We’re Kayla and Bert-Jan, the pilgrims behind Walk The Camino Portugués.
We weren’t long-distance walkers when we first stepped on the Camino… but along The Way, something changed.
Bert-Jan is from Groningen, Netherlands and Kayla is from Pennsylvania, USA. We met in Guatemala in 2017, and have been nomadic since 2023.
The Camino de Santiago was initially Bert-Jan’s idea, and Kayla jumped on board (although neither of us knew what the Way of Saint James had in store…).
First came the Portuguese Camino… Then the Via Francigena… Then many returns to Portugal and Spain.
We’ve now walked thousands of kilometers on pilgrimage, balanced with our jobs online. This website is a passion project to help aspiring pilgrims find their way on The Way.
Here are a few (walking-related) fun facts about us!
Philosophy: Always arrive in good spirits.
Pronounced beart-yon
Philosophy: Expect nothing, appreciate everything.
We would love to hear in the comments: what’s brought you here? If you have a question that’s not answered, drop a comment on our planning guide and we’ll help you right away.
10 Responses
Hi! I happened upon your Porto to Matosinhos stage Senda Litoral Google Map, I believe in the Camino Portuguese Facebook group. So I saved the link, thinking that I’d collect those stage maps from you as you published them. But I’ve not seen further stages pop up there. I’m wondering where I might find them. Thanks! We’ll start from Porto on April 27th. –Ron
Hey Ron! I’m so glad the maps are proving helpful
The entire map for Senda Litoral isn’t done yet. We’ve walked it, but the mapping data wasn’t clean enough so we’re re-mapping in March. I can share the map with you the day it’s done.
The entire map for Senda Litoral will live here once it’s done: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=1267jbjDahvAyHsoC0NrQYT2gm1g8jlg&usp=sharing
Right now it only has the first part of the map (only 2 stages had the clean GPS data).
We are 2 pilgrims and we will start our CAMINO PORTUGUES INTERIOR (from Viseu) on March 15th. We have some questions about the transport (of luggage) and the taxi service (of people): In principle, we will take our backpack with us on the Camino, but is there a service (on the route Viseu Santiago) for transport luggage? I mean: if I decide on the way NOT to carry my backpack on a certain route, can I call then (or email) a service to bring my backpack from point A to point B?
2. If I have problems along the way (for example with my feet/back), can I call a “camino taxi” to pick me up?
Thank you very much for your advice!
Hello there! Good to have you here on the site. A popular luggage transfer service on the Camino Portugues is Top Santiago. The “season” starts March 1st, but I’m not sure if they’ll do pickups in Viseu as most pilgrims walk from Porto. Between Porto and Santiago, you won’t have any issues with arranging luggage transfer.
If it helps, you can learn more about luggage transfer here: https://walkthecaminoportugues.com/planning/luggage-transfer-service/
As for a “camino taxi,” one luggage transfer company offers this service specifically: https://caminofacil.net/en/
I would expect that any restaurant or cafe that you pass along the way would be willing to call a cab for you if you need one. You should be prepared to communicate in Portuguese/Spanish for these interactions, having Google Translate downloaded on your phone will make this straightforward. The bigger towns will also have public transport, and Uber works in Portugal.
Thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed journal. I am about to start my camino with aches & pains already in place (knee issues); for that reason mainly, I’m leaning towards walking the coastal. However, 3 accommodations on the central route have been popping up on site after site as must-stays; one in Corgo, one in Pacos and the third in Orbenlle. Would it be possible to do the coastal until (say Anha for example) and take a private taxi (or other transportation if available) – head to Corgo and continue on the Central from there?! Any/all advice welcome. (Also heard that the Central terrain is a lot rougher on the feet – is this correct?)
Apologies if this gets posted twice – I posted it once already, but do not see it
Thank you so much for the kind words Sue! I’m so glad that the website is helpful.
Yes, your plan to use a taxi to switch routes is possible; I’m not sure how practical is it though. You could finish the stage on the Coastal Route and end in Viana do Castelo, then transfer over to Ponte de Lima. However the walk out of Ponte de Lima has the biggest climb on the entire Camino, so if you’re looking for an easier route this itinerary isn’t ideal. And yes you’re correct that the Central Route does indeed have much harder walking surface. Tt’s also less beautiful than the Coastal, in my opinion.
My mom is coming to Portugal in two weeks to do her first Camino. I’ll share the itinerary that I made for us in case it helps – she also has knee pain. It’s a mix of the Coastal (red stages) and Litoral (blue stages). This map ends at Vigo where the routes combine: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=12cxQvnQFWveEnPEjYmHNhjcU63g30aM&usp=sharing
Hello, Thank you for the great information. Camino has been a “bucket list” . This will be my first attempt. I only have 1 week. That leaves me only 5 walking days to get to Santiago. I am aware of the 100km needed to get my Compostela. I was looking at the start from Sarria, but after reading your blog, now would prefer the Portuguese way. Could you advise me what town I would have to start on the Costal Route to be able to make the 100km minimum and manage it in 5 days? Is this possible on the Portuguese route? I won’t have enough time to finish if I start in Porto. Thanks for your advice.
Welcome Maureen! You’re going to have a great trip. It’s very doable to walk from Vigo to Santiago along the Coastal Route. Vigo to Santiago is 101 km, so you will qualify for your Compostela. Here’s an itinerary to consider:
Day 1: Vigo to Redondela 14.5 km
Day 2: Redondela to Pontevedra 19.5 km
Day 3: Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis 21.2 km
Day 4: Caldas de Reis to Padron 18.6 km
Day 5: Padron to Santiago 24.9 km
I did this exact 100km walk with a friend in January. I can share where we stayed if you’re interested! One thing I wish I had done differently was going past Padron on day 4, giving us a shorter day into Santiago.
Thank you so very much! Yes, I would love for you to share the places you stayed along the route. Also, I agree that a shorter day to Santiago would be great. What village would I walk to on Day 4 from Caldas de Reis in order to make that day longer and Day 5 shorter? Also, is there a church in Vigo that I can get my passbook and shell to start? Do they also confirm that from Vigo to SdC is 100Km? Lastly, do you know where the stops are along the way to get my sello? I think I still need to geet 2 a day for a total of 10 if that is correct? Thank you so much for all the advice.
Instead of staying in Padron, you can overshoot to Escravitude or Teo. Vigo is indeed 101 km from Santiago, I checked with the pilgrim’s office recently. In Vigo, you can get your passport at Establecimientos Jamaica (https://shorturl.at/n7EKM). You can get stamps everywhere along the way – cafes, restaurants, hotels, etc. You will need at least 2 stamps per day and you will have no problem getting those.
I walked the Vigo to Santiago Camino with a friend in January and these were the places we stayed (they were all budget-friendly in winter, prices will vary depending on the time of year):
Vigo: hotel https://www.booking.com/hotel/es/panta3n.html?aid=311984&label=a-darsena-do-frances-UhIPto7EakmSra7tbVdgJQS589996555184%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2%3Aac%3Aap%3Aneg%3Afi%3Atikwd-1929370110420%3Alp1011757%3Ali%3Adec%3Adm%3Appccp%3DUmFuZG9tSVYkc2RlIyh9YXdX6HrtnYy-Ml68sH-ljtU&sid=0afa7cb4ba33a181661bcf93dd6bb562&all_sr_blocks=41552506_403134020_0_2_0&checkin=2025-04-11&checkout=2025-04-12&dest_id=415525&dest_type=hotel&dist=0&group_adults=2&group_children=0&hapos=1&highlighted_blocks=41552506_403134020_0_2_0&hpos=1&matching_block_id=41552506_403134020_0_2_0&no_rooms=1&req_adults=2&req_children=0&room1=A%2CA&sb_price_type=total&sr_order=popularity&sr_pri_blocks=41552506_403134020_0_2_0__5000&srepoch=1743692058&srpvid=d34968ccb46903d6&type=total&ucfs=1&
Redondela: albergue (this is on the outskirts of town, 2km further down the Camino, which makes for a shorter day the next day) https://www.booking.com/hotel/es/a-darsena-do-frances.html?label=a-darsena-do-frances-UhIPto7EakmSra7tbVdgJQS589996555184%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2%3Aac%3Aap%3Aneg%3Afi%3Atikwd-1929370110420%3Alp1011757%3Ali%3Adec%3Adm%3Appccp%3DUmFuZG9tSVYkc2RlIyh9YXdX6HrtnYy-Ml68sH-ljtU&sid=0afa7cb4ba33a181661bcf93dd6bb562&gclid=CjwKCAjw47i_BhBTEiwAaJfPplvzeRYXwGBGGaCQcUKQYyKyEOLaqLFzlLAxphPE6k9zbagVsHO6nxoCygwQAvD_BwE&aid=311984&ucfs=1&arphpl=1&checkin=2025-04-11&checkout=2025-04-12&dest_id=-398627&dest_type=city&group_adults=2&req_adults=2&no_rooms=1&group_children=0&req_children=0&hpos=1&hapos=1&sr_order=popularity&srpvid=9ba6687cfcab04d4&srepoch=1743691904&all_sr_blocks=762255606_368314862_1_1_0%2C762255606_368314862_1_1_0&highlighted_blocks=762255606_368314862_1_1_0%2C762255606_368314862_1_1_0&matching_block_id=762255606_368314862_1_1_0&sr_pri_blocks=762255606_368314862_1_1_0__2300%2C762255606_368314862_1_1_0__2300&from=searchresults
Pontevedra: hotel https://www.booking.com/hotel/es/pension-santa-clara.en-us.html?aid=1447648&label=NinjaApp-i-1_0_90-FnUVOmm%401736800714&sid=15e18ee7378b557d9303b94e95c84b3b&all_sr_blocks=888031204_358418912_0_0_0%2C888031204_358418912_0_0_0&checkin=2025-01-22&checkout=2025-01-23&dest_id=8880312&dest_type=hotel&dist=0&group_adults=2&group_children=0&hapos=1&highlighted_blocks=888031204_358418912_0_0_0%2C888031204_358418912_0_0_0&hpos=1&matching_block_id=888031204_358418912_0_0_0&no_rooms=2&req_adults=2&req_children=0&room1=A&room2=A&sb_price_type=total&sr_order=popularity&sr_pri_blocks=888031204_358418912_0_0_0__3230%2C888031204_358418912_0_0_0__3230&srepoch=1736801869&srpvid=6a7f9362972f09bc&type=total&ucfs=1&#hotelTmpl
Caldas de Reis: albergue https://www.google.com/maps/place/Albergue+Albor/@42.6052891,-8.6472561,17z/data=!4m10!3m9!1s0xd2f0def5ea317b5:0x5820d17a98da444f!5m3!1s2025-01-23!4m1!1i2!8m2!3d42.6052891!4d-8.6446812!16s%2Fg%2F11hzhywrqw?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDEwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
Padron: hostel w/ private rooms https://www.booking.com/hotel/es/albergue-o-pedron.en-us.html?aid=7961691&sid=90504102200ac41ae3f0fccab9762f3e&all_sr_blocks=254564202_386872733_2_0_0&checkin=2025-01-15&checkout=2025-01-16&dest_id