Alya

The pretty half of Stingy Nomads, responsible for all our land adventures (hiking, climbing, walking the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves walking since she was a child, she prefers to walk 1000 km with a backpack rather than to do a 10 000 km road trip (actually any road trip). Alya is a big fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Every time we go away she desperately misses our dog Chile.

The church of São Pedro de Rates, Portugal

Vila do Conde to Rates; the River vs Aqueduct route

The walking stage from Vila do Conde to Rates connects the Litoral/Coastal routes with the Central Route of the Portuguese Camino from Porto. It’s one of the two connecting routes …

A view of Ponte de Lima from the old bridge

The Central Route of the Portuguese Camino – a 2026 guide

The Central Route is the most popular route of the Portuguese Camino from Porto. The Camino starts at Se Cathedral in the historical center of Porto and finishes in Santiago …

The Fishermen’s Trail walking itinerary 2026, GPX & PDF

The Fishermen’s Trail in the Algarve region is a part of the Rota Vicentina hiking routes. The trail follows the coastline and offers breathtaking scenery; rugged cliffs, pristine beaches, and …

Zambujeira do Mar, a stop on the coastal trail of the Rota Vicentina

Rota Vicentina, Portugal – a 2026 guide

The Rota Vicentina is a network of hiking trails in the Alentejo and Algarve provinces in Southern Portugal. The network includes two long-distance routes the Fisherman’s Trail and the Historical …

The old town of Vila Nova de Cerveira in Portugal

The Caminha to Valença walk (Coastal to Central Route)

The walking route from Caminha to Valença offers a perfect opportunity to combine the Coastal and the Central Route of the Camino de Santiago from Porto. You get to walk …

Best Backpacks for the Camino de Santiago in 2026

A good backpack that fits well and a comfortable pair of shoes are the two most important pieces of gear on your Camino de Santiago packing list. Test and buy …

The beautiful church of Matriz da Azambuja, Portugal

Vila Franca de Xira to Azambuja stage, Portuguese Camino

The stage felt very long though it was only 20 km/12.4 mi. I waited all the time for the route to finally turn away from the railways and industrial areas …

The front facade and the main entrance to the Cathedral in Porto

Where to start the Portuguese Camino – Lisbon, Porto, or Tui?

The Portuguese Camino has 3 “official” starting points: Lisbon, Porto, and Tui. Lisbon is the official starting point of the Portuguese Camino. Porto is the most popular starting point of …

The convention center and cable car, Parque das Nações, Lisbon

The Lisbon to Vila Franca de Xira stage, Portuguese Camino

The Portuguese Camino is a spectacular pilgrimage route that crosses two countries; Portugal and Spain. Most pilgrims who walk it begin in Porto but the true start of the Camino …