The Coastal Portuguese Way
Seven days from the seafaring town of Baiona to Santiago: first the Rías Baixas coastline with the Cíes Islands on the horizon, then the classic Portuguese Way. Sea, history and great food.
- 123.6 km
- 6 nights
- 7 stages
From €414 per person
Request this routeThe route
The Coastal Portuguese Way is the Atlantic alternative: it begins in Baiona, the town where the caravel Pinta arrived with news of the discovery of America, watched over by the fortress of Monterreal.
The first stages skirt the ría de Vigo with the Cíes Islands on the horizon and follow the Traída das Augas trail before joining the classic Portuguese Way at Redondela.
From there the itinerary strings together the bridge at Pontesampaio, the old town of Pontevedra, the spa town of Caldas de Reis and Padrón, home of Spain's most celebrated peppers.
The arrival in Santiago's World Heritage old town rounds off a week between the sea and the inland Rías Baixas.
Options and prices
Stage by stage
Day 1
Baiona
ArrivalArrival in Baiona, a seafaring town guarded by the fortress of Monterreal. Its harbour keeps a replica of the caravel Pinta, the first ship to bring news of the discovery of America.
Night in Baiona
Day 2
Baiona → Vigo
On foot25 km6 hA coastal stage through the Rías Baixas with the Cíes Islands always in sight. The path mixes beaches and shoreline trails before entering Vigo, Galicia's largest city.
Day 3
Vigo → Redondela
On foot15 km3.5 hA short day along the Traída das Augas trail, a balcony path with constant views over the ría de Vigo, down to Redondela, where the route joins the central Portuguese Way.
Day 4
Redondela → Pontevedra
On foot19.6 km5 hThis stage crosses the Roman bridge at Pontesampaio, scene of the 1809 battle in which Napoleon's troops were defeated. The arrival in Pontevedra's old town, with its church of A Peregrina, is among the loveliest on the Camino.
Day 5
Pontevedra → Caldas de Reis
On foot21.1 km5 hLeave Pontevedra across the O Burgo bridge for a day of woods and streams to Caldas de Reis, a spa town since Roman times where you can soothe your feet in its thermal waters.
Day 6
Caldas de Reis → Padrón
On foot18.6 km4 hA quiet stage to Padrón, a town tied to the writers Camilo José Cela and Rosalía de Castro. It is an essential food stop: its peppers, some hot and some not, are famous the world over.
Day 7
Padrón → Santiago de Compostela
On foot24.3 km6 hThe final day passes the sanctuary of A Escravitude before entering Santiago. The final reward: the World Heritage old town and Obradoiro Square.
Frequently asked questions
How many days and stages do I need to walk the French Way from Sarria?
From Sarria it is just over 110 km to Santiago, usually split into 5 stages of 20 to 25 km.
We can add extra nights if you would rather take it slowly. Each route page shows the day-by-day itinerary with exact distances.
What kind of footwear should I bring?
Hiking boots or trail shoes that are already broken in. New footwear is the most common cause of blisters on the Camino.
You do not need high boots: it rains in Galicia either way, and what matters is a comfortable, well-held foot. Bring seamless technical socks, two pairs in case one gets wet.
Do I need to train before walking the Camino?
You do not need to be fit, but arriving with some walking behind you makes a real difference.
Walking 1 to 2 hours a couple of days a week during the previous month is enough. If you can, do one long walk with the backpack and footwear you will actually use: it is the best way to find out in time what rubs.
Is this Camino suitable for beginners or people who are not very fit?
Yes. The stretch from Sarria is the busiest and best served of the whole French Way, with villages, bars and accommodation every few kilometres.
There are no technical or mountain sections. Stages are 20-25 km on tracks and paths, and they can always be shortened. If the pace worries you, write to us and we will adjust it.
Is the French Way from Sarria safe?
Yes. It is the stretch with the most pilgrims on the whole route, well signposted and never far from a village.
You will rarely walk alone even if you travel by yourself. The precautions are those of any walking route: carry water, tell someone if you leave the path and do not walk at night.
Which is the hardest stage from Sarria, and can it be split?
The two that are felt most are Sarria - Portomarín (about 22 km, with constant ups and downs) and Portomarín - Palas de Rei (about 25 km, the longest, with a sustained climb at the start).
Both can be split with a night in a village along the way. If you prefer the more spread-out itinerary, tell us when booking and we will arrange it.
What if I cannot finish a stage one day?
You will not be stranded. We arrange transfers and assistance along the whole route: if you cannot go on one day, call us and we will take you to that night's accommodation.
Your luggage will already be there, because it travels separately. The next day you decide whether to carry on or take a rest day.
Do I have to carry my backpack all day?
No. We move your backpack from one accommodation to the next: leave it in the morning and find it on arrival.
You only walk with a small day pack carrying water, something to eat, a rain jacket and whatever you need along the way.
What should I carry in my day pack?
Water, something to eat, a rain jacket, sun cream, a cap and a charged phone. It can rain in Galicia at any time of year, so the rain jacket comes along even on a sunny morning.
Add plasters or blister dressings: they weigh nothing and you will be glad to have them.
Can I walk the Camino with children?
Yes, and it makes a great family trip. The stretch from Sarria has no technical difficulty and there are villages to stop at often.
The key is to shorten the stages and not set a schedule. Tell us their ages and we will build an itinerary with gentler days.
How far in advance should I book?
For summer and Easter it is worth booking months ahead: this is the busiest stretch and accommodation fills up.
The rest of the year there is more room, but the earlier you book, the more choice you will have over the itinerary and the places you stay.