Portuguese Way in short stages

Stages

• day 1

  Arrival at Tui

  If you like multicultural places, you’ve just come to the perfect place. Tui is a border town with Portugal, from which it is only separated by the river Miño. In fact, Tui forms a Eurocity with Valença do Minho. Moreover, it is an amalgam of people because here pilgrims who, like you, begin the adventure, come together with the pilgrims who come walking from Portugal. Perfect for meeting people, listening, sharing experiences and preparing for the adventure you are about to start. Enjoy your Portuguese Way from Tui!
• day 2

  Stage 1. Tui - Ponte das Febres (8 km)

  Behind is Tui, with its Romanesque and Gothic cathedral of Santa Maria. Before leaving the city, the Camino passes near the park of San Bartolomeu, where there is a pre-Romanesque church of the same name. Then the route advances near the chapel of Virxe do Camiño, through Paredes de Abaixo and finally over the emblematic bridge of San Telmo, called Ponte das Febres. This small site still belongs to the municipality of Tui, so you will still be able to visit everything that has been left unfinished in the capital of the municipality.
• day 3

  Stage 2. Ponte das Febres - O Porriño (9 km)

  Behind is Ponte das Febres as you plunge into a lush forest known as A Ribeira. After passing through the village of Magdalena, a typical Galician rural village, you will follow the Louro River to Orbenlle. At this point there is a fork that will take you to Eidos or As Gándaras. Whatever your choice, you will glimpse in the distance the large pink granite quarries that have made the area famous, as this coveted pink granite is now exported to places as far away as Japan and the United States. The next nucleus is the end of the stage and a place closely linked to the Camino de Santiago. In its urban area you can appreciate works of the architect Antonio Palacios, a native of the place and born in 1874. One of his greatest creations is the Municipal Palace, built in 1924. Very close to the route you will find other works such as the templete de la Red de San Luis, the fountain of Christ or the beautiful Palacios Pharmacy (designed in 1912 for his brother).
• day 4

  Stage 3. O Porriño - Redondela (15 km)

  One of the longest stages of your Camino begins, which will give you enough time to enjoy spectacular views over the Vigo estuary, one of the most beautiful in Galicia. So, after crossing the municipality of O Porriño, you will face the hardest climb of the day that leads to the chapel of Santiaguiño in Mos. It is undoubtedly one of the best places to enjoy the Cíes Islands, San Simón Island, the Rande Bridge, and understand why even Jules Verne himself was inspired by the waters of this estuary for part of his work “20000 Leagues Under the Sea”. Redondela is a place of ancient population, surrounded by places full of thousands of experiences and important historical events such as the aforementioned San Simón Island, which you should visit if you have the opportunity. Also, if you are lucky and the weather is good, you can enjoy a peaceful day at Cesantes Beach.
• day 5

  Stage 4. Redondela - Arcade (7 km)

  A very smooth stage with hardly any elevation gain. Following the coastline you will reach Arcade, capital of oysters. And what better way to regain strength than to eat a good portion of local produce and, if the weather is good, enjoy the beautiful beaches of this estuary. Of course, don’t forget to accompany your meal with a nice glass of Albariño, the best white wine in the area.
• day 6

  Stage 5. Arcade - Pontevedra (12 km)

  We leave Arcade by the famous bridge of Pontesampaio, a bridge in the province of Pontevedra that is witness to the epic battle against the French troops led by General Ney, during the War of Independence in June 1809. This battle meant the victory of the Galician and Spanish army over the French, with its consequent withdrawal from this territory.

  After passing the bridge of Pontesampaio bridge, our path continues along the road until we come across the Pazo de Bellavista. After seeing a crossroads we turn left to Ponte Nova, where there was an old medieval bridge that collapsed during a flood in 2006. This caused the modification of the route of the road until the construction of a new bridge that would allow the passage. Once we have crossed the river, we continue along an evocative walk along the Roman road XIX, where the stone slabs of the road will be the protagonists. This ancient road linked the cities of Braga and Astorga in Roman times. Today we know it as Brea Vella da Canicouva.

  The road leads us to Figueirido, where we can stop to refresh ourselves and quench our thirst in its natural spring.

  Once we have rested, we resume our walk through beautiful wooded paths that will lead us to the chapel of Santa Marta. Once here, we will continue along the fluvial path of the river dos Gafos, which forms the current official route of the path, up to the surroundings of the centre of Pontevedra.

  Pontevedra is for many people one of the most beautiful cities in Galicia, and no wonder. A stroll through its cobbled streets and squares will be enough to realize the special charm it hides. After Santiago de Compostela, Pontevedra is the place on this route with the largest number of heritage elements.

  To consider

  If you have never been to Pontevedra before, maybe this is a good time to get to know the city, so we recommend you to start walking early from Arcade. As we have suggested throughout the other stages, remember that you can always add extra days to your route to get to know the places that interest you the most.

  Places of interest

  • Pilgrim's Square - Pontevedra
  • Church of La Peregrina - Pontevedra
  • Church of San Francisco - Pontevedra
  • Chapel of the Nazarene - Pontevedra
  • Ruins of Santo Domingo at the Provincial Museum of Pontevedra
  • Royal Basilica of Santa María la Mayor - Pontevedra

  Typical dishes

  • Oysters
  • Scallops
  • Mussels
  • Clams
  • Chocos
  • Fish
  • Albariño Wine
  • Typical puff pastry filled with Almonds
• day 7

  Stage 6. Pontevedra - San Amaro (9 km)

  After crossing the river Lérez the Camino leaves Pontevedra and will take you to the Marismas de Alba observatory, a large wetland of 80 hectares that is home to hundreds of plant species and 123 species of birds. The route runs along roads where there are many crossroads and level crossings, so you should take extreme caution. Especially on arrival at San Amaro, where you will have to cross over a rustic footbridge to reach a committed level crossing without a barrier. On the other side, the long-awaited end of the stage.
• day 8

  Stage 7. San Amaro - Caldas de Reis (12 km)

  Leaving San Amaro again we remind you that in these stages of the Portuguese Way you must be attentive to the different sections that pass near the national and regional roads and the crossings that you may encounter. Once you get to Briallos, we recommend you take a detour of half a kilometre to visit the Cascadas del Barosa, a natural site of extraordinary beauty, with a beautiful sixty-metre waterfall and fourteen mills arranged along the waterfalls. At the end of your stage, Caldas de Reis, the water is still the protagonist as it is one of the most important thermal villages in Galicia, and we present the perfect plan to enjoy a pleasant afternoon: After a short walk through the botanical garden, sit on one of its terraces and enjoy the tranquility listening to the murmur of the river.
• day 9

  Stage 8. Caldas de Reis - Carracedo (6 km)

  Few kilometers separate Caldas de Reis from Carracedo. After saying goodbye to the thermal village of Caldas, you will enter the valley of Bermaña following the route through its forests of ancient trees, oak groves, cornfields and cruceiros. After a gentle ascent you will reach Santa Mariña de Carracedo, a village with a church, a rectory and a granary. You can still take the opportunity to visit Caldas and its surroundings, so we recommend the pleasant river walk that will take you to the beautiful Fervenza de Segade, a spectacular waterfall with natural pools next to the ruins of an old “light factory”.
• day 10

  Stage 9. Carracedo - Padrón (12 km)

  The last kilometers in Pontevedra’s territory are left behind, as you go through deep forests with water mills and small villages until you reach Pontecesures. On the other side of the bridge of Roman origin that joins the provinces of Pontevedra and A Coruña, you will find the end of the stage, Padrón. Padrón is the birthplace of one of Galicia’s most prolific writers, the much-loved Rosalía de Castro, of whom by now you will have seen a multitude of images in all kinds of merchandising. She is one of the most illustrious Galician women in history. In his House-Museum in Padrón, you will be able to know everything about his life and work. It is also a mythical place for the Camino since it was there that Theodore and Athanasius docked with the stone boat carrying the remains of the apostle St. James. In fact, you can visit the famous Pedrón that was used to moor the boat in the church of Santiago, in the same village. And why not? nothing better than tasting some delicious local peppers after the visit, but be careful, they sting!
• day 11

  Stage 10. Padrón - Rúa de Francos (14 km)

  Crossing the Sar river you will arrive at Iria Flavia, which was a Roman city and then Episcopal see until the 11th century. On your way you will find the foundation of the Nobel Prize winner Camilo José Cela, a native of the place, and then you will be nourished by the beautiful and traditional villages of the Sar valley. Arriving at the sanctuary of A Escravitude you can contemplate the valleys of Padrón and enjoy magnificent views of the lands of Amaía. Be careful here with a new level crossing without barrier where it is advisable to be extremely cautious. There is little left for the end of the stage, although it is true that it is perhaps the hardest part of the stage. A short climb will lead you to Rúa de Francos, near the mythical Castro Lupario, where the legendary Queen Lupa resided, who received and deceived the disciples of the Apostle upon his arrival in Galicia.
• day 12

  Stage 11. Rúa de Francos - Santiago de Compostela (15 km)

  Last day of your adventure! Ready and energized, we always recommend getting up early to make the most of the day in Santiago de Compostela. 15 kms separate you from the Plaza del Obradoiro, 15 kms that will fly by between the nerves and the excitement of the arrival. You will continue through the towns of Teo and Ames until you make your triumphal entry into the Plaza del Obradoiro, a moment you will remember forever from your Portuguese Way in short stages. You have arrived in Santiago! Enjoy that mix of tiredness and “I eat the world” after completing your Portuguese Way in short stages from Tui. Pick up your Compostela a few meters from the Plaza del Obradoiro and enjoy an incredible day getting to know the Galician capital, its culture, architecture and gastronomy.

• day 13

  End of the Camino

  After arriving... End of the Camino