The St James Way is an ancient pilgrimage route traveled by thousands of people each year. It is more than 800 km long, passing through France, Spain, and Portugal. After trekking more than 100 km of the route participants receive a certificate forgiveness of sins. Our trek begins in Porto (Portugal) and ends in Santiago de Compostelo (Spain).
You will visit 2 countries at once and be able to compare the culture, cuisine and customs of the locals. In addition, our trek will allow you to feel the atmosphere of the pilgrimage route, and a lightweight backpack will ease your way and allow you to enjoy the scenery as much as possible. But don't expect it to be very easy, because we'll be hiking about 20-25 km per day on trails through forests, gardens, villages, and beaches. This rich journey will give you joy and inspiration.
We do not cancel or shift groups. If the manager approved the purchase of a ticket, you can surely buy it. The hike will not be canceled due to our fault.
Experienced Kuluar teamleaders will accompany the group on all route, will make the trip as safe and unforgettable as possible!
A manager will help you prepare for the trip and answer all your questions
More than 12,000 participants have already gone to the mountains with the Kuluar and 97,8% were satisfied.
A couple of days before the start you can come to Porto and surf)
The group usually meets at the hostel or at the albergue, tentatively after 14.00. The exact place and time of the meeting will be notified additionally in the letter a week before the hike. We get acquainted quickly and go for a walk in the city.
Porto is one of Europe's top tourist destinations, which perfectly combines great sights with natural beauty. The city is famous for its historical past and, of course, for its excellent food and port wine. It is of great value, especially its historical part. We will take a leisurely stroll through the city, where there is a relaxed atmosphere. We will enjoy the views of the right bank of the Douro River from the observation deck. And we'll take a long walk through the tiled streets of the old town.
We wake up in the morning, drink aromatic coffee, have breakfast and hit the road, because today we are going to do nothing more than 25 km. Our way will go through several coastal fishing towns. The overnight stay will be in the albergue (pilgrim shelter) in Vila do Condi. It is the oldest fishing town in Portugal (founded in 953) with beautiful restaurants and a beautiful bridge over the river. Full of emotion, let's try to sleep, because tomorrow we have an early rise again.
Distance: 25 km
Provided we leave early, we will have a couple of hours to rest and sunbathe on the beach. Our route today can be conditionally divided into two parts: beach and greenhouse. First, we're treated to a walk along the wooden decking that runs along the beach dunes and runs along the Atlantic Ocean. And then the road loops past a large number of farms and greenhouses, and leads to the town of Espozende.
We travel 25 km.
Today is a day away from the beaches and the ocean. However, there are some of the most beautiful scenery on this road, such as the trail that descends to the bed of the Neiva River. Crossing this river on stone slabs is sure to be a memorable experience.
Distance: 20 km.
We will continue on the official road that leads inland, being on the slopes, we will see the coasts in the distance. Quiet little villages, on our way, are like movie sets with a measured life.
Distance: 18 km
Today will be our last day in Portugal. We need to consolidate all the material we have learned about this country. For those who haven't had time to enjoy Portuguese warmth and wine, today is your day. From Vila Praia de Anchor we have an easy route to Caminha, the town where we will board the boat that will take us to Galicia tomorrow.
Distance: 17 km
We wake up in the morning, drink coffee and meet a new day full of anticipation. Today we will take the ferry (oh, this will be a separate adventure, as the views from the crossing are very beautiful) and get to the Spanish town of A Guarda.
This section will pass between the ocean and the scenic mountains. The incredible views of the ocean today will have us stopping and pulling out our camera more than once. The overnight stay will be in the albergue of the town of Maughas. Right next to it there is a good cafe with delicious food.
We will walk 25 km.
Today will be just as beautiful and varied as yesterday, we will start our journey along the coast and enjoy a beautiful strip of hills overlooking the lighthouse, and soon after we will discover Bayona, a town that will make us fall in love. We spend the night a few kilometers in the town of A-Ramallosa.
Distance: 17 km.
Today again there is an opportunity to sunbathe on the clean sandy beaches of Galicia. The water is not very warm, but very pleasant for swimming, especially after so many miles. We are getting closer to our goal, so try your best to enjoy the ocean views and take as many pictures as possible to remember this Trek forever!
Distanse: 25 км.
Definitely one of the highlights of the day will be the magnificent view of the Bay of Ria de Vigo. The bay, the ocean, and the coastal town will leave you in a fabulous mood for a long time! After that the road will dive around a hill and into the forest, where we can have a picnic in one of the glades. From here to Redondela, the kilometers fly by unnoticed. Once we enjoy the coolness of the forest and walk the final kilometers to the albergue, after a delicious dinner we go to bed.
Distanse: 17 км.
After hiking along the asphalt path, we will leave the city and find ourselves among conifers and eucalyptus trees in the cool of the forest. Today will not be an easy day, as hilly terrain prevails and there will be some tough climbs. And we will also see a very symbolic place for pilgrims - a roadside cross, near which pilgrims stack scallop shells. There is a belief that if you leave a scallop, you will surely return to the Way of Santiago again. After passing through the thick and dense Forest of Druids, we find ourselves on the road to the city of Pontevedra, where we will spend the night.
Distanse: 20 км.
After breakfast and coffee, we go on to the route for another beautiful day in Camino. Today we will spend most of the day among the rural landscapes of the Spanish countryside and the countless vineyards that we will encounter on our way. There are also a lot of churches dating back to the twelfth to sixteenth centuries.
Distanse: 25 км.
The last stages of the Camino are always full of noise and fun, because here all the pilgrims and pilgrims from the surrounding and alternative Caminos flock to one road and go to the final point - the city of Santiago de Compostela in a friendly crowd.
The picturesque views of the Bermagna River Valley will be a joy to behold. And when we arrive at the albergue we will have fun, because everyone is already in anticipation of the final stage, which will come tomorrow.
Distanse: 19 km.
Yay! The last 25 km and we will see the majestic Cathedral of Catedral Santiago! Inside is very beautiful and grandiose. At 7:00 p.m. there will be a service, which we will definitely attend. We will also finally receive our certificates of forgiveness of sins :)
Overnight stay that day still in the albergue, after the service we will have a good rest and we can fly home the next day.
Those who are inspired by the Camino, will be back again and again, because it really is a journey that makes you reconsider your life from a new angle. See you on the Camino!
We recommend buying tickets from Santiago for the next day, but if you have flights for today at 22.00 and later - then you are quite in time for it.
Well, that's the end of our trip. Today everyone is going home, and those who want to stay longer can walk around the city and buy souvenirs for their loved ones.
The manager will advise you on equipment, help you choose the best flight, share information on hotels and excursions. You make payments and purchases yourself. If you want the manager to buy a ticket for you, then this is possible, but for extra money, because this is a big responsibility. More in the article: additional services and service fee
Depending on the weather conditions, condition and general wishes of the group, the teamleader has the right to make changes to the route.
For citizens of Ukraine to visit Spain and Portugal sufficient biometric passport, insurance and return ticket (you may be asked these documents at the airport). Citizens of other countries must have a Schengen multivisa or make a visa to Spain specifically for the tour of the Way of Santiago. We provide the necessary documents and help with processing. It's not as scary as it may initially seem ;)
To take part in the tour you must have no illnesses from this list >>.
As always, we recommend buying tickets in advance, but only after our confirmation of your participation in the hike.
Fortunately for us, Porto is quite a popular place and it is not difficult to get there. From Kiev and other cities there are flights with one or more connections. You can choose what is more profitable and comfortable for you - to get there faster or to save 50-70 euros. Direct flights are provided by UIA, Lufthansa and TAP air Portugal. Note that most European low-cost airlines don't include luggage in the initial price. It is necessary to choose a package with luggage, or to order it as a separate item.
In order to find the most convenient option for the flight, compare prices on aggregator sites, and check them directly with the airlines. Don't be afraid to take a 1-2 day allowance. Sometimes it's cheaper than taking a ticket for the exact dates of the trip, even with accommodation and meals in Portugal or Spain.
Our recommendations for airline ticketing services can be found in this article.
You need good insurance to participate in the program. Please do not neglect this item. For some participants, it saved thousands of dollars. You can find our recommendations for taking out insurance here: "Insurance for Kuluar hikers"
The group meets at the albergue in Porto. It is advisable to arrive for the meeting in the morning. In case your flight is delayed, please inform your teamleader so that he/she can wait for you. The detailed information on a place of a meeting and contacts of the guide will be sent to you in 7-10 days before the trip, be sure to check your mail!
It's acceptable to arrive later in the day or late in the evening, but then you'll miss the walk around the city with the group.
It's best to look for your return tickets the day after the end of the hike. You can fly out from the same town; there is a small airport in Santiago de Compostela that has flights within the country.
It is acceptable to leave on the last day of the end of the tour, after 10 p.m. But then you will probably miss most of the ceremonial service in the cathedral.
It is possible to book a transfer along the route, it makes the hike much easier. If you are not confident in your abilities or you don't want to carry a backpack on your back, let the manager know in advance, so that we can book a transfer in advance. Cost from 5€ per day.
This is no ordinary hike. It is an ancient pilgrim trail. And for hundreds of years, the locals of the towns through which the route passes have built many shelters for wanderers. They are named albergues.
Every year the Camino Way is becoming more and more popular among pilgrims and ordinary tourists. But the number of places in the municipal albergues remains the same and they cannot be booked in advance. Often travelers have to stage a real race to get their place for the night. Needless to say, this is a great inconvenience and reduces the enjoyment of the Trail.
Since 2020, we started booking private Alberge in advance for our participants, thus solving the problem of overnight stays. You get more comfortable lodging, a guarantee of an overnight location (no rush during the day's crossing). The group is accommodated each night differently, i.e. it means that half of the route - accommodation for 2-3-4 people in rooms, with private bathrooms, and the other half of the hike - albergue and hotels with accommodation for 6-8-10 people per room. The bathrooms in these rooms are shared.
Here are photos from some of the hotels along our route:
Food is buyed for the group at local supermarkets. Cooking is done by the teamleader, willing participants can help - he will be grateful. Throughout the route you can eat on your own - there are cafes and restaurants everywhere. On the average it costs 10-15 euros to have a meal. For eating on your own you get the discount of 80 euros. If you want to join the whole group for one or several meals, tell your teamleader beforehand and let him buy some extra food for you. Each meal (no matter breakfast, lunch or dinner) will cost 5 euros.
Food features for vegetarians - if you don't eat meat, be sure to read. We tell you how we will feed and give you a 5% discount on our food.
The total amount of additional expenses not included in the price, will be about 250 euros - depending on how to eat in the cafes and how many souvenirs to buy. In a cafe you can eat for about 10-15 € (at a time). Gourmets will probably want to bring home a variety of cheeses and taste local seafood delicacies, take it into account :) It's advisable to have 100-200 euros in reserve on your card, just in case.
Please note: It is not the manager's job to select a separate flight for each participant. The manager gives general recommendations based on his/her experience and shares the flights of other participants, so that you can fly together. It's up to the participant to select and purchase his own convenient airfare. If you want a manager to buy you a ticket, book a hotel or an extra excursion, read the terms and conditions on the page: additional services.
To book a place in the group you need to pay a prepayment of 250 euros. We recommend to do it as early as possible. Methods of payment and conditions of return in case of refusal or descent from the route here. The rest of the sum you mast give to the teamleader at the first day of the program.
