This is a great alternative to the main Camino Portugues route if you are looking for a quieter trail away from the crowds. Graded moderate, you will walk for between 13 and 26km a day on mostly flat terrain. Overnight stays are in small hotels and guesthouses or larger hotels in the big cities. This is the final stage of the walk from A Guarda to Santiago and will enable you to qualify for your Compostela certificate having walked the final 100km.

Pilgrimages | For those looking to follow a path of self-discovery. Our Pilgrimage and Camino routes take you on a journey through diverse landscapes and local flavours, while meeting like-minded adventurers along the way.

Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.

Solo Travellers, Families with Teens

The minimum age for this tour is: 12 Years

This walk is graded as easy-moderate overall and includes daily walks of between 13 and 29km on mostly flat terrain. You will follow a mixture of coastal paths, wooden walkways, dirt tracks and some roads closer to the bigger cities and towns.

9 nights accommodation is included in small rural hotels and hostals (a name used to describe small Spanish hotels and guesthouses). You will always have a private room and en-suite bathroom. In the larger towns, you will stay in 3* hotels.

You can add extra nights at any point during your stay, and we particularly recommend extending your stay in Santiago.

Solo Walkers & Single Rooms

This trip is available to solo walkers for a supplement. Single rooms are also available for a supplement.

Meals

A local breakfast is included each morning which usually consists of a coffee and bread with jams. Lunch and dinner are not included as standard so you are free to choose from the available options.

The Camino is largely well signposted and relatively easy to follow. Yellow shells and arrows guide you along the way. However, the Camino Portugues Coastal Way still has some gaps in the signage. Therefore, pay attention at crossroads and use your route descriptions, which are provided in a detailed information pack at your first accommodation. You can use the Macs Adventure Smartphone App which has maps, GPS tracks, and daily route information for straightforward navigation. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation will be simple, and you can’t get lost. You will find more information on downloading the app in your Macs Adventure Account.

Alternative routes

On some days, you can choose between two routes: the Camino Portugués por la Costa and the Senda Litoral.

The Camino Portugués por la Costa is the official, well-signposted coastal route of the Way of St. James. Running slightly inland, it offers magnificent views of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Senda Litoral, on the other hand, runs even closer to the sea, passing along promenades and wooden walkways, and sometimes along sections of beach. This route offers a closer view of the coast, although it is less well signposted in places.

As the two routes often cross, you can choose whichever you prefer depending on the weather, your mood, and how you feel on the day.

You can start your walk anytime between the beginning of March and the end of October subject to availability.  July and August can get very hot so please bear this in mind if walking at this time of year.

Taxiboat between Portugal and Spain

The taxiboat between Caminha and A Guarda only takes 5-10 minutes and should be booked in advance. There are two companies which run it - Taxi-Mar who can be reached on +351 915 955 827 - and Xacobeo Transfer who can be reached on +34 613 011 226 or xacobeotransfer.com.

The best time to walk the Camino depends on your personal preference!

Spring (April to June) is a fantastic choice. Expect pleasant temperatures, blooming landscapes, and fewer crowds than summer. Be prepared for the potential of spring showers.

Summer (July and August) brings sweltering heat to much of Spain, but the northern regions remain refreshingly mild thanks to their coastal climates. If you're a social butterfly, this is your season! The trails are buzzing with fellow pilgrims, creating an unbeatable atmosphere for meeting people, local festivals, and sharing stories.

Autumn (September to early November) is another excellent time to go. You'll enjoy milder temperatures, stunning autumn colors, and quieter trails as the summer crowds dwindle. But, much like spring, there's still a chance of rain—because nature loves keeping us on our toes!

By Air: The closest airport to A Guarda, Spain, is Vigo, which you can reach by flights via Madrid. From here, you can then take the bus to A Guarda, Spain, (not to be confused with Guarda, Portugal). It involves 2 changes and takes just under 3 hours. Alternatively, we recommend taking a taxi straight from the airport or we can pre-book this for you at an additional cost. 

Alternatively, you can fly into Santiago de Compostela. From there, take the shuttle bus to the train station in Santiago, and from there travel by bus via Vigo to A Guarda, Spain (approx 3hrs). We recommend checking timetables in advance at the useful travel planning website www.rome2rio.com 

NOTE: "A Guarda" in Spain is sometimes confused with "Guarda" in Portugal. Be sure to select A Guarda (with the article) on the Spanish Galician coast when planning your journey.

By Air: If flying to the UK, low-cost airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair offer direct flights to London Stansted and London Gatwick. For travelling to the rest of Europe or the US, you can fly from Santiago via Madrid with Iberia, via Frankfurt with Lufthansa or via Paris or Barcelona with Vueling. Other options are available and you can check Santiago Airports website for more information.

By Rail: It is also possible to take the train from Santiago to Madrid (approx 7hrs). Train timetables and fares can be viewed at RENFE.

PLEASE NOTE: Santiago Airport will be closed from 23rd April to 27 May 2026 due to runway renovation works. Other nearby airports include A Coruna and Vigo, and further away you also have Porto and Madrid. During this time bus connections between Santiago and other cities will be reinforced to make onward travel connections easier. Because of this we recommend you plan your travel in plenty of time and we can help should you require any additional private transfers.

Baggage transfers are included (max 20kg per person). Your main bag will be transferred each day between your overnight accommodation so that you only need to walk with a day pack.