Camino Portuges from Tui

The Camino Portgues runs from Lisbon to Santiago a distance of 620km but my family is starting from Vigo which is just inside Portugal and is 117km from Santiago. From here they will pass into Spain at Tui and pass through Arcade where they will see the sea briefly before turning inland passing through Pontevedra and Padron which is famous for its peppers and as the spot where the stone boat carrying Saint James was supposed to have landed.

Historically this was the route used by Queen Isabel of Portugal when she made a Pilgrimage to Santaigo.

Image adapted from http://www.gregspurgin.com/walking-the-camino-in-portugal/ (a blog written by a couple who walked from Lisbon to Santiago)

There are albergues on this route in Tui, Porrino, Mos, Redondela, Cestantes, Pontevedra and Padron although my family will also be staying in hotels which are more numerous (and were found using one of the hotel booking sites). The Portuguese pilgrims’ Association Via Lusitana has a list of accommodation in both countries at http://www.vialusitana.org/en/albergues_eng/

In 2015 43, 137 Pilgrims (16.44% of the total) arrived in Santiago having walked the Camino Portugues compared to 172, 206 (65.61%) who travelled on the Camino Frances making the Camino Portugues the second most popular Camino (statistics taken from http://peregrinossantiago.es/eng/pilgrims-office/statistics/?anio=2015&mes=).

Guidebooks:

The Confraternity of Saint James publishes two guides: ‘The Camino Portugués, Lisbon to Porto’ and ‘The Camino Portugués, Porto to Santiago’ both published in 2014 both of which are available from their shop or to download for a donation at http://www.csj.org.uk/planning-your-pilgrimage/csj-guides-and-updates/

John Brierley’s guide ‘A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Camino Portugués’ was last published in 2015 and is available from http://www.findhornpress.com/categories/nature-travel/camino for £15 (or just the maps are available for £10 or for download for $10 [I couldn't find a price in pounds])

The Associacão Dos Amigos Do Caminho Portugues de Santiago, Ponte de Lima publishes ‘Camino Portugués Porto Santiago – the Portuguese Way’ which is available in Ponte de Lima.

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