Portuguese Camino Day 2: Póvoa de Varzim to Esposende

TL;DR — Summary: Day 2 of the Portuguese Camino is a short coastal walk from Póvoa de Varzim to Esposende, passing quiet fishing villages and sandy stretches along the Atlantic. A relaxed day after a difficult evening of finding accommodation, this stage offers gentle breezes, ocean views, and a slower rhythm toward the north of Portugal. Keywords: Portuguese Camino, Esposende, Póvoa de Varzim, Camino de Santiago Coastal Route, Hiking Portugal, Day 2 Itinerary.
Quiet street in Esposende on the Portuguese Camino

A quiet street in Esposende, where I spent the night after a short day of walking.

Walking from Póvoa de Varzim to Esposende

On Day 2, I walked from Póvoa de Varzim to Esposende. It was a shorter stage — about three hours — after the drama of the previous evening. I had reached Póvoa de Varzim at 5:45 pm but couldn’t find a place to stay until 10:30 pm, eventually booking a four-star hotel.

The route followed the Portuguese Coastal Camino, with gentle sea breezes and fishing villages scattered along the path. I stayed overnight at Sleep & Go Esposende, a comfortable base for a quiet evening.

I will rewrite the full story for this stage after completing the GR20 Trail on 11 June. In the meantime, here are a few photos capturing the day’s peaceful rhythm along the northern Portuguese coast.

Igreja Matriz de Esposende – Mother Church of Esposende

The Igreja Matriz de Esposende (Mother Church), dedicated to Saint Mary of the Angels — a prominent landmark on the Camino route.

Continue reading the journey:
Day 1 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7

Have you walked the Camino or plan to?
Log in or sign up to share your thoughts below — we’d love to hear from you.

Leave a Reply