If you’ve started researching your walk on the Camino Portugués you’ve probably realised that, as well as the Central route, there are two routes that follow the coastline – the Coastal route and the Senda Litoral.
However, what you’ll find as you start to plan further is that a considerable amount of the Coastal route is actually inland and not as close to the sea as you would expect.
This can be confusing to future pilgrims so in this post I’m going to explain the key differences between the two routes so that you can make the right decision for your Camino.
What’s the difference between the Coastal route and the Senda Litoral?
The main difference between the two routes is that the Senda Litoral runs almost totally alongside the ocean so, when the Coastal route heads inland, the Senda Litoral stays beside the sea.
Both routes do share some common ground though and often overlap at different points on some stages.
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Camino Portugués Coastal route – what to expect
Despite its name the Coastal route is more inland than you’d expect so, although you’ll never be far from the sea, you’ll often be walking on similar terrain to the Central route.
Distance
The official Coastal route has a total distance of around 160 miles (260 kms).
Terrain
If you stick totally to the official Coastal route, you’ll spend some time walking on boardwalks near the sea but otherwise the terrain will be pretty similar to the Central route – paved roads, footpaths, and the infamous Portuguese cobblestones!! There are also some hills to contend with along the way.
Infrastructure
While the Coastal route isn’t as developed as the Central route, you will find more pilgrim infrastructure in place in terms of albergues and places to eat and drink than on the Senda Litoral.
It’s also very well marked with plenty of yellow arrows and official way markers.
Why choose the Camino Portugués Coastal route
The Coastal route is the one for you if you’re seeking a balance between the classic Camino experience of the Central route but with added coastal views.
The Coastal route is much hillier than the Senda Litoral although compared to the Central route the climbs are much less strenuous.
If you’re hoping to meet and walk with other pilgrims along the way then choose the Coastal route over the Senda Litoral – I walked large parts of the Senda Litoral without seeing another pilgrim whereas, when I walked on the Coastal route, I was never far from other people.
Camino Portugués Senda Litoral – what to expect
The Senda Litoral is the closest you can get to the sea. You’ll be walking on wooden boardwalks, along beachfront promenades, and flat seaside paths with occasional forays onto the beach for short stretches on the sand.
Distance
The Senda Litoral has a total distance of around 175 miles (280 kms).
Terrain
The terrain on the Senda Litoral is mostly flat but can be uneven as you’ll be walking on wooden boardwalks, cobblestones, gravel paths, and sandy or pebbly beaches in some sections.
Infrastructure
Compared to the Coastal route the infrastructure on the Senda Litoral is less developed and there are some stretches where you’ll struggle to find places to eat and drink.
It’s not as well signposted either, and yellow arrows can be few and far between. In fact, it doesn’t have official way markers but you will see signs for other paths such as the Ecovia Litoral Norte. Even with a Camino app it can be difficult to find the right path at times and, with fewer pilgrims on the Senda Litoral, it can leave you questioning if you’re going the right way.
Why choose the Camino Portugués Senda Litoral
The Senda Litoral is flatter so if hills aren’t your thing then this is the route for you.
You’ll have ocean views pretty much all the way and, if you don’t mind walking the slightly longer distance, you’ll be rewarded with plenty of amazing coastal scenery.
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.
How to combine the Coastal route and Senda Litoral
If you still can’t make your mind up which route to take the good news is that you don’t have to pick just one.
The two routes overlap and reconnect many times along the way meaning that it’s easy to mix and match by following the Senda Litoral for a day or two, then rejoining the Coastal Route.
The usual stages of both routes are the same anyway so, regardless of whether you walk the Coastal route or the Senda Litoral, you’ll be starting and finishing in the same place. On some stages you’ll even find yourself walking both routes as they follow the same route in parts. This is ideal for those who don’t like to plan ahead and is handy when conditions change – in bad weather, for example, it’s best to take the Coastal route for some shelter to avoid being buffeted by strong winds blowing in from the sea. Likewise in the summer months there’s little in the way of shade along the Senda Litoral so the Coastal route would be a wise choice.
The big differences between the Coastal route and the Senda Litoral
While it’s true that in some places there’s no (or minimal) difference between the Coastal route and the Senda Litoral, on some stages the difference is quite substantial.
The distances below are based on the Camino Ninja app and Gronze.com
Porto to Vila do Conde
The Coastal route from Porto is inland as far as Vila do Conde while the Senda Litoral follows the Douro River and later the Atlantic Ocean.
Having walked both I can confidently say that it’s much nicer to take the Senda Litoral out of the city.
Distance wise the Coastal route is 28.4 kms while the Senda Litoral is 33.9 kms.
Esposende to Viana do Castelo
Again, I’ve done both routes on this stage. The way starts off the same leaving Esposende but at the end of the promenade out of the town the route splits. The Coastal route is much more like the Central route and has some steep sections. However, the Senda Litoral has very little in terms of way markers and we did get quite lost at one point when we were walking over sand dunes and then hacking through bushes on an overgrown path not convinced, despite using a Camino app, that we were actually on the right track.
Distance wise the Coastal route is 26.3 kms while the Senda Litoral is 27.3 kms.
Viana do Castelo to Vila Praia de Âncora
Leaving Viana do Castelo the yellow arrows will lead you to the Coastal route but, if you head towards the sea you can follow the boardwalks and walk alongside the Atlantic pretty much the entire way bar a few slight inland tracks.
The Coastal route, however, is entirely inland until it drops down to the beach at Vila Praia de Âncora.
Distance wise the Coastal route is 17.7 kms while the Senda Litoral is 17.6 kms.
Baiona to Vigo
Although the path out of Baiona is the same, after A Ramallosa the Coastal route heads upwards and inland while the Senda Litoral is a mostly flat walk alongside long golden beaches.
Distance wise the Coastal route from A Ramallosa is 22.60 kms while the Senda Litoral is 21.7 kms.
There are also a couple of minor differences in the route of relatively short distances so you can easily decide on the fly which way to go.
Caminha to A Guarda
Once you step off the boat from Caminha you have the choice to head to the right and follow the Central route or take the slightly longer Senda Litoral to the left and follow the boardwalks with the sea on one side and a forest on the other.
I’d recommend going left if it’s the sea views that you’re after.
Oia to Baiona
While the paths are the same for much of the way, they split between Mougas and As Mariñas with the Coastal route going uphill through eucalyptus forests towards Baiona, while the Senda Litoral continues by the sea along a cycle path.
If you want to visit the sea glass beach outside Baiona you’ll need to take the Senda Litoral.
Choosing the right route for you
When you’re deciding which route to take think about what you want from your Camino.
If you want a well signposted walk with good infrastructure and some pilgrim camaraderie then the Coastal route will be the one for you.
If you’re happy to walk on your own for long stretches and are confident to simply keep the sea on your left without relying on the usual Camino markers then head out on the Senda Litoral.
Remember though that although the Senda Litoral is flatter it’s also longer so take into consideration how long you have available to walk your Camino.
Final thoughts
The beauty of the Camino Portugués is the variety and you can easily mix both routes – start on the Senda Litoral from Porto and join the Coastal route as and when you fancy a change of scenery.
There isn’t a right or wrong route and neither one is better than the other. Both routes have their own charms and whichever you choose you won’t be disappointed.
I hope that this post will help you make the decision that’s right for you but if you still have any questions pop them in the comments below.
If you still can’t make your mind up after reading this far, why not come and join the Camino Portugués Planning Facebook group and see what others have got to say?
Buen Camino!
Other posts you might like
🥾 Camino Portugués – Central or Coastal Route
🥾 Walking the Central Route of the Camino Portugués – a 14 Day Itinerary
🥾 Walking the Coastal Route of the Camino Portugués – a 13 Day Itinerary
🥾 Walking the Spiritual Variant of the Camino Portugués
🥾 Walking the Last 100 kms of the Camino Portugués
🥾 Camino Portugués Central Route Accommodation Guide
🥾 Camino Portugués Coastal Route Accommodation Guide
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