Walking the Camino Portuguese with Russ and Jane Eanes

You may purchase group air with us or book your own airline ticket. Group air requires a minimum of 10 participants traveling together on all flights from a major gateway (Washington Dulles International Airport). With group air, we provide round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel. Group air does not permit us to assign seats on the flights. If seat location is important, please book your own flights and purchase the “Land Only” package.

Join us for an optional two-hour guided walking tour of Porto, departing at 2:00 p.m. from the hotel. This evening, we meet for orientation in the hotel lobby at 6:00 p.m. Dinner is at leisure. Overnight at the hotel in Porto.

Following breakfast, we have a full-day escorted excursion to wine estates and villages along the Douro River. We return to Porto around 5:00 p.m. This evening, we meet for a group dinner at the hotel. We also receive our Credentials (pilgrim passports) and scallop shells, evidence that we are actual pilgrims on our way to Santiago. Overnight in Porto.

This morning, we check out of the hotel and take the metro to Povao de Varazim (tickets are provided) from where we start our walk. This is a delightful day along the wild and beautiful coast, much of it on a wooden boardwalk. Our luggage will be transported for us daily to the hotel where we will be overnighting. Breakfast and dinner are included daily. Overnight in the Esposende area.

We turn inland today with undulating paths through small towns. Midway through the day, we cross the Rio Neiva and climb up to the historic Igreja Santiago de Castelo Neiva, which has an inscription from the ninth century dedicating the church to Sant Iago. From there, we descend through more hill towns until we reach Anha. At this point, there is an option to walk to Viana do Castelo (5k) or take transport. Upon arrival, you may wish to take the funicular to the beautiful church Monte Santa Luzia at the top of the hill overlooking the city. Dinner and overnight in Viana do Castelo.

We depart Viano do Castelo after breakfast and walk inland for the morning until we reach Carreco at lunchtime. From here, we can take an option along the coast or continue inland to our destination for the day. Dinner and overnight in Vila Praia de Ancora.

This is a short day of walking along the beautiful coastline to Caminha, which is at the mouth of the Minho, the river which separates Portugal from Spain. After lunching in Caminha, we take transport to Valenca. In the afternoon, take time to do laundry and/or explore the town inside the old walled fortress. Dinner and overnight in Valenca/Tui.

Today we cross the Minho river into Spain and move our watches ahead one hour as we pass out of historic Tui and walk quiet country paths to O Porrino for dinner and overnight.

Today we make a gentle climb up to Mos along the ancient Roman Road, the XIX legion and pass an ancient Roman Milestone. Afterwards we begin a long descent into Redondela for dinner and overnight. (B.D) Participants who wish to attend Sunday Mass will be provided with a schedule of local Mass services.

Today we climb up above the Ria de Vigo and down along the estuary past Arcade. We gently climb more Roman roads until we make our final descent of the day, eventually following the Tomeza river into historic Pontevedra, a city with many landmarks for the pilgrimage to Santiago. Dinner and overnight in Pontevedra.

Enjoy a beautiful day of walking into the historic Roman spa town, where we can soothe our tired legs in a geothermic pool or enjoy some time in a spa.

Our next to last day takes us through the heart of Galician vineyards to historic Padron, said to be the place where Saint James’ body arrived in Spain.

Excitement builds as we gently ascend towards Santiago, while we simultaneously watch the kilometers descend until we reach our destination. We arrive in Santiago de Compostela, joyous that we have completed our journey, having reached our goal of standing in front of the Santiago Cathedral as thousands of pilgrims over thousands of years have done before us. We receive our Pilgrims’ certificates, then celebrate with dinner and an overnight in Santiago.

Today we have a day at leisure in Santiago to hang out and watch other pilgrims walk into the city, explore the area, or just relax. You may wish to join the Friday evening “Pilgrim’s Mass” at St. James Cathedral, during which the massive and impressive Botafumeiro, the symbol of the Cathedral and the city, may be swung. Tonight, we enjoy a farewell dinner with wine at a local restaurant. (B. Special dinner)

We say goodbye to our newfound friends as we are transferred to the airport for our flights home.