I completed Vigo to Santiago, via the Variente at the end of my Coastal Portuguese in October...it's a nice route, a good alternative in my opinion to the Sarria-Santiago stretch. I have some friends coming to Spain in May and they want to step into the Camino world...but lightly so I chose this route, they mostly want private rooms so it was no problem to arrange it for them and they want luggage transfer. I chose the following itinerary, 7 days. Vigo-Redondela, usual city walk to begin but some nice woodsy areas too, Redondela to Pontevedra, slightly more difficult than day one with a few steep climbs, places to stop for breaks, and take the river route towards the end...Pontevedra to Combarro, this is a very short stage, not too challenging and I want my friends to come back so I made 1 stage into 2 , plus Combarro is worth a longer stay, sleep in, get there in time for lunch and enjoy some time in the seaside village...tomorrow you climb! Combarro to Ribadumia, so this puts you sort of in-between stages, it starts our like a bear, straight uphill for a couple of hours, but a lovely end to the days walk through the route of stones and water, one of the prettiest peaceful stretches on any camino...Ribadumia to Vilanova de Arousa, another easy walk, take time to book your boat crossing a day or so ahead..if you like mussels your in the right place, Vilanova de Arousa to O'Sisto, day starts with a boat ride up the river to just outside Padrón, , you could stay here, or go all the way to Santiago, a lot depends on your boat time and that depends on the tide....could be 6:00 am or early afternoon...I chose to walk halfway to Santiago and found an amazing albergue...and will do the same with my friends in May...last day to Santiago, a few hours and you're there....Buen Camino..
