10-Day / 9-Night Moderate (via Tui & Spiritual Variant) 📜

From your point of arrival, use the public transport information we provide to make the journey to Tui, known for its medieval charm, cobbled streets, and the striking Cathedral of Santa María, perched above the town.

As you leave Rubiães behind, after a short transfer, you follow quiet country lanes and forested trails that wind through the lush Minho landscape. The route gently undulates across small valleys and past stone walls draped in ivy, with the sound of trickling streams accompanying your steps. Along the way, you’ll find shaded picnic spots and welcoming cafés, perfect for a morning coffee or a leisurely lunch beneath the trees.

As you approach the border town of Valença, the path leads you through its impressive 17th-century fortress, with panoramic views over the River Minho and the Spanish town of Tui just across the water. Crossing the iconic International Bridge, you step into Galicia and arrive in Tui, where your day ends near the majestic 12th-century Tui Cathedral, a blend of Romanesque and Gothic architecture that once served as a fortress. The town’s cobbled streets and leafy plazas offer a tranquil setting to rest and reflect on the day’s journey.

For many pilgrims, the Camino Portuguese hike from Tui to O Porriño is a gentle and scenic introduction to the Camino’s rhythm and offers peaceful walking through medieval streets, quiet forests, and small villages. Beginning in the charming town of Tui, you pass landmarks like the cathedral and cross into a mix of countryside and wooded paths. Near Orbenlle, the trail splits, you can take a shorter industrial path or follow a more scenic and recommended route along the river. The journey finishes in O Porriño, a welcoming town with beautiful architecture and plenty of places to rest. Overnight in Tui, after a short transfer.

Leaving O Porriño, after a short morning transfer, the route continues through a mix of urban outskirts and quiet countryside. The path climbs gently toward the village of Mos, where pilgrims often pause at the chapel of Santiaguiño before tackling a steeper ascent. From the top, the trail descends through forested paths and small hamlets, offering scenic views of the valley and glimpses of Redondela in the distance. The final stretch leads into the town itself, where the central and coastal Camino routes converge, making it a lively spot with plenty of pilgrim energy. Redondela’s charming streets and welcoming atmosphere make it a satisfying end to this stage.

Leaving Pontevedra across the historic Ponte do Burgo, the Spiritual Variant leads through peaceful countryside and woodlands to the impressive Monastery of San Xoán in Poio. Continue briefly along the shore of an estuary to picturesque Combarro, famous for its waterfront hórreos, before a sustained climb through farmland and eucalyptus forest leads over the Castrove hills. Passing ancient petroglyphs and panoramic viewpoints, the route descends to the beautiful Monastery of Santa María da Armenteira.

From Armenteira, the Spiritual Variant follows the Ruta da Pedra e da Auga (Route of Stone and Water), descending beside the Armenteira River past old watermills, waterfalls and woodland. It continues beside the River Umia to Ponte Arnelas, winding through farm hamlets, forests and vineyards. The route then descends towards the Ría de Arousa, where a scenic coastal path leads past beaches into Vilanova de Arousa.

A unique and memorable day combining a scenic boat journey with a relatively short walk along the Camino. From Vilanova de Arousa, take a boat through the beautiful Ría de Arousa and up the River Ulla, following the route traditionally associated with the arrival of the remains of Saint James in Galicia. Along the way, you pass mussel farms, small islands and the historic stone crosses of the Maritime-Fluvial Way of the Cross.

After disembarking at Pontecesures, you continue on foot into Padrón, a town closely linked to the legend of Saint James. Rather than finishing here, you follow quiet lanes, woodland and small villages to A Picaraña, shortening tomorrow’s otherwise long final stage to Santiago and allowing for a more relaxed approach to the end of your Camino. Transfer back to Padrón.

The final stage of the Camino Portuguese is both emotional and symbolic. After a short transfer, the walk begins again with quiet rural lanes that gradually shift from countryside to urban outskirts. Following a long but gentle uphill walk, the spires of Santiago’s cathedral suddenly come into view, at Milladoiro. Here, pilgrims used to be humbled by their first glimpse of the cathedral and they kneeled in reverence. From Milladoiro the last few miles of the Camino lead you into the heart of the city, through bustling streets and historic gates. Reaching the Praza do Obradoiro and standing before the cathedral is a moment of reflection, joy, and accomplishment – a fitting end to your pilgrimage.

There are regular flights from Santiago Airport as well as bus and train services from Santiago to other Spanish cities and airports. Your hosts can usually provide the most accurate local details, but if you need additional guidance, our team is happy to help.