The Spiritual Variant

The stipulations for obtaining a Compostela is that you either walk the last 100km or cycle the last 200km into Santiago de Compostela. Therefore, on this route you are not eligible to receive a Compostela if you take the boat, train or taxi. By taking public transport of any description in the last 100km you technically forfeit your right to a Compostela.

Vigo is an industrial city nestled along Spain’s rugged coastline, which also offers maritime charm and a vibrant culture. This Galician city is famous for its bustling fishing port, succulent seafood delights and picturesque views of the Atlantic. 

Travellers can arrive into Vigo by air at Vigo’s Peinador Airport, and train services connect Vigo to Porto and to major Spanish cities, with the Vigo-Guixar station serving as a hub. Bus routes can also provide convenient land transportation and may also be a good option.

You may like to add a rest day in Vigo as from here you can take a ferry trip out to the Cíes Islands. The ferry runs from June to September and on weekends in May. The Cies Islands are known as the Caribbean of Spain and are a beautiful protected national park. Visitor numbers to the islands are controlled, so a visit must be booked in advance.

Today start your hiking adventure on the Camino towards Santiago de Compostela. There are two ways to depart Vigo: the Seashore Path leaves the old town along the coast past the Vigo Guixar railway station along Rua do Areal and Rua de Garcia Barbon and Sanjurio Badia (the PO-323), before turning right (4km from the railway station), on to Camina Trapa where it joins the Coastal Way.

The alternative is to make your way from the old town along the Rua do Principe mall continuing along the Rua de Urzaiz where it intersects with Avenida do Alcalde Gregorio Espino. This is where you pick up the Camino Coastal Way and the yellow arrows. Follow the pedestrian mall then turn to the left just before the ends on Rua Toledo, then along quiet back streets with the Bay of Vigo on the left where the British sunk many galleons in the 1702 battle of Vigo Bay.

The Camino to Redondela is a pleasant walk with great views of the Vigo estuary as the walk continues through a string of hillside villages and patches of woodland. Your stop for the night is the town of Redondela, known as the ‘Village of Viaducts’, where the Coastal and Senda Litoral Caminos join with the inland Central Portuguese Camino to Santiago de Compostela.

Meals: B

Today is a beautiful day of walking on the Camino Portuguese, and you will notice more pilgrims have joined from the Central Way from Porto via Tui. Several kilometres out of Redondela the path leads up to the Alto de Lomba through the forest after which there is a short section on the busy N-550 to the village of Arcade famous for the best oysters in Galicia. Cross the long medieval bridge of Ponte Sampaio over the River Verdugo where Napoleon’s army was defeated by the Spanish in 1809 during the War of Independence. Then walk up through the forest and enjoy one of the most beautiful stretches of the Camino following the ancient narrow stone paths as they climb up the slope. The path widens amongst fields and vineyards, before arriving in Pontevedra. An alternative scenic and peaceful way to enter the town is via the Rio Gafos. Turn left shortly after the chapel da Santa Marta and before a play area, not waymarked.

Meals: B

Pontevedra is a great rest day option as it has a wonderful atmosphere to soak up and enjoy with its pedestrianised streets and plazas. Discover Pontevedra’s pretty historic centre, the 13th-century church of Santa Maria, and the famous Pilgrim Virgin’s church (Santuario da Peregrina), which although appears round, is actually in the shape of a scallop shell.

Meals: B

Start today by negotiating the suburbs of Pontevedra for about 3km until you come to the Spiritual Variant turn off. Take note that the markers are different from the regular Camino markers. You then negotiate a mixture of small villages and woodland walking until you arrive at the charming seaside town of Combarro.

Stock up on energy snacks here because there’s no further amenities until Armenteira. Take the turn off in the middle of town and head straight up through town and along a quiet country road, stopping for some spectacular views over the Ria de Pontevedra, before turning off the road and walking along a delightful, quiet woodland trail all the way to Armenteira. Be sure to explore the 12th-century Cistercian monastery upon arrival in Armenteira.

Meals: B

Today starts with some of the most delightful walking of any Camino. Following an ethereal, canopied stream with large, moss-covered stones that produce an otherworldly feel and look, the steep downhill soon levels off while still following the waterway which eventually feeds into the Rio Umia. The riverside walking finishes at Pontearnelas, from where you pass through a series of small hamlets along country lanes before eventually reaching the ocean again and walking along the beach for the last few kilometres into Vilanova de Arousa. Make sure to check the boat availability for the next day when you arrive.

Meals: B

Today’s itinerary depends on whether the boat to Pontecesures is available. There is no set schedule and it varies depending on demand, tidal levels etc. If available, it’s a lovely, usually guided, trip that takes in historical crosses and ruins, mussel farms etc, and lands you in Pontecesures, about 2km short of Padron. There are various types and sizes of boats, so do your research when you arrive in Vilanova de Arousa. The boat trip from VilaNova de Arousa to Pontecesures, along the Rio Ulla, is a real highlight, and is reportedly how St James’ remains were transported between these points. 

If the boat isn’t running, then you will need to catch a taxi to Vilagarcia de Arousa (approx 9km), from where you can catch a train to either Pontecesures or Padron. There is also an option to walk the whole way, but this would then be a 37km walking day mostly along busy roads, and isn’t recommended.

Meals: B

Your final walking day on the Camino Portuguese will provide some variety through woodlands and on increasingly busy roads. You will pass through a number of small villages and the suburbs of Santiago de Compostela. After making your way to the historic sanctuary of A Escravitude, continue to Faramello and the Chapel of San Martino where you can see one of the oldest wayside crosses (cruceiro) in Galicia.

After passing through Milladoiro and the tiny town of Agro dos Monteiros, but before passing under the motorway, pilgrims now for the first time will have a view of the spires of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. After crossing the Sar River, take the left waymarked option and continue through the streets of the city via Rua de Porto Faxeira, the old entrance of the Portuguese Way into Santiago de Compostela. Make your way via Rua Franco to Praza do Obradoiro and the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

Meals: B

Spend the whole day exploring the historical city of Santiago de Compostela. Dine at one of the many cafes or restaurants and reflect on your Portuguese Coastal Camino experience. Attend the pilgrim’s midday mass and spend some time exploring the famous Cathedral or sit and watch the steady flow of pilgrims arriving into the square finishing their epic journey.

Meals: B

You are free to check out of your hotel any time before 10am. If you would like to explore Santiago further you are able to leave your bags with reception.

Meals: B

• Accommodation with private en-suite rooms (double/twin share)
• Daily breakfast
• Luggage transfer each day from hotel to hotel (1 x <20kg bag per person) on days when walking
• Pilgrim’s passport per person
• RAW Travel navigation app with maps of your hotel locations and emergency contact numbers
• Pre-trip Camino guidance and planning
• Local RAW Travel support staff in Spain

• Single supplement $800
• Travel insurance
• Flights 
• Train tickets
• Lunches and dinners
• Guidebooks and phrase books
• Taxis or local buses between towns if needed
• Boat trip 
• Arrival and departure transfers

For an extra indulgence, upgrade your hotel in Pontevedra to a Parador from $50 per person/per night twin share and $75 per person/per night single occupancy, when booked 6 months in advance (subject to availability).

For an extra indulgence, upgrade your hotel in Santiago to a Parador from $170 per person/per night twin share and $250 per person/per night single occupancy, when booked 6 months in advance (subject to availability).

For any part of your trip that falls between 31 October and 31 March there is an ‘out of season’ luggage transfer surcharge cost of $30 per person per day.

We can tailor the itinerary with the addition of extra rest days (for example in Vigo) or additional overnight stays to shorten some of longer walking distances (for example, Milladoiro).