Portuguese Way by the Spiritual Variant in 6 days

The Spiritual Variant is a route that diverges from the traditional route of the Portuguese Way, and it does so in one of the most interesting cities it crosses from Portugal to Santiago de Compostela: Pontevedra. Often referred to as the "city of the Lérez", Pontevedra is a quiet and beautiful city that is well worth spending some time in.

You should not leave without walking through its quiet historic centre in search of lively squares such as A Ferradura, Praza da Leña or Praza da Verdura, nor without visiting the interior and learning about the history of the striking church of La Peregrina.

Hostel: Acolá Hostel or similar
Standard accommodation: Hotel Madrid or similar

Distance: 24.8 km
Difficulty level: ●●○○○
Accommodation: Armenteira

The first stage of this Spiritual Variant begins in the city of Pontevedra. Specifically in front of the striking façade of the church of La Peregrina, so closely linked to the Camino de Santiago itself. Although today it stands in a central square, in the past this area was outside the gates of the walled city, so the Way will start entering through the old Porta de Trabancas, crossing the historic area and leaving by the bridge of O Burgo to cross the river towards Lérez.

From there, the Camino continues briefly along the historic route as it crosses the xunqueira de Alba. There you will find the signposted fork and take the left-hand branch towards Campañó. The route continues past the imposing monastery of San Xoán de Poio, once a mighty monastery, and through the old fishing village of Combarro. It is worth wandering through its picturesque streets before turning off up the hill towards Armenteira.

Leaving Combarro behind, the hardest part of the stage begins. The Way forces us to a steep climb of 420 m (the Loureiro viewpoint will reward us with magnificent views over the Pontevedra estuary) before arriving at the old monastery of Armenteira, in the heart of O Salnés.

Hostel: Armenteira Hostel or similar
Standard accommodation: Villa Laredo or similar

Distance: 24 km
Difficulty: ●○○○○
Accommodation: Vilanova de Arousa

Having finished the previous stage at a high point, most of the route of this second stage of the Spiritual Variant will be downhill or flat. Much more physically easier than the first stage, and slightly shorter, the route here overlaps with the popular hiking route known as the Ruta da Pedra e da Auga, which runs along the course of the Armenteira River.

From its mouth in the Umia river, we will continue along the riverbank and through vineyards to Ponte Arnelas and, from there, along an almost flat route until we reach the Arousa estuary, the largest and most productive in Galicia. The route then turns into a pleasant walk along beaches such as O Terrón or A Pasaxe, in view of Arousa Island, before reaching the town of Vilanova, a well-deserved end to the stage and the perfect place to rest and regain strength.

Hostel: A Corticela Hostel or similar
Standard accommodation: Hotel Bradomín or similar

Distance (by land): 32,7 km
Difficulty: ●○○○○
Accommodation: Padrón

The fourth day (third stage) of this journey along the Spiritual Variant of the Portuguese Way will present you with two options, of which you will have to choose one: to do the stage by land or to do it by sea.

If you opt for the overland stage, the Way, well signposted, will take you along a practically flat route, skirting the Arousa estuary inch by inch until it begins at the mouth of the river Ulla - its main tributary and one of the most important waterways in Galicia.

The distance of the land stage to Padrón is almost 33 km, so many people who choose to walk the stage decide to split it in two, spending the night in Catoira, a town famous for its links with the Viking invasions of Galicia and the epic Torres de Oeste. This leaves two stages, from Vilanova to Catoira (19.5 km) and from Catoira to Padrón (13.2 km). Although here we are exploring the option by sea, if you want to do it by land, you only have to tell us so that we can adapt to your needs.

The other option, more popular and also more comfortable, is to travel this stage by sea, directly from the quay of Vilanova de Arousa to the quay of Pontecesures. If you do it this way, fulfilling one of the main attractions of this Spiritual Variant, you will only have to walk the last kilometre that separates Pontecesures and Padrón.

The aim is to emulate the route that, according to Christian tradition, the stone boat that brought the mortal remains of the apostle St. James back to Galicia after his martyrdom in Jerusalem would have taken. The boat schedules depend on the tide, so they vary from day to day, although there is usually at least one trip in the morning and another in the afternoon.

The end of this relaxed stage (if you have opted for the sea route) is in Padrón, the place where the disciples of Santiago are supposed to have moored that boat to continue their journey on dry land.

Hostel: Murgadan Hostel or similar
Standard accommodation: Hotel Rosalia or similar

Distance: 24.3 km
Difficulty level: ●●○○○
Accommodation: Padrón

In Padrón, the Spiritual Variant meets again with the main route of the Portuguese Way, so you will notice a clear increase in the number of pilgrims who will surely be delighted to hear about your experience through the peninsula of O Salnés. The Camino will take you through Iria Flavia, where the bishopric of Teodomiro was located at the time of the discovery of the apostle's tomb, and through O Milladoiro, today a dormitory town of Santiago whose name comes from the Latin humiliatorium - a clear reference to the pilgrimage and to the fact that from its top it was possible to see, at last, the towers of the Cathedral of Santiago.

Only five kilometres more and you will enter the city from the south, through the Porta Faxeira of the old city wall and the Rúa do Franco, a name related to the pilgrims, who were indistinctly called Francos, whether they came from Portugal or from the south of Galicia. Congratulations, pilgrim! You have reached your goal. The journey continues.

Hostel: The Last Stamp or similar
Standard accommodation: Hospedería San Martín Pinario or similar

You have completed your Portuguese Way along the Spiritual Route and after a well-deserved rest, you finally have time to visit the city you have cycled more than two hundred kilometres to reach. Its historic centre, its university, its market and its countless parks, its surroundings...

And, if you have time, the End of the World awaits you. We bring it to you on a full day trip to Muxía, Fisterra and the Costa da Morte to complete a fantastic week.