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  4. Stage 2

Stage 2 · Portugués de la Costa

Vila do Conde → Esposende

249km km to Santiago
24,6 km Distance +150 m Ascent −150 m Descent 26,1 km Effort 8 h 12 Time needed · On foot

Póvoa, the Dunes and the Cávado

A flat beach stage from start to finish: 24.6 kilometres with 150 metres of ascent and as much descent, medium difficulty only because of the distance. You leave Vila do Conde along the promenade and, before you notice, you are in Póvoa de Varzim, which is almost the same town: beaches, casino, seafront and every service in the first few kilometres.

After Póvoa the route grows lonelier: wooden boardwalks over the dunes, long beaches, the farmland of Aguçadoura and the windmills of Apúlia, all hard by the sea and now inside the Parque Natural do Litoral Norte. It is a stretch both beautiful and monotonous, with no shade and nearly always wind, and with bars only in the villages, which sit a little away from the boardwalks.

The last kilometres pass through Fão, cross the Cávado estuary by the bridge and enter Esposende, a small, quiet town with what you need to sleep, eat and shop. It is a good place to rest before the first stage with climbs on the Coastal route.

Tips

Have breakfast and shop in Póvoa de Varzim: it is the last place with everything before Esposende.

The north wind is what rules this stage: a light windproof does more than a jumper.

The dunes and boardwalks have no shade: sunscreen and a cap even if the day is overcast.

At Apúlia it is worth going down to see the windmills by the beach: they are right beside the route and cost nothing.

Out of season many bars on the coast close: leave Póvoa with water and food for the whole day.

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Profile and services

Elevation profile of the stage from Vila do Conde to Esposende, 24.6 kilometres, with services placed at their kilometre point.

The elevation for this stage has not been loaded yet.

Vila do Conde 24.6 km Esposende

The weather

16°C

Cloudy

Feels like
17 °C
Wind
3 km/h
Daylight
07:44 – 18:57
  1. Today 🌫️ 20° 15°
  2. Wed 🌫️ 21° 14°
  3. Thu 🌫️ 19° 15°
  4. Fri 🌫️ 21° 13°
  5. Sat ⛅ 21° 15° 3 %
  6. Sun ⛅ 26° 14° 3 %
  7. Mon ⛅ 21° 14° 3 %

Data from Open-Meteo, refreshed every half hour.

What's there today

Nobody has reported anything on this stage.

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Tips from people who walked it

The things that do not expire: where the fountain actually is, which bar opens at six, where not to go in the rain.

None here yet. If you have just walked this stage, you know something tomorrow’s pilgrim does not.

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Emergencies

Call 112

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Say where you are I am walking the Camino Portugués, on the stage from Vila do Conde to Esposende.

The map

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What to see on this stage 23

  1. Capela dos Passos da Via Sacra - Passo de São Bento Church km 0,0
  2. Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo Church km 0,0
  3. Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Carmo Church km 0,0
  4. Capela de São Bento Church km 0,0
  5. Capela de São Roque Church km 0,0
  6. Igreja Matriz de Vila do Conde Church km 0,0
  7. Igreja da Misericórdia Church km 0,1
  8. Capela dos Passos da Via Sacra - Passo do Hospital Church km 0,1
  9. Capela dos Passos da Via Sacra- Passo da Feira Church km 0,2
  10. Capela de Santo Amaro Church km 0,3
  11. Capela dos Passos da Via Sacra - Passo da Costeira Church km 0,4
  12. Capela de Santa Catarina Church km 0,5
  13. Terapeuta Espiritual Bela Silva Church km 2,2
  14. Igreja da Lapa Church km 2,8
  15. Igreja de Santiago Church km 3,4
  16. Igreja Paroquial de São José de Ribamar Church km 3,9
  17. Igreja de Apúlia Church km 17,8
  18. Capela da Senhora da Caridade Church km 17,9
  19. Capela do Bom Jesus Church km 21,3
  20. Capela de Nossa Senhora de Fátima Church km 21,6
  21. Igreja Matriz de Fão Church km 21,7
  22. Igreja Santa Maria dos Anjos Church km 24,1
  23. Capela do Senhor dos Mareantes Church km 24,1

What you will find 472