Best of the Portuguese Way

Name: Best of the Portuguese Way
Brand: UTracks
SKU: BPW
Rating: 4.64 (22 reviews)

Camino group having fun in the historic Portuguese city of Braga. | Garry Glazebrook

Wet but happy pilgrims on the Camino | Guillermo Gavilla

The colourful buildings of Porto | Pat Rochon

The Portuguese Camino offers a quieter alternative to the Camino in Spain | Pat Rochon

Cyclist passing pilgrims on the trail to Santiago in Portugal | Pat Rochon

Porto harbour in Portugal | Jaclyn Lofts

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal | Pat Rochon

On the Camino Primitivo near Oviedo | Andreas Holland

Camino group having fun in the historic Portuguese city of Braga. | Garry Glazebrook

Wet but happy pilgrims on the Camino | Guillermo Gavilla

The colourful buildings of Porto | Pat Rochon

The Portuguese Camino offers a quieter alternative to the Camino in Spain | Pat Rochon

Cyclist passing pilgrims on the trail to Santiago in Portugal | Pat Rochon

Porto harbour in Portugal | Jaclyn Lofts

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal | Pat Rochon

On the Camino Primitivo near Oviedo | Andreas Holland

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Duration

11 days

Activities

guided walk

Accommodation

10 nights in specially selected hotels and a Parador

Meals

4 Dinners
1 Lunch
10 Breakfasts

Price

$3090USD

Overview

Trip Code: BPW

Trip highlights

Following in the footsteps of pilgrims along the medieval trail to Santiago de Compostela
Enjoying the camaraderie of your fellow walkers
Staying at specially selected hotels and a parador and eating at hotels and restaurants with delicious local dishes
Visiting Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto and Santiago de Compostela
Experiencing the highlights of the Portuguese Camino

For many pilgrims, the Portuguese Way is more spiritually connected to the Camino than any other way. The Camino is all about the apostle St James, and Portugal, it is said, is where he was known to have first preached. It is also believed that his final journey to Santiago was via Portugal when his bones were brought back from Jerusalem following his beheading. The Portuguese Way, which is second only to the Camino Francés in popularity with modern day walkers and pilgrims, extends from the capital, Lisbon, across the border to Santiago, and this guided walk takes in the most popular, beautiful and intriguing sections between these two classic European cities. You'll visit the must see Portuguese cities of Coimbra and Porto, enjoying guided walks and wine tastings as you go, before crossing into Spain where you will walk a section of the Way and visit a manor house near Pontevedra before arriving in the famed cathedral city of Santiago de Compostela.

Trip Grading

introductory to moderate

More info about grading system

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Itinerary

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Day 1
Arrive Lisbon, afternoon guided walk and welcome dinner

Make your way to the joining hotel in Lisbon and meet your guide at 4pm for a guided orientation walk of the city. Welcome dinner with the guide and group. We recommend staying a few nights before the trip - Lisbon is such a vibrant and historic city. You can also visit eg Cascais and/or Sintra, accessible as day trips from Lisbon.

Meals: D

Day 2
Transfer to Porto de Muge and walk to Santarem, transfer to Obidos (4hrs)

Transfer to the Camino Portugués, where we walk about 16km to Santarem, located on the right bank of the Tagus River. The town has a rich and ancient history, having been inhabited by the Lusitani people, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths, Moors and later Portuguese Christians. From here we transfer to Óbidos where you can stroll in the old city before dinner.

Meals: B,D

Day 3
Transfer to Rabaçal and walk to Conimbriga, transfer to Coimbra (3hrs)

This morning we transfer to Rabaçal from where we walk along the Camino to Conimbriga (approx 11km) where we visit the ruins, the largest Roman settlement in Portugal. After a picnic lunch we transfer to Coimbra, a lively university town situated on the Mondego River. There will be time this afternoon to visit the old city and university, which is famous for its library Biblioteca Joanina. Overnight Coimbra.

Meals: B,L

Day 4
Walk to Albergaría a Vella, transfer to Porto (2hrs)

This morning we leave Coimbra and drive to Pedaçães where we begin our walk (approx 9km) along the Camino to Albergaría a Vella. Later we transfer to Porto, located on the banks of the Douro River. Porto's maritime legacies and importance as a New World trading port shaped it into a proud city, with an impressive cathedral and port wine lodges. In the evening have a special dinner at a restaurant with lovely river views. Overnight Porto.

Meals: B,D

Day 5
In Porto

Today is all about Porto. We start with a city stroll with a local guide visiting the Cathedral, the Tower of Clérigos, and the Ribeira-quarter. Following lunch at leisure we will meet up at a wine cellar for a tasting of Tawny Port and Ruby wine. This evening is free for you to sample one of the many great restaurants in this vibrant city. Overnight Porto.

Meals: B

Day 6
Transfer by tram to walk a section of the coastal route and continue to Braga (4hrs)

This morning we take the tram along the river to the Castelo do Queijo. From here we walk along the coast to Agudela (approx 12km) then transfer to Braga. Here we can explore the old quarter with its variety of national monuments and historic buildings on foot. The religious importance of the town is obvious from the Cathedral dominating the centre to the baroque styled pilgrimage site of Bom Jesus do Monte on the outskirts. Overnight Braga.

Meals: B

Day 7
Walk a section of the Central route before visiting Ponte de Lima (3hrs)

Today we transfer then walk (approx 12km) along a section of the Camino Portugués Central route from Vitorino dos Piares to Ponte de Lima, the oldest town in Portugal. Take some time to visit the town and sample the local products for lunch before we transfer to Viana do Castelo, for our overnight stay.

Meals: B

Day 8
Cross into Spain by ferry and walk along the Camino Portugués de la Costa, overnight Parador (2hrs)

We cross the border into Galicia in Spain by ferry, discovering the landscape of the Miño river estuary. After visiting the pre-roman settlement in Santa Tegra, we pass A Guarda and walk along the Atlantic Coast from Portecelo to Oia (6km). We then transfer to Baiona, visiting the impressive fortress and the Caravela of Colón. Overnight Parador de Baiona.

Meals: B

Day 9
Walk into Pontevedra and visit a manor house and wine cellar en route to Santiago (2hrs)

This morning we transfer to the outskirts of Pontevedra for a morning walk following the Gafos River and stroll through the city (5km). In Pontevedra, there's free time for lunch and a stroll to see the sights including the A Peregrina church and the squares of A Ferraría, Leña and Verdura. Later on we will visit a Pazo (manor house) discovering camellia gardens and trying the local wine (Albariño). Later we transfer to Santiago and walk the last section of the Camino into the old town to arrive at the cathedral. Overnight in Santiago.

Meals: B

Day 10
Full day in Santiago, guided tour and free afternoon

This morning there will be a guided tour of Santiago visiting the Cathedral, local market and the Alameda Park. Lunch and the afternoon are at leisure, before we join as a group once more for a special farewell dinner.

Meals: B,D

Day 11
Trip concludes

The trip concludes in Santiago after breakfast. We offer a day trip to Fisterra from Santiago, if you'd like to visit the 'end of the earth' - please ask our staff for details. An extra night in Santiago is usually required as this is a full day trip.

Meals: B

Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.

Inclusions

What's included

10 breakfasts, 1 picnic lunch, 4 dinners (1 beverage included)
10 nights in specially selected 3-4 star hotels and a Parador on a twin share basis with ensuite facilities
English speaking guide throughout
Support vehicle for luggage and transfers during walking days (reasonable luggage allowance permitted however please note space in the vehicle is limited. Note porterage is not included- you will carry your own luggage to and from the vehicle)
Entrance fees for scheduled sightseeing
Guided orientation walk in Lisbon on day 1 - meet at 4pm at the hotel.

What's not included

Travel to Lisbon and from Santiago de Compostela
Lunches, dinners not noted as included
Sightseeing and entrance fees unless specified as included
A supplement will apply if you book a single room
Storage of luggage
Travel insurance
Tips
Local taxes including hotel taxes
Items of a personal nature

Grading

introductory to moderate

This is a guided walk with average daily stages of 2 to 4 hours on walking days. The trip is graded introductory to moderate as it is mainly on well defined trails, with a few off path sections only. There is diverse terrain – from relatively flat to hilly and walking poles are definitely a good idea. A reasonable level of fitness is required. As with all of our trips it is important that you are well prepared. We suggest that you undertake regular exercise – swimming, cycling, and jogging, two to three times a week for three months prior to your departure.

Departure dates

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Priceper person from

$3090USD

Options & Supplements*

Fisterra Day Trip ex Santiago - departs daily from 14 April to 31 OctoberUSD$70
Single Supplement (3 per departure)USD$720

*Prices listed are per person

Trip reviews

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