
Caldas de Reis to Padrón
Stage 15 · Camino Portugués Central
Caldas de Reis → Padrón
About this stage
Caldas de Reis to Padrón · 19 km · up 380 m, down 380 m
A moderate shared stage following river valleys through the Galician countryside towards Padron, a town of enormous significance in Camino history. The walking is pleasant with a mix of forest paths and quiet rural lanes, passing through small villages where Galician rural life continues at its own pace.
The approach to Padron follows the Sar and Ulla rivers through increasingly fertile farmland. The town sits at the head of a tidal estuary and is traditionally believed to be where the boat carrying the remains of Saint James arrived from the Holy Land, making it the origin point of the entire Camino pilgrimage tradition.
Padron is also famous for its peppers (pimientos de Padron), a tapa found throughout Spain. The town has good services and the church of Santiago contains the stone (pedron) to which the apostle's boat was reportedly moored. This is your last overnight stop before Santiago.
Terrain: Riverside paths, forest trails, rural lanes, some paved sections
The day, stop by stop
- 0km
Caldas de Reis
townA historic spa town with free public thermal hot springs along the riverside, a pleasant park, and a full range of pilgrim services. Known for its healing waters since Roman times.
View town guideRestaurantCafeGroceryWaterPharmacyATMBusClinicPost Office
- 5.6km

- 9.7kmView town guide
O Pino
hamlet - 12.2km
San Miguel
hamletSan Miguel is a small Galician hamlet in the municipality of Valga that serves as a traditional waypoint for pilgrims walking north on the Camino Portugués toward Santiago de Compostela.
View town guideCafe
- 15.9km
Pontecesures
townA town of deep Camino significance where the Variante Espiritual rejoins the main route. The medieval bridge, train station, and connection to the legendary arrival of St James's body by boat make this a historically important stop.
View town guideRestaurantCafeTrain
- 18.8km
Padrón
townA historic town famous for Padron peppers and as the birthplace of poet Rosalia de Castro. According to tradition, the body of Saint James first arrived in Galicia here.
View town guideRestaurantCafeGroceryWaterPharmacyATMBusTrainClinicPost Office
Places to stay along this stage
Koala Picks first, then each town in walking order. Where a place does not book online, walk in, call or message them.
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Planning the Camino Portugués Central?
Add this stage to your day by day plan and see how it fits with the stages around it. Day 0 is the night you arrive in Caldas de Reis. Choosing is never booking.
