A Slow Camino: Food & Walking Adventure on Coastal Portuguese Way to Santiago de Compostela

A Slow Camino Culinary Adventure of the Portuguese Coastal Way

You’re going to be walking on the beautiful Portuguese Coastal Way tackling the last 150 km of it from Oia to Santiago de Compostela. As well as enjoying beautiful coastal and typical Galician countryside scenery you’ll be sampling the local gastronomy with an experienced, locally-based English speaking Slow Camino food guide. Discover the wild Atlantic coast and its beaches and the Rias Baixas estuaries along with the seafood and local wine from the region. Stay in pretty coastal fishing resorts and beautiful country retreats and expect to be spoilt on your adventure. Your luggage will be transported between hotels and you will have your own chauffeur on call for you in case you need transport back to the hotel.

Follow the Footsteps of the Pilgrims and Explore Idyllic Places

Some of the highlights include at the start where we commence the Camino from Oia Monastery where Sir Thomas Becket stayed in 1167. You’ll get a special tour of the monastery from the inside (as it´s closed to the general public). The first stage of the Slow Camino which follows the stunning coastline takes you to Baiona where the mayor will be waiting to offer an official welcome. In the evening your experienced and passionate guide will take you on his favourite tapas tour. The following day involves more walking along the coast passing golden sandy beaches before arriving in the city of Vigo where you will visit its Sea Museum. After another beautiful days walk through dense woodland and cascading mini waterfalls following Vigo estuary you will get to Redondela where the Camino joins the main central Portuguese Way whee you will meet a lot more pilgrims who’ve travelled from Lisbon or Porto. 

When you get to the beautiful city of Pontevedra with the most impressive Old Town in Galicia after Santiago you’re in for another treat tasting the local shellfish with a local fisherman and seafood restaurant owner who will even take you to the local market to help you select your lunch! Then after another nice walk between vines, you will get to Caldas de Rei where you will be staying in a beautiful old manor house in extensive grounds. You will have time to go for a bathe in the local thermal waters. After passing Padron you’ll be in for one of the highlights of your trip a special guided visit of Pazo de Faramello with the owner, Gonzalo, of one of the most important Manor Houses in the whole of Galicia.

The final stage of your Slow Camino walk sees you get to the majestic UNESCO heritage site Santiago de Compostela Cathedral and its square where your walk finishes. Steep yourself in its history and visit the remains of Saint James in the crypt and celebrate your achievement as have your fellow pilgrims since medieval times. It will be an unforgettable experience you will forever cherish.

Not sure if the Coastal Portuguese Camino Way is for you? Why not see what it is like virtually from home!

During our virtual live-streaming camino walk we will follow part of the Portuguese Coastal Way into the noble seaside village of Baiona, Galicia, Spain. Accompanied by my good friend Mark Auchincloss a camino expert who has walked the way many times. A wealth of knowledge about the pilgrimage way and in fact, he lived in Baiona for many years. As we walk (virtually), we will chat about what it is like to walk the pilgrimage way of Saint James, and we will go beyond the Camino trail to show you some must-see sights when visiting Baiona.

 DAY 1: 

• You will be picked up today from Porto Airport, Train Station or hotel by our English-Speaking Chauffeur.
• You will be transferred by highway up to Baiona in Galicia (Driving time 1hr45mins-2hrs. approx.) (NOTE: If you arrive early, enjoy and would like to start touring/walking today you could add on our coast walk and winery tour from Valença do Minho, see Tour Add-ons for details)
• Drop off at the hotel for check in
• Dinner on your own best to eat at the restaurant of the Parador
• Overnight in Baiona

• Breakfast
• 09:00AM: Our Slow Camino Guide and Chauffeur will meet you at your hotel this morning.
• You will be given a daily walking schedule by our guide and your Pilgrims Credentials.
• You will be transferred down to Oia
• Here you will take a look at the Monastery of Oia (NOTE: It is closed to the public but our guide might be able to get us in to see the inside of the Monastery, which is privately owned)
• Then you will walk the coast route depending on how much you want to walk you could do 18kms approx. and there is a choice at one point to go along the bike path to Baiona or over a hill range through a trail which spectacular views and through the village of Baredo. The 2nd option is a bit more uphill but better views.
• For lunch during the day our guide will recommend the best stop for lunch along the way.
• Upon arrival to Baiona, you will stop to learn a bit about the discovery of America, when La Pinta arrived near the Playa de America.
• Since our guide has done a lot to promote Baiona and the Coastal Camino Way, the Mayor of the town would like to meet and welcome you to Baiona and would like to give you each a gift to remember your trip.
• Then you will have time to relax in your hotel
• 07:30PM: Then our Camino Specialist Guide who is also a local food expert will meet you and take you on a food tour of the old quarter of Baiona for Dinner visit 2 or 3 spots for local food, plus will explain to you what you will do over the next days on the Camino Portuguese along the coast.
• Overnight in Baiona

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• Breakfast
• 09:00AM: Our Slow Camino Guide and Chauffeur-Minivan will meet you at your hotel this morning
• You will be given a daily walking schedule by our guide
  
• You will start today walking along the bay area of Baiona toward the Playa de America and our guide will take you a picturesque part of the trail.
• Today it will be about 16kms of walking again since you will have the chauffeur-minivan at your disposition for the 8hrs during the day you could stop at any time if needed.
• During the day our guide will recommend where you can get some lunch in a local restaurant
• The best would be to end at Samil Beach in Vigo where the Sea Museum is located
• You will have some time to visit this interesting museum
• Then our chauffeur-car will transfer you thru the city to your hotel in the city centre
• Check-in hotel and free time
• Tonight we can book you a table at a recommended restaurant for traditional cuisine.
• Overnight in Vigo

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• Breakfast
• Day to relax and explore the Urban Coastal city of Vigo. You could spend the day on the Cies Islands (NOTE: We can purchase ferry tickets for you in advance, please inquire for details)
• For the Foodies that would like to get a taste of Vigo, you could do our tapas tour of the old quarter of Vigo. You could even take a hands-on cooking class with a Galician Chef and learn the secrets of the Coastal Gastronomy of the area.
• If you did want a more active day you could join our small group boat ride and coastal fishing village walking tour in Cangas (NOTE: See the option in Add-ons section)
• Table reservation for dinner tonight at the Michelin-starred restaurant Maruja Limon.
• Overnight in Vigo

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• Breakfast
• 09:00AM: Our Slow Camino Guide and Chauffeur will meet you at your hotel this morning
• You will be given a daily walking schedule by our guide
  
• Today you will be transferred to the starting point of the walk today and follow along the way to Redondela.
• The walk today is thru a trail and parts on the road and is around 14kms of walking
• You will have time for lunch during the day on your own
• In Redondela our chauffeur-minivan will pick you up and transfer you to Pontevedra city
• This would be the best option for an overnight stay
• Check-in hotel
• Dinner on your own best is to explore the old quarter for tapas our guide will recommend for you tonight
• Overnight in Pontevedra

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• Breakfast
• 09:00AM: Our Slow Camino Guide and Chauffeur will meet you at your hotel this morning
• Today you will be transferred back to near where you left off yesterday and walk the train to Pontevedra
• The distance today is about 22kms, but again you will have the chauffeur-minivan and can stop when you please and be transferred to your hotel
• You will have time to visit the Church of La Peregrina and Santa Maria la Mayor Basilica
• Lunch will be special as we will visit the local market to buy nice fresh, locally caught fish/shellfish with the owner of O Bioco restaurant where we will go after to enjoy it!
• Drop off at the hotel in Pontevedra.
• Dinner on your own. If not in the old quarter there are many options for dining.
• Overnight in Pontevedra

B, L

• Breakfast
• 09:00AM: Our Slow Camino Guide and Chauffeur will meet you at your hotel this morning
• You will be given a daily walking schedule by our guide
  
• Today you will be transferred back to the starting point of the trail
• The trail to Caldas de Rei is about 23kms but again can stop when you please and be transferred to your hotel
• Free time for lunch during the day your guide will recommend a spot to eat.
• Caldas de Rei is famed for its mineral water and there are a couple of Spas.
  
• After checking in to a quaint manor house 1km from the village centre, you could go to one of the Spas to enjoy the mineral waters after your day of walking. 
• Dinner at the Manor House tonight with local cuisine
• Overnight in Caldas de Rei

B, D

• Breakfast
• 09:00AM: Our Camino Guide and Chauffeur will meet you at your hotel this morning
• You will be given a daily walking schedule by our guide
  
• Today you will from Caldas de Rei to Padron which is about 18kms, as other days you can stop when pleased and your chauffeur-minivan can transfer you to your hotel
• Lunch on your own during the day, guide will recommend a spot
• When you arrive in Padron you will then be transferred back to the Manor house near Caldas de Rei
• Check-in and time to relax
• Dinner at the manor house this evening
• Overnight in Caldas de Rei

B, D

• Breakfast
• 09:00AM: Our Camino Guide and Chauffeur will meet you at your hotel this morning
• You will be transferred back to Padron (15mins drive) where you will walk on the trail
• Today you will walk about 11kms arriving at the beautiful Pazo de Faramellos
• You will enjoy a visit with the owner of the Manor house to get an idea of what a noble Galician Manor is like one of the very best in all of Galicia.
• Lunch will be in a traditional restaurant nearby Manor House.
• Then you will be transferred to the manor house which you stayed at yesterday near Caldas de Rei
• Dinner at the manor house this evening
• Overnight in Caldas de Rei

B, L, D

• Breakfast
• 09:00AM: Our Camino Guide and Chauffeur will meet you at your hotel this morning
• You will walk today from Pazo de Faramello the final stretch to Santiago de Compostela which is 14kms today walking
• You will make your way to the centre of the Plaza de Obradoiro to celebrate your arrival to Santiago
• You will take a peek inside the cathedral but tomorrow you will have a detailed morning visit of the Cathedral and Old quarter
• Final Goodbye from your Camino guide today.
• Check-in your hotel
• Lunch on your own
• Time to relax
• 08:30PM: Dinner table reservation at a recommended restaurant
  
• Overnight in Santiago de Compostela
  

B, DR

• Breakfast
• In the morning you will meet our local guide for a 3hr. approx. tour of the Cathedral and old quarter
• Then walk to Market Plaza de Abastos and take a look around.
• Then try tapas around the area (NOTE: If you would like to add our food tour.... see the Optional add-on cost for Santiago de Compostela Food, Tapas & Wine Tour with a Food Expert)
  
• Rest of the day explore Santiago as you please
  
• Dinner on your own *Recommended: Casa Marcelo Michelin star restaurant)
• Overnight in Santiago de Compostela
  

B

• Breakfast
• Make your own way to the airport of Santiago or Optionally today we can transfer you to Santiago Airport or Train Station or even back down to Porto (See Add-ons)

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