The Red Cross will reinforce assistance to pilgrims not Portuguese Coastal Road with a new edition of the project “Contigo no Camiño”, which will run between A Guarda and Baiona from September 14 to October 16.
The Portuguese Coastal Road continues to grow and, with it, also increases the need to support pilgrims.
At Cruz Vermelha I'm going to walk again a bit between To Guarda and Baiona, in the province of Pontevedra, with teams prepared to provide assistance, guidance and basic support to those who follow in the direction of Santiago de Compostela.
A new edition of the project “With you I don't walk” It begins on September 14 and continues on October 16.
Direct support on your own way
The objective of the device is very simple: to be where the pilgrims are.
The Red Cross equipment moves daily along different points of the route using electric bicycles, or that it allows you to quickly go to areas where a journey would be more difficult.
The bicycles are equipped with first aid equipment and semi-automatic defibrillators.
From now on, work is divided between light health care and practical information.
Lumps, muscle pain and small injuries
Many of the problems encountered on the way are not serious, but we can transform a simple stage into a real problem.
Bolhas.
Muscle pains.
Contusões.
Bug bites.
Little stays.
Situations that any pilgrim knows are that, when emerging from an urban center, they can become especially uncomfortable.
The presence of the equipment allows you to solve many of these problems during your own journey and advise the pilgrim on the following steps.
But first aid
The device is not limited to medical assistance.
The equipment also helps you with information about stages, accommodations, water sources, available services and tourist resources ao longo do Caminho.
This accompaniment becomes particularly useful for foreign pilgrims or for those who travel this variant for the first time.
On an increasingly international road, correct information can be as important as a link or a quick thought.
More than 600 pilgrims served in 2025
The experience of last year shows the importance of this type of support.
During the 2025 edition, Cruz Vermelha attends and accompanies 622 pilgrims I don't split between A Guarda and Baiona.
Foram made near 80 healthcare services, in addition to many other interventions related to information on travel, accommodation and services.
The most common problems are exactly those that appear every day on the road: lumps, muscle pain, bruises and insect bites.
A broken tree that continues to grow
The Portuguese Coastal Road has seen several variants with greater growth in recent years.
Entering Spain through A Guarda and the journey along the Galician coast offers an experience very different from other Jacobean routes.
Sea.
Small villages.
Atlantic landscapes.
Heritage.
It is a way to get to Santiago that increasingly attracts more Portuguese and international pilgrims.
This growth also forces us to strengthen services and security.
Security without removing freedom from the pilgrim
One of the great virtues of the project is that it does not alter the experience of the road.
The pilgrims continue to walk at their own pace.
There is no heavy or invasive structure.
The equipment is simply available when it is not needed.
It is a discreet support, but very useful.
This way of working fits perfectly with the Caminho's own philosophy.
Help without occupying the pilgrim's place.
A project that starts in 2021
“Contigo no Camiño” was born in Galiza in the summer of 2021.
During the first years, the device was especially linked to the French Way, where it provided assistance and information to thousands of pilgrims.
Over time, the initiative was expanded to other areas.
In 2025, take the Portuguese Coastal Road in the province of Pontevedra.
It now returns for a second edition.
Guarda e Baiona, a strategic piece
The route between A Guarda and Baiona is especially interesting within the coastal route.
It is an area where many pilgrims enter Galiza after crossing Portugal.
From now on a new phase of the journey begins.
For some, it is also the first contact with the Jacobean services and infrastructures in Spanish territory.
Therefore, having support and information during these first few kilometers can make a big difference.
A safer way
The growth of the Caminho de Santiago forces us to think not only about the numbers of pilgrims, but also about the quality of the experience.
Sinalization.
Information.
Security.
Assistance.
Water.
Accommodations.
Everything is part of the trip.
The work of the Red Cross on the Portuguese Coastal Road reinforces precisely that idea.
The pilgrimage continues to be a personal experience.
But walking alone does not mean being unprotected.
And, sometimes, finding something with a simple first aid kit or correct information may be enough to save a stage.
