All you need to know about walking the Camino Portugués, from choosing your route to arriving in Santiago, and everything in between.
I’m Alison and I’ve walked from Porto to Santiago on both the Central and Coastal/Senda Litoral routes as well as the Spiritual Variant.
I’ve put all the Camino Portugués posts I’ve written in one place to make it easier for you to find the information you need, whether you’re a first-time pilgrim or a Camino veteran, and I’ll add to this as and when new posts are published.
You can browse all my Camino Portugués articles below to find the answers to your questions.
Who is this guide for?
There are many Camino de Santiago routes to choose from but pick the Camino Portugués if you:
- are walking your first Camino
- have around two weeks
- want good infrastructure
- prefer moderate daily distances
- enjoy small towns
- like a mix of countryside and coastal trails
Planning your Camino Portugués – quick start
Click on these links to take you directly to the relevant section.
📍 Which route should you choose?
📍 Daily stage guides
📍 Where should you stay?
📍 Packing lists
📍 Practical tips
Start here based on your situation
| If you are… | Read this |
| Walking your first Camino | Camino Portugués Planning Guide |
| Short on time | Walking the Last 100 kms of the Camino Portugués |
| Travelling solo | Staying Safe on the Camino – 35+ Practical Tips |
| Wanting to walk the traditional route | Camino Portugués Central Route 14 Day Itinerary |
| Looking for coastal scenery | Camino Portugués Coastal Route 13 Day Itinerary |
| Searching for accommodation | Accommodation on the Camino Portugués Central Route Accommodation on the Camino Portugués Coastal Route |
| Unsure what to pack | Camino Portugués Tried and Tested Packing List |
Camino Portugués planning guide
This step-by-step guide will walk you through how to plan and prepare for your Camino. It covers everything from helping you decide which route to take, how far to walk each day, where to stay, what to pack, and lots more.
Read the complete guide here: Camino Portugués Planning Guide
Camino Portugués routes
Central route
The Central route is the traditional way from Porto to Santiago which follows an inland path.
Read my complete itinerary here: Camino Portugués Central Route 14 Day Itinerary
Coastal route
The Coastal route is slightly longer than the central route and follows the Atlantic coastline for much of the way. However, despite its name, a lot of the Coastal route is actually inland and not as coastal as you would expect.
Read my route itinerary here: Camino Portugués Coastal Route 13 Day Itinerary
Senda Litoral
The Senda Litoral is variation of the Coastal route and shares its path for much of the way. However, the Senda Litoral runs totally along the coast so when the Coastal route heads inland the Senda Litoral stays by the ocean.
Read this post to discover the differences (and similarities) between the two routes: Camino Portugués – Coastal route or Senda Litoral?
Spiritual Variant
The Spiritual Variant is an alternative route from Pontevedra to Padrón on the latter stages of the Camino Portugués. This detour takes you to the coastal town of Combarro and then inland to Armenteira before heading to the coast once more at Vilanova de Arousa. From here the final stage of the Spiritual Variant is a boat journey to Pontecesures, just south of Padrón.
Read this post to find out why it’s definitely a detour worth taking: Everything You Need to Know About Walking the Spiritual Variant
Can’t decide which route is right for you?
The Central and Coastal routes are very different in terms of scenery, infrastructure, terrain, and distance.
Read these posts to find out which route will be the best one for you and discover some of the best towns to stay along the way, whether overnight or for a rest day.
- Camino Portugués – Central Route or Coastal Route?
- Camino Portugués – Coastal route or Senda Litoral?
- The Best Towns to Stay on the Camino Portugués
While there were positive and negatives for each route I would choose the Central route as my favourite.
I loved walking through small towns and villages, past ancient churches, and along forest trails. It was so tranquil that on some days I barely saw another pilgrim.
While I enjoyed walking the Coastal route with its spectacular ocean scenery I found it much busier and there was rarely a time when there weren’t other pilgrims around.
Stages of the Camino Portugués
This is your Camino so choose your stages based on distances that you’re comfortable walking. The stages that I walked, as well as those in the guidebooks, are suggestions only.
Each post includes elevation maps so you can see at a glance how difficult each stage is likely to be.
You can read about each stage below.
Central route
Like many pilgrims I opted to leave Porto on the Senda Litoral to avoid the busy industrial outskirts of the city. However, I switched to the Central route on day two at Vila do Conde.
Coastal Route/Senda Litoral
I walked a combination of the Coastal route and Senda Litoral. There is some overlap between the two routes but where they differ greatly I stayed on the Senda Litoral.
Accommodation on the Camino Portugués
The type of accommodation you choose will depend on how you like to travel as well as the budget you have.
I chose not to stay in albergues so opted for private accommodation in a mixture of hotels, B & Bs, guesthouses and apartments on both of my Caminos.
Each of my accommodation guides includes every place I stayed, what I paid, and whether I’d recommend staying there again.
Packing for the Camino Portugués
This is one area that can make or break your Camino. Pack too little and you can easily buy anything you’ve forgotten along the way and wash your clothes each night. Pack too much, on the other hand, and you’ll be in for a miserable time walking with a pack that’s too heavy. You can read what I took below and find out what I used, what I wish I’d left behind, and what I should have packed instead.
Want to learn more about the Camino Portugués?
Come and join the Camino Portugués Planning Facebook group, a supportive and friendly community, where you can connect with fellow pilgrims, ask questions, share tips, advice and recommendations, and find inspiration for your upcoming adventure.
Practical tips and advice for walking the Camino Portugués
These posts all contain practical and useful advice and information.
Before you go
- The Credencial – All You Need to Know About the Pilgrim Passport
- Complete Guide to Luggage Transfer on Camino Portugués
- Learning Spanish for the Camino
- Walking the Last 100 kms of the Camino Portugués
- The Best Time to Walk the Camino Portugués
- Mistakes I Made on the Camino
Along the way
- Things to do in Porto Before the Camino
- The Best Towns to Stay on the Camino Portugués
- Staying Safe on the Camino – 35+ Practical Tips
- How to Walk the Camino in a Sustainable Way
- Walking the Camino in Hot Weather
Santiago and beyond
- Arriving in Santiago – a Practical Guide for Pilgrims
- Things to do in Santiago after the Camino
- A Day Trip to Finisterre and Muxía
- Camino Inspired Gift Ideas
Need more help?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry. Every Camino starts with exactly the same first step – deciding where to begin. I hope this guide has helped you narrow down your options, and from here you can dive into the detailed route guides, accommodation recommendations and itineraries linked throughout this page.
If you still feel as though you need more help take a look at my planning service where I work with you to plan the Camino that’s right for you.
You can read more details here: Your Personal Camino Portugués Plan
Buen Camino!
Latest Camino posts
- Walking the Camino in Hot Weather
- Arriving in Santiago: A Practical Guide for Pilgrims
- The Credencial: Everything You Need to Know About the Pilgrim’s Passport
