Caminho
👣 CAMINHO INFO - the next step(s)
Caminha occupies a special place on the Caminho Português da Costa. Here, the River Minho meets the Atlantic Ocean, and pilgrims must decide which path to follow.
One route - the 🌊 Litoral route 🌊 - continues north along the Spanish coastline towards Vigo.
The other - the 🍀 Original Caminho da Costa 🍀 - follows the River Minho on the Portuguese shore towards Vila Nova de Cerveira, Valença and Tui. It joins the Central Caminho de Santiago in Valença. Whichever route is chosen, the spirit of the Camino remains the same: one step at a time.
One more coffee.
Then we'll pretend to have a plan.
Bom Caminho!
❓ Undecided which route to take - River or Coastline?
Valença/Tui or Baiona/Vigo?
This comparison can help you make an informed decision.
🍀 CAMINHO DA COSTA - Valença–Tui
🍀 The Original Caminho da Costa
As the Portuguese say: The Portuguese Caminho da Costa is the Coast and the River.
When you follow this well sign posted historic path, you stay another day or two on the Portuguese shore. From Caminha you cross Rio Coura over the bridge, walking along beautiful traditional Portuguese villages, rural settings and breathtaking views.
🍀 Ecovia or Traditional Caminho - Two Options
1,5km after Caminha you have 2 nice options - most of the way to Valença:
🍀 The Traditional Caminho
You simply FOLLOW THE CAMINHO SIGNS and yellow arrows. It's a beautiful walk through traditional Portuguese hillside with old granit houses, gardens, fields, chapels and a beautiful view upon the river valley. Various surfaces, partly shady.
🍀 The Ecovia
An alphalt bicycle- and footpath directly along the Rio Minho. For his path you look for TRAFFIC SIGNS pointing to the ECOVIA and RIO MINHO.
If you see Yellow Arrows and Caminho Signs here, they lead you back to the traditional caminho.
Between Caminha and Vila Nova de Cerveira the Ecovia it is 3km shorter than the traditional Caminho. After Vila Nova de Cerveira it is 2km longer.
🍀 VILA NOVA DE CERVEIRA 👣
12-15km. Elevation especially the second half of the way. Vila Nova de Cerveira is a pretty little town to take a break. You find Cafes, Restaurants, Supermarkets, Pharmacies etc.
We recommend these Albergues from the Heart:
🛌 Casa Gwendoline - Albergue & Guest house
www.casagwendoline.com
Tel. +351 966 116 762
1.5 km before Vila Nova de Cerveira
📍 View on Google Maps
🛌 Pilgrims Rest - Albergue & Guest house
🍀 S.PEDRO DE TORRE 👣
12km - No significant elevation
We recommend this Albergue from the Heart:
🛌 Alvorada Medieval - Albergue & Guest house
www.alvorada-medieval.com
Tel. +351 934 283 297
Rua das Cruzes 110
4930-506 São Pedro da Torre
📍 View on Google Maps
🍀 TUI and OS EIDOS 👣
10km from S. Pedro de Torre to Tui - 17km to Os Eidos
🛌 Ideas Peregrinas, Tui
www.ideas-peregrinas.com
Tel. +34 986 076 330
c/ Porta da Pía, 1
36700 Tui
📍 View on Google Maps
We recommend this Soul Albergue:
🛌 Casa Alternativo, Os Eidos
Tel. +34 622 900 377
Orbenlle, Os Eidos
Barrio Budiño 12A
O Porriño, Pontevedra
📍 View on Google Maps
Carry what you need.
Leave room
for what you'll find.
Bom Caminho!
🌊 LITORAL ROUTE
Crossing the River and staying along the Spanish Coast
If you are not staying along the Original Caminho da Costa along the Rio Minho, but opt for the LITORAL ROUTE along the Spanish Coast and VIGO, you need to cross the river in Caminha with a Taxi Boat. The historic vehicle FERRY between Caminha and A Guarda is NO LONGER OPERATING. Instead, passenger taxi boats provide the river crossing during the season, with departures depending on weather and tides.
🚤 Taxi Boats
There are two locations in Caminha where you can find boats, starting at 7h, or even earlier during the summer.
- Caminha harbor, near the Pingo Doce and Taxi Mar Cafe (500m)
- Near the beach (2km)
All boats go to the landing in Camposancos, opposite of Caminha harbor
It takes about 5min for the boat to cross the river.
Reserving a Taxi boat?
You can make a reservation online or show up without reservations in the morning. People with reservation have priority, however as usually more than one boat leave every 10 to 20 min with 8 to 10 pilgrims, it is unlikely that you have to wait long even without reservation.
(Please correct us if we are wrong - boat policies and prices are sometimes changing as quick as the tides)
🚤 Taxi boat operators at the HARBOR (500m)
3 Táxi boat POPEYE 🚤 +351 925 880 712
www.taxiboatperegrinoscaminha.pt
4 TAXI MAR Caminha 🚤 Taxi Boat +351 915 955 827
www.taximarcaminha.pt
5 XACOBEO TRANSFER 🚤 Taxi Boat (more expensive, yet same service)
+34 613 011 226
www.xacobeotransfer.com
There are now
more yellow arrows
pointing to
Taxi Boat Peregrinos #2
than to Santiago.
The Captain suspects
someone went out
with paint buckets
after dark.
Bom Caminho!
🚤 Taxi boat operators at the BEACH (2km)
1 Taxi Boat Capitão Mário 🚤 Taxi Boat +351 933 909 559 / +351 931 636 360
www.taxiboatcapitaomario.com/
2 Taxi Boat Peregrinos 🚤 Taxi Boat
+34 613 011 226
www.taxiboatperegrinos.com
On the Spanish side
... remember, when it is 7:00 in Portugal, it is 8:00 in Spain ...
You find 2 possible walking options:
Street or Coast?
The signposted Camino on the street and over the inland side of the hill
Or the flat and very beautiful bicycle- and footpath directly along the coast. (2-3km longer)
Main Steps on the Litoral Caminho are
🌊 A Guarda (5km)
🌊 Oia (20km)
🌊 Porto Mougas (26km)
🌊 Baiona (35km)
🌊 Vigo
Big city after 20km suburbs and industrial area. Some pilgrims opt for a bus at this point - depending on their pilgrims ethics ;-)
For more info on any of the specifics of this or the other routes, we highly recommend:
🤖 PILGRIMS APPS
⛪ Church Services
🎒 Backpack Transport
We DO NOT take responsibility for the backpack transport or the transported backpacks. Not before, during or after delivery.
However, it is generally possible for Backpack delivery companies to pick up or drop off backpacks at any time. There are different companies that you can contact. Please organize your backpack transport yourself
Backpack transport Companies
Top Santiago (+351) 969 021 000
Caminofacil (+34) 610 788 138
Tuitrans (+34) 638 55 52 53
and others
🐶 Dogs following Pilgrims 🐾
Please don't let dogs follow you. Many times they have a home. When they follow pilgrims they might not find back home and end up in the animal shelter. Contact the local police to find their owner.
🪲 Bed Bug Info
... not to be mentioned ever 😱 the Lord Voldemort of the Caminho... Bed Bugs.
For a few years now, Bed Bugs have been an unwelcome reality to the Albergues on the Caminho Portugues. A pilgrim can bring in a bed bug once in a while. The bug(s) then might hide in that specific bed, if the ambient is to their liking.
Here is what we have learnt:
🤓 Watch this funny and informative Bed Bug Video
Bed bugs are not invited.
Unfortunately,
they don't always
wait for an invitation.
Bom Caminho!
🪖 Prevention
This is what we do:
To provide a good and safe night’s sleep for our pilgrims, we check and steam clean the beds every week. After steam cleaning we apply diatomaceous earth powder (food quality), which is non-toxic to people, but deadly to the bugs.
We also use protective mattress and pillow covers.
Another good product is non-toxic Anti Bed Bug Spray (and we don’t get paid for telling you about it, but it is a nice non-toxic quick-fix) Silberkraft Anti Bug Spray
Bed sheets, duvet covers and pillow covers are washed daily, of course.
☝️Please know that Bed bugs cannot climb the metal posts of our beds. They can only move into the bed with you or via your backpack. So, don’t put or lean the backpack on the bed, please. Store your backpack in the locker instead.
And... Not all itchy spots are from bed bugs! ;-)
🚨 You got'em'?
TELL YOUR HOST IMMEDIATELY!!!
This gives them a chance to clean the bed properly and keep the next pilgrim happy and safe.
Itchy bug blotches can develop up to 10 days after being bitten. If you get them, TELL also PREVIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS to check for bed bugs!
What to do
Wash EVERYTHING 60°C and/or tumble dry on the hottest setting.
If hot & sunny weather: Leave shoes & backpack in a black garbage bag in the hot sun as long as possible.
Repeat before coming home, to be sure. 🙂
Got more questions, suggestions or corrections:
Contact us on Whatsapp (+351) 963 528 441 🙂
The Camino has a curious habit
of replacing expectations
with stories.
Bom Caminho!