The Camino Portugués: Coastal route from Porto to Redondela
There is an alternate route which follows along the coast from Apulia, to get to it and the beach side bars, turn left when you get to the main road into town.
The most direct route from Apúlia to Fão is away from the beach and through a brief stretch of heavy woodlands.
Accommodation in Apúlia
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1 |
Albergue Santiago da Costa Private
Praia, 67
9 12€ |
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2 |
Hostel LUHU Surf Camp Hostal
Beco da Colónia, 33
15€ |
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3 |
Apúlia Praia Hotel ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Avenida da Praia, 45
Booking.com |
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Crossing the Rio Cávado from Fão to Esposende is done via bridge, take your time as the pedestrian section of the bridge is quite narrow. At the end of the bridge turn left, and at the next roundabout keep to your left into Esposende.
Accommodation in Fão
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1 |
Pousada de Juventude - Ofir Private
Bom Jesus - Fão
80 10-12€ Booking.com |
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2 |
The Spot Hostel Private
Veigas, 14
8 16€ Booking.com |
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Esposende is another popular summer resort town, though one which is much more subdued than cities to the south. It has a quant small town feel and a broad seaside boardwalk that is popular among the locals.
There are multiple ways through town but the easiest is along the pedestrian path near the sea. When it comes to an end follow the natural bend in the road to the right. From there the camino turns inland towards Marinhas.
Accommodation in Esposende
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1 |
Hostel Eleven Private
Narciso Ferreira, 57
13 14€ Booking.com |
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2 |
Hostel Sleep&Go Private
São Martinho, 7
16 12€ Booking.com |
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3 |
Eskama Hostel Private
Largo Dr. Fonseca Lima, 4
Booking.com |
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4 |
Hostel Esposende GuestHouse Private
Conde Agrolongo, 29
10 12-20€ Booking.com |
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5 |
Hotel Suave Mar ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Eng. Eduardo Arantes e Oliveira
Booking.com |
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6 |
Hotel Mira Rio ⭑⭑ Hotel
Ponte D. Luis Filipe, 113
Booking.com |
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7 |
Hotel Zende ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Dr. Henrique Barros Lima
Booking.com |
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There are several bars suitable for a morning coffee, as well as a shop (before crossing the main road). Near the church are a few more bars and the municipal albergue.
The camino from Marinhas keeps away from the sea, and climbs gradually to offer an elevated view. The path is along paved back roads with little traffic. Eventually, beyond Belinho, the camino crosses descends to cross over the main road and joins a narrow forest path down to the...
Accommodation in Marinhas
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1 |
Albergue São Miguel Municipal
S. Sebastião
34 5€ |
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Most services are along the main road, the N13, but there is a small supermarket along the camino.
Camino Portugues Map 17
After crossing the bridge the official camino turns right and uphill. However it is possible to turn left and take the old (unmarked) road which follows the coastline. Note that while this route is very doable it is best undertaken with a sense of adventure. There are several bars along the...
Accommodation in Castelo do Neiva
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1 |
Albergue de peregrinos Don Nausti Municipal 6-10€ |
Accommodation in Chafé
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1 |
Casa da Reina Casa Rural
Dr. Henrique Barros Lima
Booking.com |
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From Anha the camino makes its way to the very long dual carriage bridge that crosses the Río Limia.
Accommodation in Anha
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1 |
Albergue Casa da Carolina Private
9 de Julho de 1985, 1590
16€ |
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2 |
Quinta do Paço d'Anha Casa Rural Booking.com |
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The wealth of Viana do Castelo’s rich trading history has left us with several notable buildings and defensive structures. Among them are the Sé Cathedral, the Castelo de Santiago da Barra, the Church of Santa Luzia (take the funicular up the hill for 3€ round trip,...
Viana do Castelo, until 1848 known as Viana da Foz do Lima, was an important shipping town and critical port of entry during the Age of Discovery. Later, in the age of cod, it became Portugal’s second largest center of commerce and trading.
In the end of August the citizens of Viana (and many more tourists) turn of for the Feasts of Nossa Senhora da Agonia. It is a romeria of sorts and takes place over 3 days in celebration of the Virgen of Agony, the Virgen of choice for fisherman going out to sea.
Leave the centro historico of Viana do Castelo from the main square. Head north from the fountain (keep the length of the square to your left) and follow the pedestrianized and tree lined street (the Passeio das Mordomas da Romaria) to the first intersection. Turn left there...
Accommodation in Viana do Castelo
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1 |
Pousada de Juventude - Viana do Castelo Private
Rua de Limia
40 11-13€ Booking.com |
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2 |
Avenida Central Viana Hostel Private
Combatentes Grande Guerra, 49
8 19€ Booking.com |
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3 |
Albergue de Peregrinos São João dos Caminhos Parochial
Igreja do Carmo
26 6-10€ |
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4 |
Albergue de Santa Luzia Association
Igreja do Carmo
40 15-25€ Booking.com |
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5 |
Zimborio Guest House Casa Rural
Rua Gago Coutinhol
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6 |
Hotel Calatrava ⭑⭑ Hotel
Manuel Fiúza Júnior, 157
Booking.com |
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Hotel Do Parque ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Praça da Galiza
Booking.com |
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After passing the Quinta da Boa Viagem, take the first road on your right. The next arrow is low on the curb and has you turn left and you will soon find yourself on a country road flanked by forests on both sides. Were the forest ends the road you have been following takes a sharp bend...
Accommodation in Areosa
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1 |
Quinta da Boa Viagem ⭑⭑⭑ Hotel Booking.com |
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All services in Carreço are located along the main road. To get there you will need to turn left to cross the railway, and follow the road downhill to the roundabout. Turn left at the roundabout, heading south (with the water on your right).
If you choose to keep on the camino through Carreço, turn away from the bridge and keep to the east of the tracks. It won't be long before the camino turns back to the tracks and crosses at a level crossing. It will arrive at the church and pass behind it. Arrows are scarce to non-...
Accommodation in Carreço
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1 |
Albergue Casa do Sardão Private
Avenida de Paço, 769
10 12€ Booking.com |
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2 |
Albergue Casa do Adro Private
Nossa Senhora da Graça, 446
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Camino Portugues Map 19
The Cruzeiro marks a high point, and it is downhill from here to Vila Praia de Âncora.
Âncora is a medium sized with all services, apart from an albergue de peregrinos.
To find your way from Âncora, make your way to the waterfront. The camino follows the road adjacent to it, and where the yellow bike lanes begin you have the option of crossing to the right-hand side of the road, but keep an eye open for where the bike path turns left as you want to...
Accommodation in Vila Praia de Âncora
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1 |
Albergaria Quim Barreiros ⭑⭑⭑ Pension
Dr. Ramos Pereira, 115
Booking.com |
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Pension Abrigo do Portinho Pension
Pescadores, 18
Booking.com |
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3 |
Guest House Pereira Pension
Dr. João Araújo, 81
10 13€ Booking.com |
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4 |
Hotel Meira ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Rua 5 de Outubro, 56
Booking.com |
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Caminha is the last town in Portugal, from here it is a 1.7 swim or a quick ferry across the estuary. It is here that the Atlantic meets the Río Miño, making for the ideal natural boundary.
The main square (Praça Conselheiro Silva Torres) makes for the perfect place...
At the far end of town the road meets a roundabout and crosses a smaller river by way of a bridge. DO NOT CROSS THE BRIDGE unless Valença or Tui is your destination. Arrows here still exist, and if they do they are pointing the way to Tui along the Central Way. Instead, turn...
Accommodation in Caminha
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1 |
Albergue de Peregrinos Caminha Municipal
Padre Pinheiro, 36
30 5€ |
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2 |
Pension Muralha de Caminha Pension
Barão de S. Roque, 69
Booking.com |
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3 |
Residencial Galo d'Ouro Pension
Corredoura, 15
Booking.com |
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4 |
Residencial Arca Nova Pension
Largo Dr. Sidónio Pais
Booking.com |
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5 |
Design&Wine Hotel ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Hotel
Praça do Conselheiro Silva Torres, 8
Booking.com |
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The Santa Rita de Cássia is your ferry across the river, and the 20 minute journey costs 1.50€. The schedule varies with the tide so you will have to call ahead or just turn up to know for certain. If you stayed the night here ask at your albergue/hotel, otherwise make your way down to...
Change the time on your watch/phone/sundial/wind-up alarm clock. Spain is one hour ahead, so assuming you wake up at the same hour as the day before you will find things to be darker than usual.
From the ferry terminal in Camposancos you can choose to take an alternative route that circumnavigates the peninsula to the south, adding about 4km to the journey but adding some great views.
Otherwise turn left from the ferry terminal to follow the water a short distance to the...