I’m very excited to launch the first leg of our Portuguese Coastal Camino!
In October 2027, we’ll walk 52 miles over five days, starting in beautiful Porto and following the Portuguese coastline north to Viana do Castelo, taking in Atlantic beaches, wooden boardwalks, fishing villages, coastal towns and some incredible scenery along the way.
But this is just the beginning! The plan is to return to Portugal in October 2028 to continue our journey north towards Spain, before completing the final leg in October 2029, when we’ll walk all the way into Santiago de Compostela together.
You can join us for this first adventure without committing to the future legs, although I hope many of us will eventually make the whole journey together.
Once you’ve booked your place, I’ll send you all the information you need to plan your trip, including my suggested flights and recommendations for where to stay in Porto and along the route.
Five days. 52 miles. One unforgettable stretch of the Camino…and the start of a three-year adventure to Santiago!
Monday 11 October to Saturday 16 October and Sun 17 October-Friday 22 October
Day 1 – Porto to Matosinhos
Approx. 11 km / 7 miles
Our Portuguese Camino adventure begins in the heart of Porto.
We’ll start the day by registering with the Pilgrim Office and purchasing our Pilgrim Passports before heading to Porto Cathedral, where we’ll receive our first Camino stamp.
From here, we’ll make our way downhill towards the River Douro and begin following the Senda Litoral, the coastal route that will eventually take us all the way to Santiago de Compostela.
We’ll walk along the riverfront, beneath the enormous Ponte da Arrábida bridge and through historic fishing areas before reaching Foz do Douro after around 6km. Here we’ll stop for a scenic drink and snack at a beautiful beachfront café, with the Atlantic stretching out in front of us.
Then it’s onwards to Matosinhos, where we’ll finish our first day after 11km of walking.
Our first night – Matosinhos
Matosinhos is a city built around the sea, fishing and pilgrimage. For centuries, pilgrims have passed through here heading north towards Santiago, just as we are.
But Matosinhos is also famous for its incredible beaches and, perhaps most importantly, its food!
In 2025, Matosinhos was named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, recognising its rich food culture and strong connection to the sea. The city is particularly famous for its fresh fish and seafood, much of which is cooked simply over charcoal. You’ll often see fish being grilled outside the restaurants, so this is definitely the night to eat local!
We’ll have plenty of time to explore, relax and enjoy our first Camino evening before our journey continues north along the Atlantic coast tomorrow.
Day 2 – Matosinhos to Vila do Conde
Approx. 23 km / 14 miles
Today we leave Matosinhos behind and continue north along the beautiful Atlantic coast on the Senda Litoral.
We’ll pass the iconic Boa Nova Lighthouse at Leça da Palmeira before joining the wooden boardwalks that hug this spectacular stretch of coastline. With the Atlantic beside us, we’ll walk past sandy beaches, dunes and traditional fishing communities, including Lavra, Labruge and Vila Chá, where colourful boats, fishing huts and nets drying in the sunshine are still part of everyday life.
There will be plenty of opportunities to stop along the way for a coffee, cold drink or lunch overlooking the ocean before we continue towards Vila do Conde.
Our walk finishes in the beautiful historic seaside town of Vila do Conde, where the River Ave meets the Atlantic. Vila do Conde predates Portugal itself and has been an important fishing and shipbuilding town for centuries.
Once we’ve checked into our accommodations, there’ll be time to explore the old town, see the spectacular Santa Clara Aqueduct and Convent, wander along the waterfront or visit the replica 16th-century Portuguese sailing ship.
Definitely not just somewhere we’re stopping for the night, with plenty of restaurants to choose from for fresh fish, Portuguese food and perhaps one of the town’s traditional convent cakes, Vila do Conde is part of the adventure!
Day 3 – Vila do Conde to Fão
Approx. 22 km / 13.5 miles
We leave Vila do Conde and quickly reach the lively seaside town of Póvoa de Varzim, following the waterfront past fishing boats, churches and reminders of the town’s long connection with the sea.
From here, we continue north along the Atlantic through Aguçadoura and Santo André, with a mixture of coastal paths, wooden boardwalks and quieter stretches through small communities, farmland and old windmills.
Around Apúlia, the scenery changes again as the Camino takes us through pine woodland and along rural tracks before returning towards the coast. Apúlia is particularly known for its distinctive old windmills dotted along the shoreline.
Our destination today is Fão, a peaceful village on the banks of the Rio Cávado and a bit of a hidden gem on the Portuguese Coastal Camino.
A long walking day, but one packed with changing scenery, seaside towns, fishing communities, boardwalks, farmland, woodland and some spectacular stretches of Portuguese coastline.
Day 4 – Fão to Chafé
Approx. 21.5 km / 13.5 miles
We leave Fão and begin our walking day by crossing the Rio Cávado over the historic D. Luís Filipe iron bridge, with beautiful views across the river estuary as we make our way into Esposende. We pass the best Camino merchandise shop on this road so save space in your day bag for a t-shirt or mug!
Leaving Esposende, we head north along coastal boardwalks and sandy paths, passing the old stone windmills of Marinhas overlooking the Atlantic.
Around Belinho, the Camino begins to take us inland and the scenery changes completely. We leave the open coastline behind for quiet rural lanes, farmland and small Portuguese villages before heading into peaceful eucalyptus and pine forests.
This is a very different stretch of the Camino, following dirt tracks and ancient stone paths through the trees, with a little more undulating terrain than the flatter coastal boardwalks of our previous days.
Our walk finishes in the rural village of Chafé, just inland from the wild sands of Praia da Amorosa. From here, we’ll take taxis for the short journey into Viana do Castelo, where we’ll spend the night.
Viana do Castelo is considered one of the jewels of the Portuguese Coastal Camino, a beautiful riverside city filled with maritime history, elegant architecture, lively squares and fantastic places to eat and drink.
Day 5 – Chafé to Viana do Castelo
Approx. 8 km / 5 miles
We will take taxis back to Chafé to begin our final stretch of the Camino. From here, the route leads us towards Anha and onwards to the famous double-deck iron Ponte Eiffel bridge, where we cross the Lima River straight into the heart of beautiful Viana do Castelo.
This is where our Camino adventure comes to an end. From Viana do Castelo, we will take the train back to Porto, where you can either check into a hotel for the night or head to the airport for your flight back to the UK.
