Thoughts after walking the Camino Portuguese 

I have a lot of thoughts swirling in my head after walking the Camino Portuguese Coastal Route from Porto, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. This is my second Camino in 12 months. I also walked a section of the Camino Frances last year (more on that here).

Inevitably, I found myself comparing this ‘new Camino’ with the ‘other Camino’ from last year.

But that’s not fair to the Portuguese Camino. You can’t repeat a ‘first time’ experience. The novelty and excitement of walking your first Camino cannot be replicated.

The Camino Portuguese and Camino Frances are different routes, with different landscapes, terrain and landmarks (and different countries, if that wasn’t obvious).

And, I am also a different person now. I see and experience the Camino differently. It’s no longer a mysterious and mystical pilgrimage in faraway lands. I’ve now walked the walk, so it feels more familiar and less distant.

In this blog post, I revisit my goals for the Camino Portuguese. I’ll also share a few lessons learned and what I would do differently now that I have the gift of hindsight.

Read more Camino de Santiago blog posts:

• • Where I stayed on the Camino Portuguese Coastal Route
  • My Return to the Camino – what I’m doing differently this time
  • Beginners Guide and FAQ about the Camino 
  • Thoughts and reflections after walking the Camino Frances
  • What to do in Santiago de Compostela after walking the Camino
  • Why I started the Camino Frances in Leon
  • Photos and video of my packing list for the Camino

I shared my Camino journey on Facebook and Instagram. If you’re curious about what the Portuguese Camino looks like, scroll to the bottom of this post for the video links from each stage.

How was my Camino experience? 

Similar to my previous experience, I had a great time walking the Camino de Santiago. The Portuguese route is stunning and I enjoy being on the trail. There’s something special about those yellow arrows.

And, like last time, the Camino Portuguese gave me exactly what I needed.

However, unlike last time, I was not trying to fix myself or work through life issues on this Camino. I simply wanted to have another grand solo adventure. To challenge myself and feel the pride of accomplishing something big, instead of doing a traditional vacation.

What I love about walking the Camino is that it actually allows me to have a time-out from every day life. To turn off the depressing news headlines and enjoy the simple moments, like having a coffee on a patio and listening to the birds sing.

Walking the Camino Portuguese allowed me to fully embrace the quiet solo time, while also adding the joy of walking and talking with complete strangers from around the world.

I found the terrain on the Camino Portuguese Coastal Route to be easier than the Camino Frances. It does have sections that are steep and challenging, but most of the trail is relatively flat. 

What did I learn on this Camino?

The big takeaway from this experience is to let go of the past to make space for the future.

This lesson presented itself early in my journey, when I found myself comparing the Portuguese Camino with the Camino Frances. The first two days did not ‘feel like the Camino’. It felt more like a nice walk on a long stretch of coastline. 

Ironically, when I stopped trying to ‘find the spirit of the Camino’, it magically appeared.  

I like that the Camino allows you to ‘choose your own adventure’. And that you can change your plans if/when you want. I don’t know if I can go back to traditional vacations now that I’ve had these Camino experiences.

It really does change your perspective about travel. 

Related post: Beginner’s Guide to the Camino de Santiago

What I did differently on this Camino

I wrote a blog post about what I planned to do differently on this second Camino. Read that blog post here. 

I’ll revisit those goals here and share my thoughts now that I’ve completed the walk.

1. Stay at albergues in shared dorm rooms 

Result – I stayed in 4 dorm rooms during my 12 nights. See a list of accommodations here.

As expected, I had trouble sleeping in the shared dorm rooms. My bunkmates were loud (snoring, coughing, sleep talking) and made a lot noise throughout the night. I’m a very light sleeper, so I expected this would be an issue for me.

Verdict – Dorm rooms are fine, but I still prefer private rooms. I met plenty of pilgrims when I stayed at hotels (not just hostels/albergues), so you don’t have to stay in a dorm room to find social interactions. 

2. Book my accommodations

Result – I had no issues finding and booking accommodations while on the Camino Portuguese. It’s not complicated and there are lots of options.

On my first Camino, I had every night planned and booked ahead of time. I did not want to worry about finding accommodations each day, so this seemed like a good idea. And it was, for that journey. But it’s not necessary. You don’t need to book all of your accommodations ahead of time.

I made a short video about how I booked my accommodations while walking the Portuguese Camino. 

Some pilgrims don’t like to book ahead. In fact, some dislike that hostels and albergues allow reservations for pilgrims. Their view is that reservations might take a bed from them (there is truth to this logic) and that not making reservations is the true way to walk the Camino. I disagree with this view.

Regardless of your opinion on this, it’s wise to make a reservation if you have your heart set on a particular property. Similar to making a dinner reservation at a popular restaurant. It’s an easy way to avoid disappointment.

Some albergues and hostels are not listed on booking engines. You have to call or text them to make a reservation or confirm availability. 

Verdict – I’m happy with the decision. It’s easy to find and book accommodations on the Camino.

3. Create space for spontaneity

Result – I booked my accommodations 1-2 days in advance, which allowed some flexibility with my route. 

I had a general plan for where I wanted to stay each day (town or city). The end result was not far from this original plan. Here’s a visual map of my itinerary.

When I left in the morning, I had my accommodations booked. I knew my final destination for the day. 

Another thing to keep in mind is weather. I lucked out with almost perfect weather on my entire Camino (my start day was April 20). On my final day, I decided to walk 30 km to Santiago because it was supposed to rain the following morning (and it did).

I’m glad I had the flexibility to speed up or slow down depending on the weather forecast.

Verdict – I like this approach and would recommend it. However, I still ended up following the general plan, so I’m not sure if my intention made a difference in the outcome. 

4. Carry everything in my backpack (no luggage transfer)

When I walked the Camino Frances, I took advantage of the luggage transfer service.

If you’re unfamiliar, it’s a convenient service that transports your bag/luggage from hotel to hotel for about 6 euros per bag, per segment. To use this service, you must know where you are staying so the driver knows where to deliver your bag. 

Result – I did not to use the luggage transfer service on the Camino Portuguese because it conflicted with the above points. I carried everything in my backpack. See my packing list here.

Verdict – carrying everything in my backpack was the right decision. It did make the walk more challenging, but I did not find it too difficult. Just make sure to limit the weight by being very selective with the items you choose to bring. 

My trip to Europe was exclusively to walk the Camino. Therefore, my limited items was fine. However, if I was walking the Camino as part of a bigger European adventure, then I might bring a bigger bag/luggage and ship it from Porto to Santiago. 

5. Slow my pace. Enjoy the beach and coastal landscapes

Result – I made an effort to slow down and take more breaks. However, I found myself wanting to walk, instead of sitting on a beach. I’m not great at sitting still.  

Similar to last year, I find that my sweet spot is walking 25 km per day.

Walking less than 20 km feels too light and I arrive at my next destination too early. Yet walking 30+ km feels like too much. It’s doable, but my body starts screaming at me after 30 km. 

I had a total of 16 days for this trip

The breakdown: 12 days to walk the Camino, 1 day in Santiago de Compostela, 1 day to travel from Santiago de Compostela back to Porto, 1 day in Porto, plus 1 travel day to get home. 

I did not have the flexibility to extend the trip by adding more days.

Therefore, when I say slow down, I mean taking more time to enjoy the moment, not walking less distance per day. To include the Spiritual Variant, my average daily distance needs to be approx. 25 km per day.

Verdict – I did enjoy the small moments on this Camino. I had some long walking periods, but I also had more breaks and time to appreciate the scenery. It was the right balance for me. 

6. Spend more time with strangers 

Result – I met a lot of people on this Camino and enjoyed the social time with strangers from around the world. Every day I met someone new and spent time talking and walking. Some interactions were brief, while others lasted several hours. 

Many people walk the Camino to process and work through big life issues/transitions. This can lead to some very deep and personal conversations.

In some cases, people launch into their personal reason(s) for walking early in the interaction. I’m fine going deep and letting people share, but sometimes I don’t feel like having long and heavy conversations. It’s a lot to ask of a stranger.

I also like walking alone with my thoughts, so it can be challenging to strike the right balance. 

Building on the first point above, I thought that staying in dorm rooms at the albergues/hostels would lead to more social interactions. While I did encounter more pilgrims at the albergues, many of the interactions at the albergues were just brief pleasantries in passing, rather than real conversations. 

I met more people while walking on the trail, rather than at the accommodations. Perhaps that’s because I was tired in the evenings and less open or enthusiastic about having a conversation.

Verdict – I’m glad that I put myself out there more often. I was intentional about striking up conversations and I chose to join people at coffee/lunch/dinner vs sitting alone. I met some nice people and that made this Camino experience more enjoyable. 

Is the Spiritual Variant worth it?

When pilgrims reach the city of Pontevedra they have a choice to make. Continue walking north to Caldas de Reis on the original Camino route (most popular option) or walk the Spiritual Variant towards A Armenteira.

Choosing the Spiritual Variant (Variante Espiritual) will add one extra day of walking. It includes a 2 hour boat ride from Vilanova de Arousa to Pontecesures (Padron). 

So, the question is – is doing the Spiritual Variant worth it?

It’s not an easy question to answer because there are a lot of variables, including time, distance, weather, availability of boat and accommodations, etc. 

I did not walk the original Camino Portuguese Central route from Pontevedra to Padron, so I don’t know what that section is like or how it compares to the Spiritual Variant. However, I will share my thoughts about walking the Spiritual Variant. 

What I like about the Spiritual Variant

• Mosteiro de San Xoán de Poio and Mosteiro de Santa María da Armenteira – beautiful monasteries that are definitely worth visiting.
• Combarro – a historic coastal fishing village with some of the best-preserved collections of traditional maritime architecture from the region, including seafront granaries (hórreos), stone crosses (cruceiros), and traditional fishermen’s houses.
• Ruta da Pedra e da Auga (The Route of Stone and Water) – this is my favourite section on the Spiritual Variant. You walk through a lush green forest alongside the river, passing dozens of ancient stone watermills. Enchanted and magical are adjectives that come to mind. 
• Barrantes to Ponte Arnelas – this is a nice section along a river that passes through vineyards. 
• Vilanova de Arousa – I enjoyed my time here. I arrived mid-afternoon so I had time to explore the city.

I stayed in the town Barrantes (at Hotel Nuevo Julios) instead of A Armenteira because it has more options for food and accommodations. 

Many pilgrims choose to stay at albergues in Armenteira. However, there aren’t a lot of options in A Armenteira. It’s a quite village, so this is an ideal stop if you just want to relax and have an early night. 

What I did NOT like about the Spiritual Variant

• The section after Combarro is a 400+ meter climb on a paved road. It’s not too steep, but it’s a steady uphill walk for over an hour. It’s not a particularly nice section. 
• Ponte Arnelas to Vilanova de Arousa – I hate to sound picky or ungrateful, but this was one of my least favourite sections on the Camino. Maybe it’s because the weather was grey and overcast during my walk? Perhaps I’m unfairly comparing it to other sections on the Camino.
• Boat ride – I feel like boat from Vilanova to Pontecesures is touristy and over-hyped. I took the big boat, which felt like a small commuter ferry. The weather was cold, wet and overcast during my trip, which probably impacts my opinion. It was totally fine, but it did not feel unique or special.  

What I would do differently

If I were to do it again, I would try to take the afternoon boat departure instead of early morning.

I met pilgrims who did the 1:00 pm departure from Vilanova de Arousa. It was on the smaller boat that seats about a dozen passengers. I’ve seen conflicting information online, so I’m not sure how frequent these afternoon departures happen.

If I were to take the afternoon boat, then I would plan to stay in Padron.

I would have liked to spend more time in Padron. Because I caught the early morning departure, it did not make sense to spend the night in Padron. I would have arrived way too early.

The big boat is easier to get a last minute seat, so many pilgrims will go with this option. It has a large, comfortable cabin that protects you from the wind and rain. 

However, I think the small boat offers a more intimate and adventurous experience. Yes, you may get wet, but that’s part of the fun, right?

My itinerary, accommodations and price for each night

1. Lavra –Angeiras Beach Hostel – 37 euros
2. Agucadoura – Hotel Santo Andre – 55 euros (breakfast included)
3. Mar – Mare de Passos Guest – 25 euros
4. Viana do Castelo – Hotel do Parque – 40 euros
5. Caminha – Arca Nova Hostel – 20 euros
6. Viladesuso – Hotel Costa Verde – 59 euros
7. Patos, Nigran – Patos Beach House – 46 euros
8. Chapela (Vigo) – Hostal Bahía de Chapela – 65 euros
9. Pontevedra – Albergue Nacama Hostel Pontevedra – 23 euros
10. Barrantes – Hotel Nuevo Julios – 50 euros
11. Vilanova de Arousa – Hotel Bradomin – 46 euros
12. Santiago de Compostela (arrival night) – Nest Style Santiago – 100 euros
13. Santiago de Compostela (2nd night) – Hotel Entrecercas – 90 euros (breakfast included)
14. Porto – Stay Hotel Porto Centro Trindade – 83 euros

Total spent for 14 nights = 739 euros 

The final 3 nights in Santiago de Compostela and Porto are the most expensive. It was a holiday when I arrived in Santiago de Compostela, so availability was limited (higher prices).

If you remove these 3 nights and only focus on the 11 nights spent on the Camino, the total is 466 euros (42 euros per night average).

You’ll notice I mostly stayed in private hotel rooms. This is by choice, not because of lack of availability at hostels/albergues on the Portuguese Camino.

There are plenty of options for dorm beds on this Camino route(s). 

Final thoughts

I really enjoyed my time walking the Camino Portuguese Coastal Route. It’s such a fun way to travel. Every day is different, with new landscapes, terrain, towns and local attractions. 

This experience felt very different from my first Camino. I felt more confident, more educated and more comfortable on the trail.

However, it did not feel as ‘big’ as the first one, which I suppose is to be expected. You cannot replicate a first time experience. 

It was a fantastic adventure, but it did not lead to transformational change or enlightenment. And that’s okay. The hype and romanticization of the Camino can create unrealistic expectations.

I believe that small, incremental changes are more impactful and meaningful. Walking the Camino reinforced this believe.

The goal for this Camino was to have a fun adventure in Europe, enjoy time on the trail, and accomplish something big vs taking a traditional European vacation.

And, like last time, the Camino delivered exactly what I needed. 

Videos from each stage of the Camino Portuguese

1. Porto to Lavra (Litoral Way) – video recap Facebook and Instagram
2. Lavra to Agucadoura (Póvoa de Varzim) – recap Facebook and Instagram
3. Agucadoura to Mar (north of Esposende) – FB part 1 & part 2, IG part 1 & part 2
4. Mar to Viana do Castelo (Coastal) – FB part 1 & part 2, IG part 1 & part 2
5. Viana do Castelo to Caminha – FB part 1 & part 2, IG part 1 & part 2
6. Caminha to Viladesuso (Litoral) – FB part 1 & part 2, IG part 1 & part 2
7. Viladesuso to Patos Beach, Nigran – FB part 1 & part 2, IG part 1 & part 2
8. Patos Beach to Chapela (Vigo suburbs) – FB part 1 & part 2, IG part 1 & part 2
9. Chapela to Pontevedra (Coastal & Central) – FB part 1 & part 2, IG part 1 & part 2
10. Pontevedra to Barrantes (Spiritual Variant) – FB part 1/part 2/part 3 and IG part 1/part 2/part 3
11. Barrantes to Vilanova de Arousa (Spiritual Variant) – FB part 1 & part 2, IG part 1 & part 2
12. Vilanova de Arousa to Santiago de Compostela – FB part 1/part 2/part 3 and IG part 1/part 2/part 3
13. Santiago de Compostela – video recap Facebook and Instagram
14. Santiago de Compostela to Porto – video recap Facebook and Instagram

Here’s the recap of Where I stayed on the Camino Portuguese – Facebook and Instagram

Read more Camino de Santiago blog posts:

• Where I stayed on the Camino Portuguese Coastal Route
• My Return to the Camino – what I’m doing differently this time
• Beginners Guide and FAQ about the Camino 
• Thoughts and reflections after walking the Camino Frances
• What to do in Santiago de Compostela after walking the Camino
• Why I started the Camino Frances in Leon
• Photos and video of my packing list for the Camino

Are you considering walking the Camino Portuguese Coastal Route?

Leave a comment below if you have questions. I’ll do my best to answer.

Thoughts after walking the Camino Portuguese Coastal Route is a post from: Traveling Canucks

Vancouver Road Trip itinerary

As residents of Vancouver, we’re often asked about the best things to do in Vancouver. The next most common question is – what is the best road trip from Vancouver for first time visitors?

It’s a great question. You have plenty of options in British Columbia. Do you go east to the Okanagan or west to Vancouver Island or north to Whistler and Pemberton?

In our opinion, British Columbia is the best place in the world to visit (and live). It’s a bold statement – I know. However, if you ask anyone who’s visited British Columbia, you’ll likely hear glowing reviews about it’s easy access to nature and endless outdoor adventure.

Today, we share what we believe is the best road trip from Vancouver for first time visitors. This 10 day road trip itinerary starts and finishes in Vancouver, with 1 day to explore the city of Vancouver. That said, we would encourage you to spend at least 2 or 3 days in Vancouver.

Before we get started, there are a few things to note:

• This Vancouver road trip is based on 10 days (add or subtract days based on your time)
• The road trip can be done in any season, but it’s best during the summer months
• This itinerary is designed for car driving with hotel accommodations, not camping. However, there are many campgrounds along this road trip route, if that’s your preference. Make campground reservations in the summer!

If you only have a few days in Vancouver, check out these 25 day trips from Vancouver.

Best Road Trip from Vancouver, Canada

Skip ahead using the Table of Contents.

Day 1 & 2 – Explore Vancouver

Depending on when you arrive in Vancouver, you’ll want to spend your first two days exploring the city. There’s so much to see and do in Vancouver that two days is likely not enough time, but we want to stay within this 10 day itinerary. Add a few extras days at the end of the road trip if you have more time.

What makes Vancouver special is that it’s a vibrant cosmopolitan city surrounded by mountains AND ocean, which means there’s literally something for everyone.

In one day, you can hike in the mountains, relax on the beach, catch a show or professional sports game, dine at a variety of upscale restaurants and finish the night at Granville’s legendary entertainment district.

Here are the top things to do in Vancouver:

• Explore Stanley Park and ride bikes around its popular Seawall
• Walk across the bouncy Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver
• Take the tram to the peak of Grouse Mountain or hike the Grouse Grind
• Soak up the 360 degree views from Vanouver Lookout tower
• Shop, eat and be entertained at Granville’s Entertainment district
• Pick up some artisan goods at Granville Island Public Market
• Visit the Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver Aquarium and/or Science World
• Get outside! Vancouver is home to world class mountain biking, hiking trails, kayaking, whale watching, skiing and snowboarding.
• Witness orcas in the wild on a Vancouver whale watching tour
• Here’s a list of 25 FREE things to do in Vancouver

Related post: 25 Awesome Day Trips from Vancouver

Day 3 – Take the ferry to Victoria

The road trip begins on Day 3, when you catch a morning ferry from the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal (Vancouver) to Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal (Victoria). Check the BC ferry schedule here.

Plan to arrive at the ferry terminal at least one hour before your departure time. It’s wise to book a reservation ahead of time, especially if you’re traveling over a holiday weekend.

The ferry takes about 1.5 hours. The drive from Swartz Bay to downtown Victoria is about 30 minutes.

Once you’ve settled into your hotel, head to Victoria’s picturesque Inner Harbour (see photo below). There are plenty of Victoria restaurants and cafes located here. 

Plan to spend your evening wandering around the Inner Harbour and charming downtown area. Victoria is a very walkable city.

Day 4 – Enjoy a full day in Victoria

There are a few places in this world that we will revisit again and again. Victoria is one of them. We love the city’s old town character and laid back vibe. Victoria is a relatively big city, but it doesn’t feel or act that way.

Things to do in Victoria:

• Hop on a water taxi and explore Victoria’s bustling Inner Harbour
• Enjoy Royal Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Empress
• Get educated at the Royal British Columbia Museum
• Take a horse drawn carriage tour around downtown Victoria
• Walk down Fan Tan Alley in Chinatown, said to be the narrowest street in Canada
• Stroll through Beacon Hill Park and watch the sunset from Finlayson Point
• Whale watching tour and/or visit the impressive Butchart Gardens

Related post: 20 Things You Should Do in Victoria

Where to stay in Victoria?

We’ve stayed at the Magnolia Hotel, Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort and Best Western Carlton Plaza and would recommend them. They are centrally located, family friendly and mid-range budget.

Where to eat in Victoria?

You will not go hungry in Victoria. There are endless options for every type of cuisine. Being on the west coast, we’d recommend you dine at a seafood restaurant. The west coast is also known for quality sushi and Japanese cuisine.

• Fresh oysters and share plates at 10 Acres Commons
• Fish tacos and fish & chips at Red Fish Blue Fish
• Patio with waterfront views at LURE Restaurant & Bar
• Popular Brew pubs – Spinnakers, Swans Brewpub, CRAFT Beer Market Victoria Harbour
• Other favourites – Barb & Banker and Irish Times

Related: 20 Things You Should Do in Victoria

Day 5 – Drive from Victoria to Parksville

Enjoy a late breakfast in Victoria before driving north to Parksville, a popular beach town located on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Parksville is famous for its long, sandy beaches that recede over one kilometer at low tide.

The drive from Victoria to Parksville is about 2 hours. However, there are plenty of fun road trip stops along the way.

1. Hatley Castle at Royal Roads University (time needed 30-60 minutes)
2. Take a hike in Goldstream Provincial Park (time needed 45-90 minutes)
3. Visit the Malahat Skywalk – popular attraction on Vancouver Island (time needed 45-90 minutes)
4. Malahat Summit Viewpoint and/or Split Rock Lookout (10 minutes)
5. Check out the Murals of Chemainus (45-90 minutes)
6. Optional – visit the Harbourfront Walkway in Nanaimo (60-90 minutes)

Where to stay in Parksville?

Parksville is a tourist driven town, so you have plenty of options for accommodations.

If you’re looking for an upscale experience, check out the Tigh Na Mara Seaside Resort. You can stay in a private cabin or ocean view suite.

For a budget-friendly option, check out Hotel Feng, BW Signature Collection (formerly Travelodge by Wyndham Parksville). We’ve stayed here multiple times. It’s good value. The rooms are clean and updated, it has a pool and hot tub, and breakfast is included.

We’ve also stayed at the Ocean Sands Resort and would recommend it. It’s less expensive than Tigh Na Mara and has similar ocean views.

Fun Fact – Vancouver Island is the largest Pacific island east of New Zealand.

 Low tide at Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville

Hatley Castle at Royal Roads University. This castle is featured in the X-men and Deadpool movies.

Split Rock Lookout on the Malahat Highway

The Murals of Chemainus on Vancouver Island

Day 5 – Drive from Parksville to Ucluelet

Before you hit the road, make sure you spend some time walking along the beach in Parksville. You can either visit Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park or the beach at Parksville Community Park (pictured above).

The drive from Parksville to Ucluelet takes about 2.5 hours, but you’ll want to make a few stops along the way.

The first stop you’ll want to visit is the Coombs Old Country Market, famous for its Goats on the Roof. The market is located about 15 minutes west of Parksville. It’s an ideal location for coffee or an early lunch (depending on when you depart Parksville). 

After Coombs, continue west towards Little Qualicum Falls Provincial Park. This is a nice place for an easy forest hike to see waterfalls. The park has over 6 km of walking trails.

MacMillan Provincial Park and Cathedral Grove

Next on this BC road trip is a visit to MacMillan Provincial Park, home to the ancient Douglas fir in Cathedral Grove. The highway splits the park, so you will literally drive right through it.

There is limited parking at Cathedral Grove and it can get quite busy, but don’t give up! This place is definitely worth visiting. Some of the trees are more than 800 years old and 9 metres in circumference.

Plan to spend 30-60 minutes here.

After witnessing the incredible trees at Cathedral Grove, continue driving west to Port Alberni. This is an ideal spot to grab a quick lunch, fuel up your vehicle and restock your supplies.

The drive from Port Alberni to Ucluelet is about 1.5 hours. This stretch of highway is stunning, so make sure you have your camera handy.

You should arrive in Ucluelet by late afternoon.

After you check-in to your accommodations, head to the ocean to watch the sunset from either Big Beach or the Wild Pacific Trail. See photo below as evidence.

Here are maps for beaches in Tofino and Ucluelet.

Goats on the Roof at Coombs Market in the town of Coombs.

Day 6 & 7 – Ucluelet and Tofino

The towns of Tofino and Ucluelet are located on the northern and southern points of a peninsula that stretches along the west coast of Vancouver Island. This is where you will find Pacific Rim National Park, one of Canada’s great natural treasures.

I’m grouping these two towns together because you should visit both, but you don’t need to switch accommodations.

Pick a spot and stay there for 3 nights, which will give you two full days in Tofino and/or Ucluelet.

It’s about a 40 minute drive from Tofino to Ucluelet, and vice versa.

Things to do in Tofino and Ucluelet:

• The beaches on the coast are home to the best surfing in Canada
• Sea kayaking through the pristine waters of Clayoquot and Barkley Sound
• Cultural canoe tours and Bear watching tours
• See orcas and gray whales on a whale watching tour (March to October)
• Guided fishing excursions in the ocean or freshwater lakes
• Endless hiking trails in Pacific Rim National Park and Wild Pacific Trail
• Storm watching during winter months
• Visit the Ucluelet Aquarium and the Amphitrite Point Lighthouse
• Scenic flight tour in a sea plane or helicopter
• Watch the sunset from the shores of Chesterman Spit

Where to Stay in Ucluelet

We stayed at the Big Beach BÄRN in Ucluelet and would highly recommend it. The views from the balcony are outstanding. Tell the host, Pete Raab, the Traveling Canucks sent you.

• For waterfront accommodations, check out Black Rock Oceanfront Resort or Snug Harbour Inn
• For budget friendly accommodations, check outCanadian Princess Lodge & Marina

Where to Stay in Tofino

There are several beach resorts in Tofino. Over the years, we’ve stayed at a number of these beach resorts and would recommend the following:

• Best Western Tin Wis Resort on Mackenzie Beach. The restaurant here is good, too.
• Middle Beach Lodge on Mackenzie Beach
• Cox Bay Beach Resort on Cox bay beach
• Pacific Sands Beach Resort on Cox Bay beach

Where to eat in Tofino and Ucluelet

• Visit the tasting room at Tofino Brewing Company
• Dinner in Tofino, visit Shelter Restaurant, Sobo Restaurant and/or Pluvio Dining Room
• Casual eats in Tofino, visit Surfside Grill, Wolf in the Fog, Wildside Grill and/or Tacofino.
• Dinner in Ucluelet, visit Norwoods Restaurant or Black Rock Resort.
• Casual eats in Ucluelet, visit the Cedar Grill, Ukee Dogs Eatery and/or Ravenlady Oyster Forte.

Related: Sea kayaking the coast of Vancouver Island

Calm waters at the iconic Big Beach in Ucluelet

Big skies over the beach in Pacific Rim National Park in Tofino.

The above photo is low tide at South Chesterman Beach in Tofino.

Tofino Sea kayaking tour around Clayoquot Sound.

Harbour views from the town of Tofino.

Surfing at Wickaninnish Beach in Pacific Rim National Park.

Day 8 – Travel from Tofino to Whistler

Your time on the coast has come to an end. It’s time to trade the sandy surf for snow-capped peaks. You’ll want to get a good start to the day and be on the road by 10:00 AM.

This is the longest travel day on this 10 day road trip from Vancouver.

Drive from Tofino to Nanaimo and take the ferry back to the Mainland.

The drive from Tofino to Nanaimo ferry terminal takes about 3 hours. There’s typically a 3:00 PM ferry that you will want to catch from Departure Bay. It’s smart to make a reservation for the ferry crossing ahead of time. Arrive at the ferry terminal at least one hour early.

Check the BC ferry schedule here.

The ferry from Departure Bay (Nanaimo) to Horseshoe Bay (Vancouver) takes about 1.5 hours. When you disembark the ferry, drive on the highway until you see a turnoff that says ‘BC Ferries’ or ‘Horseshoe Bay’. It will be about 5-7 minutes before you see the signs.

You need to turnaround and head back towards the ferry terminal where you just came from.

It’s a weird system. You will turn off the highway, take a left and cross the bridge across the highway, then left again so you can get back on the highway. This time you will be driving west/north, towards Whistler.

Use your GPS, just in case. You don’t want to actually return to the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal. You want to follow the road signs for Squamish and Whistler.

If you’re hungry, stop in the town of Squamish for dinner. There are several restaurants and fast food joints along the highway.

The total drive time from Horseshoe Bay to Whistler is about 1.5 hours. You should arrive at Whistler around 7:00 PM (assuming you did the 3:00 pm ferry and did NOT stop for dinner).

Related: Should you visit the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish?

Sundeck views from the BC Ferries. That’s the Coast Mountain Range in the distance.

Day 9 – Explore Whistler

Whistler is our happy place. We try to visit this alpine village once every few months. It’s a four season resort, so there’s always something to do, regardless of the month or season.

You can easily spend a week in Whistler, so you’ll have to be selective with your full day.

Do you want to hike in the mountains? Kayak on a freshwater lake? Indulge in a spa day or sit on a patio drink craft beer?

Our recommendation is to do the Peak 2 Peak 360 Experience (gondola up the mountain, alpine hiking, suspension bridge, etc), have lunch at Christine’s On Blackcomb, then back down to Whistler Village. 

Things to do in Whistler:

• Take the Peak 2 Peak 360 Experience – read more here. Give yourself at least 3-4 hours for this experience.
• Rejuvenate and relax at the traditional Scandinave Spa
• Golf at 3 different courses, including the impressive Nicklaus North Golf Course
• SUP or kayaking at Lost Lake, Alta Lake or Green Lake
• Downhill mountain biking and/or cross-country trail riding
• Zipline course, ATV in the mountains, white water rafting or bungee jumping
• Helicopter excursion or float plane sightseeing tour
• Bear viewing tour and/or nature safari
• Hike to stunning alpine lakes at either Garibali Lake, Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, Chekamus Lake, Elfin Lakes or Wedgemount Lake
• Here are a few more ideas for Whistler summer activities

Related post: 20 Things to do in Whistler this Summer

Where to Stay in Whistler:

• For an upscale experience, stay at Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Sundial Boutique Hotel or Four Seasons Resort Whistler.
• For accommodations in the heart of Whistler Village, stay at Pan Pacific Whistler Village, Crystal Lodge and Suites or The Westin Resort.
• For accommodation on a lake, check out Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler Creekside

Where to Eat in Whistler:

• Popular patios in Whistler Village are Garibaldi Lift Co or Longhorn Saloon & Grill
• For delicious brunch, check out Stonesedge Kitchen, Elements or Brickworks
• Looking something a little different, check out Sushi Village or Mongolie Grill
• For casual brewpub experience, check out Merlin’s Bar & Grill, Amsterdam Pub, Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub or Whistler Brewhouse

Here’s a Whistler Village map and Whistler Blackcomb trail map.

Walking across the new suspension bridge at Whistler Mountain.

The above photo is Joffre Lakes Provincial Park, located one hour north of Whistler.

Day 10 – Whistler to Vancouver

After one final soak in the hot tub and a delicious brunch in the Village, pack up your car and drive south to Vancouver. This is the final day of your epic British Columbia road trip.

If you are flying home today, plan for delays on the drive to the airport as Vancouver traffic is predictably congested.

The drive time from Whistler to Vancouver is about 2 hours, but you’ll want to make a few stops along the way.

About 15 minutes south of Whistler is Brandywine Falls Provincial Park. See photo below.

Keep an eye out for the road signs, you might miss the turnoff if you’re not paying attention.

To see the waterfall, walk through a nice forest trail for about 15 minutes. Plan to spend about 45 minutes here.

Brandywine Falls, located 15 minutes south of Whistler.

Squamish, Sea to Sky Gondola and Shannon Falls

The next stop is Shannon Falls Provincial Park (pictured above) and Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish.

If you’ve got time, we recommend taking the gondola to the Sea to Sky Summit lodge. There are lots of hiking trails and viewpoints at the top of the gondola. You can also enjoy lunch on the patio at the lodge. The panoramic views from here are amazing.

If you’re tight on time, skip the gondola and visit Shannon Falls. The waterfall is a 5 minute walk from the parking lot, so you’ll only need 30 minutes here.

Road trip from Squamish to Vancouver

If you’d like to do a few more stops, consider the Britannia Mine Museum in Britannia Beach and/or visit the old pier at Porteau Cove Provincial Park. Both stops are located just off the highway.

If the weather is nice, make sure you pull over at Tantalus lookout point to see the massive glacier on the Tantalus Range. The lookout is between Whistler and Squamish. Here’s the location.

Related post: 15 things to do in Squamish this summer

Mountain views from the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola.

Where to stay in Vancouver

There are plenty of hotels in Vancouver to choose from, ranging from upscale five star hotels to backpacker hostels and everything in between.

• Most of the popular Vancouver tourist attractions are located in the downtown area. Consider this when selecting where to stay in Vancouver.
• Downtown hotels often require additional fees for overnight parking – over $40 per night. Consider this when booking hotels and car rentals.
• If you prefer to stay close to the mountains, consider staying atLonsdale Quay Hotel or the DoubleTree by Hilton North Vancouver.

British Columbia Travel tips and things to know:

• Pick up and return your vehicle rental at the Vancouver airport. 
• If you visit during the winter, make sure you have snow tires for the drive to Whistler.
• Vancouver is Wifi friendly with over 550 locations. Look for a Free Wifi location.
• It’s wise to book reservations for the ferry to and from Vancouver Island, especially if visiting over a holiday weekend. Here’s the list of holidays in BC. Check ferry schedule here.

Looking for more Canada road trips inspiration? Check out Road Trip Alberta and Road Trip Manitoba. 

Read more travel blog posts from Canada

• 20 Things to do in Whistler this Summer
• 25 FREE Things to do in Vancouver
• Best things to do in Penticton in the Summer
• 8 Things to do in New Brunswick with kids
• The Best Things to do on the Sea to Sky Highway
• Salmon fishing at Painter’s Lodge in Campbell River

The Best Road Trip from Vancouver for first time visitors is a post from: Traveling Canucks

Camino Portuguese Coastal Route

The Camino Portuguese Coastal Route (Caminho Português da Costa) has become one of the most popular Camino routes in recent years. This Camino actually has four different routes, with three of them starting in Porto, Portugal and ending in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Learn about the different Camino routes here.

I shared the general plan for my Portuguese Camino in this blog post prior to departing for Portugal. 

However, things did not go according to plan.

Lufthansa pilots and crew went on strike, which led to my flight being cancelled two days before departure. Not a great start.

Fortunately, I found an alternative flight on KLM that departs two days later. The initial flight from Vancouver to Amsterdam went smoothly. However, when I boarded my connecting flight from Amsterdam to Porto, the aircraft did not pass safety inspection. Every body off the plane. Doh! So close.

Eventually I did arrive in Porto. But it was 3 days after my original flight was supposed to arrive in Porto. 

To get my schedule back on track, I made the decision to start my Camino directly from the Porto airport.

Unfortunately, this meant I did not have time to spend in Porto at the start of my trip. It also meant that I did not have time to deal with jet lag or acclimate to the 8 hour time difference. 

I took an uber from the Porto airport to the coast, about 10 km north of downtown Porto. Shortly after I starting my walk, I passed Fort of Leça da Palmeira in Matosinhos (pictured above).

This section of the Camino is on the Litoral Way (Senda Litoral).

Stages of my Portuguese Camino

Before I breakdown each stage, I thought I’d share a quick view of where I stayed on the Camino Portuguese. Here’s a link to Facebook reels from each segment.

I spent time on all four routes of the Portuguese Camino, including the Senda Litoral, Coastal Route, Spiritual Variant and Central Route.

1. Porto (Matosinhos) to Lavra (Litoral) – 14 km 
2. Lavra to Agucadoura (Póvoa de Varzim) – 24 km
3. Agucadoura to Mar (north of Esposende) – 24 km
4. Mar to Viana do Castelo (Coastal) – 24 km
5. Viana do Castelo to Caminha – 25 km
6. Caminha to Viladesuso (Litoral) – 26 km
7. Viladesuso to Patos Beach, Nigran – 25 km
8. Patos Beach to Chapela (Vigo suburbs) – 29 km
9. Chapela to Pontevedra (Coastal & Central) – 28.5 km
10. Pontevedra to Barrantes (Spiritual Variant) – 27.5 km
11. Barrantes to Vilanova de Arousa (Spiritual Variant) – 18.5 km
12. Vilanova de Arousa to Santiago de Compostela (Central) – 29.5 km
13. Santiago de Compostela – free day to rest and explore
14. Santiago de Compostela to Porto – 4 hour bus (9:00 am departure) 
15. Porto to Home (Vancouver)

I share my accommodations and reasoning for why I chose these stages at the end of this post.

Scroll to the bottom of this VERY long post to see the cost of each hotel/hostel that I stayed at. 

Related post: Beginners Guide & FAQ about the Camino de Santiago

Day 1 – Porto Airport to Lavra

My first night was spent at a coastal town named Lavra. It’s located about 22-24 km from the Porto Cathedral, the official starting point of the Caminho Português.

I walked about 14 km that day. It was an easy day of walking, but I was exhausted from the 48+ hours of travel from Vancouver to Porto.

I stayed in the 8 person dorm room at Angeiras Beach Hostel.

Why I stayed in Lavra?

My original plan was to start at Porto Cathedral. The goal is to walk between 20-25 km on Day 1. Not too long, but enough to challenge the body and cover some ground.

Using this distance as a starting point, the logical stops would be either Lavra, Labruge or Vila Chã. I researched the hostel/albergues in each of these towns. The most popular seemed to be Angeiras Beach Hostel (Lavra), Albergue São Tiago de Labruge, and Albergue São Mamede De Vila Chã. 

The only hostel that I could book online (using Booking.com) is Angeiras Beach Hostel. I didn’t want to risk not finding a bed on Day 1, so having the ability to easily book online made the decision for me. 

I paid 37 Euros for the bed. It includes pillow, blanket and linen (no towel).

Here’s a short video from Day 1 on the Portuguese Camino Coastal Route.

Angeiras Beach Hostel is a new hostel, so everything feels clean and new. The beds are comfortable. Pillow, blanket and linen included.

It’s located close to several restaurants and cafes, and it’s on the Camino Litoral route. Lavra is a small and quiet beach town with colourful homes along the waterfront. I enjoyed an evening walk on the beach before heading to dinner at A Casa do Gordo.

This video shares footage of the hostel – scroll to the end of the video.

Common area and hallway inside Angeiras Beach Hostel.

Day 2 – Lavra to Agucadoura (Póvoa de Varzim)

I had a rough sleep in the 8 person dorm room in Lavra. The room sounded like Jurassic Park with the relentless loud snoring and unusual bodily sounds coming from my roommates. I’m a very light sleeper, and I don’t sleep well with loud strangers in the room.

That said, Angeiras Beach Hostel is nice and I would recommend it.

On Day 2, I walked 24 km from Lavra to Hotel Santo Andre.

This hotel is located directly on the beach, a few kilometers north of Póvoa de Varzim.

Why I stayed here?

After three consecutive nights of very poor sleep, I decided to get a private hotel room to catch-up on some much needed quality sleep.

I paid 55 Euros for the private room. The price includes a nice breakfast buffet.

I thought that was a good deal, considering I paid 37 euros for the dorm bed the night before. And the breakfast buffet was good value. I was able to takeaway some pastries and fruit for lunch.

Watch this video recap from Day 2 on the Portuguese Camino.

Hotel Santo Andre is located directly on the Senda Litoral Camino

When I say directly, I mean it’s actually within steps of the actual trail. In the above photo, the boardwalk is the Camino route. The building on the right is Hotel Santo Andre.

It’s nice to not have to walk far from the Camino trail to find the accommodation for the night. 

However, the downside is that this hotel is quite isolated. There isn’t much nearby. Therefore, my only option for dinner was the hotel restaurant. The food was fine. It offers a set menu with a few options. 

View inside the private hotel room at Santo Andre Hotel. The room is dated and the bed is hard, but it’s clean and comfortable. I was able to get a solid sleep here.

Watch this video recap from Day 2, including a hotel room tour.

Hotel Santo Andre has a pool and it’s located on the beach.

My plan was to spend time at the pool and beach during my stay. However, the pool was very cold and it rained in the evening. I did find time to soak my feet in the pool, which was nice. Unfortunately, I did not spend any time on the beach, which was disappointing.

I was still battling jet lag and exhaustion, and my body just wanted sleep.

I imagine this pool would be very welcoming during the hot summer months. I’m writing this blog post in early July, when Western Europe is experiencing a heat wave. 

On Day 2, I passed the iconic Mosteiro de Santa Clara in Vila do Conde.

I took a detour in Vila do Conde in order to see Forte de São João Baptista de Vila do Conde.

Day 3 – Agucadoura (Póvoa de Varzim) to Mar (north Esposende)

I walked about 24 km on Day 3. The Senda Litoral route passes directly in front of Hotel Santo Andre, so it was easy to get started in the morning. 

I spent the night at a small roadside hostel in a town call Mar. It’s located about 5 km north of Esposende. 

Why I stayed here?

A common approach the Camino Portuguese is to stay overnight at Vila do Conde, then Esposende, then Viano do Castelo. But because Hotel Santo Andre is located halfway between Vila do Conde and Esposende, it did not make sense for me to stay in Esposende. 

Therefore, I made the decision to stay somewhere between Esposende and Viano do Castelo. This would shorten the walking distance the following day.

Watch my Day 3 recap video here. It includes a brief room tour.

I stayed at Mare de Passos Guest House. It’s a small hostel with only 6 bunkbeds in the dorm room. Each bed includes a pillow, blanket(s), linen and towel. 

I paid 25 euros for the bed.

I made the reservation online via the Booking.com app. However, I paid cash upon arrival.

Side note – it’s a good idea to have extra cash with you when walking the Camino.

Mare de Passos Guest House is not a typical stop on the Portuguese Camino, but it was a comfortable stay. It’s located on the N13 highway, between the Coastal Route and Litoral Way. Here’s the location on Google Maps.

Watch my Day 3 recap video here.

Mare de Passos Guest House is located about 1.5 km from the beach. The owner provides bikes to guests, so I joined my new Austrian friend on a bike ride to watch the sunset. It was a nice evening.

Above is Praia de Rio de Moinhos at sunset.

I tried my first Francesinha sandwich at Cafe Maranhao Bar.

It was good. Not great, but it hit the spot. There are only a few restaurant options in Mar.

Day 4 – Mar to Viana do Castelo

Because the guest house from the previous night is located between the Coastal Route and Senda Litoral Route, I had to make a decision. Do I go left (beach and Litoral) or right (hills and Coastal). 

I decided to walk the Litoral route along the coast. However, my plans changed shortly after. Read what happened here (in the caption).

I ended up back on the Camino Portugués Coastal Route (not the Litoral Way) later that morning.

I walked 24 km that day and stayed at Hotel do Parque in Viana do Castelo.

Day 4 video recaps – Part 1 and Part 2

Why I stayed at Hotel do Parque, Viana do Castelo

Originally, I planned to stay at Albergue de Santa Luzia. It’s located beside Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Santuário do Sagrado Coração de Jesus). This church is stunning! (video here)

However, I changed my mind when I found this private hotel room for 40 euros.

This hotel was recommended by someone who sent me a message on Instagram (thank you, Jason H!).

Hotel do Parque has an outdoor pool and I thought the hot breakfast buffet was included with the room price. The albergue price is 30 euros for a shared dorm room bed, so the private room with breakfast for only 10 euros extra seemed like a good deal.

However, I was wrong and the breakfast was not included in 40 euros room price. Regardless, it was still a good deal. I did purchase the breakfast buffet and it was good. I forget the price, but I think it was 10-12 euros. 

Watch Day 4 video recaps: Part 1 and Part 2

This pool was also very cold during my visit. It felt more like a cold plunge. Keep in mind, I walked the Camino Portuguese in late April. 

I believe this pool would be a welcome feature for those walking the Camino in the hot summer months. 

Can you spot the church on the hilltop?

That’s Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The albergue is located beside the church, on the right side.

As you can see, it’s quite the walk to get from the church/albergue to the city center. There is a path with 660 steps from the city to the church. Keep this in mind if you plan to stay at the top of the hill. 

You can also take a funicular (Elevador de Santa Luzia) up and down, depending on the time of day. The funicular was closed during my visit (6:00 pm in April) so I shared an uber with another pilgrim. I forget the cost but I remember it was not expensive.

Watch Day 4 recaps – Part 1 and Part 2

Day 5 – Viana do Castelo to Caminha

After a big breakfast at Hotel do Parque, I left Viana do Castelo on the Coastal Route (not the Senda Litoral). This section is NOT on the beach. The path is higher up in the hills and passes through forest, towns and villages before rejoining the Litoral Way in Vila Praia de Ancora.

I stayed at Arca Nova Hostel in the town of Caminha.

Why I stayed in Caminha?

My plan is to cross the Minho River from Portugal to Spain, and continue up the coast on the Litoral Way. To do this, you must take a water taxi and/or small ferry from Caminha (Portugal) to A Pasaxe (Spain).

Caminha is the logical stage after staying in Viana do Castelo. It has plenty of options for accommodations and restaurants. 

The distance from Viana do Castelo to Caminha is 25 km.

I paid 20 euros for a dorm room bed at Arca Nova Hostel. Breakfast is an additional 6 euros. 

The hostel organized the water taxi in the morning. Be ready to go at 7:45 am and wait in the lobby. Someone will arrive with a van to transport pilgrims to the water taxi dock (it’s about 10 minute drive from the hostel).

Day 5 video recaps: Part 1 and Part 2

View of the shared dorm room inside Arca Nova Hostel. It also has private rooms available.

The beds are quite large. They are extra wide and long, and feel more like a double size vs twin/single size.

I had a very comfortable sleep here. No issues with loud snoring or noise either.  I would recommend this hostel.

Day 5 video recaps: Part 1 & Part 2 (including room tour).

Day 6 – Caminha, Portugal to Viladesuso, Spain

Today I say goodbye to Portugal and hello to Spain.

I hadn’t finished my breakfast at Arca Nova Hostel before I was being swept away in an old beat-up van, along with 7 other blurry-eyed and slightly confused pilgrims. 

The hostel organized the water taxi transfer. The owner said to be ready at 7:45 at the front of the hostel. Nothing was formally organized, reserved or paid in advance. I get the feeling this is a daily routine – just be ready in the morning and they will get you to the boat.

The van arrives at the dock 10 minutes later. It’s located just outside the town of Caminha.

We each paid 6 euros and then boarded the small water taxi. It takes less than 15 minutes to get from Caminha (Portugal) to A Pasaxe (Spain). Watch the video here. 

I walked 26 km along the coast and spent the night at Hotel Costa Verde in Viladesuso.

Why I stayed in Viladesuso

You have several options in the section between Oia and Baiona. The thing to keep in mind is how much distance you want to walk the following day. This will help inform your decision.

Originally, I planned to stay at Alojamiento Camino Portugues Oia. A couple of pilgrims I met the previous night at Arca Nova Hostel were staying there.

However, I changed my mind the night before and booked a private hotel room at Hotel Costa Verde. I like to rotate between dorm bed and private room, to catch up on sleep. 

With the gift of hindsight, I don’t know if this was the correct decision. I was tired when I made the booking. It was probably impulsive and unnecessary. 

I paid 59 euros for a private room. It’s the most expensive room so far on my Camino. 

That said, I did enjoy my stay at Hotel Costa Verde. The bed is very comfortable. It was the best sleep I had on the entire Camino. 

Day 6 video recaps: Part 1 and Part 2 (including room tour).

Explanada do Horizonte is a popular rest stop on the Camino Portuguese Coastal Route.

There aren’t a lot of cafes and bars in this section, so it’s best to stop here to refuel. 

Approaching the iconic Royal Monastery of Santa María de Oia (Real Mosteiro de Santa María de Oia), a 12th-century Cistercian monastery strategically positioned on the Atlantic coast.

Pulpo a la Gallega at Restaurante Lorena in Viladesuso. 

Day 7 – Viladesuso to Patos Beach, Nigrán

I started late because of the 1 hour time zone change from Portugal to Spain. My body said 7:00 AM but it was actually 8:00 AM. 

The plan for the morning is to walk from Viladesuso to Baiona and explore the impressive Castelo de Monterreal. See the views from the castle here.

From Baiona, I continue my walk to Patos Beach in Nigrán. 

I walked 25 km that day and stayed at Patos Beach House.

Why I stayed here?

My sweet spot for walking is about 25 km per day. Walking less than 20 km feels too light and not challenging enough, but walking 30+ km is when my body starts breaking down. 

Therefore, I decided to stay somewhere between Viladesuso and Vigo. Patos Beach looked like an ideal place to spend the evening.

Patos Beach House is perfectly situated close to the beach and restaurants, so it was a good choice. 

I paid 46 euros for a small private room. It was a nice mix of comfort while still having the social atmosphere of the hostel. 

Day 7 video recaps: Part 1 and Part 2

View of my private room at Patos Beach House. It’s small, clean and comfortable. 

I had a good sleep here and would recommend it. 

Day 7 video recaps: Part 1 and Part 2

Day 8 – Patos Beach to Chapela (Vigo)

This stage of my Camino is somewhat confusing, so let me give you some context first. 

My plan is to walk the Spiritual Variant after Pontevedra. Because I have a fixed schedule with only 15 days total for my trip (including time in Santiago and Porto), if I want to complete the Spiritual Variant I need to walk from Patos Beach to Pontevedra in two days.  

Common stages here are: (1) Nigran (Patos Beach) to Vigo, then (2) Vigo to Rendondela, then (3) Redondela to Pontevedra (3 days/2 nights). I believe the distance is about 60 km.

However, I need to walk this distance in 2 days in order to stay on schedule.

Therefore, I decided to stay halfway between Vigo and Redondela. This would result in 2 days of approx. 28-30 km of walking, which would allow me to reach Pontevedra on schedule without having to walk a 35 km day. 

Why I stayed in Chapela?

Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of options for accommodations here. I found a roadside hostel in the town of Chapela, located about 8 km from central Vigo. Here’s the location on Google maps.

I stayed at Hostal Bahía de Chapela and paid 65 euros for a private room.

It was a comfortable stay and the hotel restaurant has a delicious set menu. However, I don’t think I made the right decision by staying in Chapela. The hostel is fine and I would recommend it if you plan to follow a similar path, but I just don’t think it was necessary to stay here. 

The Camino path takes you up a big hill when you leave Vigo. This hostel is located at the bottom of the hill, directly beside the highway. So I had to navigate my way down the hill and under the highway to get to the hostel. This added 1.5 km of walking. There are no markers here. You need Google maps. 

My decision was based on avoiding a long 35 km day from Patos Beach to Redondela.

However, after walking the 5 km section from Chapela to Redondela the following morning, I think it would have been better to push through and stay in Redondela. This section is mostly flat and it passes through a nice forest. 

Now, if 35 km is too long for you, this option of staying in Chapela to break up the section might make sense. But if you have no time constraints, I would probably stay in Vigo and walk to Rendodela instead (over two days, instead of one). 

Watch Day 8 video recaps: Part 1 & Part 2

Day 9 – Chapela (Vigo) to Pontevedra

This is a nice section on the Camino Portuguese, especially crossing the historic Puente Sampayo Bridge in Arcade. I walked about 30 km this day, when you include the detour from the previous night in Chapela (Vigo suburbs).

I stayed at Albergue Nacama Hostel Pontevedra and paid 23 euros for a dorm bed.

Why I stayed here?

Pontevedra is a popular stop on the Portuguese Camino. The Coastal and Central routes pass through this city, making it a logical place to spend the night. 

I chose Albergue Nacama Hostel Pontevedra because I was able to easily book online via the Booking.com app. It’s centrally located close to restaurants and amenities, and it’s good value. 

When I arrived at the albergue they had already assigned the beds. I believe the dorm room has 40 beds. It’s nicely spread out with curtains to create some privacy and reduce noise (see the layout of the dorm room in this video). 

This hostel was at full capacity during my stay (late April). While some pilgrims choose to not book accommodations ahead of time, I think it’s wise to make a reservation if you plan to stay here. I witnessed several pilgrims being turned away because the hostel was full.  

I would recommend this hostel. It’s clean, organized, good value and good location.

Day 9 video recaps: Part 1 & Part 2 

Day 10 – Pontevedra to to Barrantes (Spiritual Variant)

Today I leave the Camino Portuguese Coastal Route and start the Spiritual Variant.

I left the hostel in Pontevedra at 6:00 am. While my bed was comfortable, the person above me was a disaster. He would violently toss and turn every 15 minutes, shaking the bed as he bounced around. He was also a loud snorer and he talked in his sleep. Needless to say, I did not sleep well.

So I decided to get up and go. This is one of the things I love about the Camino. The freedom to start walking whenever you want. 

I took a short cut and crossed Ponte da Barca instead of the normal Camino route across the famous Burgo Bridge (Puente del Burgo). It was still dark outside and there was very little traffic, so I chose this shorter distance.

Basically, instead of walking north after Pontevedra and then turning west near A Cendona, I started walking west and joined the official trail at Mosteiro de San Xoán de Poio. I’m not sure exactly how many kilometres I saved but my guess is about 4-5 km.

This section before the monastery is not pretty and it’s on the side of a highway. It was fine in the early morning, but it’s probably not a good idea during the day. 

Common stops between Pontevedra and Vilanova de Arousa are at Combarro (11 km), A Armenteira (21 km) or Barrantes / Ribadumia (30-32 km). There is a 400 meter hill climb after Combarro, so keep that in mind when planning.

I decided to stay in Barrantes because there are more options for accommodations and restaurants (when compared to A Armenteira). 

I stayed at Hotel Neuvo Julios in Barrantes.

Why I stayed in Barrantes?

Because I took the short cut out of Pontevedra, the distance was about 28 km from Albergue Nacama Hostel (Pontevedra) to Hotel Neuvo Julios (Barrantes). If I did not take the short cut, I probably would have stayed in A Armenteira. 

Originally my plan was to stay at Albergue Camino Espiritual. However, after my poor sleep the night before, I decided to get a private room instead.

Also, because I covered a lot of distance, the following day was only 18 km, which meant I could start late and have a lazy morning. 

I paid 50 euros for a private room at Hotel Neuvo Julios.

When I arrived at the hotel there was nobody at reception. In fact, there was nobody at the hotel. I was sent an access code (via the Booking.com app) for the front door. The keys for each room are left in the door lock. It’s an efficient process, but it felt strange being alone in the hotel. 

The rooms are nice and clean. I had a comfortable stay here and would recommend it.

Day 10 video recaps: Part 1 , Part 2 & Part 3 (including room tour)

Approaching the town of Combarro at low tide. The Camino trail hugs the coastline in this section. 

This is my favourite part of the Spiritual Variant on the Camino Portuguese.

It’s called Ruta da Pedra e da Auga (The Route of Stone and Water) and it begins shortly after passing the Monastery of Armenteira.

It feels like a magical land where fairy tales come to life. The path runs parallel to the Armenteira River, so it’s very lush and green here. And it’s full of old stone ruins that have been reclaimed by nature. 

Day 11 – Barrantes to Vilanova de Arousa (Spiritual Variant)

Today is the shortest distance walked on my Camino. It’s only 18.5 km from Barrantes to Vilanova de Arousa. 

Therefore, I decided to enjoy my private hotel room and sleep in. It was nice to have a slow morning. I enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Café Che before starting my walk.  

I arrived at Vilanova de Arousa around 1:00 pm and rejoined my Camino friends at Mesón O Timón. This restaurant is located in front of the marina where you catch the Spiritual Variant boat from Vilanova to Pontecesures (Padron).

My Camino friends took the 1:30 pm boat instead of the typical morning departure. I did not know this was an option, otherwise I probably would have done the same.

I stayed at Hotel Bradomin in Vilanova de Arousa. 

Why I stayed here?

Vilanova de Arousa is a fairly big town so you have a lot of options for accommodations and restaurants. This is where you take the boat on the Spiritual Variant, so it’s a logical place to spend the night. 

I did the 7:00 am boat departure time. This meant that I had to leave the hotel by no later than 6:30 am. 

I paid 46 euros for a private room at Hotel Bradomin.

Day 11 video recaps: Part 1 & Part 2 

I must have forgotten to take a photo of the hotel room.

Here’s a video with a room tour at Hotel Bradomin (skip to the end).

There are two companies that transport pilgrims on the Spiritual Variant. They are often referred as the “big boat” or “small boat”. 

I took the big boat with La Barca del Peregrino. See photos below.

It’s wise to make your reservation ahead of time. I booked 2 days before departure time and there were only a couple spots left.

Above is a photo of the small boats. These two boats departed at 1:30 pm. 

Both boats were full, so it’s important to make reservations ahead of time. 

I’ve had a lot of questions about this 1:30 pm departure time. I did not use this company or depart at that time, so I don’t have further info beyond what you will find on the internet. 

However, I can confirm (with photo evidence above!) that there is a 1:30 pm departure time. 

Day 11 video recaps: Part 1 & Part 2 

Day 12 – Vilanova de Arousa (Spiritual Variant) to Santiago de Compostella

Today is my final day on the Camino Portuguese! I took the early boat departure at 7:00 am.

I sailed on the “big boat” with La Barca del Peregrino. More info here. 

The boat took about 2 hours. I walked from the boat dock in Pontecesures to Padron (about 2 km) and joined the Camino Portuguese Central route.

Many pilgrims will choose to break this section into two. It’s over 28 km from Pontecesures to Santiago de Compostela, and you’ll start walking at around 9:00 am because of the boat trip (which is a late start for a 28 km day). 

Why I walked straight to Santiago de Compostela

There are a few reasons why I decided to walk from Pontecesures to Santiago instead of breaking this section into two stages.

First, it was supposed to rain the following morning. This meant that my final steps to Santiago de Compostela would be wet. If I could avoid this, that made sense to me.

Second, I prefer to walk at least 20 km per day. The logical places to break up the stage would mean that I had two short days with a lot of extra time at the hotel or albergue. I wasn’t interested in long periods at a hostel.  

Third, the food. There are so many great restaurants in Santiago de Compostela. I felt like it was worth it to have a long and challenging day because I would be rewarded with tapas, pinchos and vino tinto. 

Finally, extra time in Santiago de Compostela. I love this city. So it was an easy decision to spend an extra night here vs staying in a small town in the suburbs of Santiago. 

Watch Day 12 video recaps: Part 1, Part 2 , Part 3 and Part 4

Day 13 – Santiago de Compostela 

I had a full day to spend in Santiago de Compostela because I chose to walk straight from the Spiritual Variant to the cathedral in Santiago. It was nice to sleep in late and have a lazy breakfast before exploring this magnificent city. 

I wrote a blog post about things to do in Santiago de Compostela after completing the Camino.

I spent two nights in Santiago de Compostela

• Night 1 – Nest Style Santiago – 100 euros for private room
• Night 2 – Hotel Entrecercas – 90 euros for private room with breakfast included

It was difficult to find affordable hotels in Santiago de Compostela. I arrived on Friday, May 1, which is a national public holiday in Spain (Labour Day – Fiesta del Trabajo).

My assumption is that the holiday long weekend is why hotel availability was limited. 

I didn’t get a photo of the exterior of Hotel Entrecercas in Santiago de Compostela. However, this is the view as soon as you step outside the entrance to the hotel.

Notice the twin spires in the distance. This gives you perspective about how close the hotel is to the main cathedral. 

Recap of accommodation and price for each night

1. Lavra –Angeiras Beach Hostel – 37 euros
2. Agucadoura – Hotel Santo Andre – 55 euros (breakfast included)
3. Mar – Mare de Passos Guest – 25 euros
4. Viana do Castelo – Hotel do Parque – 40 euros
5. Caminha – Arca Nova Hostel – 20 euros
6. Viladesuso – Hotel Costa Verde – 59 euros
7. Patos, Nigran – Patos Beach House – 46 euros
8. Chapela (Vigo) – Hostal Bahía de Chapela – 65 euros
9. Pontevedra – Albergue Nacama Hostel Pontevedra – 23 euros
10. Barrantes – Hotel Nuevo Julios – 50 euros
11. Vilanova de Arousa – Hotel Bradomin – 46 euros
12. Santiago de Compostela (arrival night) – Nest Style Santiago – 100 euros
13. Santiago de Compostela (2nd night) – Hotel Entrecercas – 90 euros (breakfast included)
14. Porto – Stay Hotel Porto Centro Trindade – 83 euros

Total spent for 14 nights = 739 euros 

The final three nights in Santiago de Compostela and Porto are the most expensive. If you remove these and only focus on the nights spent on the Camino, the total is 466 euros for 11 nights (42 euros per night average).

You’ll notice I mostly stayed in private hotel rooms. This is by choice, not because of lack of availability at hostels/albergues on the Portuguese Camino.

There are plenty of options for dorm beds on this Camino route(s). 

I prefer to sleep in private rooms vs dorm rooms. I find it difficult to sleep in dorm rooms because I’m a light sleeper. The loud snoring and constant noise in the dorm rooms prevents me from having a good sleep, which is essential when walking 25km per day.

I do prefer hostels/albergues over hotels, for the social experience, but I prefer to sleep in a private room. 

Some people will argue that you must sleep in dorm rooms to have the full Camino experience. I don’t believe this to be true.

Ironically, these same people will also argue that you should probably stay in a private room if I don’t like the snoring and loud noises in the shared dorm room. So I don’t give much attention to these opinions. Sleeping in a bunk bed does not define your Camino experience. 

Videos from each stage of the Camino Portuguese

1. Porto to Lavra (Litoral Way) – video recap Facebook and Instagram
2. Lavra to Agucadoura (Póvoa de Varzim) – recap Facebook and Instagram
3. Agucadoura to Mar (north of Esposende) – FB part 1 & part 2, IG part 1 & part 2
4. Mar to Viana do Castelo (Coastal) – FB part 1 & part 2, IG part 1 & part 2
5. Viana do Castelo to Caminha – FB part 1 & part 2, IG part 1 & part 2
6. Caminha to Viladesuso (Litoral) – FB part 1 & part 2, IG part 1 & part 2
7. Viladesuso to Patos Beach, Nigran – FB part 1 & part 2, IG part 1 & part 2
8. Patos Beach to Chapela (Vigo suburbs) – FB part 1 & part 2, IG part 1 & part 2
9. Chapela to Pontevedra (Coastal & Central) – FB part 1 & part 2, IG part 1 & part 2
10. Pontevedra to Barrantes (Spiritual Variant) – FB part 1/part 2/part 3 and IG part 1/part 2/part 3
11. Barrantes to Vilanova de Arousa (Spiritual Variant) – FB part 1 & part 2, IG part 1 & part 2
12. Vilanova de Arousa to Santiago de Compostela – FB part 1/part 2/part 3 and IG part 1/part 2/part 3
13. Santiago de Compostela – video recap Facebook and Instagram
14. Santiago de Compostela to Porto – video recap Facebook and Instagram

Here is the recap of Where I stayed on the Camino Portuguese – Facebook and Instagram

Read more blog posts about Camino de Santiago:

• Thoughts and reflections after walking the Camino Frances
• What to do in Santiago de Compostela after walking the Camino
• Beginners Guide and FAQ about the Camino 
• Why I started the Camino Frances in Leon, Spain
• Photos and video of my packing list for the Camino
• My Return to the Camino – what I’m doing differently this time

Are you considering walking the Camino Portuguese Coastal Route?

Leave a comment below if you have questions. I’ll do my best to answer.

Where I stayed on the Camino Portuguese Coastal Route is a post from: Traveling Canucks

Fun things to do in Squamish, British Columbia

Over the past 20 years, we’ve driven up and down the Sea to Sky Highway countless times. Most often, we drive this famous Canadian highway while enroute to Whistler, one of British Columbia’s most popular tourist destinations. 

Squamish is the natural half-way point between Vancouver and Whistler. It’s often used as a pit stop to fuel up, have lunch and pick up supplies. Many first time visitors to British Columbia will drive right through Squamish, without realizing that it’s a fun travel destination all on its own. 

There are so many things to do in Squamish, especially during summer, that we believe it should be your final destination. 

It is, after all, the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada.

Surprisingly, up until a few weeks ago, we had not stayed overnight in Squamish before. Given that it’s less than an hour drive from our home, we often visit as a day trip from Vancouver. 

While the focus of this blog post is to share the best things to do in Squamish during the summer, it’s important to note that Squamish is a four season destination. Many of these activities can be done in the winter, too. Just make sure you pack a quality rain jacket and umbrella.

Related – Best Things to do Along the Sea to Sky Highway

Sea to Sky Gondola

Without question, the Sea to Sky Gondola is the most popular attraction in Squamish these days. If you only have one day in Squamish, we recommend you start with the Sea to Sky Gondola. 

It’s located directly off the Sea to Sky Highway, making it easily accessible. It’s best to arrive early because the parking lot fills up quickly. Purchase your gondola tickets online here. 

The Sea to Sky Gondola transports guests up to the Summit Lodge in less than 10 minutes. Watch this 30 second video of the gondola ride from bottom to top. 

Why visit the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish?

There’s much more to this popular Squamish tourist attraction then pretty mountain landscapes. Although, the pretty landscapes are certainly worth the price of admission.

The Sea to Sky Gondola has expanded it’s offerings and attractions:  

• Panoramic views of Howe Sound from the Viewing Platforms
• Walk across the bouncy Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge (photo above)
• Take a hike. There are several trails from the summit lodge, from easy paths to backcountry alpine trails. Here’s the list of hiking trails.
• Squamish Via Ferrata tours. More info here.
• Patio dining with spectacular views at Sky Pilot Eatery. 
• Snowshoeing, tubing and ski touring in the winter.

Watch – Amazing views from Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge

The best views of Squamish from the Chief Overlook Viewing Platform.

Spectacular mountain views from the outdoor patio at Summit Lodge.

Squamish Via Ferrata is located at the Sea to Sky Gondola.

It’s an adrenaline pumping adventure that combines hiking and rock climbing, while being clipped into a safety cable.

An experienced guide takes guests through a mountain climbing course that ends at the Summit Lodge. 

Learn more and book your tour here.

Shannon Falls Provincial Park

Located directly beside the Sea to Sky Gondola, Shannon Falls Provincial Park is home to the 3rd highest waterfall in British Columbia. At 335 meters, it’s 3 times as high as Niagara Falls in Ontario.

Shannon Falls is a must visit attraction in Squamish. It’s a short 5 minute walk from the parking lot to the base of the waterfalls, so it’s quite accessible. The trail to the falls is flat with little elevation, so it’s an easy walk. You only need 30 minutes to visit the park and see the waterfalls. 

Shannon Falls is most impressive during the spring and early summer, when the surrounding mountain snow melts and water flow is at its highest. 

It’s very easy to combine visits to the Sea to Sky Gondola and Shannon Falls.

Parking is challenging during the summer, especially on weekends. There is an overflow parking lot on the opposite side of the Sea to Sky Highway (Highway 99). Because the waterfalls are easy to access, and it doesn’t take long to view them, people come and go frequently.

Waiting for a parking spot can be frustrating, but parking spots do open if you’re patient. 

Squamish Canyon

One of the newest tourist attractions in Squamish, the Squamish Canyon is an elevated boardwalk through British Columbia’s spectacular temperate rainforest. 

This is the perfect place to see Mamquam Falls. The water at Mamquam ralls famously changes colour between vibrant turquoise blue, deep emerald green, and a milky white-grey, depending on the time of year and weather conditions. 

Watch this short video from our time at Squamish Canyon.

The canyon is situated roughly 15 minutes from downtown Squamish. There is no public transit to the canyon, so you’ll need a vehicle to access it.

Drive along Highway 99 (Sea-to-Sky Highway) and turn onto the gravel Mamquam Forest Service Road. The turnoff is located after the turnoff for the Stawamus Chief Provincial Park – if you’re driving north from Vancouver to Squamish. 

Learn more about Squamish Canyon here. 

The park has over 1.5 kilometers of elevated boardwalks. It’s a safe and family friendly way to experience the forest, river and waterfalls. 

Above – observation deck inside Squamish Canyon. 

Hike the Stawamus Chief 

One of the most popular hikes in Squamish, and British Columbia for that matter, is the famous Stawamus Chief hike. Stawamus Chief Provincial Park protects the massive 700 metre granite cliffs that tower over Squamish. The Chief is one of the largest granite monoliths in the world. 

Access the hiking trails from the parking lot that’s located off the Sea to Sky Highway. The main trailhead is also accessible from Shannon Falls Provincial Park via the 1.5 km connector trail.

There are three hikes on The Chief

• First Peak – 1.5 km trail with an elevation gain of 540 meters 
• Second Peak  – 1.7 km trail with an elevation gain of 590 meters 
• Third Peak  – 1.8 km trail with an elevation gain of 630 meters 

The above distances are one way. You must also consider the return hike back down. See the Stawamus Chief trail map here. 

Plan for 3 to 4 hours to do the Chief. It’s a strenuous hike for many, so bring plenty of water and snacks, proper footwear and check the weather conditions prior to your hike. 

Above is the top of the Stawamus Chief, seen from the Chief Overlook Viewing Platform at the Sea to Sky Gondola. 

Other popular hiking trails in Squamish

• Murrin Park Loop Trail – 2.4 km roundtrip (intermediate) / 2 hours
• Smoke Bluffs Loop Trail – 3.5 km roundtrip (easy) / 1.5 hours
• Four Lakes Trail at Alice Lake Provincial Park – 6 km (easy) / 2 hours
• Brohm Lake Loop and Tantalus View Trail – variety of trails from easy to intermediate 

Quick break while hiking the Brohm Lake loop trail in Squamish.

Entrance to the Panorama Trail, located at the Sea to Sky Gondola. More photos here.

Bike riding trails in Squamish

Another fun thing to do in Squamish is ride bikes. There are several paved, gravel and forest trails scattered throughout Squamish, so there’s something for every skill and preference. 

A good starting point is the Corridor Trial (pictured above). This easy paved path runs north and south through Squamish. It also connects to the vast network of bike trails. The Corridor Trail runs beside the Rope Runner Adventure Park (referenced above), so you can start your bike ride here after spending time at the aerial ropes course. 

Don’t have a bike with you? Not to worry. There are several bike rental shops in Squamish that offer road bikes, full suspension mountain bikes, kids bikes and E-bikes. 

Mountain Biking Squamish

Squamish has a huge network of mountain biking trails, including the Diamond Head Zone. We don’t mountain bike, so we’re not the best resource. However, our good friends confirm that Squamish is home of some of the best mountain biking in Canada.. 

Learn more about Squamish mountain biking here.

Above is a new development on the east side of the Mamquam Blind Channel in Downtown Squamish. 

Rock Climbing in Squamish

Squamish is widely known as the rock climbing capital of Canada. Climbers come from around the world to experience its famous granite cliffs and bluffs. Many of the climbing spots are located within a ten minute drive of Downtown Squamish.

The star attraction is the Stawamus Chief, a massive granite monolith towering 700 meters above Squamish and Howe Sound. The Chief has hundreds of climbing routes for every level (pictured above).

Smoke Bluffs is another popular spot for Squamish rock climbing. Located just across the highway from downtown, The Bluffs are easy to get to with mainly short approaches. It’s a great place to experience Squamish’s world-famous granite.

Learn about the best spots for rock climbing and bouldering in Squamish here. 

Can you spot the rock climbers in the above photo?

Hint – one climber is wearing yellow. 

Airhouse Squamish

Airhouse is an indoor freestyle training park that offers trampoline and action sport training programs.

It offers drop-in sessions, lessons, camps and group events. More info here.

This is a fun place to spend a rainy day. It has a variety of trampolines, gymnastic equipment and a half-pipe, so you can work on your form regardless of your sport. 

Watch our youngest boy do a big trick at Airhouse (sound on).

Kayaking in Howe Sound and Squamish Harbour

Squamish is a fantastic place to go paddling, too. Howe Sound is surrounded by a network of incredible fjords, so you can kayak for a few hours around Squamish Harbour or make it a multi-day excursion. 

Don’t have a kayak or stand-up paddleboard?

No problem. You can rent equipment at Squamish Watersports in downtown Squamish. It offers sit-in and sit-on kayaks, touring sea kayaks, double kayaks and expedition sea kayaks. 

You can also join a guided kayak tour around Squamish Harbour and Estuary. 

Above is the Squamish Estuary at the tip of Howe Sound.

Scenic Flightseeing tour

Hop aboard a small plane in Squamish to get a birds eye view of Howe Sound and the spectacular Coast Mountain Range in the Pacific Northwest.

This 50-minute flightseeing tour travels north to Whistler, passing over Garibaldi Provincial Park, endless coastal forest, snow-capped peaks and the iconic Black Tusk Mountain. 

Can you spot the flightseeing plane in the above photo?

Read more about Whistler Backcountry Flightseeing Tour here. 

Visit a Brewery – BC Ale Trail

We try to visit a local craft brewery (or two) when we visit new places. Squamish has joined the BC Ale Trail with a few new brewery additions in recent years.

If you like beer, we recommend you add one or two of these Squamish breweries to your itinerary.

List of breweries in Squamish:

• Howe Sound Brewery – the original local brewery dating back to 1996. Voted ‘Brewery of the Year’ at the Canadian Brewing Awards 2022.
• Backcountry Brewing – serving up delicious pizza while you sample a flight. 
• A-FRAME Brewing – rustic tasting room with a Pacific Northwest cabin vibe.
• Cliffside Cider – enjoy traditional cider with views of the Stawamus Chief.

Tasty handcrafted pizza at Backcountry Brewing. 

Britannia Mine Museum

Located 15 minutes south of downtown Squamish, Britannia Mine Museum is both a National Historic Site and British Columbia Historic Landmark. It has a fascinating history that dates back to 1904, when it was the largest copper mine in the British Empire.

There are over 210 km’s of mining tunnels in the mountains surrounding Britannia Beach. Think about that for a moment. It was once one the British Empire’s largest copper mines.

Britannia Mine Museum offers an underground tour, where guests board an old mine train that travels through the mine, just like miners back in 1914.

You only need a couple hours for this Squamish tourist attraction. You can visit as a day trip from Vancouver or make a stop on your drive from Whistler to Vancouver (or vice versa). 

Inside the old mining tunnel at Britannia Mine Museum. 

Railway Museum of British Columbia 

The Railway Museum of British Columbia (formerly the West Coast Railway Heritage Park), has a collection of 95 heritage railway locomotives and cars.

See the exhibits and main attractions here. 

Guests can hop aboard a mini-rail train and ride around the park grounds. The 20 minute ride travels 2 kilometers of track and takes riders from one end of the grounds to the other. For more info, visit to the museum website here. 

In the winter, the Railway Museum may host the legendary Polar Express. Our boys enjoyed the experience many years ago. Read about it here.

Explore Downtown Squamish

While there’s an abundance of outdoor adventures in Squamish, exploring the downtown area should also be on your list of things to do in Squamish. The downtown area is only 5 minutes from the main intersection on the Sea to Sky Highway. 

The main street in downtown Squamish is Cleveland Avenue. Here you will find coffee shops, boutique retail stores, native art stores, restaurants, the Squamish Public Library, Junction Park & O’Siyam Pavilion and Howe Sound Brewery.

Related post – Top attractions along the Sea to Sky Highway

The iconic Stawamus Chief towers over downtown Squamish restaurants and shops.

Colourful rainbow street crossing in downtown Squamish. The small city is surrounded by mountains. 

Squamish Farmers Market

The Squamish Farmers Market is a popular attraction with over 60 vendors selling a variety of local produce, cheese and artisan goods.

It’s open on Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

More info about vendors and market map here.

Where to Eat in Squamish

There are several restaurants in Squamish, so you have plenty of options to choose from.

The most popular Squamish restaurants : The Salted Vine, The Copper Coil, Fox & Oak, Zephyr Cafe, Fergies Cafe and Howe Sound Brew Pub.

You will also find most fast food restaurants here. Most are located along the Sea to Sky Highway for easy access. If you’re looking for a quick bite, there are drive through windows at the McDonalds, Tim Hortons (there are two), Wendy’s, Starbucks and A&W.

Squamish also has a White Spot and Boston Pizza, if you’re looking for a familiar family restaurant.

Photo above – Breakfast at White Spot after visiting the Sea to Sky Gondola.

White Spot a popular family restaurant chain in British Columbia. We dine here often with our boys because the menu has something for everyone and the food is good. 

‘2 Chill Gelato’ is a fun ice cream shop in downtown Squamish. 

Delicious Indian food at Indian Masala Bar & Grill, located near the Walmart in the new development off the Sea to Sky Highway. 

Enjoying lunch outdoors at The Copper Coil. The mighty Stawamus Chief in the backdrop.

I recently discovered Sunny Chibas. It’s located directly on the Sea to Sky Highway, at the south end of downtown Squamish.

It’s a funky quick service restaurant that’s known for its Twice cooked pork belly burritos, black sesame habanero fried chicken and chiba fries. 

Where to Stay in Squamish

During our last overnight in Squamish, we stayed at the Sandman Hotel.

It’s located just off the Sea to Sky Highway, near the Walmart. We enjoyed our time at this hotel. Our room had two double beds plus a pull-out couch, which is ideal for our family of four. 

Check Sandman Hotel room rates and availability here.

Other popular Squamish hotels are Mountain Retreat Hotel and Executive Suites Hotel & Resort.

There are also plenty of Squamish vacation rentals to choose from, including rustic cabins and high-end condos. Check VRBO for availability. 

Read more blog posts about travel in British Columbia:

• Best Road Trip from Vancouver for first time visitors
• Top attractions along the Sea to Sky Highway
• 20 Awesome Things to do in Victoria
• Best Things to do in Whistler this Summer
• Things to do at Harrison Hot Springs with kids
• Is it worth visiting the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish?

Have you visited the Squamish? If not, do you plan to visit in the future?

Leave us a comment below if you have any questions about things to do in Squamish.

15 Things to do in Squamish this Summer is a post from: Traveling Canucks

Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay National Park?

When planning your Alaska Cruise itinerary, you will likely need to make a decision between visiting the Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay National Park. After visiting both of these impressive natural treasures, we have some thoughts that we’d like to share. 

First of all, it must be noted that you can’t go wrong with either. Both are remarkable and will surely leave a lasting impression. And, both are part of the same UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Secondly, if you are loyal to a particular cruise line, you might not have the option to choose. Depending on your departure time and departure city (ie. Seattle or Vancouver), the available cruise itineraries with your favourite cruise line might be limited to one or the other. 

We visited the Hubbard Glacier while on the Celebrity Eclipse (read about that cruise here).

And we visited Glacier Bay National Park while on Holland America Line’s Koningsdam ship (more on that Alaska cruise experience here).

Note – you may find select Alaska cruises that visit BOTH. This is called the ‘Double Glacier” itinerary. 

Both of our Alaska cruise experiences happened in mid-August, with Vancouver as the departure city. This is an ideal time to take an Alaska cruise because the weather is typically good. We had smooth sailing and lots of sunshine on both cruises. 

Read more Alaska blog posts here.

Hubbard Glacier

The Hubbard Glacier is famous for being North America’s largest tidewater glacier. As you can see in these photos, it’s awe-inspiring! The sightseeing boat in the above photo puts the scale of the glacier into perspective.

It’s over 120 kilometers long (75 miles), 11 km wide (7 miles) and it flows directly into Disenchantment Bay, which feeds into the North Pacific Ocean. While the vast majority of the world’s glaciers are retreating, Hubbard Glacier is currently advancing. 

The glacier originates in Canada’s Yukon Territory and flows through Alaska’s Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, before reaching the ocean.

The height of Hubbard Glacier is said to be 600 feet at its terminal face (350 feet exposed above the waterline and 250 feet below the waterline – source). For perspective, that is higher than the Washington Monument in Washington DC!

Because of its height, this glacier is known for its calving. This is happens when the ice breaks off the glacier and splashes into the water. It’s an incredible experience to see the glacier calving. And it’s very loud! It’s a thunderous sound that echoes across the bay.

Visiting Hubbard Glacier on a cruise ship is a “one stop” experience. Once the ship arrives at the glacier, it will slowly spin 360 degrees for a couple hours. This allows every stateroom balcony and observation deck to get a panoramic view of the glacier.

We had plenty of time to view the glacier from observation decks as well as our stateroom balcony. 

Risks of visiting Hubbard Glacier

Hubbard Glacier is prone to ‘ice choking’. If there is too much floating ice in Yakutat Bay and Disenchantment Bay, captains may deem it unsafe to approach, forcing the ship to view it from a great distance or skip it entirely.

The risk of being unable to visit the glacier is highest in the early season (May and early June) and the late season (September).

Because Hubbard is an advancing glacier, it calves frequently. The large icebergs from the calving can sometimes rise from below the waterline unexpectedly, which presents a risk. Consequently, cruise ships must maintain a safe distance, sometimes preventing the up-close experience that passengers expect.

Visibility is another risk. Alaska’s weather is predictably unpredictable. Rain and dense fog may impact your ability to see the glacier. And, it some cases, may prevent ships from entering the bay. 

While Glacier Bay National Park offers views of multiple glaciers (making it highly likely you will see at least one), Hubbard is a single massive glacier. If weather or ice prevents access to this one spot, there are often no “backup” glaciers on that specific part of the Alaska cruise itinerary.

Watch our Alaska Cruise video about the Celebrity Eclipse here.  

The cruise ship spins around so that every guest has an unobstructed view of the glacier. No need to crowd in one spot to get “the shot”. 

We witnessed multiple ice calving events during out time at the glacier. It’s an incredible experience.

Glacier Bay National Park

Glacier Bay isn’t just one glacier; it’s home to several glaciers spread over hundreds of kilometers of stunning landscapes. 

Most Alaska cruises will spend about 8 to 10 hours navigating the fjords and inlets. The park has several tidewater glaciers, including Margerie Glacier (pictured above), Lamplugh Glacier, Reid Glacier and Johns Hopkins Glacier (picture below). 

Cruise ships will enter Glacier Bay via Icy Strait and sail north through the fjord before turning around and backtracking to the entry point. Ships do NOT dock in Glacier Bay.  

This stunning Alaska region is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage under Kluane/Wrangell-St. Elias/Glacier Bay/Tatshenshini-Alsek.

National Park Rangers will board your cruise ship during your time cruising through Glacier Bay National Park. Live narration is delivered over the ship’s PA system, so you’ll enjoy some commentary as you soak up the incredible scenery. 

There’s a very good chance that you will see lots of wildlife, including whales, porpoises, sea otters, harbor seals, bears and eagles. This is a protected ecosystem, so wildlife is abundant. We spotted hundreds of sea otters on the return trip from Margerie Glacier. 

Related post – Visiting Skagway on an Alaska Cruise

Limitations for Glacier Bay National Park

For the 2026 Alaska cruise season, only two cruise ships are allowed into Glacier Bay National Park per day. Most of these slots are reserved for ‘historical operators’.

The cruise lines with the most frequent access and permits for 2026 are Holland America Line (HAL), Princess Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). 

Holland America Line holds more Glacier Bay permits than any other cruise line. Princess Cruises shares the historical operator status with Holland America, together receiving roughly half of the total summer use days.

Cruises that visit both Hubbard and Glacier Bay

If you want to experience both without choosing, several lines offer ‘double glacier’ routes in 2026. 

Many of these itineraries are one way. Northbound itineraries typically depart from Vancouver or Seattle and conclude in Whittier, Alaska (closest cruise ship port to Anchorage, Alaska). Southbound itineraries depart from Whittier and conclude in Vancouver or Seattle.

Some longer itineraries (10-14 days) include both Hubbard and Glacier Bay, but these are less frequent and may not have availability during your desired departure dates.

Cunard Line has fewer total permits than Holland America and Princess, but it offers multiple sailings that feature both Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier. However, 2026 is expected to be Cunard’s final season in Alaska. 

We sailed with Holland America on it’s beautiful Koningsdam ship.

We did the 7-Day Alaska Inside Passage cruise. It departs from Vancouver, sails up the Inside Passage, stops in Juneau and Skagway before sailing through Glacier Bay. It then stops in Ketchikan before returning back to Vancouver via the Inside Passage.

Learn more about this Alaska cruise itinerary here. 

Which is better – Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay?

Back to the original question for this blog post – what Alaska cruise is better?

The answer, however, is not that simple. There are several factors to consider, including preferred cruise line, itinerary, departure dates, etc.

We enjoyed visiting both and lucked out with clear skies and calm water on both cruises.

The size of Hubbard Glacier is mind-blowing. It’s such a magnificent glacier. Witnessing the thunderous ice calving is an unforgettable experience. If you want to see the biggest and most impressive glacier in Alaska, this is the one.

However, the totality of the Glacier Bay National Park experience might give it a slight edge. In our opinion, based on our personal experience.

Margerie Glacier is remarkable and, in some way, comparable to Hubbard (but on a smaller scale). Witnessing several glaciers in one day is an amazing experience. And the scenery in Glacier Bay is spectacular.

Another thing to note is that Glacier Bay is generally more reliable (visibility and ice conditions) and ships can get closer to Margerie Glacier than Hubbard Glacier.

Related posts about Alaska cruise ship travel

• Food and Dining on Holland America Line’s Koningsdam cruise ship
• Take a peak inside the Koningsdam Alaska Cruise ship
• Visiting Skagway on an Alaska Cruise
• Watch our video about the Celebrity Eclipse here.  
• Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska – is it worth visiting?

Are you considering an Alaska Cruise?

Leave us a comment below if you have questions about Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay National Park.

Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay – What Alaska Cruise is Better? is a post from: Traveling Canucks

Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska

The Mendenhall Glacier is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Juneau, Alaska. Approximately 700,000+ people visit this glacier and recreation area each year, with daily visits reaching as high as 25,000 people during the busy cruise season in the summer.

Unlike many other glaciers in Alaska that require flights or long boat trips to access, you can reach the Mendenhall Glacier via an easy 30 minute drive from the cruise port in downtown Juneau. 

Given it’s popularity and easy accessibility, the big question is whether this Alaska cruise ship excursion is worth it. 

The short answer is that it depends on your interests and how much time you have in Juneau. 

The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center is a good option if you’re looking for an easy, low stress activity. The shuttles pick up cruise ship passengers within steps of the port. The drive is relatively short, and it also provides a brief tour of Juneau. 

However, if you’re looking for a more adventurous activity during your time in Juneau, there are better options. 

Nugget Falls near Mendenhall Glacier

Nugget Falls is an impressive cascading waterfall located in the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. It’s said to be 377 feet tall (115 m) and one of the most visited waterfalls in Alaska.

Getting to the waterfalls is straightforward. The Nugget Falls Trail is a 3.2 km (2 mile) round-trip hike (out-and-back) that leads to the base of the waterfall. The trail is considered easy and takes approximately 40 minutes to an hour to complete, depending on your pace.

For families, this is one of the more manageable walks in the area.

Most of the trail is paved, with a few gravel and stone sections. It has low elevation gain, so it’s not a strenuous hike.

That said, Nugget Falls trail is also one of the busiest.

During peak cruise ship hours in the summer, the trail can feel more like a steady procession than a hike, with people stopping frequently for photos.

Watch this short video of Nugget Falls and the trail. It gives you a sense of what you may experience during a visit to Mendenhall Glacier in Tongass National Forest.

Up close, Nugget Falls is loud and misty, especially after rainfall or during snowmelt.

There’s no formal viewing platform at the base, but people tend to gather on the rocks near the lake’s edge. It’s scenic, but not secluded. 

Overall, Nugget Falls is worth the walk if you’re already at Mendenhall Glacier.

It’s a impressive and powerful waterfall that doesn’t require much time or effort. Just don’t expect it to feel remote or secluded.

Like much of the area, it’s popular, well-trafficked, and very much part of a curated glacier visit.

Watch this short video of Nugget Falls on our Instagram feed.

One interesting thing about Nugget Falls is how it highlights the glacier’s retreat. The creek that feeds the waterfall is glacier-fed. Older photos show the ice much closer to where the water now runs freely.

Standing there, it’s easy to imagine how different this landscape looked only a few decades ago. It’s a sobering reality of the state of the environment. 

Instead of returning to the visitor center on the main path, we decided to walk along the lake. The trail, if you want to call it that, is along a rocky beach.

We found this to be a more enjoyable option because it had few people and feels more like you’re in nature.

Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center

The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center provides an excellent vantage point to view Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls. It has several exhibits that explain the glacier’s history, including older photographs and video that shows how the glacier has retreated over time.

It’s an eye opening experience to see just how much the glacier has retreated in the past century. The glacier is still impressive, but it’s clearly a shadow of what it once was.

There is a $5 USD entrance fee for visitors aged 16+ during the summer season (May 1 to September 30) to access the visitor center building and surrounding trails.

The visitor center gets VERY busy at peak times. During our visit, it was shoulder-to-shoulder busy. I found it way too crowded to enjoy the experience.

It might not be that busy during your visit, but prepare yourself for crowds, just in case. 

Wide paved path in front of the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center allows visitors to easily explore the area.

Above – View from Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.

On a clear day, you can see Nugget Falls in the foreground with the glacier rising behind it. We lucked out with weather that day, as you can see in the photos.

It’s often gray, overcast and/or raining in Juneau, so you might not get a good view of the waterfall from the visitor center. 

Holland America Excursions for Mendenhall Glacier

You can book shore excursions through the Holland America website or onboard the Koningsdam. The main Juneau excursions are:

• Mendenhall Glacier Explorer: This is the most straightforward option. It’s offers round-trip transportation and an approximately two-hours to explore the glacier area. 
• Mendenhall Glacier & Whale Quest: Combine two iconic Alaskan experiences in one full day. This tour includes time at the Mendenhall Glacier, plus a separate boat tour in Stephens Passage, a renowned feeding ground for humpback whales. 
• Mendenhall Glacier Native Canoe Adventure: For a more active and intimate experience, this small-group tour involves paddling a stable, traditional Tlingit-style canoe across Mendenhall Lake to get close to the glacier face and Nugget Falls.
• Mendenhall Glacier & Glacier Gardens: This option pairs the glacier visit with a trip to the unique Glacier Gardens, where upside-down trees covered in flowers create a unique display.
• Dog Sledding & Glacier Adventure by Helicopter: This tour combines a scenic helicopter flight over the Juneau Icefield with a landing on a glacier to visit an authentic dog sledding camp.
• Taku Lodge, Feast & Five Glacier Seaplane Discovery: Classic de Havilland seaplane flight over five glaciers is followed by an Alaskan feast at the historic Taku Lodge.
• Whale Watching & Wildlife Quest: Waterjet-powered catamaran to Stephens Passage in search of humpback whales, killer whales, sea lions, and bald eagles.

For longer shore excursions, make sure you have enough time in port. If you book an excursion through a third party tour operator (not your cruise ship), you run the risk of not making it back to the ship in time. An option to book through a third party tour operator would be Viator.

Related post – Visiting Skagway on an Alaska Cruise

Related posts about cruise ship travel

• Food and Dining on Holland America Line’s Koningsdam cruise ship
• Thinking about a European River Cruise? Here’s what you need to know. 
• 15 Reasons you should visit Portugal’s River of Gold
• Watch our video about the Celebrity Eclipse here. 
• The Magnificent Hubbard Glacier in Alaska

Do you have questions about an Alaska Cruise?

Leave us a comment below. We’ll do our best to answer your questions.

Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, Alaska – is it worth visiting? is a post from: Traveling Canucks

My Return to the Camino de Santiago

The Camino is calling me back! After completing a section of the Camino Frances last April (I started in Leon), I will return to the Camino to complete the Portugués Litoral route.

My plan is to start in Porto, Portugal, and walk 13 days along the coast to Santiago de Compostela.

When I returned home after completing my Camino last year, I felt like the journey was unfinished. In fact, it felt more like a whole new journey had just begun.

I can see myself returning to the Camino de Santiago again and again, to walk its many different routes. But let’s not get ahead of things. First, I must complete the next task at hand.

Related post: Thoughts after walking the Camino de Santiago 

Why am I returning to the Camino?

I’ve been asked this question a lot since announcing that I will return to the Camino de Santiago.

There are many reasons why I want to walk the Camino again. However, I think the main reason is because I really enjoy the solo adventure and freedom that the Camino provides.

In this blog post, I wrote about why I chose to walk the Camino in the first place. Many of those reasons are still valid. 

I find myself missing the yellow arrows, the sore feet and tired legs, the singing birds in the morning, the church bells, the simple conversations with strangers, and the peaceful time on the trail.

Walking the Camino introduced me to a whole new way to travel. It’s changed my perspective about what I want from my future travel experiences.  

Related post: Beginner’s Guide to the Camino de Santiago

Camino Portugués Litoral Route

Did you know that there are several different Camino routes? I’ve read there are upwards of 250+ officially recognized Camino routes.

The most popular is the Camino Frances (The French Way). This route starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France (learn more here). This is the route that I did last year (read about that here).

The second most popular route is the Camino Portugués (The Portuguese Way). This route begins in Lisbon and travels north to Porto, which is where I will start my Camino. 

I’m excited to return to Porto. It’s one of my favourite cities in Europe. Read this blog post that shares photos of Porto, Portugal.

From Porto, there are 3 different routes: Central Route (The Traditional Way), Coastal Route, and Senda Litoral (Literal Coastal Path), with an optional Spiritual Variant (Variante Espiritual). 

Many pilgrims choose to start the Porto section on the Coastal Route before walking inland to the Central Route. There are multiple paths that connect these two main routes.

My plan is to walk up the Atlantic coast on the Litoral route from Porto to Baiona. I will then walk inland to connect with the Central route at Redondela. 

Follow my Camino in real time on Facebook and Instagram.

What will I do differently this time?

Let me start by saying that there is no right or wrong way to do the Camino. That’s one of the things that makes it so attractive. 

However, there are a few things that I plan to do differently on this return to the Camino.

Different route, different country

The most obvious difference is the route that I am taking. Instead of starting in Leon, Spain, I’m starting in Porto, Portugal. 

The distance is similar (approx. 300km). But the landscapes will be very different.

And the timeline fits well with a 2 week(ish) vacation time frame.

Stay at albergues in shared dorm rooms 

I stayed at a few albergues on my last trip, but in private rooms. I’m a light sleeper and I don’t like the idea of sharing a room with strangers, for a variety of reasons. 

This time, I plan to shake things up and sleep in the shared dorm rooms. I’m not sure how it will go. I wake up easily and can get cranky when I’m tired. 

Many pilgrims I’ve spoken with often say that they love staying in the albergue dorm rooms. They say it’s an essential part of the Camino experience. I’m going to take their word and give it a try.

I will also mix in a few private hotel rooms, too. 

Book my accommodations

On my last Camino, I used a travel booking service to sort out my accommodations. I did a lot of research and it made me very indecisive about where to stay. So I asked for help.

It was the right decision for that trip. I’m glad I didn’t have to think about accommodations. It removed a distraction that was stressing me out.

However, after a few days on the trail, it became clear that I can easily find and book accommodations. 

This time, I will book my accommodations instead of using a service. I already have the first few days organized. Booking.com has many private albergues and budget hotels available, so I plan to book my accommodations one or two days in advance (or I might just wing it).

Create space for spontaneity 

Building on the point above, one of the downsides to having your entire route pre-planned with accommodations is that it removes spontaneity.

There were days when I wanted to keep going, but I had the hotel already booked. My itinerary was not flexible, which was not ideal.

This time, I only have the first few nights booked. After that, I will go with the flow. 

Carry everything in my backpack (no luggage transfer)

I took advantage of the luggage transfer on my last Camino. Each morning, I would leave my bag at the front desk when I left. Magically, it would be waiting for me when I arrived at the next destination.

It’s easy to do this luggage transfer when you know where your next hotel or albergue will be.

Because I want to create space for spontaneity, I need to have my belongings with me. Therefore, everything I bring will be carried on my back.

I plan to travel very light. See photos and video of my packing list here. 

Slow my pace. Enjoy the beach and coastal landscapes

Last time, I was heavily focused on my daily walking goals (distance and time). I got up early and walked with a good pace. It worked fine, but I often arrived at my next destination too early. 

This time, I want to slow down and take more breaks. It’s another reason why I chose to do the Portugués Litoral Route. The beaches and coastal landscapes look spectacular.

I plan to take my time and enjoy the views instead of walking really fast to my next hotel.  

Spend more time with strangers 

People walk the Camino for a variety of reasons. In many cases, it’s because they’re processing unwanted change; the loss of a loved one, a divorce or break-up, a career change or retirement, heath issues, etc.

On my last walk, I was processing a lot of change. I wanted time to be alone, to think and breathe. Because of this, I did not have many real connections with pilgrims. This was intentional. 

During this return to the Camino, I want to engage with my fellow pilgrims. I plan to open up and seek conversation, instead of spending most of my time alone (And, I’m also looking forward to the solitude!).

My general plan for the Portuguese Camino

I will spend my first night in Porto at the airport. It’s a long flight from Vancouver and I know I will be tired when I arrive. So I got a cheap hotel within steps of the airport.

The following morning, I will take the metro from the airport to the city centre. I will walk to Porto Cathedral, get my stamp, and start my Camino from there (less than 24 hours after arriving in Portugal).

Below is my general plan. This is based on walking about 20-25km per day. 

1. Downtown Porto to Labruge (Praia de Angeiras)
2. Labruge to Aguçadoura (Povoa de Varzim)
3. Aguçadoura to Marinhas (or Esposende)
4. Marinhas to Viana do Castelo
5. Viana do Castelo to Caminha (or A Guarda)
6. Caminha to Viladesuso (or Oia)
7. Viladesuso to Patos or Saiáns (Baiona or Vigo)
8. Arrive at Redondela
9. Redondela to Pontevedra
10. Pontevedra to A Armenteira (Spiritual Variant) or Caldas de Reis (Central Route)
11. Either Vilanova de Arousa (Spiritual Variant) or Padron (Central Route)
12. Arrive at Santiago de Compostela (Central Route) or somewhere after Padron (Spiritual Variant) 
13. Arrive at Santiago de Compostela (Spiritual Variant) 
14. Bus from Santiago de Compostela to Porto
15. Extra day in Port before returning home

I expect this general itinerary will change as I get deeper into the walk.

Follow my return to the Camino on Facebook and Instagram.

Read more blog posts about Camino de Santiago:

• Thoughts and reflections after walking the Camino Frances
• What to do in Santiago de Compostela after walking the Camino
• Beginners Guide and FAQ about the Camino 
• Why I started the Camino Frances in Leon, Spain
• Photos and video of my packing list for the Camino

Are you planning to walk the Camino de Santiago?

Leave a comment below if you have any questions.

My Return to the Camino: What I’m doing Different this time is a post from: Traveling Canucks

Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish

When I first learned about the plan to build the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish, I was skeptical. As residents of North Vancouver, we often drive the Sea to Sky Highway enroute to Whistler. 

Back then, I viewed Squamish as the half-way point to Whistler. Not a stand alone destination. I did not see the vision for this new outdoor attraction. 

At the time, Whistler had just built the Peak to Peak Gondola, connecting Whistler Mountain to Blackcomb Mountain. Whistler hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics a few years prior and it was still buzzing from the global event.

I questioned whether this new Squamish gondola could compete with Whistler. 

We first visited the Sea to Sky Gondola in May 2015 as a day trip from Vancouver. Our boys were 4 and 2 years old at the time. We returned a few years later during the winter holiday season, which is a completely different experience. 

On this most recent visit, we decided to spend the weekend in Squamish. It had been a while since we did an overnight trip to Squamish, so it felt like a good time to revisit.

Related – 22 Awesome Things to do Along the Sea to Sky Highway

Should you visit the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish?

Let’s revisit the title of this blog post. Should you visit the Sea to Sky Gondola?

The short answer is Yes. It’s a unique year-round attraction that caters to all travel styles. 

If you’re a resident of the Lower Mainland, you should absolutely visit the Sea to Sky Gondola. There are plenty of things to do, regardless of the season. I’m confident that you won’t be disappointed. Unless, of course, it pours rain and/or it’s crazy busy during your visit (both could happen, so be prepared to pivot). 

That said, if you’re a first time visitor to the Vancouver area, and you’re limited on time, I might give you a different answer. 

Ultimately, this question is about value for your time and money.

If you have to choose between the Squamish Gondola, Whistler Gondola or Grouse Mountain tram, I’d recommend the Whistler option because there are more things to do in Whistler. 

However, if you are limited on time and you are staying in Vancouver, than Grouse Mountain might be a better option. And, if you do not have a vehicle, you can take public transit to Grouse Mountain or join an organized tour.

That said, if you do have a vehicle and you have the time, we would recommend a day trip to Squamish and a visit to the Sea to Sky Gondola.

Watch – Take a virtual trip up the gondola in 30 seconds

Things to do at Sea to Sky Gondola

There’s much more to this popular Squamish tourist attraction then pretty mountain landscapes. Although, the pretty landscapes are certainly worth seeing for yourself. Over the years, the Sea to Sky Gondola has expanded it’s offerings and attractions.  

• Walk across the bouncy Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge (photo above)
• Panoramic views of Howe Sound from the Viewing Platforms (photo below)
• Take a hike. There are several trails from the summit lodge, from easy paths to backcountry alpine trails. Here’s the list of hiking trails.
• Patio dining with spectacular views at Sky Pilot Eatery. 
• Live music, concerts and holiday festivities. Search for calendar of events here.
• Snowshoeing, tubing and ski touring in the winter.
• Squamish Via Ferrata tours. More info here.

Watch – Amazing views from Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge

Beautiful landscapes from the Chief Overlook Viewing Platform. 

How long is the gondola ride sea to sky?

The gondola ride is approximately 10 minutes from our base to the summit.

How many people fit in Sea to Sky Gondola?

Each gondola cabin has a capacity of 8 passengers. If you’re lucky, you might get the cabin all to yourself.

On a busy weekend in the summer, guests are asked to fill each cabin. There are often long lines in the summer months, so don’t expect to have the gondola all to yourself.

The Sea to Sky Gondola is wheelchair and stroller friendly.

How high does the Sea to Sky Gondola take you?

The elevation gain is 885 meters.  This is 200 meters higher than the crest of the  Stawamus Chief. 

More details about the numbers here. 

This is the money shot from the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola.

To get a similar photo, walk across the suspension bridge and turn right. Follow the trail to the Sky Pilot Lookout.

Our boy walking across the dizzying Sky Pilot Suspension Bridge. Look at those mountain landscapes! 

Sea To Sky Gondola Map

Above is the Sea To Sky Gondola Trail Map (photo credit to Sea to Sky Gondola). As you can see, there is a lot to do once you reach the Sea to Sky Summit, including the suspension bridge, viewpoint platforms, and several walking and hiking trails. 

Wonderland Lake Loop is a popular beginner trail that takes about 30-45 minutes. It’s a nice nature trail through the coastal forest. It offers several viewpoints along the trail with great views of the Summit Lodge, Sky Pilot and Co-Pilot Mountains.

You can also hike up (or down) to the summit via the Sea to Summit trail.

Entrance to Panorama Trail. The prize at the end of this trail is the Chief Overlook Viewing Platform.

It takes between 30-60 minutes. This beginner trail is flat and well marked. It’s mostly gravel. 

Snowy peaks and coastal forest views from the Spirit Trail. This trail is considered easy and is family friendly. 

Best view of Squamish and Howe Sound from the viewing platform.

Watch short video here.

Brave guests completing the Via Ferrata course on the Sea to Sky Summit.

Stay on the trail! There are some cliff areas to mindful of. 

Top of the Stawamus Chief with views of Squamish in the distance.

Family picnic area with playground at the top of the gondola.

The kid’s play area has a slackline to practice your balance. 

If hiking is not your thing, pull up a chair at Summit Lodge and enjoy the patio with stunning mountain landscapes. This is arguably the best lunch spot in Squamish. 

Sea To Sky Gondola Restaurants: Where To Eat

• Sky Pilot Eatery – main restaurant (pictured above) with outdoor and indoor seating. 
• Edge Bar – serving craft beer from every local brewery in Squamish.
• Co-Pilot Cafe – located inside the Summit Lodge, serving fresh coffee, snacks and to-go items.
• Backyard Bites – located in the Backyard Plaza (see photo below), serving fancy poutine and quick bites.

Backyard Plaza at Sea to Sky Summit

Order your food at the red awning (photo above) and grab one of the picnic tables.

There’s a kid’s playground here, too, so you can let the little ones run wild while you enjoy lunch surrounded by coastal forest. 

If you’re lucky, you can eat your lunch inside a gondola with a table (see above). There’s only a few of these gondolas available, so if you happen to see one empty, grab it!

Outdoor seating area at Backyard Plaza. This is a nice place to enjoy a packed picnic lunch.

How to get to Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish

The Sea to Sky Gondola is located along the Sea to Sky Highway (Highway 99). It’s only 2 kilometers south of Squamish city centre. 

Address: 36800 Highway 99, Squamish, British Columbia

From Vancouver, it’s a 45 minute drive.

Is there parking at Sea To Sky Gondola?

Yes, there is a parking lot at the base of the gondola. To access the main parking lot, you will need to be driving north on the Sea to Sky Highway. The parking lot turnoff is just after Shannon Falls Provincial Park. 

If you’re driving from Whistler south to Squamish, you will need to drive past the Sea to Sky Gondola and turn around at the lights at Darrell Bay/Shannon Falls. You cannot take a left turn from the highway to the parking lot.

Parking is free. However, the parking lot fills up quickly, especially on weekends. Arrive early. 

Where to Stay in Squamish

During our trip to Squamish, we stated at the Sandman Hotel. It’s located off the Sea to Sky Highway, near the Walmart. It’s a fairly new property with good sized rooms. We had two double beds plus a pull-out couch, which is ideal for our family of four. 

Check Sandman Hotel room rates and availability here.

Other family friendly hotels in Squamish are Executive Suites Hotel & Resort and/or Mountain Retreat Hotel.

There are also several Squamish vacation rentals to choose from, including rustic cabins and high-end condos on the waterfront. Check VRBO for availability. 

Read more blog posts about travel in British Columbia:

• Top attractions along the Sea to Sky Highway
• 20 Awesome Things to do in Victoria
• Best Things to do in Whistler this Summer
• Things to do at Harrison Hot Springs with kids
• Best Road Trip from Vancouver for first time visitors

Have you visited the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish?

If not, do you plan to visit in the future? Leave us a comment if you have questions.

Is the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish worth visiting? is a post from: Traveling Canucks