2nd Stage Camino Portuguese: Tui – Santiago
In this part of the Portuguese Route, instead of Portugal you will get to know Portugal’s elder sister – Galicia. This region, even though it belongs to Spain, historically and linguistically is much more related to Portugal. During your Camino from Tui you will visit the Southern part of Galicia, its coast, vineyards and you will see the particular mixture of medieval history with the modernity.
Day 1
Tui
You must start your pilgrimage visiting the astonishing Cathedral of Tui. This small town was once a religious center of the importance comparable to Santiago. Strategically situated, the old town of Tui faces the Valença fortress on the other bank of the Minho river. The Minho since XII century is a natural border between Spain and Portugal.
Day 2
O Porriño
After leaving a beautiful medieval Tui, the end of the first day of the pilgrimage may seem sad. Some pilgrims on that first day follow 32 km (19 miles) to Redondela, but we recommend breaking it in two parts. Although the stage Tui-O Porriño includes walking along the industrial park buildings, we have a good recompensation for you after this “ugly” detail
Day 3
Cesantes / Arcade
You will pass through the tiny town – Mos which calles itself the small land of mills. Indeed, on your way you should see some of the traditional constructions: mills made of stone, “cruceiros” – public crucifixes also made of stone and if you pay attention, all houses have “hórreos” – typical granaries built in wood or stone. After passing by the 16th century Vilavella convent at the entrance of Redondela, we will recommend you to take a few more kilometres and arrive this day to the coast and enjoy a bit of the beach proximity (even when it’s raining) in the Cesantes – Arcade area. Arcade is a must-stop for oysters lovers.
Day 4
Pontevedra
Pontevedra is one of the 7 biggest towns of Galicia. Looking at the streets of its old town you will be already tasting the early flavour of Santiago. The main saint of Pontevedra is St. Mary the Pilgrim Lady and a special week-long “fiestas” are celebrated in her homage every year in August.
The Columbus ship “Santa María”, one of the three ships that leaded him to discover America, was built in Pontevedra’s port. There is even a strong belief among local people thar Columbus himself might have been born in Pontevedra’s neighborhood, not in Genoa in Italy.
Traditional Route
Day 5
Caldas de Reis
The main joy of this stage will be a rural landscape. You will observe how the green grapes are growing to be later turned into one of the most excellent white wines of the world: Albariño wine from Rías Baixas. Caldas de Reis means “kings’ spa” and indeed there are thermal springs in this small Galician town. As every pilgrim don’t forget to try how warm the water is in the public fountain on das Burgas square.
Day 6
Padrón
According to the legend, Santiago’s disciples brought the Apostle’s dead body from Jerusalem to Padrón and only few centuries later it got moved to the Libredón forest in the place where today’s Cathedral of Santiago is built. It means that if the body hadn’t been misteriously moved, maybe today everybody would be making a pilgrimage to Padrón instead of Santiago. Today Padrón is a small town famous for its green hot little peppers (“pementos de Padrón”) and for famous writers: Rosalía de Castro – the mother of the Galician poetry and Camilo José Cela – Literature Nobel Prize.
Day 7
Santiago de Compostela
On that last day of pilgrimage you will pass through the Escravitude church which looks like a Santiago Cathedral’s miniature. The Agro dos Monteiros hill is like Monte de Gozo on the French Route – from here The Obradoiro Square is the end and the beginning. Congratulations! You’ve just made it!
Variante Espiritual
Day 5
Combarro
You leave Pontevedra and follow an alternative path across Poio Monastery. In Combarro you will be delighted walking through its most famous harbour street with very well preserved traditional granaries called hórreos and monumental crucifixes of keltic origin – os cruceiros.
Day 6
Armenteira
Today you will climb a very high hill. You will be rewarded with a view of an architectonical gem – Monastery of Armenteira settled in midst of a very calm forest. As the legend of Don Ero de Armenteira claims, it might be what paradise looks like.
Day 7
Vilanova de Arousa
Vilanova de Arousa with its mixed industrial and small-harbour-town look, is a birthplace of the writer Ramón del Valle Inclán. Here you will embark on an adventure – you will take a ship that will take you to Padrón, reconstructing the Saint James “translatio” legend.
Day 8
Padrón
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Day 9
Santiago de Compostela
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| Standard Accommodation Central Route | 7 nights | |
|
per person sharing a double room | from 475€ |
| per person in a single room | from 660€ |
| Standard Accommodation Variante Espiritual (includes a ship to Padrón) | 9 nights | |
|
per person sharing a double room | from 650€ |
| per person in a single room | from 855€ |
| Splits | ||
| Teo | per person sharing a double room | 50€ |
| per person in a single room | 75€ |
| Extra nights | ||
| Tui | per person sharing a double room | 75€ |
| per person in a single room | 100€ | |
| Pontevedra | per person sharing a double room | 75€ |
| per person in a single room | 100€ | |
| Santiago de Compostela | per person sharing a double room | 75€ |
| per person in a single room | 100€ |
| Luggage Transfers (6 stages) | 50€ per each item up to 15 kg |
| Luggage Transfers on the Variante Spiritual (8 stages) | 70€ per each item up to 15 kg |
Check Flights to Porto, Vigo and Santiago de Compostela
| Transport to the starting point (Taxi 1-3px) | ||
| Porto airport to Tui | 150€ | |
| Vigo airport to Tui | 45€ | |
| Santiago airport to Tui | 150€ | |
| Transport from Santiago (Taxi 1-3px) | ||
| Santiago to Vigo airport | 150€ | |
| Santiago hotel to Santiago airport | 30€ | |
Map
The basic package includes:
- Lodging in private inns: private room with en suite bathroom and breakfast included
- Phone attention in Spain 24/7 while walking your Camino
- Maps of the route and places where you will stop: online and paper version (guidebook by John Brierley)
- Official pilgrim passport(s) – issued by Santiago’s Cathedral
- Luggage tags (when booking a luggage transfer service)
