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Want to walk the last 100km of the Portuguese Camino de Santiago? This is a very popular choice for people who are looking for a shorter Camino experience along the Portuguese Way of Saint James.
I’ve walked all of the Portuguese routes: Lisbon to Santiago and everything in between. That process took months, but I’ve also had the special experience of walking just the last 100km with a friend.
She flew in from the US with limited time and I got to see what a unique experience those last hundred kilometers are. It was her first Camino, and I got a front-row seat to all of her experiences, realizations, and surprises that come with the 100km walk.
I’ve distilled all of that into this article (and there’s a lot to cover — save it so you can find it later!). This article will cover it ALL: different starting points, maps, tips, and more. Let’s dive in!
Have a question? Leave a comment at the bottom and I’ll reply right away 🙂
Why walk the last 100 km of the Camino Portugués?
Pilgrims choose to walk the last 100 km of the Camino Portugués a few reasons. The first motive is the desire for a brief walking vacation: 100 km can be walked by the average pilgrim in 5 days. The second is the interest in receiving the pilgrim certificate and blessing at the Cathedral de Santiago.
Some others choose to walk the last 100 km because they don’t have the time, physical stamina, interest, or money to walk more of the Camino de Santiago.
For help planning your entire Camino, use my detailed guide: Camino Portugués Planning Guide.
How long does it take?
Many pilgrims will walk the last 100km in 5 days, but some will choose to spread this out over a more relaxed 7-day walk.
Last 100km Camino Map
I’ve walked all of these routes on the Portuguese Way and created this map based on my Caminos. If you’ve never heard of these town names before, it can be a lot to remember! Here you can get a visual sense of how these routes differ and where they all converge.
Blue stages are on the Coastal Route, red stages are on the Central Route.
5 Most Popular 100km Starting Points
According to statistics collected by the Pilgrim’s Reception Office, the five most popular 100-kilometer starting points are:
- Tui, Spain: 119 km / 74 miles
- Valença do Minho, Portugal: 124 km / 77 miles
- Porriño, Spain: 100 km / 62 miles
- Vigo, Spain: 101 km / 63 miles
- Baiona, Spain: 128 km / 80 miles
In some guidebooks, these starting points are not listed as meeting the 100-kilometer minimum. I emailed the pilgrim’s office to confirm. The distances listed here are the official distances from the pilgrim’s office.
Let’s look at each starting point, what they have to offer, the itinerary, and where you get your pilgrim’s passport.
A note about the itineraries: These are completely customizable. The below itineraries are the most common stages, but you can stop a town sooner or a town further away. Click on the blue button to be directed to a dedicated guide on each starting point, which will explain the alternative stages.
Tui to Santiago: 119 km
Tui (population 16,902) is located on the Central Route of the Portuguese Camino. It’s a historic Spanish town located on the Miño River (River Minho), across from Valença, Portugal. It’s home to the famous Ponte Medieval do Louro, a medieval bridge.
While Tui is the most popular 100 km starting point, it’s not the most convenient. Most buses and all trains go to Valença, Portugal. This is only a 2.8 km / 1.7 mile walk from Tui (Valença itinerary is up next). Factor this extra step into your planning if you choose to start here.
Map and Stages
- Tui to Redondela 31.8 km / 19.8 miles
- Redondela to Pontevedra 20.8 km / 12.9 miles
- Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis 18.9 km / 11.7 miles
- Caldas de Reis to Padrón 18.9 km / 11.7 miles
- Padrón to Santiago 25.3 km / 15.7 miles
Passport
Get your pilgrim passport at the Tui Cathedral. It’s open daily, but check the current hours before you go. They close daily for the afternoon siesta.
Valença do Minho to Santiago: 114 km
Valença do Minho (population 13,634) offers an almost identical route to Santiago as Tui, but with a few added benefits.
Valença is also the only 100 km starting point in Portugal. Pilgrims with extra time can spend a day or two as tourists, enjoying pastel de natas, vinho verde, and other Portuguese joys.
This starting point also allows you to cross into Spain over land, across the beautiful Minho River. This happens within the first hour of your walk, offering a very memorable start to your pilgrimage.
Map and Stages
- Valença to O Porriño: 19.5 km / 12 miles
- O Porriño to Redondela: 15.8 km / 10 miles
- Redondela to Pontevedra 20.8 km / 12.9 miles
- Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis 18.9 km / 11.7 miles
- Caldas de Reis to Padrón 18.9 km / 11.7 miles
- Padrón to Santiago 25.3 km / 15.7 miles
Passport
Get your passport at the Albergue de peregrinos São Teotónio Valença. I confirmed with the albergue that they are open daily from 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm.
The albergue owners also let me know that pilgrims can buy passports at the tourist shop inside the fortress, open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
O Porriño to Santiago: 100 km
At exactly 100 km, O Porriño (population 7,765) is the shortest starting point to qualify for the Compostela. It’s objectively the least-charming starting point. There’s no medieval center or waterfront promenade.
However, this industrial city is convenient to get to thanks to its train and bus routes. The many amenities make it a simple springboard for your walk.
Map and Stages
- O Porriño to Redondela: 15.8 km / 10 miles
- Redondela to Pontevedra 20.8 km / 12.9 miles
- Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis 18.9 km / 11.7 miles
- Caldas de Reis to Padrón 18.9 km / 11.7 miles
- Padrón to Santiago 25.3 km / 15.7 miles
Passport
Coming soon: I’ve sent some emails and am waiting to hear back!
Vigo to Santiago: 101 km
Vigo (population 294,650) is a convenient Camino starting point. This is the only town on this list with an international airport. The Vigo bus station and train station are also conveniently located near Camino. To quote my mom: “If this city has so much transportation, why are we walking?!”
Personally, I felt that walking into Vigo on the Coastal Route was one of the worst days of the Camino. Walking out of Vigo, however, was one of the nicest days. You’ll find yourself on woodland paths above the city, taking dozens of pictures of the Vigo estuary (Ria de Vigo) and the Cíes Islands. This is a very memorable way to begin your Camino.
Map and Stages
- Vigo to Redondela: 14.5 km / 9 miles
- Redondela to Pontevedra: 19.5 km / 12 miles
- Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis: 21.2 km / 13 miles
- Caldas de Reis to Padron: 18.6 km / 12 miles
- Padrón to Santiago: 24.9 km / 15.4 miles
Passport
Get your passport at Establecimientos Jamaica, a local gift shop that’s near the historic historic in the city center.
Baiona to Santiago: 128 km
This is the longest 100km Camino, beginning in the idyllic seaside town of Baiona (population 12,500). The beaches and boats are a completely opposite vibe from Tui and Valença. It’s famous for its 12th-century Monterreal Castle (Fortaleza de Monterreal) as well as the stunning Church of Santa Maria de Baiona (Igreja de Santa Maria de Baiona).
Map and Stages
- Baiona to Vigo: 26.8 km / 17 miles
- Vigo to Redondela: 14.5 km / 9 miles
- Redondela to Pontevedra: 19.5 km / 12 miles
- Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis: 21.2 km / 13 miles
- Caldas de Reis to Padron: 18.6 km / 12 miles
- Padrón to Santiago: 24.9 km / 15.4 miles
Passport
Coming soon: I’ve sent some emails and am waiting to hear back!
Planning Your 100km Walk
Follow these steps to plan your experience on the Portuguese Camino. If you have any questions that haven’t been answered, leave a comment at the bottom and I’ll try to answer right away 🙂
Arriving and Departing
Where will you arrive and depart for your Camino, and how will you get there? You may have many options at your disposal. Here’s an overview of the options:
- Santiago Airport: A convenient flight option for the last 100 km. It’s easily reachable from the city center, with countless buses and trains available during the day. I’ve used Welcome Pickups to schedule a taxi pickup very early in the morning before public transit opens.
- Vigo Airport: The Vigo Airport is an easy choice for pilgrims starting here. There’s a direct bus from Santiago back to Vigo.
- Porto Airport: Porto is a 4-hour bus ride from Santiago de Compostela. The bus stops at the Vigo bus station, so check Vigo for flights before booking something out of Porto. This is probably the least convenient flight option for the last 100 km.
Plus other transportation options:
- FlixBus: FlixBus is a very reliable bus company that has buses leaving and arriving in Santiago de Compostela all day.
- Train: You can book train tickets on Omio, though in my experience, the bus has more direct routes in this region.
- BlaBlaCar: BlaBlaCar is a distance ridesharing app, sort of like a road trip version of Uber of Lyft. Rides are booked a few days or few weeks in advance, and can be very budget-friendly.
- Private Transfers: You can arrange private transfers through Welcome Pickups or Caminofácil.
Will you be fighting jet lag? It may help you to fly in and out of Santiago. It creates a long first day but the exhausting first day may actually help you sleep more the first night and get your body on the local time.
Where To Start Your Camino
There’s no bad starting point for your Camino de Santiago. All routes end in the beautiful ancient city of Santiago de Compostela. They all have great food, rich history, and easy access to the Camino trail.
Most importantly, all of these routes meet up on either day two or day three in Redondela. As you’re choosing a starting point, ask yourself these questions:
- Is it important to you to see a tiny bit of Portugal, in addition to Spain?
- Are there any specific historical highlights that you’re excited to see?
- Do any of the itineraries have stages that are too long for you?
- Which starting point is the most convenient?
Still unsure? Consider Vigo. I’ve walked all of these routes, and Vigo is my personal favorite. It’s the easiest city to get in and out of on public transit. Once you exit the city, the walk is comfortable and the views of the bay are stunning. It’s a compact 5-day itinerary with a shorter first day to help you ease in (though be prepared for a steep walk in your first hour out of the city — it’s worth it!).
Important Things To Know
There are two important things to know about walking the last 100 km of the Portuguese Camino:
- In order to get your Compostela certificate in Santiago, pilgrims need to prove that they’ve walked the last 100 km.
- This is done with by gathering two stamps per day in a pilgrim passport.
The Compostela and the pilgrim passport are two hallmarks of the Camino de Santiago experience, so let me briefly explain each of them.
Pilgrim Certificate (Compostela)
The Compostela pilgrim certificate is given to pilgrims who have walked the last 100 km of any Camino de Santiago route. This include the Camino Portuguese, Camino de Invierno, Camino Frances, Camino Ingles, Camino Primitivo, etc.
You receive the pilgrim certificate upon arrival in Santiago de Compostela. Pilgrims must report to the Pilgrims’ Reception Office to have their passports verified, then they get their certificate.
Learn more in my Camino Compostela guide.
Pilgrim’s Passport
Pilgrims are verified using something called a pilgrim passport (or credencial del peregrino). As you walk, it gets filled with stamps that you collect along The Way.
Businesses, churches, tourist centers, and local shops along the Camino trail will offer free stamps to pilgrims. Those walking the last 100 km must get at least two stamps per day to get a certificate.
Passports are purchased at the starting point of your Camino. I’ve shared the exact details for each of the starting points below.
Read more in my pilgrim passport guide.
Tips for Your 100km Camino
Feeling excited for your 100-kilometer pilgrimage on the Camino Portugués?? Here are some tips and insights from my friend Michele, who spent 6 weeks preparing for our Camino together.
Training Matters
On a weeks-long walk, you have time to recover from blisters and muscle aches. A shorter walk is higher stakes: if you get banged up on the first day, you might be miserable for the entire trip. Get your body (and especially your feet) used to walking. We have a training guide coming soon.
Get Your Bag Fitted
If you’re new to distance walking, avoid buying a bag online. Opt for buying a bag at an outdoors store (such as REI in the US, sorry no international recommendations) where a salesperson can help you choose the right bag and adjust it to fit your torso size.
Having a bag that’s fitted to your torso size makes an enormous difference in how it feels to carry it. You might be surprised by your torso size, like I was: I am 6 feet tall, but my bag is fitted for a small torso because I have high hips.
Do Not Overpack
Packing has an enormous impact on your Camino experience. Be very critical about what you’ll bring or need for your five days.
The weight of your pack impacts you as you walk, but it also impacts the rest of your day after the walk. If you have painful blisters or just too tired from carrying your pack, then you won’t be up for exploring in the evenings.
Use my realistic packing list to help you pack.
Consider Borrowing Items
If you don’t have all the gear you need, see if there’s anyone in your life who can ask to borrow walking gear from. A backpack, hiking socks, and gain gear are very simple items to borrow. Five days of walking won’t wear these items down, but it could save you a lot of money.
My gear has been lent out to friends and family and has seen every continent except Antarctica. I love being able to help people spend less when my gear is at home unused anyway. There might be someone in your life who feels the same!
Consider a Luggage Transfer
Not all pilgrims on the Camino carry their belongings with them while they walk. Many pilgrims choose to have their luggage driven from point A to B for them while they walk. This is called a luggage transfer service, and it’s common for a few common reasons:
- Physical fitness or safety is a concern.
- Unusual packing requirements.
- Wanting to use the luggage they already have and not buy walking gear.
- They’re traveling before or after walking the Camino.
Is this right for you? Learn more about luggage transfers in my luggage transfer guide.
Get In The Camino Mood
Read books or watch movies to prime your mind for the Camino experience. The most popular Camino de Santiago movie is The Way (trailer below). This is about the Camino Francés and not the Portugués so the exact experience is different, but the idea is the same.
A full list of Camino books and movies is coming soon!
Choose Your Camino Route Carefully
Choose your route carefully. Tui is the most popular, but don’t just pick it without checking the other points.
I did this initially when I was planning a 100-kilometer Camino to walk with my friend. I told her we would start in Tui because it was the most popular route, but when I looked more closely, I chose Vigo instead.
The Portuguese Coastal Route interested us more, and the stages were shorter than starting in Tui. Choose what’s right for you.
Know It Can Be Overstimulating
An enormous amount of our at-home lives is predictable and repetitive. On the Camino, it might look that way on the surface: wake up, walk, eat, sleep, repeat. In reality, it’s actually quite the opposite.
You wake up in a different place every day. See different things. Have different pains in your feet and legs. Eat different foods. Go to bed in different places. It can be an overstimulating experience. This isn’t necessarily a negative thing: in fact, this might be exactly WHY you want a Camino.
Identify Your “Why”
Do you have a specific intention? There’s no bad reason to do a Camino, but be reflective and ask yourself if there is something specific that you’re seeking.
Read up on common motives here: Why Walk The Camino Portugues?
Use All Your Senses
Push yourself to look at everything, take deep breaths, and stay curious about the things around you. Try new foods, avoid the tendency to go on autopilot. Try to embrace differences and be a sponge, not a vacation.
Don’t Expect A Vacation
A Camino is work, not a vacation. Vacations are about enjoyment, while a Camino is about experience. I think most pilgrims have an enjoyable Camino, but the point of it is to arrive every day at your destination and achieve reaching that milestone in Santiago.
For many people of vacation is about doing his little as possible, and a Camino is often the opposite of that. You’ll find yourself doing much more than normal, and your body will let you know it! All of the ups and downs are part of the experience — it’s not just about the picture-worthy moments.
The 100km Camino Mindset
The weather is what it is.
The difficulty is what it is.
A Camino is not a vacation.
You are here for the experience.
A lot is out of your control, so focus on what is: training, packing, and mindset.
FAQs Recapped
Here’s a quick recap of the big questions.
Buen Camino!
Enjoy your walk on the last 100km of the Camino Portugués! If you have any planning questions, drop them in the comments and I’ll do my best to help.
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