Determining the numerous routes of the Portuguese Camino de Santiago is likely to be complicated for first-time pilgrims. Over the latest years I’ve walked all of the routes lots of them greater than as soon as and have loads of data about them. On this publish I clarify the primary routes of the Portuguese Camino, examine them, and provides my opinion on every of them.
What number of routes does the Portuguese Camino have?
The Lisbon to Porto a part of the Camino has one route. It goes inland from Lisbon via Santarem and Coimbra, and to Porto.
The Camino from Porto has 3 routes; Central, Coastal, and Litoral.
There may be another route on the Portuguese Camino from Pontevedra to Padron, it’s known as the Non secular Variant.
As you’ll be able to see, the a part of the Camino from Porto to Santiago has many route choices.
We’ve detailed posts with PDF and GPX recordsdata of the primary routes of the Portuguese Camino.
What’s the greatest route of the Portuguese Camino?
It relies on your preferences. For me, the Litoral Manner is the perfect route as a result of I get pleasure from strolling alongside the coast. One other bonus of this route is that it’s flat. It has barely any hills. For those who don’t like ups and downs, the Litoral Manner is unquestionably the perfect route. 80% of the route is subsequent to the ocean. One other benefit of the Senda Litoral is that it doesn’t go alongside busy roads or industrial areas.
For historic cities I’d say the Central Route is the winner. I appreciated the cities on this route probably the most. The forest half is sweet too. You get to see rural areas, forests, and fields. This route affords the perfect cultural expertise. Many sources discuss with it as to the unique route of the Portuguese Camino.
I’ve combined emotions concerning the Coastal Route. Regardless of the identify the vast majority of it’s inland. Solely 30% of the route is subsequent to the coast. Which isn’t what you anticipate once you resolve to stroll the coastal route. This route is one thing between the Central and Litoral Manner. It goes alongside the coast however on the similar time you stroll via forest and over the hills.
You may mix the routes to resolve for your self which one you want probably the most.
As for the Lisbon to Porto a part of the Camino it’s more difficult that the Porto to Santiago half. That half has few albergues, longer distances, and goes via extra remoted areas. The surroundings on the Lisbon route is gorgeous particularly in spring time however it’s 100% rural (principally fields), no coast or mountains.
Evaluating the Portuguese Camino routes
Distance from Porto to Santiago
Central Route – 243,5 km/151 mi
Coastal Route – 274 km/170 mi
Litoral Manner – 280 km/173 mi
Variety of days (levels)
Central Route – 10-13 days
Coastal Route – 12-15 days
Litoral Manner – 12-15 days
Complete ascent/descent
Central Route – 4045 m/3820 m
Coastal Route – 3990 m/3716 m
Litoral Manner – 2975 m/2705 m
Variety of pilgrims
Central Route – 63% of pilgrims on the Portuguese Camino
Coastal Route – 37% of pilgrims
Litoral Manner – there isn’t any knowledge for the Litoral Manner as a result of it coincides with the Coastal Route. A small a part of 37% from the Coastal Route walks the Litoral Manner.
Strolling floor
Central Route – 42 km/26 mi – cobbled; 143 km/89 mi – tar highway/asphalt; 57 km/35,4 mi – footpath/gravel highway.
Coastal Route – 29 km/18 mi – cobbled; 155 km/96 mi – tar highway/asphalt; 65 km/40,3 mi – footpath/gravel highway; 24 km/15 mi – boardwalks; 1 km/0,6 mi – seashore.
Litoral Manner – 19 km/11,8 mi – cobbled; 167 km/103 mi – tar highway/asphalt; 53,5 km/33,2 mi – footpath/gravel highway; 35 km/21,7 mi – boardwalks; 5,5 km/3,4 mi – seashore.
Route marking
Central Route – well-marked from the begin to the top
Coastal Route – well-marked aside from the Vigo half
Litoral Manner – principally not marked
We’ve two detailed posts evaluating the Central Route and Coastal Route and the Litoral Manner and Coastal Route.
Easy methods to mix the Camino routes?
You may mix all 4 routes of the Portuguese Camino.
The simplest means is to start out on the Litoral Manner from Porto to Vila do Conde.
Then proceed on the Litoral Manner or Coastal Route (each routes merge and break up on a regular basis) to Caminha.
From Caminha stroll to Valença and from there proceed on the Central Path to Pontevedra.
From Pontevedra you comply with the Non secular Variant to Padron. And from Padron proceed once more on the Central Path to Santiago.
What’s the most scenic route?
For my part (which is likely to be completely different from yours) the Litoral Manner is probably the most scenic route. You get to see many spectacular unspoiled seashores and the picturesque wild coast with previous windmills, small fishermen villages, and lighthouses.
The Coastal Route has comparable surroundings however you stroll subsequent to the ocean lots lower than on the Litoral Manner.
The Central Route is gorgeous too. For my part it has probably the most fascinating historic cities.
Right here I need to point out the Non secular Variant too. A stroll via the gorgeous forest round Armenteira and a ship trip from Vilanova de Arousa to Pontecesures is a singular and really particular expertise.
The route from Lisbon to Porto is generally via the countryside however it does have fascinating cities equivalent to Santarem, Tomar, Coimbra, and Agueda.
What’s the shortest route?
The Central Route of the Portuguese Camino is the shortest one. The full distance from Porto to Santiago is 243,5 km/151 mi. It takes between 10 and 13 days on common to finish it.
If you wish to stroll a shorter route and nonetheless get your Compostela certificates you’ll be able to stroll the final 100 km on the Portuguese Camino from Tui (Central Route) or Vigo (Coastal/Litoral Route).
The space of the Portuguese Camino from Lisbon to Porto is 370 km/230 mi. The full distance from Lisbon to Santiago relies on which route from Porto you select. It’s 613 km/381 mi on the Central Route; 644 km/400 mi on the Coastal Route; and 650 km/403 mi on the Litoral Manner.
Which Portuguese route has much less cobblestones?
The Litoral Manner has the least strolling on cobblestones (calçada portuguesa). 19 km out of 280 km are on cobblestones. You get cobbled streets within the Portuguese a part of the route. In Spain you typically get them in historic facilities.
The route with probably the most historic cities
The Central Route has probably the most fascinating historic cities. Among the greatest cities on the route are Barcelos, Ponte de Lima, Valenca, Tui, Caldas de Reis, Redondela, Pontevedra, Padron.
You do get stunning cities on the Coastal and Litoral Manner. A few of my favorites are Viana do Castelo, Caminha, Baiona, and Vigo. The final one is a giant metropolis with a busy port however the historic middle is gorgeous.
Which Camino is the perfect for first-time pilgrims?
I’d say the Central Route is probably the most simple and straightforward to comply with. It’s well-marked from the begin to the top. It has probably the most pilgrims and greatest infrastructure.
The Coastal Route is marked too and has sufficient locations to remain. Some elements of the route is likely to be a bit complicated. I principally discuss with the stroll to and from Vigo. It has sufficient albergues although fewer than the Central Route.
As for the Litoral Manner it is likely to be more difficult for first-time pilgrims who are usually not used to strolling with navigation. Most of this route is just not marked. It’s straightforward to comply with because it goes alongside the coast however in some locations you need to use navigation e.g. to get throughout the river.
The Non secular route of the Portuguese Camino
The Non secular Variant is one other route of the Portuguese Camino from Vilanova de Arousa to Pontecesures. This route is a singular one as a result of it includes a ship trip. The boat journey (Traslatio) from Pontecesures to Padron ( is believed to repeat the route that was used to carry the stays of St.James (Santiago) from Jerusalem to Santiago de Compostela.
The route is spectacular and the boat trip provides a particular contact to the Camino expertise. The Non secular Variant has fewer pilgrims than the primary Portuguese route so in the event you stroll within the peak season and need to skip the crowds it’s a very good various.
The space from Pontevedra to Padron
on the Non secular Variant – 74 km/46 mi (46 km/28,5 mi strolling and 28 km/17,3 mi by boat), 3 levels
on the primary Camino route – 39,5 km/24,5 mi, 2 levels
The beautiful half of Stingy Nomads, answerable for all our land adventures (mountain climbing, climbing, strolling the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves strolling since she was a toddler, she prefers to stroll 1000 km with a backpack fairly than to do a ten 000 km highway journey (truly any highway journey). Alya is a giant fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Each time we go away she desperately misses our canine Chile.
