Portuguese Camino de Santiago Tours

Camino Portugues Tours are the best way to experience the natural beauty of the Portuguese and Spanish countryside. Walk or cycle these incredible throughways to experience the captivating villages and landscape as countless pilgrims have done throughout history.

Camino Portugues

The Camino Portugues is one of the world famous long distance walking routes that make up the vast network of pilgrim trails known as the Camino de Santiago. Every year dating back to the Middle Ages, countless pilgrims have travelled from countries like France, Spain, and Portugal, traversing the countryside and stopping at a myriad of religious sites before arriving at the resting place of one of the apostles of Jesus Christ - Saint James the Great in Santiago de Compostela. In modern times, many travellers turn to booking a Camino Portugues tour to experience the historical route in a modern fashion.

Of all the camino routes, the Camino Portugues (Portuguese Way) is the second most popular after the Camino Frances, with its two variations - the central and coastal routes - receiving 20% and 7% of their total volume respectively. Joining the thousands of other pilgrims along the trail is a special experience that will not only showcase a sense of community, but will highlight the beauty of the landscape, the wonder of religion, and the impressive architectural elements found in this historic corner of Europe.

Whether you are searching for a spiritual experience, are fascinated by history, or simply want to take in the natural beauty of the Portuguese and Spanish countryside, the Camino de Santiago Portuguese Way is an incredible journey that will be the source of countless memories.

When is the Best Time to Walk the Camino Portugues?

The best time to walk the Camino Portugues depends entirely upon which route you choose; however, both options fall within the late-spring to early-autumn window. In terms of the Camino Portugues Coastal Route, pilgrims should aim to complete the journey between May and September, as the cooler and rainier conditions of the maritime climate will be more tolerable at this time of year. Conversely, the Camino Portugues Central Route follows an inland path through a dry and hot climate, meaning a scheduled walk during the shoulder seasons of April-June and September-October will allow you to avoid the often unbearably hot summer season.

What are the Different Camino de Santiago Routes in Portugal?

As with the camino routes leading through Spain, the Camino de Santiago routes in Portugal have a number of variations that allow for unique pilgrimage experiences. While there are a few lesser known routes, there are two main ones that almost all of the pilgrims on the Camino Portugues follow:

Camino Portugues Central Route

Of the two main tracks, the Camino Portugues Central Route is the most popular with pilgrims travelling to Santiago. This is the original route that actually begins in Lisbon; however, most pilgrims opt for a much shorter walk of approximately 240km that begins in Porto. As it is the original route, there is a more developed pilgrim infrastructure than on the Coastal Route. The journey along the Camino Portugues Central Route will lead you through the interior of the country, passing through the quaint villages and towns of the Portuguese and Galician countryside, before finally arriving in Santiago de Compostela.

Camino Portugues Coastal Route

Also beginning in Porto, the Camino Portugues Coastal Route is an alternative pilgrimage that will lead you to Santiago de Compostela by following along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline. Instead of traversing the hilly interior of Portugal, travellers along the Coastal Way will experience the rugged terrain of the coast and will pass through beautifully scenic beachside villages. The two routes eventually meet up as you approach Santiago, but the Camino Portugues Coastal Route offers a nice change of scenery for the initial two thirds of the pilgrimage.

Portuguese Camino de Santiago Map

Having trouble visualizing the different route options for a Camino Portugues tour? We’ve put together a Camino de Santiago map that highlights all of the different routes that lead through Portugal, providing a nice overview of the different options available to pilgrims:

Book Your Self-Guided Camino Portugues Tour

Booking a long-distance walking tour in another country can be challenging, especially if you are unfamiliar with the process, accommodations, and regulations. If you are planning to complete an unforgettable self-guided walking adventure like the standard Camino Portugues or the Camino Portugues in Luxury, why not remove the guesswork and leave the booking process to the professionals? Booking a 10Adventures tour is the safe and easy way to ensure that all of the accommodations and details for your trip will be handled, allowing you to focus on your incredible journey along the Portuguese Way!

Frequently Asked Questions About

How many days is the Camino Portugues?

While there is no set number of days that it takes to walk the Camino Portugues, many travellers complete their adventure in 12 days.

How long is the Camino Portugues?

Depending on which route you decide to take, the Camino Portugues can either be 240km for the Central Route or 270km for the Coastal Route.

Central or Coastal Camino Portugues?

Neither the central nor the coastal Camino Portugues route is better than the other; however, more people opt to walk the central route as it has a more developed infrastructure for pilgrims.

Is it safe to walk the Camino Portugues alone?

While many travellers choose to walk the Camino Portugues alone - and find it extremely rewarding to do so - you may want to stick to highly-trafficked paths to ensure that there are always other pilgrims around.

Camino de Santiago Portugues what to pack?

When walking the Camino Portugues, you will want to pack much the same as you would for any long distance trek or backpacking trip, bringing along appropriate clothing, sturdy hiking boots, travel documents, and a good pack. For a more detailed guide, make sure to check out our Camino de Santiago Packing List article.

Where does the Camino Portugues start?

For most travellers, the Camino Portugues begins in the Portuguese city of Portugal, although some pilgrims opt to begin their adventure even further south in Lisbon.

How do I get my certificate after completing the Camino Portugues?

Provided you have met all of the criteria along your pilgrimage, after completing the Camino Portugues you will need to make your way to the Official Pilgrim’s Office to validate and collect your “compostela” or certificate.

Where to get stamps on the Camino Portugues?

Your overnight accommodations, as well as restaurants, museums, monasteries, and other Camino attractions will be able to stamp your pilgrim passport along the Camino Portugues.

Why is it called the Camino Portugues?

The Camino Portugues - also known as the Portuguese Way - is so named due to the fact that the route begins in Portugal, before traversing the border with Spain on the way into Santiago de Compostela.

Highlights Along the Camino de Santiago Portuguese Way

For those travellers pondering which route to take, Camino Portugues tour highlights are certainly a factor to consider. Here are a few of the amazing Camino Portugues tour highlights to experience when out on your pilgrimage:

Porto, Portugal

Porto - also referred to as Oporto - is the second largest city in Portugal and can be found along the banks of the Douro River. The site of the city was inhabited by the Celtic peoples prior to becoming an important Roman port and outpost, making it one of the oldest urban areas in Europe. Due to its historical significance, Porto was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto) can be found in the historic city centre and serves as the starting point of the Camino Portugues.

Santiago de Compostela Cathedral

Located in the northwestern region of Galicia, Spain, the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church that is said to be built on the burial site of Saint James the Great. Due to the holy nature of the site, the church has become a pilgrimage destination, with a number of different walking routes from across Europe all ending up at the cathedral. Pilgrims making their way along one of the Camino de Santiago routes need to collect pilgrim stamps along the way to validate their journey, before finally ending their journey at the cathedral to receive their “compostela” or certificate. The Santiago de Compostela Cathedral is of Romanesque design with later Gothic and Baroque elements, and hosts over 2.5 million visitors per year.

Camino Portugues Guide

Can you ever really have enough information on your next travel destination? If you are looking to learn as much as possible about all of the different Camino pilgrimages - including sample itineraries, weather, and more - then be sure to check out our comprehensive Camino de Santiago Guide.

Other Ways to Experience the Camino Portugues

While walking the Camino Portugues is certainly the most popular way to experience this world renowned pilgrimage route, it is not the only way. For those who don’t want to travel the entire distance to Santiago de Compostela on foot, but still want to experience the magic of rural Portugal and Spain, there are also options to travel by bike. Whether you are looking to cycle the Camino Portugues Coastal Route or bike along the Camino Portugues Central Route, you can rest assured that there is a guided Camino tour to meet your needs.

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