Camino de Santiago - Portuguese way - Part 2 (From Oia to Santiago de Compostela)

Itinerary:

Day 1. Arrival to Oia
Relax on your first night in this beautiful coastal village which is also home to the Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Oya.

Day 2. Oia - Baiona
From Oia, you will walk along a coastal footpath away from the main road. After 10km you will then continue along gorgeous coast line on boardwalk with stunning views on the Atlantic Ocean and the Cies islands. (B/-/D)
Walking distance:17.37 km

Day 3. Baiona - Vigo
The way out of the gorgeous town of Baiona will have you alongside a sandy beach for most of the day. You will have regular opportunity to stop in a local cafe along the beach. You will then enter a typical galician entrance of Vigo and maze of streets before entering Vigo via its wide sandy beach. Vigo is a very active city that you will reach after 3km walk through the harbour. (B/-/-)
Walking ditance: 25.83km

Day 4. Vigo - Pontevedra
On this trip, we will transfer you from Vigo to the start of your walk today in Redondela (10km from Vigo). Once dropped in Redondela, you will join the traditional Portuguese Way. You will start seeing more pilgrims along the Camino. You will pass through typical Galician landscape with rural areas and lush green Eucaliptus forests. Before the halfway mark, you will cross Ponte Sanpaio where Napoleon troupes were defeated. The arrival into Pontevedra offer a slightly shorter but along the road option or a slightly longer shaded option. Your final stop of the day has a lovely center with pedestrian streets and lovely cider bar/restaurant behind the church. (B/-/-)
Walking distance: 34.26km

Day 5. Pontevedra - Caldas de Reyes
Passing chestnut groves, the Camino leaves Pontevedra and runs parallel to the railway for a while. After passing through the hamlet of Ponte Cabras, we encounter the rectory of Santa Maria de Alba, tucked away among pine and eucalyptus trees. Emerging from the dense woods of Lombo da Maceira, you’ll see a statue of Saint James the pilgrim, his staff pointing the way to proceed. The lovely village of Tibo, with its fountain, public washing place and stone cross, brings us to Caldas do Rei. (B/-/D)
Walking distance: 21.08km

Day 6. Caldas de Reyes - Padron
Exiting the town, we take a bridge over the River Umia that leads us to a fountain of hot spring water that has lent the town its name since Roman times. Entering the woods once more, the Camino make its way gently uphill to the hamlet of Santa Marina. Going downhill, we cross the river Fontenlo. Finally, following a Camino lined with pine trees, we catch up again with the river as we arrive in Padron. Padron is famous for being the first land sighted by the ship bearing the body of St James. (B/-/D)
Walking distance: 18.85km

Day 7. Padron - Santiago de Compostela
The Camino passes through many small villages and hamlets before arriving at the Baroque sanctuary of A Esclavitude. On a hilltop to the left stands the mysterious, abandoned ruins of the hillfort Castro Lupario.A few kilometres later, we come to the oldest wayside crosses in Galicia. As we near Agro dos Monteiros, it’s now possible to see the spires of the cathedral in Santiago. Finally, the Camino passes by the ruins of a castle known as A Rocha Vella, before entering the city of the Apostle. (B/-/-)
Walking distance: 25.05km

Day 8. Santiago de Compostela
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure.

See stage 1 of Camino de Santiago - Portuguese way from Porto to Oia here