1st Stage: La Guardia - Oia (16 km)

If we come from Portugal, we will have crossed the Miño by ferry from Caminha through a wide mouth surrounded by mountains and presided over, already in Galician territory.

We start the first stage of the Portuguese Way along the Coast from La Guardia, specifically from the port of disembarkation for pilgrims coming from Portugal, A Pasaxe (La Guardia).

A Pasaxe is located on the slope of Mount Santa Tecla, one of the largest and best-preserved castrex and pre-Roman settlements in Galicia, as well as petroglyphs dating back 2,000 years prior to the occupation of the fort, in the 1st century BC. of C and 1 d. by C.

If we get to climb the mountain we can enjoy fantastic views of the mouth of the river Miño, border with Portugal and the largest river in Galicia.

We will enter La Guardia, known as the capital of the lobster, it is a fishing village where the Pilgrim will visit the historic center, being able to visit the Plaza del Reloj and the chapel of Nuestra Señora de la Guía, among others.

Leaving La Guardia behind, we will begin to walk along the coastal path through practically flat terrain, leaving the Atlantic Ocean on our left until we reach Oia, where it is worth highlighting the Monastery of Santa María de Oia, it has a strategic location, in fact, in In the 17th century, its monks managed to defend themselves from an attack by the Turkish fleet.

The journey has a distance of 16.5 km with 159.85 km to reach Santiago, the terrain is practically flat.

In the stage there are hostels and hotels, pharmacy, cashier, restaurants and shops.

For more information about the stage: https://lasislascies.com/en/first-stage-of-the-camino-de-santiago-portuguese-along-the-coast-from-the-guard-la-guardia-oia-16-km/

Follow the Route in wikiloc by clicking: https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-a-pie/1a-etapa-la-guardia-oia-16-km-41078125

2nd Stage: Oia - Baiona (18 km)

We begin our second stage leaving Oia behind us, we will pass near Cabo Silleiro, you will be able to appreciate the cannons that defended the coasts from possible invaders, such as the pirate Francis Drake, who arrived in our waters in 1585.

Before reaching Baiona, we will go up the old royal path to reach Baredo, we will shorten the journey by about 2 kilometers if we choose the coast, there are unpaved roads but the ascent is not too hard. My option is to go down to the Virgen de la Roca, the work of Antonio Palacios, made of granite and marble, to reach the gates of the Castle of Monte Real-Parador Nacional de Turismo, we can do the path that surrounds it if we are not very tired It is worth it, we can also visit the replica of the caravel La Pinta, the food market and many other popular architectural works.

On March 1, 1493, Baiona was the first port in Europe to receive the news of the discovery of America, as the Caravel La Pinta arrived, captained by Martín Alonso Pinzón.

Baiona is also the southern start of the Vigo estuary, protected by the Cíes Islands, which are the heart of the Atlantic Islands National Park, which can be visited depending on the season from the port of Baiona.

The stage has a distance of 17.8 km, remaining 143.35 km to Santiago.

For more information about the stage: https://lasislascies.com/en/2a-stage-of-the-portuguese-camino-de-santiago-along-the-coast-from-la-guardia-oia-baiona-8-km/

Follow the Route in Wikiloc by clicking: https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-a-pie/2a-etapa-oia-baiona-18-km-41078578

3rd Stage: Baiona - Vigo (25 km)

We say goodbye to Baiona. We will do the next stage all along the coast, the path is easy and for my taste, much more beautiful. We will cross the marshes of La Foz and reach Ramallosa, where we can see the Roman bridge on our left. Instead of going up to Prgamos, we will continue towards Playa América and Panxón, following the beaches, we will go through a fantastic walk through Playa América until the end of the Panxón pass, we must see the votive temple of the Sea, built on the remains of a Visigoth temple of the s. VII, we go down again to go right along the Madorra beach towards Patos to get to a Surf school, there we will follow a dirt road next to the beach until the end of a cut path, we will have to go down the beach a few 20 meters to reach the access to the descent of the Playa de Prado, where we will go up the slope to the National Highway (PO325), continuing to the left towards Canido, before reaching a gas station, it would go down Rua Canabido to continue along Rua del Arquitecto Gomez Román to get to Rua de Canido, I suggest stopping to regain strength at the Cochón restaurant, El Puerto or Canto da Area, an octopus tapa or some typical dish will help us recover from the effort. We are already entering the Vigo estuary, we will make the journey parallel to the Bao, Sirenita, Samil and La Fuente beaches until we reach the Museum of the Sea, there we will take another path to continue on the flat that will take us to Bouzas where the last section begins , Orillamar avenue, we will see the most important shipyards in Galicia and one of the largest inshore ports in the world, the Berbés to reach Vigo. In the APP you have the most emblematic places to visit, if it were you I would be in the city for a few days, I would take the opportunity to visit the Cíes Islands, check the availability on our website, it is worth it.

For more information on the stage: https://lasislascies.com/en/third-stage-of-the-camino-de-santiago-along-the-coast-from-la-guardia-baiona-vigo-25-km/

Follow the Route in Wikiloc by clicking https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-a-pie/3a-etapa-baiona-vigo-25-km-41079006

4th stage (Winter): Vigo - Cangas (by boat) - Marín (22 km)

It is important that you know in advance that this route is unusual and very few people have done it before, it is hardly signposted, we are talking with the local authorities of each municipality to sign it, hopefully they act quickly, it is a pioneering route since Most of the way we will do it next to the beaches of the Pontevedra estuary, it has been an alternative route to the already known stage that goes from Vigo to Redondela and later to Pontevedra.

We start our route from Vigo, taking the boat to Cangas with the only shipping company that makes this journey, Mar de Ons, there are departures every hour every day. When we arrive at the Port of Cangas we must visit the ex-collegiate Parroquia de Cangas and Islas Cíes (16th century), the great jewel of the municipality with Renaissance architecture and sculpture. We will follow the path towards Ruta dos Muiños de Coiro until we reach the hermitage of San Cosme, we will continue straight on Lugar a Portela street until we reach a crossroad, at the end of the road, we will find a laundry with a path that passes under the road , we take it and it will take us to the Church of San Martiño de Bueu, then we will continue towards the port of Bueu, either along the sidewalk or along a path that begins next to the fountain that is going down when leaving the church towards the port, there we can take the boat to Portonovo or Combarro (if we get a group of 12) or continue towards Marín crossing spectacular beaches such as Loureiro, Portomayor (Ramón restaurant), Lapamán, Loira (Tapería A Figueira), Aguete, Portocelo to finally reach our destination, Marin.

In my opinion, we can rest on one of the terraces of the Alameda, next to the entrance of the Naval School and take a bus to spend the night in Pontevedra, this 7 km stretch from Marín to Pontevedra is all road and passes next to a pulp mill, it is not a recommended route.

For more information about the stage: 

Portuguese Way of Santiago along the Coast from La Guardia: Vigo-Cangas-Bueu-Marín-Pontevedra, 22 km, 4th stage

Follow the Route in Wikiloc by clicking https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-a-pie/4a-etapa-vigo-cangas-bueu-marin-22-km-41136328

5th stage (Spiritual Variant of Father Sarmiento): Pontevedra-Armenteira (21 km)

If you listened to me, you will have taken a bus from Marín to rest in Pontevedra, if you arrived in the early afternoon I would visit the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor and the chapel of the pilgrim virgin and of course, the Ravachol parrot, in the square Pilgrim, it’s worth it. In the morning, it is time to start the Spiritual Variant of Padre Sarmiento, we will cross the Burgo bridge following Calle de La Santiña, 2 km we will find a detour to the left, the Spiritual Variant begins, we will go through little traveled rural roads to reach the Monastery of San Juan de Poio, of general interest since 1971. We will follow the Camino towards Combarro, a coastal town full of granaries, with narrow and winding streets, wonderful. Then it is the climb to Armenteira, about 430 meters of altitude, sections of road and dirt tracks to finally reach the Monastery of Armenteira, a very quiet rural enclave in the middle of the mountain where we can spend the night and rest after having traveled about 21 km.

For more information about the stage: https://lasislascies.com/en/fifth-stage-of-the-portuguese-way-along-the-coast-from-la-guardia-variante-del-padre-sarmiento-pontevedra-armenteira-21-km/

Follow the Route in Wikiloc by clicking https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-a-pie/5a-etapa-variable-espiritual-del-padre-sarmiento-pontevedra-armenteira-21-km-41423990

6th stage: Armenteira - Vilanova de Arousa (24 km)

Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful stages, practically downhill and flat, has no difficulty. We will walk through “The Stone and Water Route” that runs through a natural setting of great beauty, between the Ribadumia and Meis councils, in the Salnés region. We will walk under the shade of the trees we will find old water mills that rest on the banks of the Armenteira river. Once we get to the flat part, after crossing the road, resting at the Bar O Chiringo de Concha, it is worth it, after the stop we will go through the “Rías Baixas Vineyard Route”, orchards and vineyards that indicate that we are approaching the Ría de Arousa, after having traveled about 24 km we reached the beaches and Vilanova de Arousa.

For more information about the stage: https://lasislascies.com/camino-de-santiago-portugues-por-la-costa-sexta-etapa-armenteira-vilanova/

Follow the Route in Wikiloc by clicking https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-a-pie/6a-etapa-armenteira-vilanova-de-arousa-23-km-41669096

7th stage: Vilanova de Arousa - Pontecesures (by boat) - Santiago (24 km)

I have to indicate that this “River Route” does not count as the Camino de Santiago, but with the kilometers we carry in our backpack, we will not mind enjoying this wonderful route and thus avoid a 28 km walk to Pontecesures.

We will make the journey in a private boat, at a cost of approximately 19 euros the journey of 1 hour and 15 minutes where they will explain the operation of the rafts and the details to take into account of the crossing, its Via Crucis, the Cortegada Island, the famous Carril clams, for example.

We will cross the Ría de Arousa and ascend the Ulla river, recalling the journey that Teodoro and Atanasio made from Palestine in AD 44 with the remains of Santiago Apóstol.

We will arrive in Pontecesures to continue the Portuguese Way to Santiago, about 24 km of travel to finish our Way and get the Compostela, remember that now you have to get a ticket before 14:00 P.M. to have the Credential stamped.

For more information about the stage: https://lasislascies.com/en/last-stage-of-the-portuguese-way-along-the-coast-from-la-guardia-vilanova-de-arousa-santiago-24-km/

Follow the Route in Wikiloc by clicking https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-senderismo/7a-etapa-vilanova-de-arousa-a-pontecesures-y-santiago-de-compostela-24-km-56908632