Camino Portugues

  • Portugal North The Camino, Camino Portugues, Camino Portugues, Arcade, Walkopedia
  • Portugal North The Camino, Camino Portugues, Camino Portugues, leaving Pontevedra, Walkopedia
  • Portugal North The Camino, Camino Portugues, , Walkopedia

Key information: Camino Portugues

  • Part of the famous network of routes, across Europe, that converges on northern Spain, so the Camino Portugese too winds towards the Catholic pilgrimage site at Santiago de Compostela.
  • Several hundred kilometres of trail by itself, this Camino heads north following the Atlantic coasts of Portugal and then Spain.
  • Meander across littoral plain, and cross beautiful mountain ranges. Stay in villages and towns along the way, and examine a plethora of cultural gems.
  • The route was used most famously by Queen Isabel of Portugal (12711336), at least once.
  • End up in the great pilgrim city of Santiago deeply spiritual for some, moving and thought-provoking for all.

Walkopedia rating

  • Walkopedia rating87
  • Beauty29
  • Natural interest13
  • Human interest15
  • Charisma30
  • Negative points0
  • Total rating87
  • Note: Provisional

Vital Statistics

  • Length: 232km
  • Level of Difficulty: Variable
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Camino Portugues: Camino Portugues, leaving Pontevedra - © By Dee Mahan

WALK SUMMARY

The Camino Portugues is one of the many dozens, in fact sister trails that lead across Europe to converge on the great Christian pilgrimage site, the stunning Santiago de Compostela, in northern Spain.

 

The entire trail is approximately 232km, of which maybe 115km runs beside Portugals Atlantic coast before passing into Spain; a mere fraction of the Camino Frances goliath 780km. It is less popular, too, managing to avoid hordes of tourist and pilgrim alike (for the most part). Modernity hasnt made that many inroads either the only sections to encounter any kind of main road are those into and out of the larger towns en route.

 

Like the majority of the routes in the network, the Camino Portugues popularity reached its height between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries, and Queen Isabel of Portugal travelled it at least once in that period. Her canonisation in the 17th Century is merely one distillation of the Caminos long, religious history.

 

Cathedrals soar skywards, in Porto, Tui and Santiago; churches litter the route, with important ones at Rates, Ponte de Lima, Redondela, Pontevedra and Padron. Even along the most remote farm-tracks stand wayside crosses dedicated to St. James. At Barcelos, the granite cross recording the miracle of the Barcelos cockerel in the towns large, renaissance square.

 

Pine and eucalyptus forest offer yet more tranquility, an enclosed, secure incarnation of Portugals wide-open serenity. Elsewhere the landscape is slow, bucolic idyll, or open estuary.

 

Beginning in the sun-drenched Algarve, the Camino Portugues is one of the few routes that never joins the Camino Frances. This is an indolent escape from the throngs on the rest of the routes; indolent, but for a matter of 230-odd kilometres.

 

You can walk all, or just some, of the Camino: the full monty takes around six weeks, so is beyond most peoples holiday allowance, so most do selected sections.
 

See our Camino de Santiago overview page to put the Portugues and other caminos into context.

With thanks to Dee Mahan for first mentioning this walk and for some fabulous photos!

Other accounts: share your experiences

Your comments on this walk, your experiences and suggestions, and your photos are very welcome. Where appropriate, you will be credited for your contribution.

Camino Portugues: © https://www.pilgrim.es/en/portuguese-way/

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

We have a lot of helpful practical information and tips about this walk, covering everything from the best books and maps, to timing and weather, geting there, possible problems, whether you need a guide and where to find them, and useful websites. This section is only open to members.

Membership is FREE AND JOINING TAKES 30 SECONDS. To login or sign up click here

Safety and problems: All walks have inherent risks and potential problems, and many of the walks featured on this website involve significant risks, dangers and problems. Problems of any sort can arise on any walk. This website does not purport to identify any (or all) actual or potential risks, dangers and problems that may relate to any particular walk.

Any person who is considering undertaking this walk should do careful research and make their own assessment of the risks, dangers and possible problems involved. They should also go to “Important information” for further important information.

Anyone planning an expedition to this place should see further important information about this walk.

Safety and problems: All walks have inherent risks and potential problems, and many of the walks featured on this website involve significant risks, dangers and problems. Problems of any sort can arise on any walk. This website does not purport to identify any (or all) actual or potential risks, dangers and problems that may relate to any particular walk.

Any person who is considering undertaking this walk should do careful research and make their own assessment of the risks, dangers and possible problems involved. They should also go to “Important information” for further important information.

COMMUNITY COMMENTS AND PHOTOS

Name: caminotravel
Posted on: 04/03/2013
Camino Travel Center Travel Agency Specialised in The Camino de Santiago.


Your comments on this walk, your experiences and suggestions, and your photos are very welcome. Where appropriate, you will be credited for your contribution.

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OTHER ACCOUNTS
share your experiences

Add your experiences, suggestions and photos. We would be delighted to receive your writing and ideas (which will be attributed appropriately where published).

Anyone planning an expedition to this place should see further important information about this walk.

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