The Portuguese Coastal Camino is one of the best decisions I’ve made — a stretch of days where life becomes simple: walk, eat, rest, repeat.

I walked from Matosinhos to Santiago de Compostela over thirteen stages. This post isn’t a guide. It’s a handful of impressions I don’t want to forget.

The Coast

The early days along the boardwalks are magic. Atlantic wind, sea spray, long views, and the sound of waves replacing whatever noise you left at home.

The Rhythm

Something strange happens around stage three or four. Your brain settles. The body adjusts. Everything slows down to a pace that feels right.

The Gear

I packed light. Very light. The highlights:

You don’t need as much as you think.

The Takeaway

I want to walk more Caminos. Maybe the Inglés next. And I’ll definitely bring a better system for capturing photos and notes along the way — maybe even turn it into a dedicated section of this site.