Just because we are at home doesn’t mean we can’t explore the Camino.
If you weren’t able to follow us on Social Media, here’s a summary of our Fresco Tours Virtual CAMINO PORTUGUÉS Tour!
(All photos were taken on our signature ‘Camino Portugués Tour‘)
Day 1 – Meeting our Fresco Pilgrims and exploring Guimaraes
After our welcome meeting we’ll have time to explore medieval Guimaraes, a Word Heritage Site and the birthplace of Portugal. Then we’ll wrap up the day with a delicious dinner a good night’s rest before we lace up our boots tomorrow morning.
Day 2 – Vitorino dos Piaes to Ponte de Lima
After months of planning and preparing we’re finally on the Camino! Today’s stage takes us through forests, vineyards and farmland, and ends in the quaint little market town of Ponte de Lima. The town not only boasts over 2000 years of history, dating back to Roman times, but also proudly holds the title of ‘oldest town in Portugal’.
Day 3 – Ponte de Lima to Rubiaes
This is our most challenging day as we hike up and over the Alto da Portela. It’s also one of our most spectacular days on tour as most of the stage meanders along trails through pine forests.
Day 4 – Rubiaes to Tui
How many people can say they’ve hiked across an international border? Today we’ll end our stage by crossing the River Miño into Spain and saying adeus to Portugal.
Day 5 – Tui to Porriño
Today we walk our first miles in Spain. We start the day by visiting the magnificent medieval town of Tui and its cathedral. We wrap up the day in the afternoon when we visit one of the highlights of the tour: the Pre-Roman Celtic castro (settlement) of Santa Tecla.
Day 6 – Porriño to Redondela
The Camino Portugués is not only jam-packed with history and monuments but it’s also home to one of Spain’s best renown grape varieties: the albariño. So if you appreciate your fine wine (like we do), prepare to indulge a bit at our meal times and maybe even in-between.
Day 7 – Redondela to Pontevedra
Vestiges of Roman roads, trails, forests, vineyards, historic sites and world class monuments – today is a real treat. And tonight we stay in Pontevedra, a quaint scaled-down version of Compostela and home to the iconic scallop shell shaped Church of Our Lady the Pilgrim.
Day 8 – Redondela to Caldas de Reis
Today’s stage runs through the heart of the Rías Baixas wine producing region, which means we’ll be walking alongside and even under vineyards and albariño grapes. The day ends in Caldas de Reis (Thermal Waters of the Kings) where since immemorial times kings, locals and pilgrims have enjoyed the therapeutic waters.
Day 9 – Caldas de Reis to Escravitude
Saint James is buried in Santiago de Compostela, we all know that. But did you know that he lived and preached near a town called Padrón? Today we’ll be literally walking in the footsteps of the saint as we visit Padrón and its Camino-associated monuments. And tomorrow we walk into Santiago!
Day 10 – Escravitude to Santiago de Compostela
Today’s the day. After 100 miles, today we walk into Santiago de Compostela and complete our pilgrimage. We started 10 days ago in Portugal, crossed into Spain and now we’re just 12 miles from Saint James’s final resting place! Then it’s freshen up, rest and explore the city before dinner. Tomorrow we’ll attend the Pilgrim Mass and present our respects to Saint James!
Day 11 – Santiago de Compostela
It’s our last day on tour and, like all endings, it’s a little bittersweet because of all the good-byes and farewells.
In the morning we meet our local historian-guide who takes us on a tour of the town and the Cathedral, finishing in time for the Pilgrim Mass. In the afternoon we’ll have time to embrace Saint James at the High Altar, revere his remains in the crypt and even do a little shopping.
Last night at our celebration dinner our Fresco Guides gave us our ‘Compostela’, the 1000-year-old document awarded by the Cathedral Chapter that certifies that we have indeed completed the pilgrimage to Santiago.
Thank you for following our Virtual CAMINO PORTUGUÉS Tour!
If you like what you saw, keep an eye out for our Northern Camino in the Basque Country, coming soon on…
