PORTUGUESE SPIRITUAL WAY BY HORSE If you believe the world is best viewed through the ears of a horse and that no hour spend on the saddle is wasted, then this is the Camino for you. Be among the first to discover the Portuguese Spiritual Variant / the Maritime Way which follows the final journey of the Apostle Saint James body into Santiago de Compostela. Spend 8 days traveling horseback from the Medieval City of Tui to the Roman built city of Pontevedra and along the coast of the Ria de Arousa to Santiago de Compostela before obtaining your Certificate of Achievement, the Compostela. PRICE & DATES Join a guided tour or plan your own departure with 4+ participants: 2.700 per Single room supplement: extra 40 per night Start in Pontevedra (5 nights / 6 days): total 1.800 per Start in Soutomaior (6 nights / 7 days): total 2.100 per Start in Baiona (8 nights / 9 days): total 2.700 per Start in A Guardia (9 nights / 10 days): total 3.000 per 2018 Guided Tour Dates Sun, 15th April to Sun, 22nd April Fri, 18th May to Fri, 25th May FACT FILE Accommodation Luxurious Manors & 3 to 4* Hotels Singularity Horse-riding trip Total Riding Distance 160 km Duration 9 days / 8 nights Starts Baiona Stops Vigo, Soutomaior, Pontevedra, Poio, Combarro, Armenteira, Barrantes, Ribadumia, Vilanova de Arousa, Cambados, Sines, Vilaxoan, Vilagarcia de Arousa, Valga, Padron, Milladoiro Ends Santiago de Compostela Sun, 22nd July to Sun, 29th July PORTUGUESE SPIRITUAL WAY BY HORSE INCLUDES En-suite accommodation in charming luxurious manors & 3 to 4* charming hotels Meals and accommodation for the Horses near your hotel (the organizer always plans more horses than needed so you will never be without a horse) Arrival on the Obradoiro Square on your horse Transfers in and out from Santiago airport, other airports on request Private Van Support during the riding days A horse per person and all necessary equipment Dedicated bilingual Guide with 15 years experience on the Camino de Santiago Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel Emergency support from our local team All taxes and gratuities for the guides and hotels A detailed guidebook per room All Breakfasts, lunches and Dinners A Pilgrim Kit per person including an official Pilgrim Passport (Credential) Ride between 24 km and 39 km per day
CAMINO PORTUGUESE SPIRITUAL WAY BY HORSE DAY BY DAY ITINERARY This 8 nights horse-riding route brings you along the last 160 kilometers of the Camino Frances - Portuguese Spiritual Way into Santiago de Compostela. DAY 2-26 KM - RIDE FROM BAIONA TO VIGO DAY 1 - MAKING YOUR WAY TO BAIONA Make your way to stunning Baiona by taking a private taxi, bus or train from Vigo (about 30 min drive) or a taxi from Porto (1h30 drive). From your hotel enjoy beautiful views onto the Monterreal peninsula and the strong Atlantic Ocean. On March 1, 1493, the Pinta, one of the ships from Columbus voyage to discover the New World returned to Europe and arrived in Baiona, making the town s port the first to receive news of the discovery of America. A replica of the ship can be visited, and the event is celebrated every year. So, if time allows during the afternoon, go for a tour of the old town, visit the Pinta and relax by the ocean before watching the sunset onto the bay of Baiona and enjoying a gourmet dinner in your hotel. Today, you finally begin your equestrian pilgrimage on the Portuguese Way Coastal Way or Caminho da Costa in Portuguese. After meeting the horse, you will share the journey with, we will saddle up and leave behind Baiona, to follow the coast across the Rías Baixas through the beach-town of Nigrán and towards the city of Vigo. The region you will be traveling through until Cambados is world-famous for its Albariño white wine and delicious shellfish but the views are also breathtaking. You will ride along long white prestine beaches and admire, in the distance, the magnificent Illas Cíes, named the most beautiful beaches in the world, and the Bay of Vigo with its Natural Park. After riding 26 km along the coast, you will be arrive and stay in in the city center of Vigo. Vigo is Galicia s most important harbour and busiest city with over 300, 000 inhabitants. Vigo s old district covers an interesting area on the slopes above the marina including a number of beautiful plazas, a multitude of high quality restaurants serving the freshest of seafood (head in particular to the famous Oyster Street), and even the remains of an old Celtic fort town.
DAY 3-25 KM - RIDE FROM VIGO TO SOUTOMAIOR Once out of the city of Vigo, you will pass what is considered one of the benches with the best views in the world (a 5 min detour uphill from the Camino but the views are similar during the walk) with stunning views onto Vigo, the Atlantic Islands, the peninsula of Morrazo and the Rande Bridge, once the longest suspension bridge in the world. After a pleasant trail on a dirt path through woodlands, you will finally reach Redondela at the end of one of the famous Rías Baixas. You will be staying in a Pousada within the grounds of the very impressive Medieval Castle of Soutomaior, just after Redondela. DAY 4-18 KM - RIDE FROM REDONDELA TO PONTEVEDRA Today, expect two sceneries: half the day will be riding uphill by the coast with stunning views over the Vigo Bay and the second part will be downhill through peaceful oak forests. You will pass the infamous bridge of Ponte Sampaio, where during the War of Independence, Napoleon s army suffered one of its greatest defeats and cross several quaint medieval villages. You are heading to the a 3* hotel in the centre of the old town of Pontevedra, the Roman built city which has been dedicated to the Virgen Peregrina (the Pilgrim Virgin). In the afternoon, and before dinner in your hotel, take a walk through the well-preserved old quarter of Pontevedra, most of which has been pedestrianized, and visit Santa María la Mayor Basilica, a jewel of Gothic- Renaissance architecture, and La Virgen Peregrina Church, a chapel with a scallop-shaped floor plan and beautiful night lighting. DAY 5-30KM - RIDE FROM PONTEVEDRA TO RIBADUMIA Until we reach Padron on day 7, we will now be following the Spiritual Variant / the Maritime Way. This detour is relatively new, it has only been accepted by the Pilgrim Office in 2013 (although we need to walk or ride over 160 km to obtain the certificate instead of 100 km on any other route) but has the oldest origins of all Caminos. It is said that in the year 44, after his Martyrdom, the body of James the Apostle was transported on a stone vessel along the Arousa Estuary to get to the land of Galicia where he was meant to be buried. The boat is said to have gone from Jaffa to Galicia and upstream via Ulla river until reaching Iria Flavia (Padron) and later on Santiago de Compostela. This tradition followed by Christians all around the world has been translated throughout the thousand years old Jacobean history into a varied iconography representing the Apostle s final journey from Jaffa (Palestine) to Iria Flavia (today s village of Padrón). This is the Initial Route of all the Santiago Trails. On your journey today, we will pass the Monastery of San Juan de Poio and the beautiful town of Cambarro, famous for its Horreos (a typical granary on pillars). We will take a break to visit the Monastery of Armenteira, which belongs to the Cistercian order and was founded by the knight Ero de Armenteira in 1168. Before hiking a section of the relaxing Ruta da Pedra e da Auga (the route of rocks and water - due to the number of watermills that can be found on that river) along the Armenteira river and stopping in Ribadumia for the night.
DAY 6-25 KM - RIDE FROM RIBADUMIA TO VILLAGARCIA DE AROUSA Today, we continue our journey inland, riding towards the historic centre of Cambados. Cambados is considered to be the capital of Albariño, one of the best white wines in the world and is a precious little harbor town. Here, we will finally reach the famous Galician beaches and you will be able to ride your horse on the beach until Vilagarcia de Arousa. In Vilanova de Arousa most walking pilgrims will embark for a catamaran journey of 15 nautical miles towards Padron but, we will not dismount until Santiago (except of course for sleeping, eating, enjoying the beach, our hotels and having a great time) and will continue enjoying stunning views onto the Rías from the beach and the cliffs. We will spend the night in the charming seaside town of Villagarcia de Arousa, where our partner s equestrian center is located. DAY 7-28 KM - RIDE FROM VILLAGARCIA DE AROUSA TO PADRON While the walking pilgrims cruise the River Ulla following the legendary journey of Saint James disciples, we will continue across the peaceful forest on the mounts nearby until we reach Catoira, the village famous for its Viking celebration in August, and later on Pontesures. We will be spending the night in the emblematic town of Padrón or Iria Flavia, the place where according to legends, the stone boat containing the remains of the Apostle moored. Padrón is also famous for the mild green peppers that are sold all over Spain as Pimentos de Padrón and for it s Sunday Market. DAY 8-22 KM - RIDE FROM PADRÓN TO SANTIAGO! This is it! Only 24 km separates you from your goal: the resting place of the Apostle Saint James in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The Camino will bring you through charming villages and hamlets as well as the Baroque sanctuary of A Esclavitude. Then, finally, from the hills of Agro dos Monteiros, you will get our first glimpse of Santiago de Compostela. Today, we will not enter the City of the Apostle by horse but stop just outside in a 4* hotel. A shuttle will bring you to the Old Town so you can enjoy a free afternoon in Santiago and obtain your pilgrim certificate, attend Pilgrim Mass & marvel at the architecture of our beloved City. DAY 9-3 KM - RIDE INTO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA Wake up early because this is it, only a few kilometers separates you from your goal. The group will need to leave at 8am to reach Santiago before nine to be able to enter the city and the Obradoiro Square with your horse. In the afternoon, if you have not opted for an extra night in Santiago, we will bring you back to Santiago Airport. We hope the Camino has brought you whatever you were looking for and wish to see you again soon in Galicia!
ABOUT ULTREYA TOURS Ultreya Tours is an incoming Tour Operator specialized in organizing comprehensive and highly personalized walking, cycling and horseriding tours for groups and solo travelers on the Camino de Santiago. Founded and based in Santiago de Compostela, at the end of the Camino, we know the region of Galicia and the secrets of the Camino by heart. The Camino de Santiago is not just our business it is our way of life and we would love nothing more than to introduce you to our vision of the Camino. Our name Ultreya comes from the Latin word for Onwards. Ultreya, Suseya, Santiago was the common greeting amongst pilgrims in Medieval times. It meant courage, further and higher is Santiago. We are already in Santiago so our goal is to bring you there & help you every step of the Way. WHY CHOOSE US? Fully bonded, ensured and registered as retail & wholesale Travel Agency in Spain We are based in Santiago and you can reach us 24/7 while you are on the Camino Founded by a women, we understand the concerns of single women traveling the Camino and are here to help! We carefully choose, rate and regularly visit all our providers & ONLY book quality accommodation Create your own Camino! All our tours are fully customizable to provide the most magical experience possible You will get a dedicated Camino Account Planner to assist at every step Excellent commission structure for resellers and travel agents ONLY 4 STEPS AWAY FROM YOUR JOURNEY STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3 STEP 4 Get in touch with one of our Camino Planner for a personalized quote Once you are satisfi ed with the Terms & Conditions of your tour, we will invoice you for a 50% of the total price non-refundable deposit to process the booking Immediately after receiving the initial deposit we will start booking your accommodation, meals, activities, guides and any other services 30 days before the departure, we will request the 50% remaining deposit and you will receive the list of your accommodation, confi rmation vouchers for extra services & activities, your pilgrim kits (including the Pilgrim Passports & guidebooks) will be sent to your fi rst hotel If you dream of walking the Camino de Santiago, don t delay it any further contact info@ultreyatours.com or visit our website to find the best Way for your group! Ultreya Tours +1 646 934 6859 (USA) +34 881 249 039 (Spain) Campus Stellae - Praza da Quintana, 3, 15704 Santiago de Compostela Travel Agency License #XG569VAT / CIF #ESY3768081M