When people ask why Angela and I chose the Camino Portugués for 2027, I usually start telling stories. This road is full of them, some written in stone, some passed down for centuries. Here are seven of my favorites.
1. It is the second most-walked Camino in the world
In 2025 a record 530,987 pilgrims received their Compostela. More than 190,000 of them came on the Portuguese routes, about 36 percent of everyone, second only to the Camino Francés. Ten years ago it was closer to 16 percent.
2. You walk on a road that is 2,000 years old
Long stretches of the Central Way follow the Roman road that ran north from Braga to Tui and on into Galicia. The bridges at Ponte de Lima and Pontesampaio stand on Roman foundations. Medieval pilgrims crossed them, and so will we.
3. A queen walked it too
Queen Isabel of Portugal, remembered as the pilgrim queen and later canonized as Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, made the pilgrimage to Santiago in 1325.
4. Barcelos gave Portugal its favorite symbol
The colorful rooster you see all over Portugal comes from a legend in Barcelos: a pilgrim falsely accused of a crime declared that a roasted rooster would crow to prove his innocence, and it did. We’ll walk through Barcelos on a Thursday, its market day.
5. Ponte de Lima is Portugal’s oldest town
It received its charter in 1125. Legend says Roman soldiers once refused to cross the River Lima, fearing it was the mythical river of forgetfulness. Their commander crossed first and called each man by name from the far bank. It is a good image for pilgrims: we cross, and we don’t forget who we are.
6. You cross a border on foot
From the fortress town of Valença we’ll walk across the Minho River into Tui, Spain, whose fortress-like cathedral was consecrated in 1225. From Tui it is just over 100 km to Santiago, the distance needed for a Compostela. Our group walks 115.8 km / 71.9 miles from there.
7. Padrón is where the story of Saint James begins
Tradition says the boat carrying the body of Saint James was tied to a Roman stone, the pedrón, now kept beneath the altar of the church in Padrón, and it gave the town its name. Padrón is also famous for its little green peppers. As the Galician saying goes: some are hot, and some are not.
These are the outer stories of the road. The inner story is the one you bring, and the one you carry home.
Come and hear the rest on Zoom
Wednesday, November 18, 7:00 pm Mountain (6:00 pm Pacific · 8:00 pm Central · 9:00 pm Eastern). Free · 45 minutes · on Zoom.
There is still room on our hosted Camino Portugués, April 4–20, 2027. Bring your questions about the walking, the rooms, preparation, or traveling on your own. No cost and no obligation.
See the day-by-day walk and reserve your place →
Begin at home
You don’t have to wait for April to start walking as a pilgrim. See my books on Amazon → and start the free Finisterre–Muxía route in the Camino for Good app → (iPhone · Android · web).
The Pilgrim Grant
Every year Camino for Good will send at least one pilgrim to Santiago who could never otherwise go. Learn about the Pilgrim Grant →
Buen Camino,
James M. Gehrke, MS, DMin, and Angela Gehrke, MSW, LCSW
Your hosts, Camino for Good
