Images from our Camino Portugués Coastal Litoral Route walk in August/September 2026
On our way!
View from our apartment in Porto, Portugal - August 29, 2026
River Douro in Porto, Portugal - August 29, 2026
First Morning - Porto, Portugal
Walkway to our Apartment in Porto
Happy to be finished with travel for now!
Waiting for breakfast - Porto, Portugal
Another view from our apartment window - Porto, Portugal August 29, 2026
Yum!
View of Porto from outside the building where our apartment was located.
Enjoying a walk through Porto
Cheers!
Visiting the Camino Portuguese starting point the day before 'kick-off'.
Narrow, steep street in Porto
First day! Early wake and start.
Sé do Porto - Starting point for those who begin their Camino in Porto, Portugal
Narrow street near Sé do Porto where we being the downward trek toward Douro River
Heading to the Douro River from Sé do Porto
Foggy sunrise on the River Douro, Porto
Camino path marker in Porto
Camino path along the Douro River
Camino Portuguese Porto
Beach along the Atlantic Ocean, Camino Portuguese, Litoral Variant
First Camino Portuguese breakfast
One of our first views of the Atlantic Ocean
Some tourist (lol) on the Camino Portuguese in a very large hat......
Statue called Homem do Leme (The Helmsman) is prominently situated right on the seaside promenade of Avenida de Montevideu in the União das Freguesias de Aldoar, Foz do Douro e Nevogilde, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean
Goofy looking Pellegrino
Our first night accommodations in Matosinhos, Porto - This was a beautiful old home that has been in the same family for many generations. Host and facilities were great!
Off we go to begin Day 2!
The Farol de Leça (also widely known as the Farol da Boa Nova), located on the Atlantic coast in the parish union of Matosinhos e Leça da Palmeira, just north of Porto. This is the second tallest lighthouse in Portugal.
Caminho Português marker in Matosinhos - one of the first we noticed. Very different from the stone markers in Spain.
The Capela da Boa Nova, also known as the Ermida de São Clemente das Penhas (Chapel of Saint Clement of the Rocks), is a historic 14th-century coastal chapel located in Leça da Palmeira
View from the rear of the Capela da Boa Nova
Capela da Boa Nova
Sunita taking a photo of me taking a photo of her.... we in a loop?
Cruising down the boardwalk
Takin a break.....
A bad selfie, but beautiful natural background!
We came to a small fishing village. There were about a dozen small huts like these and every type of fishing paraphernalia you can name strewn everywhere. It was like a random small community in the middle of empty coastline.
Seaside house with whimsical decorations
boardwalk bridge
Day 3 begins with mist and fog
photo of Sunita taking a photo.... it's a think I guess....
food and coffee break
Vila do Conde, Portugal
Alburgue Mar Rosa
Kitchen in our Alburgue Mar Rosa in Agucadoura
Setting sun over the Atlantic from the shared rooftop balcony at our alburgue.
Peaceful end to Day 3.
Quiet start to Day 4.
Route marker - in a small village and a bit off the coast.
Back near the coast and on boardwalks again, we rounded a corner and came upon a golf course. The ocean is just over the berm.
The Camino boardwalk continued along the edge of the golf course for nearly a mile. You can see the clubhouse in the distance on the left.
One of the few signs I saw that actually included "Litoral" as part of the name.
The path veered off the coast temporarily to dirt and gravel roads.
After the fall. If you read the blog, you will remember Sunita fell and hurt her knee where the Camino left the coast and followed dirt roads for a mile or so. She fell just as we were approaching the Atlantic again.
Cafe where we had breakfast and coffee, and talked through our options for the rest of the day.
Day 5 Relaxing on our down day in Viana do Castelo, Portugal
View from the beach outside our hotel
Wrap up the afternoon with pizza and beer.
Day 6 - Off to Carreco
gravel path along the ocean
ocean views (next 3)
quiet and beautiful
Suita waiting for her pokey spouse to catch up.
farmland and small villages along the ocean
can you determine where the hat ends and the bag begins? :).
These were very common along this stage off the Camino. The traditional round stone buildings found directly on the beaches and dunes of the Atlantic coast in Portugal—most famously in Apúlia (Esposende)—were originally built as windmills (moinhos de vento). In the 18th and 19th centuries, they served a vital agricultural role, utilizing sails to turn internal millstones and grind corn, wheat, and rye grown in the coastal region. When industrial mills made them obsolete, the structures were purchased by families and fishermen. Because of their unbeatable beachfront locations and thick, weatherproof stone walls, they were converted into holiday chalets, private residences, or storage spaces for fishing and harvesting gear.
Sign post
Our hostel for the night, called Morada do Ultramar. Awesome hosts and perfect location - directly on the Camino.
kicking back waiting for our room
Dinner! We also had mussels but I didn't take a pic
Leaving Carreco early morning on our way to Caminha. Our last day in Portugal
Cool, crisp sunrise
Someone is happy!
Ocean views again
Last part of the walk today included about a mile though this park taking me toward Rio Minho and the final boardwalk into Caminha
I can see Spain!!!
Day 8.- Quick coffee and breakfast before catching the water-taxi to Spain
Someone is not happy to meet a local butcher :)
Waiting for our water taxi
Survived the ride and made it to Aguarda, Spain
Monastery in Oia, Spain
contemplating the view and things.....
entrance to our lunch spot
one of the bedrooms in the house we rented. It was in a very old building with the original stone walls throughout, but also had been recently updated. Very nice spot to rest
Off to a local grocery to pickup dinner
The views are worth the climb up to get groceries
Day 9 - Oia to Baiona
Leaving Oia, Spain
Typical small farms and villages along the path today
Familiar stone marker
Impressive scenery even when cloudy
Entering Baiona
Reward for walking
Day 10 Baiona to Vigo. Good Morning!
Monument to Martín Alonso Pinzón stands on a roundabout near the waterfront of Baiona. Martín Alonso Pinzón was a seasoned sailor from Palos de la Frontera in Andalusia. He captained the caravel "Pinta" during Christopher Columbus's first Atlantic crossing in 1492.
Beautiful sunrise lights up the buildings along the harbor in Baiona
Early morning during our walk from Baiona to Saians, Spain
Taking a break after a climb up from the harbor area.
Our accommodations for the evening.
relaxing sunset.
Day 11 Saians to Vigo. The morning weather and light was stunning
Breakfast!
Trying to be 'artsy' (fail.... LOL)
This small cross (double click the photo will show all of the cross) is a traditional Galician stone cross known as a cruceiro. This one is located right on the edge of Fontaíña Beach (Playa de Fontaíña / Praia da Fontaíña), which sits just off the Rúa de Canido coastal road on the southwestern outskirts of Vigo, Spain. In Galicia, cruceiros are traditional, ornate stone structures usually featuring a carved crucifix. While most are found at crossroads or near churches, a handful are explicitly positioned along the Atlantic coast to bless sailors, protect fishermen, and offer a striking silhouette against the ocean backdrop.
Coastal stone art along Rúa de Canido. Vigo and the surrounding region of Galicia are deeply rooted in granite-working traditions. The local stone craft culture ranges from massive civic monuments to anonymous, smaller decorative pieces. This particular face is likely a creation out of PEDRA Stone Design Projects, a traditional granite carving workshop and sculpture studio located directly on Rúa de Canido. Directed by local sculptor and master stonemason Rodrigo García, the workshop is known for placing custom, standalone granite pieces and artistic carvings—ranging from stylized faces and marine life to traditional Galician structures—integrated right into the landscape and coastal gardens along this specific stretch of road.
The Camino path briefly veered away from the ocean through this picturesque park.
Vegetarian restaurant in Vigo where I met up with Sunia and Olga
Exterior of our hotel and kick-off point for our walk from Vigo to Redondela
Day 12 - Vigo to Redondela. The climb out of Vigo was steady and long, but rewarded us with views like this.
The Rande Bridge (Galician: Ponte de Rande, Spanish: Puente de Rande) is a cable-stayed bridge 9 kilometres from the city of Vigo and 18 kilometres from the city of Pontevedra, in the Province of Pontevedra, Spain. It spans Vigo bay across the Rande Strait, linking the municipalities of Redondela and Moaña.
Iglesia de San Andrés de Cedeira. This Baroque-style church, dedicated to Saint Andrew, features a Latin-cross plan with a single nave divided into two bays. The temple was erected in 1743 under the direction of architect Don Fernando de Casas y Novoa—who also designed the famous Obradoiro façade of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela—and it has survived to the present day virtually unaltered.
Interior of Iglesia de San Andrés de Cedeira
Potable water fill up
Majic Tortilla - Built with care by Sunita and Olga
Dinner!
Pondering the day ahead. Day 13, Redondela to Arcade
We lost already???
a shadow of yourself.....
another view
Dinner!
Day 14 - Arcade to Pontevedra. This is the Puente Sampayo Bridge - a medieval bridge that crosses the Verdugo River between the parish of Pante Sapaio in the municipality of Pontevedra and the civil parish of Arcade
Sticks and......
..... stones
approaching Pontevedra
Walking around Pontevedra in search of refreshments and food.
Olga provides Camino advice to a local.....
I think he is grateful!
Sunita lighting a candle for San Roque, the patron saint of dogs.
I believe this is another Cruceiro
It was a good Camino day.
Day 15 - Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis. O Burgo Bridge over the Lerez River
Lots of company on the Camino this morning.
These guys brought their dog with them. I think they were from Germany. I saw them a number of times, but did not speak directly to them. The dog was not carried - he walked. Tough little guy!
More congestion
Albariño (maybe) grape vines.
Long, hot walk today. Temps over 90 degrees, 13.5 miles.
No shade....
Finally! The outskirts of Caldas de Reis!
Igrexa de San Tomé Becket in Caldas de Reis. Built in the late 19th century, it is the only church in Galicia dedicated to St. Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury who was martyred in his cathedral in 1170.
Our "home away from home" for the night!
Early Start - Day 16 Caldas de Reis to Padron
High traffic area :)
Sun finally breaks through the clouds
Grapes in the morning!
Tortilla!!!
Olga dressing up the tomato toast with her always present bottle of olive oil
Definitely!
Sunita had bumped ahead this morning, but then walked out to meet us so we could finish the day together.
17 miles to Santiago!
Flowers on arrival!
Olga making dinner after a trip to the grocery store..... again!!!!
Simple but very tasty!
Day 17 Padron to Teo. Another start in the dark - trying to beat the heat and sun.
Coffee and snacks after about an hour of walking.
The weather and light were beautiful once again!
Making progress!
Farms and small villages - very pleasant walking.
Oh Oh,.... are we lost again?
Lunch spot. Great food and super nice proprietors. Good place for a break after a small climb.
Almost to our accommodations for the night. We arrive in Santiago tomorrow!
Day 18 - Teo to Santiago
Sunrise, this way!
different perspectives regarding the trail
No social commentary here......
We can see it!!!!
breakfast at the outskirts of Santiago
Last few blocks...
Made it!
Compostela Certificate - The Compostela Certificate is the official Latin document issued by the Church at the Pilgrim's Office in Santiago de Compostela to recognize the completion of the Camino de Santiago
