Sept 2023 – the Cawley Camino (Porto to Baiona)
Join Phil Cawley's annual Camino trip! Update: Currently sold out though a couple of double rooms might become available.
Starting off in the beautiful city of Porto (worth a trip in its own right!), we will walk 115km to A Guarda (and transfer to Baiona), following the Atlantic coast and its countless beautiful beaches all the way to Baiona.
Other than the distances covered each day, this isn’t a difficult walk as Camino walks go – the terrain is flat in most places and there isn’t any significant ascending involved.
If you like the sea and if you are looking forward to an amazing collection of stopping points along the way – this is the trip for you!
UPDATE: Places available; contact us to book before they’re gone!
- September 9th – 16th, 2023 (Saturday – Saturday)
- €960 pps (not including flight).
- Single Supplement €340.
- 7 nights’ accommodation in ensuite rooms on a B&B basis.
- 3 nights upgraded to 4* spa hotels.
- 3 x evening meals as a group.
- Airport transfers; from Porto airport to Porto city centre and from Baiona back to Porto airport.
- All internal transfers including the ferry crossing from Portugal into Spain.
- Bag transfer each day.
- Pilgrim Passport (Issued by Camino Society Ireland – the only official Irish pilgrim passport).
- Phil Cawley will lead the group for the week, bringing his own indomitable personality to the week!
- Eoin from Camino Groups will also accompany the group for the week.
- Detailed walking notes and accommodation maps.
Saturday, September 9th. Day 1 – Fly from Dublin to Porto
- Arrival in Porto – explore the medieval streets of this UNESCO World Heritage Site treasure.
Sunday, September 10th. Day 2 – Walk from Porto to Matosinhos
- Walk 11km from Porto Cathedral to Matosinhos.
- Our walk starts from Porto's cathedral and takes us along the banks of the Douro until it reaches the Atlantic Ocean – from there we turn right and keep going to the beach of Matosinhos.
- Return to Porto city centre via metro from Matosinhos.
- Free afternoon to further explore Portugal’s second city, located on the banks of the Douro. There is so much to see and do in O Porto, home of port wine and the city after which the country itself is named.
Monday, September 11th. Day 3 – Walk 22km to Vila do Conde
- Return to Matosinhos, from where we will continuer our walk to Vila do Conde, famous for its incredible aqueduct (spanning 4 km and 999 arches to reach the monastery of Santa Clara, looking down on the town centre).
- Take a stroll along the banks of the Rio Ave (lending its name to the local football club) from the town centre out to the small falls from where you can walk up to the Santa Clara Monastery.
- Camino trivia – Vila do Conde is twinned with Ferrol, starting point of the Camino Inglés.
- Relax in the lap of luxury in a 4* Spa hotel!
Tuesday, September 12th. Day 4 – Walk 24km to Esposende
- Esposende is a is a small seaside town where the Camino runs along its pedestrianised main street to the Matriz church.
- Your day brings you past plenty of beaches, including the seaside resort of Povoa de Varzim and the picturesque village of Apúlia.
- We will return to our accommodation in VdC - indulge yourself with a spa treatment!
Wednesday, September 13th. Day 5 – Walk 26km to Viana do Castelo
- A city of 35,000 people, Viana has a rich commercial history as a port and still has a functioning shipyard today.
- The centre of town is overlooked by the imposing Santa Luzia church on the hillside above – either a steep walk or a funicular trip away!
Thursday, September 14th. Day 6 – Walk 18km to Vila Praia de Áncora
- If you want to stay by a beautiful beach on this section, this is the spot!
- Though the town itself is quite small, the beach extends for a number of kilometres along the bay, perfect for an evening stroll followed by dinner in one of the small restaurants fronting on to the beach.
- Did we already mention the possibility of spa treatments? Well here's another chance....
Friday, September 15th. Day 7 – Walk 13km to A Guarda
- Today is the day that you pass from Portugal into Spain via a ferry from Caminha that takes you across the mouth of the river Minho.
- We will continue our walk to A Guarda, from where we will transfer to Baiona for overnight.
Saturday, September 16th. Day 8 – Return flight to Dublin.
- Free morning to explore the sights of Baiona.
- Baiona is a tourist town where all its main sights are within a cluster – the medieval old town streets, the marina and especially the Fortaleza (fort) which houses a Parador (there’s a 3km walk around the bottom of the fort walls).
- Transfer to Porto airport for our return flight home.
