About the Camino Portuguese Coastal and Espiritual

Many Routes of the Camino Portuguese

The Camino Portuguese, or Camino Portuguese or Portuguese Way is the general name given to the numerous routes and variations on the trek from Lisbon to Porto and later from Valencia in Portugal through to Santiago de Compostela Spain.  As with other Caminos associated with St. James, the pilgrimage concludes at the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela where tradition maintains that the remains of the saint are buried.  The Camino Portuguese is noted to be the second most travelled route – after the increasingly popular Camino Frances.  As such it is considered to be a quieter hike and a distinctly different pilgrimage to undertake.

 
The historical Portuguese Way moves along the length of Portugal from south to north before passing into Galacia Spain.  The main pilgrimage route, known as the Caminho Real or Camino Central begins in Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, though many pilgrims start in the city of Porto instead owing to the industrial nature of the region around Lisbon and the smaller number of pilgrim facilities available.   Somewhat different from other pilgrimage routes that we have trekked, the Camino Portuguese is not a single pathway but instead includes several distinct variations and alternatives including – the Central Route, Camino Fatima, the Senda Litoral, the Coastal Route, and the Variante Espiritual.   Adding to this complexity is the fact that these variations do not take into account additional pilgrimage routes throughout the country the Rota Vicentina, Camino Nascente, and Camino Torres. 
 
Needless to say, there are many routes and Caminos in Portugal for pilgrims to undertake. 
 

Pilgrims on the Camino in Portugal

 
Several years ago we were fortunate to be able to venture along the Camino Portuguese Central route from Lisbon to Porto to Santiago de Compostela. Having enjoyed the country and our pilgrimage so much we have returned to Portugal to explore, hike and bird some more.

 
Prior to arriving in Porto this year we had originally landed in Faro on the southern coast and trekked the Rota Vicentina from Lagos to Sao Torpes, a community just south of Lisbon and the beginning of the Camino Portuguese.  Since then we have made our way from Sao Torpes to Lisbon to Porto following a route similar to our previous pilgrimage.   While there have been challenges to the Camino from Lisbon to Porto it was once again a wonderful time though we have decided not to blog a route we have already shared in the past. Instead, we sought to simply enjoy, bird, and photograph our second venture north until arriving in Porto.

 
For pilgrims travelling to Santiago along the Camino Portuguese, Porto represents an important decision point.  In Porto, pilgrims must choose whether to continue walking northward on the Central Route or instead follow either the Senda Litoral or the Coastal Route.  No matter what choice one makes in Porto, a further option is presented in Pontevedra where it is possible to divert onto the Espiritual Route or return to the Central Route.
 

Camino Portuguese Route (Litoral/ Coastal)

The difference between the Senda Litoral, or Seashore Path, and the Camino Coastal is small and somewhat confusing.   Simply put, while both the Senda Litoral and Coastal routes basically follow the Atlantic coastline, the Coastal at times turns inland.  In recent years both the Camino Litoral and Coastal routes have become increasingly popular with an estimated 30%+ of pilgrims completing the Portuguese Camino on these routes.  Both enable pilgrims the opportunity to walk along Atlantic beaches and through seaside towns providing a less busy alternative to the more traditional inland routes of the Portuguese Central. In addition, according to our guidebooks, the coastal route is flatter to trek and has fewer busy roads to hike along than the central route.
 

Camino Espiritual Variant

 
The next alternative route that we are hiking on the Camino Portuguese is the Camino Espiritual variant.  The Camino Espiritual, or the Spiritual Way, splits off the Portuguese Camino Central route just north of Pontevedra and later rejoins it in Padron.  The Espiritual route is known for its focus on reflection and mindfulness.  This variant takes pilgrims through breathtaking landscapes, including serene forests, rolling green hills, and picturesque vineyards. This immersion in nature provides an opportunity for spiritual growth and a chance to connect with the divine presence that is deeply felt within the natural world.

 
Promoters of the Camino Espiritual suggest that this is the route and the Sea trail across the Arousa estuary and up the Ulla river are believed to have been how the remains of St. James the Apostle arrived into Galacia Spain and were later transferred to Santiago. However, guidebooks and historians alike are fairly uniform in their rejection of this idea bluntly noting that there is absolutely no evidence of any connection to Santiago through this area.
 

Camino Coastal Route and Espiritual Variant Plans

 
Our goal this year, once we depart Porto, is to stay as close to the shoreline and Atlantic Ocean as possible by following a mixture of the Litoral, and Coastal routes out of Porto and later along the Espiritual variant. Our best estimates are that this mixture of the Litoral, Coastal and Espiritual variants is approximately 312 km in length or 72 km longer than trekking from Porto to Santiago along the Central route.