Our First 3 Days on the Portuguese Camino de Santiago | What to Expect
We started walking the Portuguese Camino de Santiago! But what are the first three days really like? From rain and luggage transfers to small Portuguese towns, a surprise mountain climb, and our first Camino lessons, we're sharing what we experienced and what we'd recommend to anyone preparing for their own Camino. In this second video of our Portuguese Camino series, we take you along for our first three days walking from Porto toward Santiago de Compostela, passing through Vila do Conde, Rates, and Barcelos in northern Portugal. Our slow travel approach to the Camino means we're taking time to enjoy the journey, explore the towns, meet fellow pilgrims, and experience the culture along the way. 🥾 **WHAT WE EXPERIENCED ON OUR FIRST 3 DAYS** **Day 1: Porto to Vila do Conde — 21 km** We begin our Portuguese Camino adventure by arranging our luggage transfer and collecting our pilgrim passports. Then it's time to start walking! We share what the weather was like, how we prepared for rain, and our first overnight accommodation at Casa Mindela. **Day 2: Vila do Conde to Rates — 16 km** Our second day takes us through the beautiful farmland and countryside of northern Portugal. We settle into Casa Tomé de Sousa, explore the small town of Rates, and collect another Camino passport stamp at the local museum. **Day 3: Rates to Barcelos — 15 km** On our third day, we take a more adventurous variation of the route, climbing toward the Church of Our Lady of Franqueira before descending along hiking trails. We finish our day near Barcelos, check into our accommodation, and enjoy food and drinks with fellow Camino pilgrims. **5 LESSONS FROM OUR FIRST THREE DAYS** At the end of the video, we share five practical tips and lessons from our first 52 kilometers. Whether you're preparing for your first Camino de Santiago, considering the Portuguese Way, or simply curious about what a Camino experience is really like, we hope our journey helps you plan your own adventure. ⏱️ **CHAPTERS** 00:00 Our First 3 Days on the Portuguese Camino — What to Expect 00:37 The Day Before Starting Our Camino 01:18 Luggage Transfers and Getting Our Pilgrim Passports 02:38 Day 1: Walking 21 km to Vila do Conde 03:35 Walking the Camino in Rain — What We Packed 04:53 Where We Stayed: Casa Mindela 07:01 Day 2: Walking 16 km Through Farmland to Rates 08:37 Our Accommodation: Casa Tomé de Sousa 09:23 Exploring Rates and Getting Our Camino Passport Stamp 10:39 Day 3: Walking 15 km Toward Barcelos 12:51 Camino Detour: Climbing to Our Lady of Franqueira 14:17 Hiking Down the Mountain Trails 15:25 Where We Stayed Near Barcelos 16:25 Meeting Fellow Camino Pilgrims for Food and Drinks 17:20 What We Learned in Our First 3 Days 17:59 Our 5 Tips for Walking the Portuguese Camino 📺 **WATCH OUR PORTUGUESE CAMINO SERIES** Start with Episode 1 to see how we planned and prepared for our Portuguese Camino adventure: ▶️ Episode 1 — Planning Our Portuguese Camino: https://youtu.be/LWA0SQbL9DA ▶️ Portuguese Camino Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSISsYxNd3ic We'll continue sharing our experiences, accommodations, challenges, and lessons as we make our way toward Santiago de Compostela. 💬 **JOIN THE CONVERSATION** Have you walked the Portuguese Camino, or are you thinking about doing it? What is your biggest question or concern about walking your first Camino? Let us know in the comments! We'd love to hear from experienced pilgrims and people just beginning to plan. 🌍 **ABOUT SEAN AND DEB GO** We're Sean and Deb, Gen X digital nomads traveling the world through slow travel, cruises and extended stays. Subscribe to follow our adventures and see what it's really like to work while traveling full-time. 🔔 Subscribe to Sean and Deb Go for more slow travel adventures, destination experiences, and practical tips from the road. #PortugueseCamino #CaminoDeSantiago #CaminoPortugues