** In 2021, we will offer this itinerary in spring and fall – Dates to come **
The Portuguese Camino, offers an alternative full of adventure to get to Santiago de Compostela by traveling through Portugal and Spain (Galicia). Your starting point will be Ponte de Lima, not only the oldest city in Portugal, but also the point of convergence of the historic Jacquaire paths coming from the south and the center of Portugal.
Via Lusitana will offer you diversified stages, with pretty trails, pretty villages and lush nature. Your environment will be composed of eucalyptus, pines, oaks, vines. You will walk on sandy paths, ancient Roman roads, agricultural paths and small country roads. History and tradition, beautiful hilly landscapes, bucolic undergrowth and beautiful bunches of grapes in season await you.
Your group tour leader will greet you at the airport and take an overnight flight.
Arrival and installation at your hotel in Porto. In the early afternoon, you will all go together to visit a typical cellar and taste a good Porto. The rest of the day is free: stroll around the Ribeira district on the banks of the Douro, take a tram ride or visit one of the city’s museums. In the evening, meet your travel partners for a welcome dinner.
Free morning and lunch on your own. In the afternoon, you will take a bus from Porto to Ponte de Lima (2 hour bus ride). Ponte de Lima is one of the oldest cities in Portugal and has a lot of charm with its historic center, a Romano-Gothic bridge, chapels, an agricultural museum, gardens and beaches.
In the morning, you will take a taxi to get to São Roque. After walking 5 km, you will reach the sanctuary of São Bento da Porta Aberta then the Capela do Senhor dos Aflitos in Fontoura from where you will head towards Valença and its fortress. On the program for this day: Roman bridges, Roman roads and pleasant trails.
We will then say goodbye to Valença and Portugal. We are indeed arriving in Galicia and from now on we will see signs indicating the number of kilometers to cover before arriving in Santiago. We will reach the Ponte das Febres (Pont des fièvres) where San Telmo was found dying of malaria.
Today, head to the historic town of Redondela and Santiago church for a well-deserved rest in the superb Vigo estuary.
This is a short recovery stop. You will walk along quiet roads and take Roman roads and forest paths. You will head towards Arcade and take a magnificent path. From the 12th century, Pontevedra was known as one of the most important ports in Galicia. Be sure to enter the Basilica of Santa Maria A Grande or the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Peregrina.
This stop follows a very pleasant route where you will pass from vineyards to Roman roads. Halfway you will reach San Mauro and then you will slide towards the Rio Agra to reach Caldas de Reis and its well known hot springs. There are many Roman archaeological remains: indeed the city has become, since the Middle Ages, a must for pilgrims who come from the south.
You will be always accompanied by a generous nature while walking on paths where peace and quiet reign. Arrived at Padron, you will go to the Santiago church to discover, under the altar, “el pedron”, the stone which was used to attach the boat bringing the body of the apostle James from Jerusalem. According to tradition, it was in this city that Saint Jacques preached for the first time during his stay in Spain. After his ordeal, two of these disciples reportedly transported his body in a stone boat without a sail or rudder from Jerusalem. Padron was the episcopal seat until the discovery of the tomb of Saint Jacques in Santiago de Compostela.
This is the last hiking step before reaching Santiago de Compostela! After having covered ten kilometers crossing the countryside and the eucalyptus forests, you will reach the great suburbs of Santiago and finally the Sanctuary!
Enjoy a beautiful day of relaxation in this legendary city. Experience a 2-hour guided tour given by a local guide to help you discover the historic center and the main attractions of this mythical city.
Free Morning and lunch on your own. You take a bus to go to Porto. Installation at your hotel.
In the morning, enjoy a very pleasant cruise on the Douro. You will have your afternoon free. In the evening, you are invited to a Fado dinner show allowing you to review all the highlights you experienced together and listen to the melancholy tunes from Portugal.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight to Montreal. You leave with your head full of wonderful memories.
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