25,5 kmDistance+460 mAscent−420 mDescent30,1 kmEffort9 h 24Time needed · On foot
Nigrán and the Way into Vigo
The most demanding stage of the Galician coast: 25.5 kilometres with 460 metres of ascent and 420 of descent, medium difficulty. You leave Baiona through Sabarís and cross the river Miñor by the medieval bridge of A Ramallosa, a good place for the first coffee. From there the route leaves the sea and heads inland through Nigrán, on streets, tarmac tracks and lanes between houses, with short climbs that begin to add up.
The middle section climbs through Priegue and Saiáns along the hillside, among pine and eucalyptus woods, with views of the coast and the Cíes from above. It is a long up-and-down, with bars in the parishes but distances between them, and little shade in the sunniest hours. Through Coruxo you begin to enter the municipality of Vigo, and the city announces itself with more tarmac and more traffic.
The way into Vigo is long, as in every big city: kilometres of streets, avenues and districts that rise and fall towards the centre. Vigo is the largest city in Galicia and has everything at any hour; the tiredness of the approach is forgotten as soon as you sit down.
Tips
Leave Baiona early: it is long, with climbs, and with an urban approach that feels endless late in the day.
Carry water from A Ramallosa: between Nigrán and Coruxo fountains are few and the bars are sometimes off the route.
In Vigo the albergue and the churches stamp; the city has hills everywhere, so choose somewhere to stay near where you will leave tomorrow.
If your legs are struggling, parts of this stage can be done by local transport from Nigrán; it is not cheating, it is common sense.
Between Nigrán and Saiáns there are stretches of road without a verge: walk on the left and wear visible clothing.
Where am I?
Your phone says where you are; the guide tells you how far is left and where the next water is.
Your position is used to answer you and is not stored anywhere.
Walk with me
It crosses where you are with the time, the daylight left, the water, the beds and the notice board. Three things at most: the ones that actually change your afternoon.
112 is the same number in Spain, in Portugal and across the European Union. It works with no credit, with no SIM, and over any operator's network, not just yours.
Say where you are
I am walking the Camino Portugués, on the stage from Baiona to Vigo.