque medieval lanes and baroque palaces of this wonderful walking town.

Farther north, Ponte de Lima is a delightful enclave just a stone’s throw from the Spanish border. Its claims to fame are twofold: a picturesque and historic Roman bridge (renovated in the Middle Ages) over the Lima River and the first official town charter offered by the queen of the new Portuguese nation in the 12th century. Our walk here parallels the river, crosses the Roman bridge, and explores the charms of this attractive and historic village far off the radar of American travelers.

Camino Walk ~ Stage 1: Valença – Porriño
Distance: 22 km (~13.7 miles)
Relatively flat terrain: 13.7 km
Elevation gain: 1089’ for about 4.1 km
Elevation loss: 1158’ for about 4.1 km

We leave Ponte de Lima this morning on a drive north, stopping short of the Spanish border in the town of Valença, Portugal, situated on the Minho River, boundary between these medieval, Iberian Peninsula neighbors.

Valença marks the start of our Camino experience. A walking tour of the town introduces us to the start of the Camino and give us better understanding of the international linkage between Spain and Portugal.

Our official launch of the Camino pilgrimage begins by crossing the International Bridge over the Minho River, taking us into Spain and the border town of Tui in the province of Galicia. Tui boasts a lovely historic center of medieval stone edifices including the Cathedral of Santa Maria, the Convent of Clarisas, and the Gothic church of Santo Domingo.

Leaving Tui, we embark into rural and wooded areas, traversing quiet Galician villages, often overlapping with the ancient Roman road XIX which connected Bracara (present day Braga, Portugal) with the thriving Roman center of Arturica (present-day Astorga, Spain).

Historically significant are the Bridge of Fevers where, in 1251 AD, Saint Telmo died while on his pilgrimage, and the five, stone Santa Comba crosses near Ribadelouro.

We’ll be sure to get our Credentials stamped today at the appropriate establishments, possibly the tapa bar where today’s lunch is provided.

Later this afternoon, we arrive into Porriño, the final stop on today’s route, and rendezvous with walkers who have opted out during the day. Home this evening, and for the following 4 nights is in the enchanting old Spanish town of Pontevedra, a 40-minute drive north.

OPT OUT OPPORTUNITIES
Throughout the six days of our Camino experience walkers are encouraged to monitor and manage their energy and participation. Though the itinerary is centered around hiking the Camino each day for the distances listed, opt outs are available approximately every two hours. Based on our locations, our bus and one of our guides may take opt out hikers to visit points of interest that lie within a short distance from our Camino route. They will not, however, be transported to the hotel until the end of that day’s walk when opt out walkers rendezvous with full walk hikers for a return to our hotel.

The plan and timing will fluctuate each day according to the route and opportunities along the route. For example, some lunches will be boxed lunches, others may be taken together in local restaurants along the way before the end of walk rendezvous for that day.

Introduction to Pontevedra
We are excited to offer 5 evenings to explore the many attractions of Pontevedra.

The city’s original name, Pons Vetus (Old Bridge), from Latin, is evidence of its likely Roman origin, though locals hold to the legend of its founding by the Greek, Teucro, following the Trojan War. The ancient, 11-arch bridge still spans the Lérez River at its entry into the Pontevedra Ria (Estuary), a site that contributes to Pontevedra’s long maritime tradition dating at least to the Middle Ages. It’s probable that Christopher Columbus’s primary ship, the Santa Maria, was built here.

Pontevedra has one of Galicia’s best preserved historic centers. The city’s many lovely stone buildings and squares are testimony to its medieval wealth as a maritime center.

A stroll connecting the city’s many picturesque squares takes you past a plethora of classic architectural jewels from centuries past including the Church of San Bartolome (now the Main Theatre); Casa das Campas; Palace of the Mendoza; House of the Baron; 16^th century Plateresque Church of Santa Maria la Mayor (designated a national monument); 14^th century Gothic-style convents of San Francisco (also a national monument) and Santa Clara; Rococo-style La Peregrina Sanctuary from the 18^th century; and 14^th century convent of Santo Domingo, converted to an archeological museum.

Camino Walk ~ Stage 2: Porriño – Redondela
Distance: 16.7 km (~10.4 miles)
Relatively flat terrain: 9.9 km
Elevation gain: 846’ for about 3.5 km
Elevation loss: 912’ for about 3.4 km

We return to Porriño this morning to begin Stage 2 of the Camino, 17 kilometers to Redondela.

At about the 6 km mark, we enter the community of Mos, home to the Church of Santa Eulália and a 17^th century manor house converted to the town hall.

An ascent from Mos takes us to the 18^th century cross of Os Cabaleiros, followed by a stretch of dirt trail through forest to the village of Inxertado.

Several times along this 120 km Camino we encounter ghosts of the Roman Empire in the form of 2000-year-old milestones marking the route of Via Romana XIX. We pass one today before entering Vilar de Infesta.

Shortly before entering Casal do Monte, at about the 12 km mark, the trail descends steeply (note the blue 16% grade on the graph above); additional care is important here and walking sticks are recommended.

Redondela, the end of our day’s trek, is known for the 16^th-century convent of Vilavella, Casa da Torre, the Romanesque Church of Santiago, and the 16^th-century manor house that serves as the town’s pilgrim hostel. We are not far from one of Galicia’s rias, or Atlantic estuaries.

This is the shortest of the 6 stages on our journey, but we also walk more asphalt on this stage equating both to better, more even footing and harder surfaces. Note also that on some sections of this stage country roads are narrow, and pilgrims walk on the shoulder of the road rather than on dedicated footpaths.

Opt outs are offered again today approximately every two hours as described above under Day 3.

Camino Walk ~ Stage 3: Redondela – Pontevedra
Distance: 18 km (~11.2 miles)
Relatively flat terrain: 8.3 km
Elevation gain: 1457’ for about 5.0 km
Elevation loss: 1440’ for about 4.8 km

Due to long, luxuriant stretches through pine and eucalyptus forests and dramatic views over the Vigo Ria (estuary), today’s stage is reputed to be one of the Camino’s most scenic. Enjoying the beauty is earned through two rather steep ascents, the first at about 3 km into the hike after we leave Cesantes.

At about 7 km, we cross picturesque Ponte Sampaio (Sampaio Bridge) over the Verdugo River. It was here, in June 1809, that local militia defeated General Ney’s troops, leading to their withdrawal from Galicia during the War of Independence from France.

Our second climb comes at about the 10 km mark.

After lunch, the latter part of today’s trail takes us along many pastoral paths of the province of Pontevedra directly to our hotel in the provincial capital city of the same name. Pontevedra enjoys a reputation as the primary city of the Camino in Galicia, and this is the second of five nights in the same hotel here.

Opt outs are offered again today approximately every two hours as described above under Day 3.

Optional Galicia Seafood & Sunset Dinner

Galicia is famous for seafood and sunsets. After a day on the Camino, we’ll have time to freshen up in Pontevedra before taking a short, 20-minute drive to the other side of Pontevedra Estuary to the seaside town of Combarra, a perfect place to enjoy the sunset and sample the exquisite seafood dishes of Galicia.

Estimated price: $80 per person including guide service, transportation, a strolling tour of Combarra, and a delicious seafood dinner in Combarra.

We are halfway along the Camino to Santiago de Compostela and this is a day of leisure in Pontevedra to give our bodies a day of rest.

For those seeking relaxation, there are quaint cafes and beautiful parks where you can enjoy a peaceful afternoon. Take your time to unwind and maybe explore a bit of this charming city renowned for its pedestrian-friendly setting. The city is also known for its picturesque and venerable old town with narrow, winding cobblestone streets, photogenic squares, and historic architecture.

Optional activities are also available for those with energy to delve into the region’s rich cultural heritage and explore the natural beauty of the nearby beaches and verdant countryside of the Rias Baixas region of Galacia.

Whether you choose to immerse yourself in more local offerings or simply relax, today is yours to enjoy however you please, invigorating yourself to resume the Camino once again tomorrow. 

Camino Walk ~ Stage 4: Pontevedra – Caldas de Reis
Distance 23 km (~14.3 miles)
Relatively flat terrain: 15.9 km
Elevation gain: 1132’ for about 4.1 km
Elevation loss: 915’ for about 3.4 km

Our hotel in Pontevedra is the start point for today’s 23- kilometer Camino hike. The trail has relatively less elevation gain/ loss, more paved and cobblestone surfaces, and a refreshing abundance of streams and waterfalls.

The first several kilometers of this morning’s route are a mixture of urban and rural countryside featuring photogenic Church of Santa Maria de Alba at about the 4 km mark. At 6 km, we pass through Cerponzons and enter the most scenic stretch of this stage, 5 km of idyllic fields and forests crisscrossed by streams, until we reach San Mamede da Portela.

Another highlight on today’s trek is a special tapas lunch before we reach today’s terminus at Caldas de Reis. Caldas de Reis is known, among other things, for its thermal spring of las Burgas.

Opt outs are offered again today approximately every two hours as described above under Day 3.

After visiting Caldas de Reis, perhaps viewing its cathedral and wandering along the Umia River, perhaps engaging in conversation with pilgrims and hikers from different parts of the globe, we return by bus to Pontevedra for a free evening.

Camino Walk ~ Stage 5: Caldas de Reis – Padrón
Distance: 19 km (~11.8 miles)
Relatively flat terrain: 10.1 km
Elevation gain: 968’ for about 4.4 km
Elevation loss: 1001’ for about 4.4 km

After breakfast at our hotel, we drive 30 minutes north to rejoin the Camino in Caldas de Reis. Today’s 19 km is another lovely section of trail, for some pilgrims the favorite stage of the Portuguese Camino. Elevation gain/loss is again moderate, and we are again in forests, rural areas, and small Galician villages for much of the day, intersecting once again with Roman roads and mileposts.

For many, the highlight of this stage is the forest called Mount Albor, verdant green foliage suggestive of a German fairytale. Somewhere along this stretch we stop to enjoy our lunch, then continue into Padrón.

Padrón has deep connections to Saint James and the Camino. According to legend, in 44 AD it was here in Padrón that the boat came to rest that had carried the beheaded remains of James. The story has the boat embarking from the Jewish port of Jaffa, crossing the Mediterranean Sea, passing through the Strait of Gibraltar, and continuing up the Atlantic Coast to the Sar River. A church, of course, was ultimately erected on the spot where the boat came to rest, and the remains of the boat are current interred beneath the altar of the Church of Santiago de Padrón.

Other important points of interest in Padrón include the Fountain and Convent of Carmen and the pleasant gardens along the Sar River, which contain a monument in honor of favorite son and 1989 Nobel Prize winner in Literature, Camilo José Cela.

Another Padrón claim to fame is its internationally known peppers, which form the basis for many exquisite local tapas. We expect to have free time for wandering and perhaps an early tapas no-host dinner before we return by bus to Pontevedra for our 5^th and final night.

Opt outs are offered again today approximately every two hours as described above under Day 3.

Camino Walk ~ Stage 6: Padrón – Santiago
Distance: 25.5 km (~15.8 miles)
Relatively flat terrain: 15.6 km
Elevation gain: 1827’ for about 6.3 km
Elevation loss: 961; for about 3.7 km

The last stage of the Camino begins with our final departure from Pontevedra, a 40-minute drive back to Padrón to begin our longest trek of the tour, 25.5 km to Santiago.

About 6 km into the day, we reach the impressive Sanctuary in Esclavitude, which legend claims was built with a donation made by a farmer who drank from a nearby fountain and was healed of multiple ailments.

Our final day on the Camino is celebrated as we head to our goal!

At Agro dos Monteiros the towers of the Cathedral of Santiago first come into view, about 6.5 km  from Obradoiro Plaza and the Cathedral itself. We walk with mixed feelings, eager to finish our journey and our pilgrimage but reluctant, on the other hand, to end this epic odyssey of 120 kilometers.

Though this final stage has the most elevation gain, a look at the graph above tells us that the gain comes mostly gradually; there are no steep sections. Countering that, to some degree however, is the fact that the trail surface is more uneven than most of our hiking so far.

Opt outs are offered again today approximately every two hours as described above under Day 3.

We have seen much of the Galician countryside. We have spent hour upon hour hiking with walking friends old and new. We have had time to contemplate and consider where life has taken us and what we still feel called to do. Hopefully, our purpose, focus, and zest for life are renewed.

After visiting Obradoiro Plaza, we check into our hotel several hundred meters from the Cathedral. After dinner on your own, a Botafumeiro pilgrim mass may be offered at the Cathedral. We will check the schedule as the date gets closer. The Botafumeiro is a huge censer affixed to the central dome of the Cathedral. Censers are used for liturgical reasons and the smoke from the censer symbolizes the rising of prayer to God. The Botafumeiro is massive, weighing over 100 pounds and requiring 8 men to get it swinging over the heads of the assembled pilgrims. It’s a phenomenal spectacle which we’ve witnessed at the end of our Northern Spain tour!

Santiago de Compostela Pilgrimage Walking Tour

Today is devoted to exploring the timeless historic center of Santiago de Compostela. We start a bit later with a guided post-breakfast walking tour of the historic core.

The afternoon is free to explore the picturesque, labyrinthine lanes of Santiago de Compostela and perhaps do some final shopping. Join us for a fun, cultural Farewell Dinner this evening as we reminisce together about this one-of-a-kind walking adventure along the Camino Portuguese!

No group activities are planned today other than breakfast. You are therefore free to plan your departure from Santiago de Compostela at whatever time suites you.

We hope you return home renewed, refreshed, and re-centered by your pilgrimage experience in Portugal and Spain.

To register, a non-refundable $300 deposit is required to hold your spot. A final payment is due 90 days before departure and is non-refundable after the due date. You will receive an email prompt from us 2 to 3 weeks in advance.

Soon after registration, an “Adventure Advice” email will be sent with critical information on flight arrangements as well as important steps to take in the months before your trip. Please do not buy your airline tickets until you review this Adventure Advice email.

Please follow this link to read our full General Tour Conditions.

Hiking the Camino de Santiago is the first WAI long distance hiking tour. The core of this Adventure is 6 days of hiking an average of 20 km (~12 miles) per day through the countryside of the Spanish province of Galicia. The Camino de Santiago (Way of St James) is a pilgrimage route. As such, we will be encountering people from different parts of the world, hiking for a variety of reasons, some spiritual, some personal, and some recreational. More even than a traditional walking adventure itinerary, Hiking the Camino de Santiago is about the journey more than the destination.

Opts out are available every two hours during each of the 6 Camino days. Nevertheless, this itinerary is focused more on the activity of walking/hiking than the typical walking adventure. The walk route itself is an introduction to the history, culture, and natural beauty of Portugal and Spain, but the activity of being off the bus and walking/hiking is the core of the experience.

Long Distance Walking Tours are, as the name implies, focused more on longer walks and less on sightseeing activities using a motorcoach. In some cases, sections of well-known long-distance trails are featured, such as the Appalachian Trail or Spain’s Camino de Santiago.

The general idea is to enjoy the attributes of longer walks: more time in nature, the sense of accomplishment gained by covered longer distances, and, in some cases, a pilgrimage objective that has religious benefits derived from staying the course towards an objective with time for contemplation and prayer along the way.

In the case of the Camino Portuguese featured on this tour, we are walking an average of 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) per day for 6 consecutive days. A couple of days at the beginning and end of the itinerary are devoted to gathering and sightseeing/educational activities.

Opt Out Opportunities
Throughout the six days of our Camino experience walkers are encouraged to monitor and manage their energy and participation. Though the itinerary is centered around hiking the Camino each day for the distances listed, opt outs are available approximately every two hours.

Our bus and one of our guides will take opt out hikers to visit points of interest that lie within a short distance from our Camino route. They will not, however, be transported to the hotel until the end of that day’s walk when opt out walkers rendezvous with full walk hikers for a return to our hotel.

The plan will fluctuate each day according to the route and opportunities along the route. For example, some lunches will be taken together in tapa bars along the way before the end of walk rendezvous for that day.

Training and Equipment
As you would imagine, long-distance walking requires greater attention to preparation, both physically and with your travel and walking gear. Though Opt Out Opportunities are available, the primary focus of the itinerary is the longer walks. To maximize the benefit from these longer walks, training is necessary; be outdoors walking and hiking on variable grades and terrain in the months before the Adventure. To give yourself the best chance of completing your walking objectives having the right equipment is important. Hiking shoes (hard soles) and hiking boots are essential. Walking sticks should be strongly consider by most walkers.

More information about training and equipment will be offered for consideration in the coming months.

Faith Heritage Tours are a new style of WAI travel incubated during tours in Israel and Turkey (Seven Churches of the Revelation) over the past 15 years. The new concept, however, will likely be broader in scope, including destinations over a wide geographic range. In a world moving increasingly in a secular direction based upon a random, self-evolving view of the universe, itineraries explored on Faith-Heritage Tours assume a God-centered universe and may share evidence and reminders of that conviction throughout our itinerary.

International air is not Included. The official start point of the tour is our hotel in Porto, Portugal, which is about a 15-20 minute taxi ride from the Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (airport code OPO).

The official finish point of our tour is our hotel in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, which is about a 15-20 minute taxi ride to Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport (airport code SCQ).

We recommend that you contact Laura Pfahler, the travel agent we work with, to help book your flight arrangements.

Details about flight arrangements and recommended travel agent contact information will be provided by email after you register for the Adventure. Please do not book your airfare prior to receiving these flight details from us!

Upon registering for this Adventure, you will receive a welcome email and initial invoice notifying you of your tour balance and due date. All payments for the tour or optional services/excursions can now be made online.

Soon after registration, an “Adventure Advice” email will be sent with critical information on flight arrangements as well as important steps to take in the months before your trip. Please do not buy your airline tickets until you review this Adventure Advice email.

A final payment is due 90 days before departure (June 26, 2023) and is non-refundable after the due date. You will receive a prompt email from us a week or two in advance. Please see our General Tour Conditions for the full terms and conditions for participation in this Adventure.

Around 2-3 weeks before departure, you will receive a final email packet with details of the program, including hotel names and contact information, a list of fellow travelers, and a more detailed daily schedule.

Take a few minutes to browse through this new long-distance hiking itinerary along the fabled Camino de Santiago. This concept of long-distance pilgrimage walking promises a deeper connection with the history, culture, and natural wonders of our destination, and a deeper inward connection as well.