Potuguese Camino: A Daily Blog on Walking the Portuguese Way

The Portuguese Camino is a stunning long-distance trail through some of Europe’s most beautiful countryside. Stretching from Porto to Santiago de Compostela, this 260-km spiritual route follows the same path that pilgrims have walked for over a thousand years.

More officially known as the Camino de Santiago: Portuguese Way or the Camino Portugués (in Spanish), the route typically takes 2 weeks or so to complete. Along the way, pilgrims wander past charming villages and through rustic vineyards until reaching their final destination at the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.

Walking the Portuguese Camino has long been a dream of mine. After a cancelled attempt in 2020 (thanks Coronavirus!), I finally got my chance to complete the Camino in autumn 2021. It was an interesting challenge to make a pilgrimage during the pandemic but still doable – and so worth it!

While I walked, I kept a daily journal about my experience. This Portuguese Camino blog includes information on my pilgrimage as well as links to all my journal entries along the way.

A Portuguese Camino trail marker in Galicia

What is the Portuguese Camino?

The Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of Saint James, is a long-distance pilgrim’s route which ends at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

There are actually many different Camino routes, all beginning at various locations and ending at Santiago de Compostela. The most popular route, known as The French Way, traditionally begins at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees. This route is 780 kilometers (approximately 500 miles) and primarily travels across northern Spain.

I decided to walk along the Portuguese Way which begins in Portugal and heads north up to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

The trail officially begins in Lisbon but I took the shorter route starting in Porto. The Portuguese Way beginning from Porto is approximately 260 km (150 miles) when traveling along the Central Route.

All Camino paths eventually lead to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. This is because, according to tradition, the remains of Saint James are buried at the cathedral there.

Over the centuries, pilgrims have walked the Way of Saint James as a means for spiritual growth – although these days people have all sorts of reasons for walking the Camino.

Follow the Yellow Arrows!

What differentiates the Camino from other long-distance trails?

• Walkers along the Camino de Santiago are typically called “pilgrims” (or peregrinos).
• The Pilgrim Passport (or “Credencial”) is the official document that denotes walkers along the Camino as pilgrims. Pilgrims receive stamps as they walk at various locations such as accommodations and churches.
• Upon finishing the Camino de Santiago, pilgrims are awarded a Compostela Certificate that officially confirms completion of the pilgrimage. Pilgrims who have walked at least 100 kilometers (or 200 km via bicycle) are eligible for the Certificate. Pilgrims must also have two stamps a day in their Credencial.
• It’s not necessary to bring along a tent or cooking gear when walking the Camino de Santiago. There are many towns along the way where pilgrims can sleep each night. Pilgrims typically sleep in hostels called “albergues” upon showing their Credencial. I will be bringing a light sleeping bag however.
• The scallop shell is the official symbol of the Camino de Santiago and is printed on signs and trail markers to show the way. Many pilgrims also wear shells on their clothing or packs.
• To wish a pilgrim good luck on their journey, you say: “Buen camino!” Or, in Portuguese, say: “Bom Caminho!”

The Portuguese Camino Blog

To begin reading my Camino blog posts in chronological order, start with the first article and click on the Next Article links at the bottom right-hand corner of every page.

Start Here

>> Getting a Pilgrim Passport (Camino Credencial) at the Porto Cathedral

All Portuguese Camino Posts

The below list includes all posts from my pilgrimage on the Portuguese Camino, starting from the most recent. If you prefer to read the Camino journal entries in a different order, you can browse from the list below.

Preparing for the Portuguese Camino

This section includes blog posts about my preparations to walk the Camino

• Announcing My Upcoming Walk of the Portuguese Camino – Again! – September 7, 2021
  I’ve updated my plans for walking the Portuguese Camino and am now planning to begin my pilgrimage in late September 2021.
• Announcing Unicorn’s Upcoming Walk of the Portuguese Camino – March 10, 2020
  In my initial announcement post, I discuss why I decided to undertake the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Unfortunately, my plans were later cancelled due to the pandemic.

More Information

• Oficina de Acogida al Peregrino – Official web site for pilgrims by the Cathedral of Santiago
• The Way – inspirational movie starring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez about walking the Camino de Santiago