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Portuguese Spiritual Way by Horse

If you believe the world is best viewed through the ears of a horse and that no hour spend on the saddle is wasted, then this is the Camino for you. Be among the first to discover the Portuguese Spiritual Variant / the Maritime Way which follows the final journey of the Apostle Saint James' body into Santiago de Compostela.

Spend 8 days traveling horseback from stunning Baiona to the Roman built city of Pontevedra and along the coast of the Ria de Arousa to Santiago de Compostela before obtaining your Certificate of Achievement, the Compostela.

From €2.000 per person sharing

  • Portuguese Spiritual Way by Horse INCLUDES

    • En-suite accommodation in charming luxurious manors & 2 to 4* charming hotels
    • Meals and accommodation for the Horses near your hotel (the organizer always plans more horses than needed so you will never be without a horse)
    • Transfers in and out from Santiago airport, other airports on request
    • Private Van Support during the riding days
    • A horse per person and all necessary equipment
    • Access to the Obradoiro Square on the last day with the horses
    • Dedicated bilingual Guide with 15 years experience on the Camino de Santiago
    • Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel
    • Emergency support from our local team
    • All taxes and gratuities for the guides and hotels
    • A detailed guidebook per room
    • All Breakfasts, lunches and Dinners
    • A Pilgrim Kit per person including an official Pilgrim Passport (Credential)
    • A collection of photos of the group to share
    • Ride between 24 km and 39 km per day

    price & dates

    Due to the nature of this Camino, we have chosen a highly experienced partner to help us organize this tour and to take care of the horses. Our partner responds to our strict sustainability and quality policies and has pre-booked departure dates. New dates can be organized on request for groups of at least 4 participants on the date of your choice - subject to availability and price fluctuations, simply ask us for details.

    Join a guided tour or plan your own departure with 4+ participants: 2.000 per person

    • Single room supplement: extra €60 per night 

    • Start in Pontevedra (5 nights / 6 days): total €2.000 per person
    • Start in Vigo (6 nights / 7 days): total €2.300 per person
    • Start in Baiona (8 nights / 9 days): total €3.000 per person
    • Start in A Guardia (9 nights / 10 days): total €3.300 per person
    • Extra night in Santiago in the same 4+* hotel: + €160 per room (dinner not included)
    • Extra night in the 5* Parador of Santiago: from + €300 per room (dinner not included)

    Ask us for 2024 tour dates - to be released soon

    We have another tour on the Portuguese Interior Way starting in Ponte de Lima on the 22nd of June 2018 and arriving in Santiago de Compostela on the 1st of July.

    Ask us for other departure dates, traveling with a horsecar or with shorter distances (20 to 25 km per day), travel insurance, extra nights in Spain and stop-overs.

    •   fact file

      Accommodation  Luxurious Manors & 2 to 4* Hotels
      Singularity  Horse-riding trip
      Total Riding Distance  70 km
      Duration  6 days / 5 nights
      Starts  Baiona
      Stops  Vigo, Soutomaior, Pontevedra, Poio, Combarro, Armenteira, Barrantes, Ribadumia, Vilanova de Arousa, Cambados, Sines, Vilaxoan, Vilagarcia de Arousa, Valga, Padron, Milladoiro
      Ends  Santiago de Compostela
    • highlights

      A whole new adventure on the Camino
      Improve your horse-riding skills
      Get your Compostela
      A private guide for the duration of your trip

You can also horse-ride the French Way from O Cebreiro or ask us for a personalised journey.

what to expect on this tour?

Expect to have a wonderful time and to experience 160 km of the Portuguese Spiritual Way in a unique Way with your new best friend! This tour was designed by our partner which has over 30 years experience horse-riding the Camino de Santiago. If you love horses you will have the time of your life. Learn more about our Services here.

Be ready for the ride of a lifetime

The Camino on a horse is a unique experience. You will be able to cover larger distances each day and share your journey with your trusted horse. Our partner's horses are very well suited for the region, mostly native breed and they always plan extra horses to make the journey easier on our companions and to ensure you always have a horse to ride. Their horses are very well treated, used to traveling on the Camino and get large resting periods afterwards.

Don't worry if you are not an expert rider, the journey will be fairly easy with moderate distance days but you will need previous horse-riding experience. So, make sure you practice your horsemanship skills beforehand.

You will travel as a group with an experienced and bilingual English / Spanish guide. There will be scheduled stops every 2h along the Way for meals, to allow you and your horse to rest. A special highlight of your horse-riding tour will be entering Santiago de Compostela on horseback. You will feel like a VIP clattering along the cobbled streets into the city center towards the Obradoiro Square.

Sleep in charming luxurious manors & 2 to 4* historical hotels

On this tour, you will sleep in charming luxurious manors near the Camino & 2 to 4* historical hotels in town centers. They all provide a welcoming, authentic and unique experience with all the comfort and service of a hotel of these standards with en-suite bathrooms. Your horse will stay in a stable nearby if not in your own hotel.

Everyday, as you change accommodation, you will find your suitcase, left with your hotel receptionist in the morning, will travel with you to the next accommodation and you will have different facilities to enjoy including for example swimming pools and spas (during summer and in selected locations). Most nights, you will be in the heart of a town and others you will enjoy the peace of the countryside. However, you will never be far away from the Camino and always in a area full of history.

Eat fresh, delicious & traditional meals

All meals have been included in this tour and will be either served at your hotel or at a local nearby restaurant, whichever offer the best quality meals according to your specifications. Expect mouth-watering traditional three-course meals with several choices prepared with the best fresh and local products.

We cater for vegetarians, vegans and any special dietary requirements or allergies. Just let us know beforehand so we can advise the chefs.

Add extra days or activities for an unforgettable adventure

Why not take advantage of the fact you are in Spain to do some tourism and visit Madrid, Barcelona, Grenada or any Spanish city on your bucket list? The closest International airport to your Camino is Santiago de Compostela or Vigo but you might want to change the airport pickup town or add nights somewhere on your way to Santiago.

We can help you choose and book those extra nights before or after your tour, for example you could start your journey in La Guardia instead of Tui or further along in Pontevedra or continue to Finisterre after you arrived in Santiago. We could also organize day tours around Galicia (Cies Islands, Finisterre, Oporto... ), extra activities during the tour (wine-tasting, guided tours of the Cathedral de Santiago... ). Let your imagination run wild and let us know how you would like to make this tour even more unique.

Portuguese Spiritual Way by Horse DAY BY DAY ITINERARY

This 8 nights horse-riding route brings you along the last 160 kilometers of the Camino Frances - Portuguese Spiritual Way into Santiago de Compostela.

Map of the Last 160 km into Santiago

DAY 1 - MAKING YOUR WAY TO Baiona

Make your way to stunning Baiona by taking a private taxi, bus or train from Vigo (about 30 min drive) or a taxi from Porto (1h30 drive). From your hotel enjoy beautiful views onto the Monterreal peninsula and the strong Atlantic Ocean.

On March 1, 1493, the Pinta, one of the ships from Columbus' voyage to discover the New World returned to Europe and arrived in Baiona, making the town's port the first to receive news of the discovery of America. A replica of the ship can be visited, and the event is celebrated every year. So, if time allows during the afternoon, go for a tour of the old town, visit the Pinta and relax by the ocean before watching the sunset onto the bay of Baiona and enjoying a gourmet dinner in your hotel.

DAY 2 - 26 km - RIDE FROM Baiona TO Vigo

Today, you finally begin your equestrian pilgrimage on the Portuguese Way Coastal Way or Caminho da Costa in Portuguese. After meeting the horse, you will share the journey with, we will saddle up and leave behind Baiona, to follow the coast across the Rías Baixas through the beach-town of Nigrán and towards the city of Vigo. The region you will be traveling through until Cambados is world-famous for its Albariño white wine and delicious shellfish but the views are also breathtaking. You will ride along long white prestine beaches and admire, in the distance, the magnificent Illas Cíes, named the most beautiful beaches in the world, and the Bay of Vigo with its Natural Park.

After riding 26 km along the coast, you will be arrive and stay in in the city center of Vigo. Vigo is Galicia's most important harbour and busiest city with over 300, 000 inhabitants. Vigo's old district covers an interesting area on the slopes above the marina including a number of beautiful plazas, a multitude of high quality restaurants serving the freshest of seafood (head in particular to the famous Oyster Street), and even the remains of an old Celtic fort town.

DAY 3 - 25 KM - ride FROM Vigo to Soutomaior

Once out of the city of Vigo, you will pass what is considered one of the benches with the best views in the world (a 5 min detour uphill from the Camino but the views are similar during the walk) with stunning views onto Vigo, the Atlantic Islands, the peninsula of Morrazo and the Rande Bridge, once the longest suspension bridge in the world.

After a pleasant trail on a dirt path through woodlands, you will finally reach Redondela at the end of one of the famous Rías Baixas. You will be staying in a Pousada within the grounds of the very impressive Medieval Castle of Soutomaior, just after Redondela.

DAY 4 - 18 km - Ride from Redondela to Pontevedra

Today, expect two sceneries: half the day will be riding uphill by the coast with stunning views over the Vigo Bay and the second part will be downhill through peaceful oak forests. You will pass the infamous bridge of Ponte Sampaio, where during the War of Independence, Napoleon’s army suffered one of its greatest defeats and cross several quaint medieval villages.

You are heading to the a 3* hotel in the centre of the old town of Pontevedra, the Roman built city which has been dedicated to the Virgen Peregrina (the Pilgrim Virgin). In the afternoon, and before dinner in your hotel, take a walk through the well-preserved old quarter of Pontevedra, most of which has been pedestrianized, and visit Santa María la Mayor Basilica, a jewel of Gothic-Renaissance architecture, and La Virgen Peregrina Church, a chapel with a scallop-shaped floor plan and beautiful night lighting.

DAY 5 - 30KM - ride FROM PONTEVEDRA to ribadumia



Until we reach Padron on day 7, we will now be following the Spiritual Variant / the Maritime Way. This detour is relatively new, it has only been accepted by the Pilgrim Office in 2013 (although we need to walk or ride over 160 km to obtain the certificate instead of 100 km on any other route) but has the oldest origins of all Caminos. It is said that in the year 44, after his Martyrdom, the body of James the Apostle was transported on a stone vessel along the Arousa Estuary to get to the land of Galicia where he was meant to be buried. The boat is said to have gone from Jaffa to Galicia and upstream via Ulla river until reaching Iria Flavia (Padron) and later on Santiago de Compostela. This tradition followed by Christians all around the world has been translated throughout the thousand years old Jacobean history into a varied iconography representing the Apostle’s final journey from Jaffa (Palestine) to Iria Flavia (today’s village of Padrón). This is the Initial Route of all the Santiago Trails.

On your journey today, we will pass the Monastery of San Juan de Poio and the beautiful town of Cambarro, famous for its Horreos (a typical granary on pillars). We will take a break to visit the Monastery of Armenteira, which belongs to the Cistercian order and was founded by the knight Ero de Armenteira in 1168. Before hiking a section of the relaxing “Ruta da Pedra e da Auga” (the route of rocks and water - due to the number of watermills that can be found on that river) along the Armenteira river and stopping in Ribadumia for the night.

DAY 6 - 25 KM - ride FROM ribadumia to villagarcia de arousa

Today, we continue our journey inland, riding towards the historic centre of Cambados. Cambados is considered to be the capital of Albariño, one of the best white wines in the world and is a precious little harbor town. Here, we will finally reach the famous Galician beaches and you will be able to ride your horse on the beach until Vilagarcia de Arousa.

In Vilanova de Arousa most walking pilgrims will embark for a catamaran journey of 15 nautical miles towards Padron but, we will not dismount until Santiago (except of course for sleeping, eating, enjoying the beach, our hotels and having a great time) and will continue enjoying stunning views onto the Rías from the beach and the cliffs. We will spend the night in the charming seaside town of Villagarcia de Arousa, where our partner’s equestrian center is located.

DAY 7 - 28 KM - ride FROM villagarcia de arousa to padron

While the walking pilgrims cruise the River Ulla following the legendary journey of Saint James disciples, we will continue across the peaceful forest on the mounts nearby until we reach Catoira, the village famous for its Viking celebration in August, and later on Pontesures.

We will be spending the night in the emblematic town of Padrón or Iria Flavia, the place where according to legends, the stone boat containing the remains of the Apostle moored. Padrón is also famous for the mild green peppers that are sold all over Spain as Pimentos de Padrón and for it’s Sunday Market.

DAY 8 - 22 KM - RIDE FROM PADRÓN TO SANTIAGO!

This is it! Only 24 km separates you from your goal: the resting place of the Apostle Saint James in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The Camino will bring you through charming villages and hamlets as well as the Baroque sanctuary of A Esclavitude. Then, finally, from the hills of Agro dos Monteiros, you will get our first glimpse of Santiago de Compostela. Today, we will not enter the City of the Apostle by horse but stop just outside in a 4* hotel.

A shuttle will bring you to the Old Town so you can enjoy a free afternoon in Santiago and obtain your pilgrim certificate, attend Pilgrim Mass & marvel at the architecture of our beloved City.

DAY 9 - 3 KM - RIDE INTO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Wake up early because this is it, only a few kilometers separates you from your goal. The group will need to leave at 8am to reach Santiago before nine to be able to enter the city and the Obradoiro Square with your horse.

In the afternoon, if you have not opted for an extra night in Santiago, we will bring you back to Santiago Airport. We hope the Camino has brought you whatever you were looking for and wish to see you again soon in Galicia!

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Step 1   After you have filled in our inquiry form and clicked 'Submit', a Camino Planner will get back to you with a personalized quote within 24h or contact you over the phone for further details

Step 2   Once you are satisfied with the Terms & Conditions of your tour, we will invoice you for a non-refundable 50% deposit of the total price to process the booking - we currently offer two modes of payment: bank transfers & credit card payments via a secured page of our website (we will add an extra 1,50% if paying with American Express - VISA & MasterCard free).

Step 3   Ultreya Tours Reservations Team will start booking your accommodation, meals, activities, guides and other services immediately after receiving the initial deposit and send you your hotel vouchers as soon as they are ready

Step 4   30 days before the departure, we will request the 50% remaining deposit and we will send your pilgrim kits directly to your first hotel along with printed versions of your vouchers, your scallop shells and guidebook

To make sure we constantly meet your expectations, we will regularly follow up with you and keep you updated throughout the whole process and until you come back home.

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