Central Way – (PORTO – SANTIAGO)

The “Caminho” starts at the Porto Cathedral – “Sé”. Leave the Sé Square, and through the old city roads you’ll see some of the hallmarks of this “invicta” town. You will walk several kilometers through urban areas of the cities of Porto and Maia and their suburbs. From here, the way becomes more distinct and you can appreciate the progressive transition from urban into rural areas. You will go through Vilarinho and cross the medieval bridge over the Ave before reaching the village of Arcos where the first stage ends.
Accommodation: Hotel 3*

This stage begins in Arcos and leads towards to the old village of “Rates”, where we can appreciate the beautiful church of a former convent. No major changes of scenery, but with increasing woodlands, you pass the villages of Courel and “Pedra Furada”, then on rural roads you will reach the town of Barcelos where you will have time to visit the main monuments of this old market town.
Accommodation: Hotel 3*

You will depart from Barcelos, following minor roads and continue until the river Neiva, which is crossed by a medieval bridge just before the village of Balugães qhere the stage will end.
Accommodation: Hotel 3*

This is a day of rural roads, and a magnificent journey through the hamlets of Facha, Seara and Correlhã, finally reaching Ponte de Lima along the Avenue of Plátanos, beside the river, where you will be dazzled by the stunning landscape.
Accommodation: Hotel 3*

We leave the medieval town of Ponte de Lima crossing the impressive Romanesque-Gothic bridge over the river Lima, with its 22 arches. After arriving at the far side of the bridge, we turn to the right plunging into the rural world represented by the farming parish of Arcozelo, but then, after Labruja, agriculture is scarce and the landscape until Portela Pequena is tree covered upland. These 2 uphill kilometres from Labruja are the most demanding of the whole Way. Halfway up we find the Cruz dos Franceses and then climb to the Forester’s house. From the top of the climbat “Cossourado”, it is a short and easy walk to the end of this stage.
Accommodation: Hotel 3*

We will start this day leaving the valley of the river Coura and from there we have a gentle climb until S. Bento da Porta Aberta, the site of a famous religious festival.
We continue to Fontoura through fields and brushwoods, passing in Cerdal and Pedreira until we reach the fortified town of Valença where the stage ends.
Accommodation: Hotel 3*

We cross Rio Minho by way of the metal bridge inspired by the work of the famous Gustave Eiffel and on the far side we walk through the streets of the medieval village of Tui until reach its famous Cathedral. From here we pass the tunnel of the Convent of Clarissas and the Churches of Santo Domingo and San Bartolomé. After crossing the Veiga bridge we will reach one of the most beautiful stretches of the whole route – the Valley of the River Louro. Continuing on we reach an Industrial Park before entering the city of Porriño.
Accommodation: Hotel 3*

From Porriño, we head north. Along the way we will pass close to the Pazo de Mós, Santiaguiño de Antas and Chan das Pipas. Here starts a steep descent that leads us towards the end of this stage initially reaching the centre of Redondela. We then leave Redondela along by-ways until we reach Outeiro de Penas, a place with an excellent view over the Ria de Vigo. Then finally we reach Arcade, a place renowned for having the best oysters in Galicia.
Accommodation: Hotel 2*

From Arcade, continue to Pontesampaio where we will cross a long medieval bridge over the Verdugo River and then enter a cluster of narrow streets that will guide us to one of the most beautiful stretches of the Caminho: the very old by-ways which climb up the slope of Canicouva until Cacheiro. After crossing the mountains, the track widens again, now dominated by fields, vineyards and orchards until we reach Pontevedra, for a well deserved rest.
Accommodation: Hotel 3*

We start this stage at the historical centre of Pontevedra walking from the old city to the millennial bridge, O Burgo, over the Lérez River. We continue along the beautiful Valley of the Gandra River until San Mauro. From there, the path widens and as we walk further you will experience a peaceful and serene atmosphere. From here we start seeing the first crosses, some of them magnificently carved. We enter Caldas de Reis alongside the church of Santa Maria, close to the bridge of the Umia River, where this stage ends.
Accommodation: Hotel 2*

We leave Caldas de Reis along some enchanting stretches of the Way, across the medieval bridge of the Bermaña River and follow a path that leads us to the village of Cruceiro, on an unforgettable stretch through forests and meadows. We pass near the church of Santa Maria de Carracedo and then we will cross a particularly luxuriant landscape along the side of the Valga River continuing to S. Miguel de Valga, where we head to Pontecesures. After crossing the Ulla River we arrive at Padron, the place where, according to legend, the stone ship with the body of the Apostle James (Santiago) was moored. Our day’s walking ends here.
Accommodation: Hotel 3*

We start this last stage by leaving Padron and heading north until reaching the church of Santa Maria de Iria Flávia. It was here that two great Galician writers lived, the poet Rosália de Castro and the Nobel award winning Camilo José Cela, who was born next door to the church. We continue through Galician villages until the magnificent sanctuary of Nossa Señora da Escravitute. From here we will reach Rua de Francos following broad streets and narrower shortcuts. We finally start to see Santiago de Compostela and a bit further, at Agro dos Monteiros, we can see the towers of the Cathedral for the first time. After crossing the Sar River, we continue through the suburbs of the city that lead us to the Faxeira gate, the entrance of the Portuguese Way in this old city. Through a labyrinth of streets we continue to Obradoiro square and to the Cathedral itself were the Apostle waits for us.
Accommodation: Hotel 3*

End of our services.