Camino Santiago de Compostela

September - October 2023

Iberia vacation to join the Camino Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage. Starting from Viana do Castelo, walking the coastal way, covering roughly 200+ km. Being my first time backpacking, I'm taking the conservative approach. Stay tune. Read more

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Traveler Camino Santiago de Compostela
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- Sep 7, 2023, 5:00pm
- ☀️ 25 °C
- Altitude: 103 m
- Portugal Porto Santo Ildefonso Porto Capela das Almas 41.150656, -8.60586441°9’2” N 8°36’21” W
Day 1
Porto, PT
September 7, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Roaming Porto along Douro river.
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- Sep 8, 2023, 1:30pm
- ☁️ 24 °C
- Altitude: 23 m
- Portugal Viana do Castelo Viana do Castelo (Monserrate)Ursulinas Viana do Castelo 41.694867, -8.83108841°41’42” N 8°49’52” W
Day 2
Santa Lucia in Viana do Castelo
September 8, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
Climbed 660 steps up the hill to Albergue de Santa Luzia. There are taxi and cable train available, but I chose the staircases to test my strength, and I passed. I'm staying here for the night before setting my foot on the Camino for the first time. The view from Santuário do Sagrado Coração de Jesus is breathtaking looking down to Praia Norte and Forte da Areosa.

After settling in, I wasted no time to tour the hill, took some photos then headed to downtown Viana for a tour. It was so pleasant to see so many eateries and cafés since I didn't really have lunch due to the bus ride from Porto.Read more
how much I miss that walk! starting an amazing journey for urself amigo. enjoy every step. Obrigada for sharing ☺️ [Theresa Pham]
9/9/23Reply
Traveler I asked you to join me. Let's plan for a small group in the next year or two. Already me and Bình.
9/10/23Reply
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- Sep 9, 2023, 5:43pm
- ⛅ 22 °C
- Altitude: 4 m
- Portugal Viana do Castelo Vila Praia de Âncora 41.806963, -8.84996141°48’25” N 8°50’60” W
1
Day 3
Vila Praia de Âncora
September 9, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Day 1: Got my first Camino day officially in the book, covering 21 km from top of the hill to Vila Praia de Ãncora. The walk, with some of my fellow pilgrims, was partially along the shore, but majority was through villages, remote residential areas on copper stone and dirt roads, which was beautiful and relaxing, exactly what I expected. It was supposed to be raining most of the day but there wasn't a drop after all.Read more
Traveler After a long walk day, it was so tempting to jump into that spring.
9/9/23Reply
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- Sep 10, 2023, 1:00pm
- ☁️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 40 m
- Spain Galicia A Guarda Porto de A Garda 41.903178, -8.87444341°54’11” N 8°52’28” W
Day 4
A Guarda, Galicia, Spain
September 10, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
A short walk. Only 13 km today, but quite relaxing along the shore the entire time. To get to A Guarda, one must either take the ferry (not operated on Sunday) or water taxi. It was only a short ride to cross the border between Portugal and Spain, but the infraestruturas been the two countries are completely different.Read more
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- Sep 11, 2023, 8:00am
- ⛅ 16 °C
- Altitude: 39 m
- Spain Galicia A Guarda Camposancos Rio Minho 41.883017, -8.86383841°52’59” N 8°51’50” W
Day 5
Monte de Santa Tecla
September 11, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Woke up really today to pack up and met with a local lady who took her time taking to the top of Monte de Santa Tecla aka Mount Santa Tegra so I won't lose my trekking time. Quite a nice lady who I only met through Facebook group learning to prepare for my first Camino. Belong to the Castro culture, Monte de Santa Tecla is quite a historical site, strategically located, overlooking the mouth of Miño river.Read more
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- Sep 11, 2023, 10:09am
- ⛅ 18 °C
- Altitude: 34 m
- Spain Galicia Oia Porto de Oia 42.006065, -8.87605242°0’22” N 8°52’34” W
Day 5
Madame Dominique
September 11, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
I met a very nice lady (madame Dominique), in her early 70's, who's from France/Swiss, on my second day in Vila Praia de Âncora. Talked to her briefly and I went on my way. We met again on the third day and ended up walking, resting and drinking together the last 12 km on the way to O Serrallo. As I wasn't able to grab a bed in Oia, she was worried and offered to share her pre-booked luxury room with me. I felt odd, but kept her offer in my back pocket just in case. I didn't have to take that offer after all, and she was happy that I had a place to sleep for the night. We walked together again today with great conversations until I strayed away from the trail. She will walk on tomorrow when I stay in Baiona for my first rest day. I hope to catch up with her at some point in the Central route but it is unlikely since I have no wing. Will try to catch up with her for breakfast and coffee in the morning before she starts walking. If I don't see you again, madame Dominique, Buen Camino! It was quite an honor to meet you.Read more
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- Sep 11, 2023, 4:00pm
- ⛅ 22 °C
- Altitude: 9 m
- Spain Galicia Baiona Puerto Deportivo de Baiona 42.117662, -8.84529942°7’4” N 8°50’43” W
Day 5
A Guarda to Oia/O Serrallo
September 11, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
The walk out of A Guarda was a little rough, through the rocky beach, at time up some steep hills, but was quite enjoyable. I arrived in Oia early enough, thinking I was able to find an albergue for the night. Unfortunately it was all booked up with advanced reservation. Bummer, it was a nice hostel with mountain view, hosted by am Americal woman. Given Oia is a small village with not many accommodations and all sold out, I had to advance 4 km to O Serrallo to get a bed. Luckily there was a last minute cancellation and I was able to grab that one. Despite missing out in Oia, I found myself in a place with delicious meal for pilgrims which was really cheap, with wine/beer included.Read more
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- Sep 12, 2023, 2:30pm
- ☁️ 23 °C
- Altitude: 63 m
- Spain Galicia Baiona Baredo 42.102027, -8.87927742°6’7” N 8°52’45” W
Day 6
O Serrallo-Baiona
September 12, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
The walk today was relatively easy on flat surface, with a good atretch on the side of the main street. I intentionally strayed off the Camino at the tail end of the walk to continue enjoying the ocean views with the purpose of stopping at Praia dos Cristais de Silleiro to see the "glass" beach for the first time. This added an additional 4 km to my route. I was right on the spot and spent a good hour in solitude, having some snacks and resting my feet. However, I could not find the glass beach anywhere. Only after I left, found out it was in the middle of all the stones. One can only notice when there are people coming up from there. I was the sole creature at the time. Will find it on my rest day. Baiona is such a beautiful tourist town in Galicia.Read more
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- Sep 13, 2023, 9:00am
- ☀️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 19 m
- Spain Galicia Nigrán 42.142982, -8.78793242°8’35” N 8°47’17” W
Day 7
Baiona-Nigrán on rest day
September 13, 2023 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
On this day, instead of resting in Baiona as originally planned, I followed Isabelle, who's on a long break, for a short walk to Nigrán, which is a beautiful beach town in between the next stage. Given it was only 10 km walk, we slept in until 9:00 am, had breakfast andb started trekking. We got there around noon and the rooms were not ready so we dropped our rucksacks at the place and headed to the water for a much needed dip.

I "officially" met Isabelle for the first time in Baiona that evening. However, we crossed path two times previously when I stayed in Albergue de Santa Luzia in Viana do Castelo, and in Albergue D'Avenida in Vila Praia de Âncora. Isabelle recognized me, but I did not recall to have crossed over her path. How I ran into Isabelle was rather odd. As I was sitting in he park waiting to watch sunset, I needed some water after a coffee and couple beers. However, I could not find any mercado in my sight. I noticed a young lady sitting nearby, thinking she was local, I took my chance, hoping she understand English, asking if she could point me to a place where I can get a bottle of water. Instead, she offered me her spare bottle. That was so kind of her. We started chit chatting and that's when I found out we've crossed path twice prior to that evening. Mucha gracias Isabelle! You're my second Camino angel.Read more
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