Portuguese Camino with Intrepid Travel

On this hiking excursion, you can expect delicious, fresh seafood of every variety at very affordable prices. (Breakfast was included in the tour price, but we were on our own for other meals except for one lunch, one dinner and a wine tasting.) The scenery changes throughout the week, from sweeping coastal views to country paths among vineyards and livestock, and finally to mountain towns and the wooded roads that connect them. The roadside cafés along the way each have their own character and become a memorable part of the experience.

While plenty of people complete this hike independently, I appreciated traveling with a group. We felt safer knowing we wouldn’t take a wrong turn and that we had an experienced guide to consult about everything from blisters to tricks for getting wet laundry to dry faster (and to help us if anything more serious came up, particularly in a place where we weren’t fluent in the local language). It was great to have his insights into the area's history and culture. The luggage transfer service was also nice. We didn’t have to carry all of our belongings on our backs, but rather, could hike with just a light pack of essentials we might need while walking. We stayed at a different hotel each night (except for two nights in Vigo for our rest day). Each time we arrived at a new location, our suitcases were waiting.

At least on this part of the Camino, the hotels are a bit rundown relative to what experienced travelers may be used to. But still quite nice compared to the experience of staying in a bunkhouse. At the end of long hiking days, you’ll be happy enough to have a clean, safe and quiet place to take a hot shower and then rest your head. Most offer an excellent breakfast as well. However, if time allows, I do recommend bookending your trip with a stay in Porto at the beginning and/or Santiago de Compostela at the end. These cities have more than enough to keep you entertained for a couple of days, and they offer elevated lodging options that feel extra luxe to a tired and sore hiker.

My suggestions for this are under "Where to stay" on this page.

As active vacations go, I’d consider this “active light.” You do need to be physically fit, and I completed training hikes beforehand (to test out my shoes and other gear as much as my body). However, as long as you have a solid baseline, you can expect your fitness level to improve as your body adapts throughout the week. (Warning: The experience will leave you wanting to immediately head out on another hiking trip — at least after you rest a bit.

The hiking was not difficult from a technical perspective, and more than half of it was on paved roads. There are many different routes for the Camino de Santiago. Since people would simply depart on the pilgrimage from wherever they lived, you could hike north from Portugal or west from France. There are even routes that begin in Italy. I can’t vouch for the terrain of those other routes, but this one was largely through villages and small towns, punctuated with shorter treks through wooded areas.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Portugal. In need of further inspiration? Check out my guide, Eight Day Itinerary in Portugal: Meaningful Vacations with Intrepid Travel.