The Litoral Way vs Coastal Route of the Portuguese Camino

The Portuguese Camino from Porto has 3 route options. The main two routes are the Central and Coastal Camino. They are completely different: the Central Route is 100% inland; the Coastal Route is 60% along the coast. The third route is the Litoral Way. It goes along the coast just like the Coastal Route. Both routes are similar and often follow the same trail. The main difference is that the Litoral Way sticks to the coast as much as possible while the Coastal Route sometimes turns inland.

All three routes of the Portuguese Camino start at Se Cathedral in Porto.

We have a detailed comparison of the Central and Coastal Route of the Portuguese Camino.

What is the difference between the Coastal and Litoral route?

The main difference is that the Litoral Way sticks to the coast as much as possible when the Coastal Route often goes inland. Some stages of the Coastal Route are entirely inland.

The first stage from Se Cathedral in Porto to Vila do Conde is completely different. The Coastal Route goes inland and the Litoral Way follows the coast.

The stage between A Guarda and Vigo is completely different as well. The routes split in A Guarda and merge in the historical center of Vigo.

As for the rest of the walk, both routes usually split and come together during one stage sometimes more than once.

Is the Litoral Way marked? 

The Litoral Way is usually not marked or marked differently as a part of another walking/cycling route. A good thing here is that it is difficult to get lost because you follow the coast from south to north. The worst that can happen is that you get to a dead end e.g. a river with no crossing and will have to walk around.

A part of the first stage of the Litoral Way from Matosinhos to Vila do Conde is well-marked. 

Which route is easier?

It depends on what you find challenging. 

If you don’t like hills then the Coastal Route is more difficult as some parts have ascents and descents when the Litoral Way is mostly flat. 

The Litoral Way is usually longer; 2-3 km per stage on average. While it’s not much some people might find walking extra kilometers challenging. 

If you prefer walking on a well-marked route so you don’t have to check on your phone if you’re still on the right trail then it’s better to stick to the Coastal Route. Most of the time the Litoral Way is not marked or partially marked. It’s not difficult to follow it because it goes along the coast but I know seeing the Camino signs makes you feel better and more confident.

Can I combine both routes?

Yes, it’s easy to combine the Litoral and Coastal Route. You can decide which route you want to walk on the day without planning long ahead. The walking stages of both routes are the same. It means whichever route you choose you start and finish in the same place.

Sometimes the routes merge and split several times in one day. Sometimes both routes follow the same trail. Usually, the same stage on the Litoral Way is longer than on the Coastal Route. 

Which stages are completely different?

The first stage from Porto to Vila do Conde. The routes split at Se Cathedral and merge again only in Vila do Conde. The Litoral Way follows the coast while the Coastal Route goes inland past the airport. 

The stage between A Ramallosa and Vigo (stage 8 in my itinerary). The routes split in A Ramallos and merge again in Vigo. The Litoral Way goes along the coast, and the Coastal Route goes inland.

As for other stages, both routes split and merge during the course. This means In one day you can walk both routes switching between them.

Which stages of the Coastal Route are inland?

Despite the name “coastal” some stages are entirely inland.

Stage 1. Porto to Vila do Conde, for 29 km/18 mi it doesn’t come close to the coast. For that reason, most pilgrims walk out of Porto following the Litoral Way.

Stage 4. Marinhas to Viana do Castelo, 21 km/13 mi only inland. It’s possible to walk a part of the stage on the Litoral Way next to the coast.

Stage 8. A Ramallosa to Vigo, 23 km/14,2 mi inland with occasional views of the coast in the middle part. The entire stage can be walked on the Litoral Way along the coast.

Will I miss out on important landmarks on the Litoral Way?

I wouldn’t say that. Every time there is a town or a city both routes merge. You might skip some parts of the forest or countryside if you stick to the Litoral Way for the entire distance. Don’t worry about it you’ll get to walk through the beautiful forest in the last part of the route from Redondela to Santiago. 

The stages of the Litoral Way that I prefer over the Coastal Route

I’ve walked the Camino route twice; the first time mostly on the Coastal Route (except for the first stage) and the second time I tried to walk more on the Litoral Way (not every stage through). Use my preferences as a suggestion when planning your walk. 

The first stage from Porto to Vila do Conde. The Litoral Way became the standard route to walk out of Porto. I’ve walked the Coastal Route and barely saw any pilgrims. The first stage on the Litoral Way is along the coast past spectacular beaches. On the Coastal Route you walk inland for the first 29 km/18 mi to Vila do Conde.

The part of the stage between Caminha and Viladesuso (stage 6). From the pier (after a boat ride from Caminha) the Litoral Way and Coastal Route split. The Litoral Way goes along the coast and through the forest to A Guarda. The Coastal Route goes inland over the hill. Both routes merge at Praia de Area Grande in A Guarda. The Coastal Route from the pier to the beach is 3 km shorter. 

The part of the stage between Viladesuso and A Ramallosa (stage 7). The Litoral and Coastal Routes split at 8 km and merge just before A Ramallosa. The Litoral Way continues along the coast on a cycling route to Baiona and the Coastal Route goes inland. The distance is about the same. The Coastal Route has several ascents and descents and goes inland. 

The stage between A Ramallosa and Vigo (stage 8). Like the first stage, I’ve walked both routes and like the Litoral Way a lot more. The Coastal Route goes inland for 23 km/14,2 mi; the Litoral Way follows the coast. The Litoral Way is 3 km/1,8 mi shorter. 

As for the rest of the route, I enjoyed combining the sea and forest/countryside scenery. Keep in mind that the Coastal Route has more hills and the Litoral Way is usually a bit longer.

The Litoral Way vs Coastal Route, comparing walking stages

Since the Litoral Way is not an official route (except for the first stage) my route suggestions may differ from apps or guidebooks. I’ve tried to find the best route options for the Litoral Way based on my experience, avoiding walking on roads or adding up too many extra kilometers.

Stage 1. Se Cathedral to Vila do Conde 

• The Coastal Route – 29 km/18 mi, inland
• The Litoral Way – 33,5 km/20,8 mi, along the river and the coast. 

If you walk the Litoral Way you can stop in Labruge (24 km/15 mi) or Vila Chã (26 km/16,1 mi) instead of walking to Vila do Conde. Some people take a tram (number 1 or 18) from the Cathedral and skip the first 5,5 km/3,2 mi. Some take a metro train to Matosinhos (10 km/6,2 mi from the Cathedral) and start their walk there. 

The Coastal Route is inland. It goes through the city, some industrial areas, near busy roads, and the airport. The first 7 km/3,4 mi from the Cathedral the Coastal and Central Route are the same. There is a quiet part through the forest in the second half. Not many places to stop for coffee or food in the middle. Very few pilgrims take this route out of Porto.

The Litoral Way has become the standard route to walk out of Porto. The route is along the coast (along the Douro River first) except for a short part through Matosinhos. Since it’s a popular route there are many pilgrims. It has plenty of places to stop for lunch or coffee. In summer the beaches north of Porto are popular holiday destinations. If you don’t want to stay in the albergues book accommodation.

Some people walk out of Porto following the Litoral Way and then switch to the Central Route in Vila do Conde following the connecting route to Rates.

Stage 2. Vila do Conde to Aguçadoura 

• The Coastal Route –  11,5 km, walking along the coast 7 km/4,3 mi   
• The Litoral Way – 12,5 km*, walking along the coast – 12 km/7,4 mi

*If you walk out of Porto on the Litoral Way add to that the distance from Vila Chã or Labruge to Vila do Conde. 

Both routes follow the same trail along the coast for most of the stage. The only part where the Coastal and Litoral Routes split is between Vila do Conde and Povoa de Varzim. The Coastal Route goes inland for 4,5 km; the Litoral Way goes along the coast from Vila do Conde.

After crossing the bridge in Vila do Conde the Coastal Route goes inland. 

On the Litoral Way, you have two options. 

The first option is to turn left right after the bridge and follow the river to Avenida do Brasil which goes along the coast. This route option is 1,8 km longer than the Coastal Route.

The second option is to follow the arrows (go on the Coastal Route) to the Church of Matriz de São João Baptista, then turn left following Avenida Dr.João Canavarro or Avenida Dr. Artur da Cunha Araujo till you get to the coast. I prefer this option because you get to see the historical part of Vila do Conde including the aqueduct. And second, because it’s shorter. It’s only 1 km longer than the Coastal Route. 

Stage 3. Aguçadoura to Marinhas

• The Coastal Route – 18 km, walking along the coast – 7 km/4,3 mi 
• The Litoral Way – 19,5 km, walking along the coast – 14 km/8,6 mi

The beginning and end of the stage are the same on both routes. The middle part between Apulia and Fão is different. 

The Coastal Route goes inland through the forest and the towns. There are two churches in Apulia and Fão where you can get a stamp.

The Litoral Way continues along the coast following Avenida Do Mar/Av. da Colonia in Apulia till Rua Cap.Jorge Larcher in Fão. There you have to turn inland to cross the bridge. The Litoral Way is 1,5 km longer than the Coastal Route but the coastal scenery is worth it.

In Esposende the Camino goes through the town but you can follow the cycling route along the coast. The distance is the same. 

Stage 4. Marinhas to Viana do Castelo

The Coastal Route – 21 km/13 mi, walking along the coast – 0 km

I’ve seen in some sources that walking along the coast is possible, but I don’t know how long the route is. There is no straightforward trail along the coast it seems like in the first half (Marinhas to Castelo do Neiva) you have to walk on the Coastal Route and then in Castelo do Neiva you can follow trails/roads along the coast. Some parts have boardwalks but it doesn’t go all the way. 

Some people walk on the road the entire stage. First on N13 then switch to N13-3. I wouldn’t recommend it as some parts don’t have sidewalks you have to walk on the road with quite a bit of traffic. I might try later to walk the second part between Castelo do Neiva and Viana do Castelo along the coast. For now, I don’t have a clear idea about the Litoral Way. The walk through the forest is spectacular and you get fantastic coastal views from the top.

Stage 5. Viana do Castelo to Caminha

• The Coastal Route – 28 km/17,3 mi, walking along the coast – 4 km/2,4 mi
• The Litoral Way – 31 km/19,2, walking along the coast – 29 km/17,3 mi

Both routes are not far apart. The Coastal Route is on the right side of the road (N13) and the Litroal Way is on the left.

I’ve walked this stage twice following the Coastal Route. I like the scenery (walking through small villages, between high stone walls) and the forest part of the route. The main disadvantages of the Coastal Route are that you walk very little along the coast and several hills along the trail. The total ascent for the day is almost 400 m.

The Litoral Way is quite straightforward. From Viana do Castelo you get to the coast and follow it for 23 km till Vila Praia da Ancora where both routes merge. The disadvantage of this route is the distance. It’s 3 km longer than the Coastal Route which is already quite long. If you want to walk the Litoral Way and have more time to enjoy the scenery you can split the stage into two. Walk from Viana do Castelo to Praia da Ancora – 23 km/14,2 mi, and from Praia da Ancora to A Guarda (instead of stopping in Caminha) – 16 km/10 mi.

Some pilgrims switch from the Coastal/Litoral Way to the Central Route following the connecting route from Caminha to Valença/Tui.

Stage 6. Caminha (Portugal) to Viladesuso (Spain)

• The Coastal Route – 21 km/13 mi, walking along the coast – 16 km/10 mi
• The Litoral Way – 24 km/15 mi, walking along the coast – 22 km/13,6 mi

The Camino splits at the pier in A Pasaxe after the river cross. 

The Coastal Route goes inland to A Guarda and then the town. Once on the Spanish side, you’ll see an old abandoned building of the Colegio de Jesuitas. Take the street on the left side of it (facing the building). From there you can follow Camino signs to A Guarda. After 5 km the Coastal Route reaches Fedorento Beach and continues along the coast. 

The Litoral Way goes along the coast for the first 6 km to A Guarda, then through A Guarda. It reaches Fedorento Beach at 8 km. There it merges with the Coastal Route. The Litroal Way is not marked with the Camino signs (here and there you can see an arrow) but it’s quite straightforward. 

Once the routes merge both continue along the coast to Viladesuso.

Stage 7. Villadesuso to A Ramallosa

• The Coastal Route – 19 km/11,8 mi, walking along the coast – 9 km/5,5 mi
• The Litoral Way – 20 km/12,4 mi, walking along the coast – 20 km/12,4 mi

The first 8 km of the Camino route are along the coast. Then the Coastal Route turns till A Ramallosa. In Baiona here and there you get a glimpse of the coast and some coastal views from the top of the hills. The second half of the route has several ascents and descents including two of around 100 m. 

There is a possibility of continuing to walk along the coast past Baiona to A Ramallosa. The route is not marked but it’s easy to follow. You just keep walking on the yellow cycling route along the road. The same that you walked from time to time the previous day. The Litoral Way is flat so you don’t have to climb any hills. Once in Baiona, you can continue on the sidewalk along the coast to A Ramallosa. 

I strongly recommend the Litoral Way here because it’s easy to navigate and has no hills. It’s only 1 km longer but you might walk it faster. The views are great as well. You get nice coastal views on the Coastal Route but I prefer walking next to the sea rather than seeing it from a distance. 

Stage 8. A Ramallosa to Vigo

• The Coastal Route – 23 km/15 mi, walking along the coast – 0 km/0 mi.
• The Litoral Way – 21 km/13 mi, walking along the coast – 19 km/11,8 mi

The detour route (on the Litoral Way with the Central Route in the middle) – 24 km/15 mi

I find this stage confusing. It has more than two route options. If you check different apps and websites the routes vary a bit. I’ve walked this stage twice following different routes; the Coastal and Litoral (on the Litoral Way I was misled by the signs and took a detour). 

Note. Another side route in the middle part (marked with green arrows) leads to an albergue in O Freixo. The albergue is 5 km from the Camino.

I walked the Coastal Route from A Ramallosa to Vigo and didn’t like it for several reasons. First, because the route goes inland, second, it involves walking through industrial areas and near busy roads. And third, it has several hills. 

The second time I walked the Litorral Way but was misled by the confusing signs. In the middle (at 8,5 km/5,2 mi) I took a detour that led me to the Coastal Route. I got back to the Litoral Way at 15 km/9,3 mi. As a result, I walked an extra 3 km and had to climb the hill. If you want to continue on the Litoral Way once you’re on the road (at 8 km) ignore the signs pointing right and continue walking straight along the road. 

In my opinion, the Litoral Way is the best first, because it goes along the coast. Second, it’s easy to follow even though there are no signs. Third, it’s the shortest route – 21 km/13 mi vs 24 km/15 mi on the Coastal Routes. And fourth, because it has no hills. The only thing that some people might not like about it is walking on the road in the middle section. You walk on a cycling route along the road. It’s not any different from the previous stages just the cycling route is a bit narrower. 

Stage 9. Vigo to Redondela

• The Coastal Route – 16,5 km/10,2 mi

For this stage, I recommend following the official Coastal Route. It goes on the slope of the mountain and offers spectacular views of the coast. The route goes away from a busy highway and industrial area. Walking closer to the coast is possible but most of your walk will be next to a highway. 

Portuguese Camino planning resources

We’ve created several posts that you might find helpful in preparation for your journey on the Portuguese Camino.

The pretty half of Stingy Nomads, responsible for all our land adventures (hiking, climbing, walking the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves walking since she was a child, she prefers to walk 1000 km with a backpack rather than to do a 10 000 km road trip (actually any road trip). Alya is a big fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Every time we go away she desperately misses our dog Chile.