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Day 2 | 3 July 2026 | Walking the Portuguese Camino
From Póvoa de Santa Iria to Vila Franca de Xira | 17.2 km – 10.7 miles
Having spent the first of our two nights in Vila Franca de Xira, we were up early to catch the 05:13 train back to Póvoa de Santa Iria and rejoin the Camino where we had left it the previous day. An information display on the train showed the outside temperature was already 28°C – which was mad! It was forecast to reach 38°C later that afternoon, but fortunately this was one of the shorter stages.
For the first hour we walked by the light of our head torches. As we made our way along the boardwalk, the sky slowly brightened and we were treated to a stunning sunrise. We stopped for a while. There was complete silence and we were alone. As the sun climbed above the horizon, storks glided gracefully overhead on their way to feed in the estuary. It was one of those simple, unforgettable moments that reminded me why I walk the Camino.
Later that afternoon, along with all the other registered pilgrims, I received a text message from Portugal’s National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC), warning of the dangerously high temperatures expected over the coming days and advising everyone to take precautions.
We were already in a heatwave and it was going to get hotter.
Vila Franca de Xira was a delightful town, and that evening it was buzzing with excitement. The bars and restaurants were packed with locals and visitors celebrating the annual Running of the Bulls festival called the Festa do Colete Encarnado. After enjoying an excellent dinner, we wandered around the streets and watched the bulls running for a while before calling it a night. It had been a long day.
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