1. Route Specification Overview
The Coastal Camino begins at the Sé Cathedral in Porto and follows the Atlantic coastline north through Matosinhos, Vila do Conde, Viana do Castelo, and Caminha before crossing into Galicia (Spain) via ferry to A Guarda. From there, it passes through Baiona, Vigo, and Redondela before joining the central Camino route into Santiago de Compostela.
2. Recommended 14-Day Cadence Breakdown
| Stage | Origin ➔ Destination | Distance | Elevation Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 01 | Porto Sé ➔ Labruge | 23.4 km | +80m / -75m |
| Stage 02 | Labruge ➔ Póvoa de Varzim | 15.2 km | +40m / -40m |
| Stage 03 | Póvoa de Varzim ➔ Esposende | 20.8 km | +95m / -90m |
| Stage 04 | Esposende ➔ Viana do Castelo | 25.1 km | +210m / -205m |
| Stage 05 | Viana do Castelo ➔ Caminha | 26.8 km | +140m / -140m |
| Stage 06 | Caminha ➔ A Guarda ➔ Oia | 17.3 km | +180m / -160m |
| Stage 07 | Oia ➔ Baiona | 18.5 km | +240m / -235m |
| Stage 08 | Baiona ➔ Vigo | 25.0 km | +310m / -300m |
| Stage 09 | Vigo ➔ Redondela | 16.2 km | +290m / -280m |
| Stage 10 | Redondela ➔ Pontevedra | 19.6 km | +320m / -310m |
| Stage 11 | Pontevedra ➔ Caldas de Reis | 21.1 km | +180m / -170m |
| Stage 12 | Caldas de Reis ➔ Padrón | 18.6 km | +190m / -200m |
| Stage 13 | Padrón ➔ Santiago de Compostela | 25.2 km | +420m / -210m |
| Stage 14 | Santiago (Rest & Protocol Dwell) | 0.0 km | Dwell Day |
3. Footwear & Pack Telemetry
Given the 60% timber boardwalk and cobblestone ratio along the Portuguese section, traditional heavy leather mountaineering boots cause excessive joint fatigue. We mandate trail running shoes with Vibram Megagrip soles and zero-drop or low-drop (4-6mm) profiles. Pack weight should strictly not exceed 10% of total body weight.