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Portugal & Spain: The Border Country

Dates: Custom departures for groups of 6 or more.
Price: Determined by group size; please call for rates.
for 8 days/7 nights, Includes 6 dinners with wine, 2 picnics, and all breakfasts.
Terrain: Moderate to hilly paths and trails;
options of 5 to 12 miles per day.
Arrive: Oporto Airport
Depart: Oporto Airport

"In seeing you so close, Galicia and Minho, One would say you were two lovers who the river keeps apart." The romantic landscapes of Spanish Galicia and Portugal's Minho, separated by the Rio Minho, share Celtic origins and valleys fertile with golden maize and Alvarinho grapes. This is one of Europe's last agrarian economies, and the pace of life here moves no faster than the region's long-horned oxen, often seen pulling farm carts with creaking wooden wheels.

Our walking tour explores this historic countryside, from Portugal's terraced Rio Lima valley to the medieval pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela and the Rias Baixas coast in Spain. Each footstep is steeped in history. In Portugal, we'll follow the traditional "Camino Portugues," the centuries-old path that guided pilgrims approaching Santiago from the south. Along the way we'll hike in Peneda-Gerês National Park, home to wild ponies, mystical Celtic stones, and craggy mountain villages. After crossing the Rio Minho into Spain, the "Camino Xacobea" leads on through verdant farmland and fishing villages overlooking a fjord-like coastline. In Santiago, we'll join pilgrims and adventurers from around the world in visiting the famous Gothic cathedral dedicated to St. James, the patron saint of Spain. Our walking trip ends in seaside Baiona, with a day for exploring the beaches and islands of Islas Cíes Nature Reserve.

We'll savor the close connection between the land and the kitchen with the best of Portuguese and Galician cuisine. Arroz de mariscos (savory seafood rice), espadas (skewers of grilled meats and vegetables), and caldo verde (kale and potato potage) are Minhotan specialties. In Spain, we'll sample a cornucopia of tapas and celebrate our final night with a traditional seafood paella. Our historic accommodations reflect the grandeur of centuries past, and include Old World manor houses in Portugal and resplendent Paradors in Galicia.

Portugal & Spain Walking Tours
The Border Country Itinerary
Day 1: Mid-day van transfer from Oporto Airport to Ponte de Lima, Portugal. Our warm-up walk visits the Roman bridge and medieval monuments along the Rio Lima. Welcome banquet and two-night stay at a historic manor house.

Day 2: Our hike leads through the pristine evergreens, prehistoric dolmens, and remote villages of Peneda-Gerês National Park. We'll lunch in Soajo, whose picturesque espigueiros (granite granaries) have been declared a National Monument.

Day 3: Soak up the local color at Ponte de Lima's market day, a Monday-morning tradition since 1125! Grape vines twine overhead and friendly farmers wave their greeting as we follow the Camino Portugues past Romanesque chapels, ornate stone crosses, and over the forested Labruja Pass. Two-night stay at a gracious 16th-century manor house in the walled medieval town of Valença do Minho.

Day 4: Our morning walking tour explores both sides of the Rio Minho: Shop at Valença's colorful street market, then walk across the Eiffel-designed international bridge to Spain for a tour of Tui's Gothic cathedral. In the afternoon, hike through the forested Mount Aloia Nature Reserve, with bird's-eye views of the Ria da Vigo estuary.

Day 5: Walk the most beautiful section of the Spanish Camino Xacobea through Irish-green farmland and eucalyptus forest. Stroll through the plazas and gardens of Pontevedra's Old Quarter before our tapas evening. The Parador Casa del Barón, a 16th-century Renaissance palace, was once the residence of the Counts of Maceda.

Day 6: A morning van shuttle to Santiago de Compostela allows a full day to tour, shop, and absorb the ambiance of this great medieval city. Afternoon guided walking tour of the Cathedral and the Old Town. Five-star accommodations at the historic Parador Hostal de Los Reyes Católicos.

Day 7: Ferry out to the archipelago of Islas Cíes Nature Reserve. Free day to bask on the beach, scout for seabirds, or hike a network of scenic trails. Late afternoon ferry on to Baiona, where our parador looks out to sea from high above the walls of Monterreal fortress. Our farewell celebration features an authentic paella dinner!

Day 8: Van transfer to Oporto Airport for early afternoon flights.

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