Filed underSpiritual Variant

The Spiritual Variant is a 2-3 days variant to the Camino Portugues. Starting 3kms after Pontevedra, one passes the very impressive Mosteiro de San Xoán de Poio, the beautiful coastal village of Combarro, before passing over a mountain to Armenteira and the monastery Mosteiro de Santa María da Armenteira.

The next morning I set off for the coastal port of Vilanova de Arousa on a stunning stage, following the Ruta de la Piedra y del Agua (The stone and water route) passing 51 ancient mills and cascades.

The following morning I sailed to Pontecesures, passing 12 crosses showing the way to Santiago. The route is believed to be the route that the boat carrying St. James’ body and his disciples followed in AD44.

Day 12: Vilanova de Arousa to Santiago de Compostela

Today I would reach the goal for the first part of my walk, Santiago de Compostela. Of course things didn’t go exactly as planned. As I wrote yesterday, the boat I was due to take at 7.30am from Vilanova de Arousa was cancelled. The next boat. at 10am, was then further delayed by 30 mins,…

Day 11: Armenteira to Vilanova de Arousa

This is a stunning stage following the Ruta de la Piedra y del Agua (The stone and water route) passing 51 ancient mills and cascades, before turning west at Pontearnelas towards Vilanova de Arousa, my destination for today. Apart from the downhill from an altitude of 300m in Armenteira, it was a relatively flat day.…

Day 10: Pontevedra to Armenteira

Another beautiful days walking, this time with a couple of climbs, the second of which was 430m over ca. 4km. In addition I visited two beautiful monasteries. A short stage, 20kms plus 3 more to get to the place I am sleeping tonight. I left Pontevedra at 9am, wearing a jumper. It was ‘only’ 14…

Day 9: Pontevedra

Thanks to yesterday’s double stage, I had a day off today. It was just as well, the inhabitants of a neighboring room decided to have an hour long argument at 2.30 am (it may have lasted longer, but at least I fell asleep). They started again 7.00! I’ve spent hundreds of nights in hotels and…