Not all routes can boast of offering a swim at the beach after the end of each stage. The Portuguese Way along the coast from Porto to A Guarda is the perfect route for all those who love the sea. During the little more than a hundred kilometres that separate the bohemian city of Porto from the seaside town of A Guarda, you will find beautiful panoramic views of endless sandy beaches and estuaries where you can observe hundreds of species of birds.

You will have the opportunity to get to know the life and culture of the northern region of Portugal and taste the best dishes of the Portuguese gastronomy. A smooth and flat route with few slopes, ideal and accessible for everyone. What more could you ask for?

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Map of the Route

Stages of Portuguese Way along the coast from Porto to A Guarda

Day 1. Arrival in Porto

You will start your adventure in the bohemian and beautiful city of Porto, which is home to a large number of heritage sites and cultural legacies of Portuguese history. We recommend you to arrive in the city in the morning, leave your things in your accommodation and go out. You can start your visit at the Avenida de los Aliados, the heart of the city, a flagship for the locals and a meeting place for a multitude of cultural events. Drop by Praza da Liberdade and stroll to the famous and beautiful Lello e Irmão bookshop. Afterwards, and immediately next door, you must visit the Torre de los Clérigos. The town of Oporto is, in short, a magnificent start for the Portuguese Way.

For a snack we recommend you to try the famous francesiñas and for dessert, a cream cake. After lunch you can walk down to the Ribeira, passing by the São Bento station and the Cathedral. Porto is a wonderful city to get lost in the streets of its monumental area… cobblestones, tiles, colours, wine, culture and tradition come together in its narrow streets.

Day 2. Stage Porto - Matosinhos - Póvoa de Varzim (37 km)

With this stage you start your Portuguese Way, having ahead of you a distance of 30 km totally along the coast from Oporto. If you want to avoid the tedious and cumbersome exit from Porto, you should take the metro to Matosinhos, a very common practice among pilgrims who do the Portuguese Way along the coast.

Póvoa de Varzim is a perfect stop to enjoy a relaxing day at the beach on its large sandy beaches. One of the iconic places of this town is its aqueduct, declared a National Monument. Of great cultural interest are also the Fortress of Nuestra Señora de la Concepción, the Church of La Misericordia and the Chapel of Santiago. But you can’t miss a walk through the traditional fishermen’s quarter, along Paseo Alegre and Rúa da Junqueira, appreciating the beautiful tiles of the Manueline architecture and enjoying the rich local gastronomy: fresh fish and, for the more carnivorous, the famous picaña.

Day 3. Póvoa de Varzim - Esposende (21 km)

Today the natural ecosystems will be the main protagonists. You will cross the Parque Natural del Litoral Norte, a protected natural area consisting of various habitats: majestic beaches of fine white sand with imposing dunes, vegetated back dunes, interesting tree formations, wetlands and estuaries, an important fauna and traditional crops located very close to the coastline because they are fertilized with the “sargassum” seaweed. After crossing the iron bridge over the river Cávado you will arrive at the end of the stage: Esposende.

Located at the mouth of the Cádavo River, the most representative of Esposende is its privileged natural coastal environment. On the cultural level, this city has two important museums: the Maritime Museum and the Municipal Museum. As for its heritage, you can visit several religious sanctuaries, the Castro de São Lourenço, the church of Misericórdia, or the Fort of São João Baptista, among others. Finally, gastronomically we recommend you to try the star dish of the area, “polvo de Esposende”, an octopus, potato and cabbage stew.

Day 4. Esposende - Viana do Castelo (24 km)

From Esposende, the route continues through the Parque Natural do Litoral Norte, crossing ridges, beaches and dunes. After visiting the church of São Bartolomé do Mar, you will arrive at the mouth of the Neiva River, entering the municipality of Viana do Castelo. During the last stretch you will go a few kilometers away from the coast to return to it at Rodanho Beach, entering a forest path. Finally, you will cross the river over the Eiffel Bridge and enter the beautiful city of Viana do Castelo, which has one of the most beautiful and best preserved historical centres in Portugal.

A place with seafaring roots, Viana do Castelo will be the perfect place to enjoy a good cod, a food that is closely associated with Portuguese gastronomy. If you wander around its historic centre, you will come to Praça da República, where you can see the Misericórdia building and the chafariz (fountain), built in the 16th century; also in this square, you can visit the Casa Consistorial (Town Hall). As for religious buildings, you should at least know the cathedral, in Romanesque style, and the Church of the Agony.

Known as the city of gold filigree, Viana do Castelo also offers various cultural plans such as visits to the Museum of Costume, the Chocolate Museum, the Museum of Art and Archaeology, or the Gil Eanes Ship.

Day 5. Viana do Castelo - Vila Praia de Ancora (19 km)

During this stage the level of difficulty will decrease, as it is a shorter stretch and flatter terrain. Starting from the Cathedral of Viana do Castelo, you can choose whether to continue the route along the coast or go a little further inland. We recommend continuing your route along the coastal section, where you will pass numerous beaches, promenades and coastal paths. This route is a quiet walk, in which you can enjoy the views and get to know heritage elements such as the windmills of Montedor. As you complete the route, you will leave behind towns such as Areosa, Carreço and Afife, until you reach Vila Praia de ncora.

Being very close to Galicia, Vila Praia de ncora is a place of fishing tradition, belonging to Caminha. The most remarkable thing is its huge and wild beach, where you can walk until you reach the Fort of Lagarteira, an old military fortress with a star-shaped floor plan. Another of the icons of the town can be found in the centre: the dolmen of Barrosa, a good example of the megalithic of the northwest of the peninsula.

Day 6. Vila Praia de Ancora - A Guarda (19 km)

On this day you will start the last stage of this Camino. The walk starts from the beach of Vila Praia de ncora, passing by the beach of Moledo, until it reaches the village of Caminha. From Caminha you will have to take a ferry to cross the river Minho, and arrive at Camposancos (A Guarda), crossing the natural border between Portugal and Galicia. From this point, you will have to climb the Monte de Santa Tecla (or Trega), and then continue along the path that runs parallel to the coast. A short distance away you will have reached your destination and the end of the stage, A Guarda.

A Guarda is a small maritime village, situated in a privileged natural environment, the majestic estuary formed by the Miño river at its mouth. The panoramic view of the estuary, where the river meets the sea, from the highest point of Monte de Santa Tecla is a must-see. Perhaps the Monte de Santa Tecla is the most recommendable place to visit, for its views and its well-preserved Celtic forts. Once in the centre of the town, you can stroll around the port and sample some of the local gastronomy, specialising mainly in fish and seafood. A perfect place to end your Portuguese Way along the coast from Oporto to A Guarda.

Day 7. End of the trip

Congratulations! You have completed your Portuguese Way along the coast from Oporto to A Guarda. This last day you’re in charge. You can return home or add more days to your trip to continue the Portuguese Way along the coast to Santiago de Compostela. The Galician section is simply spectacular. You will walk parallel to a rugged and rugged coastline, finding beautiful fishing villages that, in addition to its landscapes, stand out for its exquisite seafood cuisine.

After leaving the lodge, end of our services.

Accommodation prices

Types of accommodation

In hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from Oporto to A Guarda

In hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from Oporto to A Guarda

In hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from Oporto to A Guarda

Due to the fact that some towns along this route have little variety of accommodation, we have selected the best establishments available for you to have an incredible experience on your Camino de Santiago. You will combine the rest in small and cosy pensions with rural houses and lodgings of superior category, always looking for the best quality and location.

Details ofPortuguese Way along the coast from Porto to A Guarda

Services included

7 days / 6 nights accommodation

Luggage transfer during the stages

Complete documentation

Pilgrim’s Credential

On-the-road emergency telephone assistance

Travel insurance

Optional Services

Service	In hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from Oporto to A Guarda
Breakfast	121€ per person
Supplement for single room	195€ per single room
Extra night	95€ (sing. room) / 150€ (doub. room)

	Breakfast
	In hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from Oporto to A Guarda	121€ per person



	Supplement for single room
	In hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from Oporto to A Guarda	195€ per single room



	Extra night
	In hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from Oporto to A Guarda	95€ (sing. room) / 150€ (doub. room)