Having walked the Central Route of the Camino Portugués in 2022 it was time to go back and see how walking the Coastal Route and Senda Litoral compared.
This is the itinerary for my 13-day trip, but each day has a link to a longer post with lots more information about the route and what you can expect.
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What is the Camino de Santiago?
The Camino de Santiago, or Way of St James, is a network of pilgrimage routes across Europe which end at the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, where the remains of St James are said to be buried.
The most popular of all the Camino routes is the Camino Francés (French Way) which begins at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France, and crosses the Pyrenees, before ending in Santiago around 500 miles (800 kms) later.
What is the Camino Portugués?
The Camino Portugués is the second most popular route of the Camino de Santiago and officially runs from Lisbon to Santiago (a total of around 400 miles/640 kms). However, like me, many people start in Porto.
If you want to walk the Camino but don’t know where to begin I’ve written this Camino Portugués planning guide which tells you everything you need to know and outlines all the steps you need to take to get you on your way.
There are actually three official routes on the Camino – the Central route, the Coastal route, and the Senda Litoral.
Central Route
The Central route runs inland all the way.
Coastal Route
The Coastal route keeps predominantly to the coastline but does have some inland sections. At Redondela it joins the Central Route.
Senda Litoral
Similar to the Coastal route, this path follows the river out of Porto and runs totally along the coastline before, again, merging with the Central route at Redondela.
In addition, there’s a detour after Pontevedra which takes you towards the coast before heading inland, returning to the coast for a boat trip on the final section.
Variante Espiritual
The Variante Espiritual, or Spiritual Variant, allows you to follow the journey made by boat by the remains of St James and picks up again with the Central Route at Padrón.
Find out everything you need to know about the Spiritual Variant.
Camino lingo you need to know before you go
It often seems that the Camino has its own language which can be daunting to first timers so, even before you take the first step on your Camino journey, you should get acquainted with the right terminology.
Albergue: These are hostels specifically for pilgrims. There are two types – Municipal and Private. Municipal albergues are the cheapest but are only for use by pilgrims so you’ll need to show your credencial to stay in one. They can’t be booked in advance which is one reason so many pilgrims set off early each day. Private albergues are slightly more expensive but are open to anyone and can be booked in advance.
Bom Caminho/Buen Camino: This is the pilgrim’s greeting, and you’ll find yourself saying it a lot over the course of your journey. It simply means Good Way or Good Journey in Portuguese and Spanish.
Compostela: This is the certificate that confirms that you’ve officially completed your pilgrimage. To be eligible to receive the Compostela pilgrims have to walk at least the last 100 kms to Santiago de Compostela (or travel 200 kms by bicycle).
Credencial: Also known at the Pilgrim Passport, this is the official document that shows you’re a pilgrim and entitles you to receive your Compostela at the end.
Sello: These are the stamps you collect in your credencial. You can get them in lots of places along the Camino including accommodation, bars and restaurants, tourist offices, and churches. For the last 100kms you must get two stamps per day to be able to receive your Compostela (this is especially important if you’re only walking the final 100kms).
Ultreia: Another pilgrim’s greeting it goes beyond a simple ‘Buen Camino’ offering encouragement to fellow pilgrims.
If you’re looking for things to do in Porto before the Camino there are lots of ideas in this post.
Thirteen day Camino Portugués itinerary from Porto to Santiago de Compostela on the Senda Litoral and Coastal Route
This post is an overview of my 13-day walk on the Senda Litoral and Coastal route from Porto to Santiago de Compostela. To read about each day in detail simply click on the link at the end of each entry.
Day 1: Porto to Praia de Angeiras
Start: Porto Cathedral
End: Blue Beach Apartment, Praia de Angeiras
Distance: 14.67 miles (23.61 kms)
The Camino Portugués from Porto officially starts at the way marker in front of the Cathedral so after a quick selfie there Christine and I set off about 8.30am. We’d bought credencials at the Cathedral the day before and I already had a scallop shell to attach to my pack from my earlier Caminos.
Scallop shells are the official symbols of the Camino de Santiago and, as well as hanging off the backpacks of just about every pilgrim you’ll meet, they’re also on walls, signs, and way markers, to keep you on the right path.
Unlike the first time I walked this part of the Camino it was a glorious day with the sun shining all day – a huge difference to the cloudy and overcast day back in 2022.
The walk out of Porto along the banks of the Douro is well worth doing if you have time. A lot of pilgrims miss this stretch by taking the bus or tram to Matosinhos and starting from there but it would be a shame to skip this first part of the Camino.
As it was a Sunday there were a lot of people out enjoying the sun – runners, walkers, and cyclists, as well as other pilgrims and, when we reached Matosinhos, there were plenty of surfers too.
The day passed quickly (it helps that it’s all flat!) and stopping at Praia de Angeiras made it a good distance to walk for a first day – I even had the energy to head out for a walk to watch the sunset.
Read more about Day One from Porto to Praia de Angeiras.
Day 2: Praia de Angeiras to Póvoa de Varzim
Start: Blue Beach Apartment, Praia de Angeiras
End: Big House, Póvoa de Varzim
Distance: 12.13 miles (19.52 kms)
Another sunny day on the Camino from Praia de Angeiras to Póvoa de Varzim. We were on our way by 8am and had our first coffee stop about an hour later.
The coastal scenery is spectacular – long golden beaches backed by sand dunes with the wild Atlantic waves crashing onto the shore. There was a temporary detour away from the boardwalks just after Mindelo but it didn’t add too much distance and we were soon back on the official route and in Vila do Conde. From Vila do Conde there’s the choice to move inland and join the Central route which I did on my first Camino.
Even if you’re not joining the Central route there are two paths through Vila do Conde – the arrows for the official Coastal route lead through the town but we decided to stick to the Senda Litoral and followed the coastline for the rest of the day.
By the time we reached Póvoa de Varzim we’d walked just over 12 miles and, again, it was mostly flat which is always a bonus. After lunch in a beachside café we checked into our accommodation and, anticipating an afternoon relaxing on the beach, headed out. Unfortunately a mist had rolled in from the sea which scuppered that plan but didn’t stop us enjoying an ice cream anyway!
Little did we know that we weren’t going to be enjoying any more really sunny days again for most of the journey!
Read more about Day Two from Praia de Angeiras to Póvoa de Varzim.
Day 3: Póvoa de Varzim to Esposende
Start: Big House, Póvoa de Varzim
End: InnEsposende Sports Hostel, Esposende
Distance: 9.17 miles (14.76 kms) – only an approximate distance as I accidentally stopped Map My Walk at some point and didn’t notice for a while!
What a difference a day makes!! There was a light drizzle when we set off from Póvoa de Varzim which was on and off all morning but by the time we were crossing the river into Esposende it was a full on downpour.
Our plan had been to stick to the Senda Litoral all day which we did for most of the morning despite not being able to see very much thanks to the sea mist.
After a coffee and croissant break we picked up the route again but must have missed a sign and ended up on the official coastal trail which actually heads inland away from the coast through the small town of Apúlia where the church was all decked out in autumn flowers.
Despite the drizzle it was still a lovely walk especially through the eucalyptus forests heading into Fão, although by the time we were crossing the bridge over the Rio Cávado it had turned into a downpour and we arrived very wet in Esposende and too early to check into our accommodation. Thankfully we found a coffee shop to while away the time and weren’t the only bedraggled pilgrims in there!
The forecast isn’t looking too good for the foreseeable future so my rain poncho will get plenty of use!
Read more about Day Three from Póvoa de Varzim to Esposende.
Day 4: Esposende to Viana do Castelo
Start: InnEsposende Sports Hostel, Esposende
End: Casa Melo Alvim, Viana do Castelo
Distance: 17.97 miles (28.92 kms)
Between Esposende and Viana do Castelo we had the choice to walk the Senda Litoral and stay as close to the ocean as possible or follow the Coastal route which veers inland. I’d walked this leg of the Coastal route in 2023 on my ill-fated Camino (you can read about the mistakes I made in this post) so this time was taking the Senda Litoral.
While most of the pilgrims we saw as we left Esposende followed the yellow arrows of the Camino Costa we stuck to the boardwalks of the Ecovia Litoral Norte as much as possible although there was some walking along the beach required and even the Senda Litoral has some inland sections.
We used the Camino Ninja app as a backup guide as there was a real shortage of yellow arrows to follow. It worked well for the most part but there were a few points where we did wonder where we were and what the hell we were doing – let’s just say getting lost on a housing estate hadn’t been part of the plan!
By the time we reached Viana after a really long day we were soaked (despite having wet weather gear) and were just too tired to do much – so much for taking the funicular railway to the Santuario de Santa Luzia to watch a spectacular sunset. We could barely see a few steps in front of us through the mist.
Read more about Day Four from Esposende to Viana do Castelo.
Day 5: Viana do Castelo to Caminha
Start: Casa Melo Alvim, Viana do Castelo
End: Aldeamento Turistico do Camarido, Caminha
Distance: 16.96 miles (27.29 kms)
After day four’s wet and wild weather, the walk from Viana do Castelo to Caminha couldn’t have been more different.
Although it was misty and drizzling when we set off it thankfully didn’t last long. We’d decided again to take the Senda Litoral and stay close to the coast which turned out to be an excellent idea and, although we had grey skies for most of the day, there was still plenty of wonderful scenery to enjoy along the way.
By the time we reached Vila Praia de Ancora the sun was even starting to come out – things were starting to look up weather wise at last!
The stretch from Vila Praia de Ancora to Caminha was a lovely walk right by the coast with the occasional glimpse of Spain across the river through the low hanging cloud. There were even Shetland ponies on the path at one point!
We were staying slightly outside of Caminha so didn’t get the chance to go exploring the town but did manage a delicious meal in a nearby hotel – our last in Portugal before crossing into Spain.
Read more about Day Five from Viana do Castelo to Caminha.
Day 6: Caminha to Oia
Start: Aldeamento Turistico do Camarido, Caminha
End: Casa Toñi, Oia
Distance: 17.82 miles (28.68 kms) which includes the short boat ride
Today we walked from Caminha to Oia with a little boat ride thrown in for good measure to transport us from Portugal to Spain.
Don’t forget that Spain is an hour ahead of Portugal so, once you cross the Rio Minho, you’re in a new time zone.
After breakfast in Caminha we headed to the river to find a boat to take us to Spain.
There are several boat operators to transfer pilgrims the short distance across the Minho – we went with Taxi-Mar and €6 and less than ten minutes later we were in Spain.
When we arrived on the Spanish side we had the choice to go right, via the coast, or left on the inland path. In keeping with the previous five days we went left which was a scenic trail on boardwalks through a forest where, along the way, what look like random markings have been painted on the trees. However, if you stand on the footprints painted on the boardwalk the markings line up to reveal Celtic symbols.
As seems to be the norm the day had started with low clouds and mist but by the time we stopped for coffee in A Guarda the weather was improving and we started to get some blue skies the closer we got to our destination.
It was another long day of walking but at least it was dry!
Read more about Day Six from Caminha to Oia.
Day 7: Oia to Baiona
Start: Casa Toñi, Oia
End: Hotel Carabela la Pinta, Baiona
Distance: 10.77 miles (17.33 kms)
We’re now officially over halfway through our Camino and, although it was a shorter walk today, it was a very wet one.
We walked mostly along the coast (the Atlantic coast is spectacular even in bad weather) and after a coffee stop in Mougás had the option to continue along the coast or follow the official yellow arrows into Baiona.
The coastal path would have been much easier as it was basically the cycle path so nice and flat but we took the official route which led us up into the hills. It was a tough walk in part (not helped by the weather) but it was quite lovely walking through the forests and, even though it was wet and misty, it made for some very atmospheric photos!
Had we continued on the yellow cycle path we’d have been able to detour to the nearby sea glass beach but it would have been too wet to enjoy it much I think. Any excuse for a return visit!
Arriving in Baiona it stopped raining long enough to explore the town a little, with a walk around the fortress but it wasn’t long before the heavens opened again. There’s definitely a theme developing here!
Read more about Day Seven from Oia to Baiona.
Day 8: Baiona to Vigo
Start: Hotel Carabela la Pinta, Baiona
End: B & B Hotel, Vigo
Distance: 18.00 miles (28.97 kms)
The longest stretch of the whole Camino and I got to walk without my rain poncho for a change!
According to the weather app it was due to start raining around midday so we set off early in the hope of missing most of it. By the time we’d finished breakfast in a nearby café the sun was just starting to come up and, although it was still cloudy, I did get an idea of just what a pretty town Baiona is, with some lovely beaches.
Once we reached A Ramallosa a few miles out of Baiona we decided to turn left and follow the green arrows of the coastal path rather than turn right on the official Camino route which runs inland.
It meant we got to pass lots of beautiful beaches and lovely seaside towns and (bonus) it was mostly flat! As it was a Sunday it was busy with families out enjoying themselves and making the most of the good weather.
Taking the coastal path also meant that we entered Vigo near the port so, even though it wasn’t a particularly inspiring walk (although there were some good pieces of street art along the way), it was easy enough to find our way through the city to our hotel.
It was a long day and we just reached our accommodation before the rain started. We’d definitely been lucky! The bad weather meant that we couldn’t really go out and explore much of the city but we did venture out briefly for coffee and something to eat later in the evening. It’s definitely a city I’d like to return to for a longer visit, not to mention a visit to the Cies Islands which we’d caught tantalising glimpses of all day during the walk along the coast.
Read more about Day Eight from Baiona to Vigo.
Day 9: Vigo to Redondela
Start: B & B Hotel, Vigo
End: El Piso de la Placita, Redondela
Distance: 10.18 miles (16.38 kms)
It rained for most of the night and, as we ate breakfast in our hotel we could see plenty of poor pilgrims battling against the wind and rain which was running in rivers down the hill. Not much fun at the best of times but especially not in the dark (sunrise wasn’t until well after 8am).
Thankfully we only had a short walk today so decided that we’d set off later in the day in order to avoid the worst of the rain. By 11am the rain had eased off and the sun was finally starting to come out.
Thankfully our hotel was right on the Camino path so it was easy to find our way out of the city. There’s a steep climb out of Vigo but we were already halfway up it which made things easier!
I spotted some more great street art on the way out of the city and, because we’d climbed so high, the panoramic views of Vigo and the Cies Islands were excellent.
There was a fair bit of road walking for the first part of the day but the path did eventually head into a wooded area where the trail threaded through ferns and moss covered trees and past the occasional small waterfall.
What goes up must come down so, not surprisingly, there was a steep descent into Redondela and then an easy walk into the town itself.
I’ve been surprised by just how many people are walking the Coastal route in comparison to when I walked the Central route and, as Redondela is where the Coastal and Central routes converge, it’s likely to get busier for the final days of the walk.
Read more about Day Nine from Vigo to Redondela.
Day 10: Redondela to Pontevedra
Start: El Piso de la Placita, Redondela
End: Hotel Madrid, Pontevedra
Distance: 13.32 miles (21.44 kms)
After breakfast in a nearby café (which came with a free plate of churros) we were ready to set off. Although it was cloudy at least it was dry – I’m always grateful when I can walk in just a t-shirt and leave my poncho in my backpack.
I walked this part of the route on my first Camino but there have been quite a few changes to the route – plus I’d forgotten just how steep it was in parts!!
I was looking forward to breakfast by the bridge in Pontesampaio, as I’d enjoyed it there last time, but unfortunately it was closed. In fact, a lot of places seem to be closed. I don’t know if it’s because of the time of year or if I’m just really unlucky!
Something else missing since last time were the pipers in the forest. There was something magical about walking along a woodland trail and hearing a piper in the distance. The weather hasn’t been great so I’m hoping that’s the only thing that is keeping them at home.
Getting close to Pontevedra there used to be the option to take a scenic route into the city but the Complementario way marker has been covered up – whether this is a permanent change or not I haven’t found out yet but I hope it’s just temporary as it’s a nice riverside walk.
Instead we walked into Pontevedra along the main road and again, hadn’t long arrived before it started to rain.
This afternoon we had a little walk around Pontevedra in between rain showers interspersed with lunch plus coffee and cake.
The news is full of Storm Kirk which is threatening the area so who knows what we’ve got to look forward to.
Read more about Day Ten from Redondela to Pontevedra.
Day 11: Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis
Start: Hotel Madrid, Pontevedra
End: Campo da Torre, Caldas de Reis
Distance: 15.57 miles (25.06 kms)
Today was definitely unexpected. Storm Kirk was wreaking havoc in northern Spain – torrential rain, high winds, not to mention thunder and lightning in some areas – and there were suggestions that pilgrims shouldn’t walk today if they didn’t have to.
We headed out for breakfast and planned to decide what we were going to do late morning.
By around 11am the rain and wind were lessening slightly so we decided to set off. We hadn’t gone far before we were advised that the official Camino path was closed and we should stick to the main road. It was pretty hair raising in a few places as we trudged along the side of the N-550 but there were plenty of other pilgrims doing the same so at least we weren’t alone.
We did manage to briefly join up with the Camino later on in the afternoon where we found lots of fallen branches, some landslides, and the rivers had burst their banks causing flooded fields. More than once we had to retrace our steps meaning we walked a lot further than we’d expected to.
Towards the end of the day we had a few bursts of blue sky, and a lovely rainbow, and it was sunny as we arrived in Caldas de Reis. It’s just a pity we were too tired to go out and see much of it although we did have a little wander round in the early evening. It’s obviously a pretty town but Storm Kirk has caused some damage with flooded areas and fallen trees.
Read more about Day Eleven from Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis.
Day 12: Caldas de Reis to Padrón
Start: Campo da Torre, Caldas de Reis
End: Apartamento Salomé, Padrón
Distance: 11.93 miles (19.20 kms)
Our penultimate day was a totally different experience to yesterday. The rain had stopped overnight and, as we left Caldas de Reis to walk to Padrón, there was a low hanging mist over the fields. Much of the walk was through woodland showcasing its autumn colours, although you could see in a few places where Storm Kirk had caused some damage.
Last time I’d walked the Spiritual Variant, so this stage was all new to me and was very reminiscent of the early stages of the Central route – forest trails, small chapels, and paths following ancient Roman roads.
This was a short day so we reached Padrón early afternoon and, as it wasn’t raining, meant that we could spend some time exploring and enjoying a beer in the sun. Of course, we also had to try a plate of the local delicacy, Padrón peppers.
You can read about some of the things to do in Padrón in this post from my last Camino.
While you’re in Padrón make sure you collect your Pedronia, a certificate given out by the Town Council to show that you’ve followed the route to where the body of St James was brought before it was carried through to Santiago.
Read more about Day Twelve from Caldas de Reis to Padrón.
Day 13: Padrón to Santiago de Compostela
Start: Apartamento Salomé, Padrón
End: Plaza del Obradoiro
Distance: 16.16 miles (26.01 kms)
Our last day and we were raring to go so set off early from Padrón and walked for about an hour in the dark before the sun came up. Even at 7.30am there were a lot of others already up and on their way too. We’d barely been walking for five minutes when it started to rain and we had to stop to put on our wet weather gear.
There was lots of walking through quiet streets, country lanes and on forest trails, interspersed with less attractive sections near busy roads. As we got closer to Santiago the number of pilgrims grew and, by the time we stopped for a picnic lunch in O Milladoiro, it was getting pretty busy. Some were solo walkers, others in pairs or small groups, plus a larger group of Spanish pilgrims who were playing music and dancing their way to Santiago.
There’s something magical about arriving in Santiago and seeing the happy faces on everyone walking into the square in front of the cathedral. We had our photos taken, took some photos of others who’d arrived at the same time, and managed to grab ten minutes soaking up the atmosphere before the heavens opened. Even when it started to pour down it didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits – Santiago is a special place indeed.
Read more about Day Thirteen from Padrón to Santiago de Compostela.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this – I’ve got lots more posts in the pipeline (both Camino and non-Camino) so why not sign up below to my monthly newsletter to receive them directly to your inbox.
Even better, why not come and join the Camino Portugués Planning Facebook group where you can chat to others who are planning, or have already walked, the Camino.
If you’re looking for things to do in Santiago de Compostela after the Camino there are plenty of ideas in this post.
Bom Caminho/Buen Camino
Follow my Camino Portugués Coastal adventure:
Day 1 – Porto to Praia de Angeiras
Day 2 – Praia de Angeiras to Póvoa de Varzim
Day 3 – Póvoa de Varzim to Esposende
Day 4 – Esposende to Viana do Castelo
Day 5 – Viana do Castelo to Caminha
Day 6 – Caminha to Oia
Day 7 – Oia to Baiona
Day 8 – Baiona to Vigo
Day 9 – Vigo to Redondela
Day 10 – Redondela to Pontevedra
Day 11 – Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis
Day 12 – Caldas de Reis to Padrón
Day 13 – Padrón to Santiago de Compostela
Other Posts You Might Like
- Where to Stay on the Camino Portugués Coastal Route
- Walking the Camino Portugués Central Route – a 14 Day Itinerary
- Camino Portugués – Coastal or Central Route
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Most of my walks are fuelled by a cafe con leche (or two!) so if you would like to support my work by buying me a coffee I’d be really grateful – the more coffee I drink, the more I walk, the more content I can write!
Thank you, Alison, for all the details on your Portuguese Coastal Camino. What were the dates of that trip?
Hi Heidi, I walked from 29th September to 11th October 2024.
Hoi Alison,
I looks like you did not use a company to plan your trip and you carried your gear. I have 4 friends and we plan to do the coastal route, we do not need a guide but would like luggage drop off. Do you know of a service that does this, if we choose to make our own reservations? We only have from July 16 to July 23 to complete part of the Coastal route. We plan to fly into Porto and take the bus to a town up the coast to start. Do you have a recommendations for which town would be best. Love reading about your adventures. Thanks, Sheri
Hi Sheri
I planned the trip myself but I did use a luggage transfer service on the coastal route. I used Pilbeo and booked them ahead of time so that I knew that everything was all in hand and paid for before I set off. Their website is really user friendly and has a drop down list for each town of all the accommodation that they can collect from/deliver to. They were €7 per bag per day which I thought was a good price.
If you only have a week I would probably start from Baiona – it’s a beautiful walk along the coast to Vigo if you follow the senda litoral. If you follow the coastal route arrows it takes you inland but walking by the sea was lovely. Once you reach Vigo you’ll turn inland and join up with the Central route so at least this would give you some time on the coast.
Hello,
I really enjoyed your read, and just passed it on to a friend who is going on her first Camino, the Portugal coastal.
I did the Portugal coastal/central deviation last April. It was unintentional to do that, but I’m so happy we did. I think I would have been physically bored on the Senda Unlike you we gratefully had 14 stellar Sunny Blue sky Days. Of which we were eternally grateful as it had rained a full 30 days prior to our trip, poured. We did stop by the sea glass beach, that was a priority I had pre determined. We spent an hour there, it was so hard to leave.
I am currently on my second Camino going from Santander to Gijon, solo.
Thank you for your excellent post. It was so well organized and informative.
Until next time, Wayne Camino.
Thank you so much! I bet the sea glass beach was lovely especially in the sun.
Enjoy your current Camino!
Hi Allison, my name is Paul and I plan on doing the Camino starting from porto in late July. I want to start coastal but also want to enjoy the inland as well inc woodlands, foliage, waterfalls and creeks/rivers etc. Where do you recommend making the switch for someone backpacking and not using a luggage service to save money as I would like to continue further through Spain if I can? Do I need new certification to continue Camino towards France? Pretty ambitious I’m sure, but the thought is there being solo and want to experience everything I can while I can being 48 (youthful 48 lol)
Hi Paul, when I walked the first time I switched to the Central route at Vila do Conde which was on day two so, obviously not too long near the coast. To get the best of both routes you could switch at Caminha and walk along the river to Valenca and join the Central route there. I haven’t done that section (yet!) but, according to the guidebooks it’s quite straightforward.
Are you planning to walk to Santiago and then carry on towards France? If so, I think you would need a new credencial to cover the new part of your journey.
It’s good to have ambitious plans and 48 is young!!
I’m beginning the Porto Comino next week. I just read Allison’s account of her Camino. She must have sinned grievously during her life to endure such misery. I respect her greatly! She is a hearty woman and true penitent.
I’m 81 years old and I’ve sinned plenty. I hope to be around long enough to sin some more. I’d rather hang out indefinitely in purgatory than hike the Coastal Camino in the dead of winter. If I encounter days of driving rain I’m going to abandon shanks’ mare and rest my ample behinds in a bus.
Buen Camino! I’ll pray you get plenty of days of good weather so you can enjoy your walk in the sunshine!
which guide book do you recommend?
I used the Cicerone guide and found it really user friendly with just the right amount of information.
https://amzn.to/45C0F2N
Hi Alison! I have enjoyed reading your blog! My mother in law and sister in law are doing this route (leaving next week). My husband and I are going to meet them along some sections in our campervan with our 4 month old baby. Reading your blog, there seem to be some nice sections with boardwalks etc. Would you recommend any sections for walking with a pram/baby carrier at all? Thanks! Vanessa
Thanks Vanessa. There are some good stretches of boardwalk or decent path that would be fine for a pram. In the early part of the walk any of the route out of Porto as far as Povoa de Varzim is well maintained. Between Viana do Castelo to Caminha and then again from Caminha to Oia would be good choices too. Oia to Baiona has got a cycle path that you could follow and then Baiona to Vigo if you stuck to the coast is nice and mostly flat although we did have to walk on the beach once or twice but only for a minimal time so it would be fine with a baby carrier.
The earlier stretches do have boardwalks but, in some places, they’ve been covered with sand, particularly on the way to Viana do Castelo.
I hope you have a lovely time with your family! Buen Camino to your mother in law and sister in law.
I enjoyed reading this article. I hadn’t previously considered doing the Camino, but your descriptions, images, and tips have piqued my interest now. I would choose the Coastal Route and would likely go in Spring, hoping for dry weather the whole route!
Thanks Lyn, I’m a bit of a Camino fanatic now so I love it when I can inspire others to walk one too. Spring would be perfect – especially if it didn’t rain!
Many of the longer treks I’ve done have involved a lot of ups and downs so it was nice to read that there were a good few days here of flat, which is always nice when it’s longer distances. And some of those really are long. Interested to know the average number of hours you spent walking each day. When we did a long trek along Hadrian’s Wall of over 20km a day we planned a day of rest in the middle – sounds like there might be some nice places to do this on the Camino. Unlucky about the weather, so much rain, and wow that storm did some damage. Well done on getting there though, what a beautiful trail, rain or not
Thanks Emma, the beauty of the Coastal route is that it’s much flatter than the Central route – a godsend when they’re quite long days. If I’d had more time I’d have taken a rest day (or two) as there were some lovely places we passed through that I’d like to explore properly.
I am so proud of you for sticking with the Camino despite the rain, storm and horrendous weather conditions. You are right, the Camino Coastal way has several routes and I got victim of walking inland most of the time when I wanted to follow the Senda Litoral way along the water. The waymarking is really sparse and I appreciate your tip with the Camino Ninja app as a back up. And don’t forget to fetch your certificate in Padron walkers, buen camino!
Carolin | Solo Travel Story
Thanks Carolin! I think that without the Camino Ninja app we’d never have found our way on some stages! 😉 The Senda Litoral is stunning but a few more signposts would have been very very welcome.
This is such an interesting post, the more I read about the camino the more I wish my body would let me do it! Sorry that a lot of your walk was rainy but I guess it’s character building. Are you planning to do another one?
Thanks Laura. I kept telling myself it was character building but by the end I wasn’t sure I actually managed to convince myself!!
I’d love to do another Camino – hopefully next year I’ll be off again but nothing definite yet.
Thankyou for all the information.
I’m planning to do the coastal and Literol way and would love to get the glass beach, where do I turn to get to it?
Hi Karen, to get to the sea glass beach you’ll need to stay on the yellow cycle path rather than take the official Camino route as you get closer to Baiona. Once you reach a roundabout near the lighthouse (Faro Velho de Silleiro) just turn left and you’ll reach the beach. It’s called Praia dos Cristais de Silleiro if you want to check on Google maps that you’re on the right track.
Buen Camino!