Portuguese coastal Porto to Baiona in 9 days

[Former member 91787]

A short first adventure from 18 May 2020 to 26 May 2020. Really only 8 day walk. I am travelling solo but booked with Raw travel who will transfer luggage and supply accommodation. Day 6 is only 9.5km from vila praia de ancora to caminha. What to do in either place? Where to spend more time or any side trip suggestions much appreciated

 

[John Sikora]

I didn't stay in Vila Praia de Ancor but did stay in Caminha. There isn't a lot to do but the Casa de Santa Tegra (taxi trip) is a nice side trip if the weather is good. Also, the central town square of Caminha is very pleasant with some nice churches in walking distance. If you just like to browse shops and watch the people, it's a pretty good place to exercise that pleasure. If you want to treat yourself a bit have a meal at the Wine Hotel as well. I'm also assuming that you know about he ferry not running on Mondays (you take a powered row boat "aka a water taxi") instead. Buen Camino

 

[Former member 91787]

I didn't stay in Vila Praia de Ancor but did stay in Caminha. There isn't a lot to do but the Casa de Santa Tegra (taxi trip) is a nice side trip if the weather is good. Also, the central town square of Caminha is very pleasant with some nice churches in walking distance. If you just like to browse shops and watch the people, it's a pretty good place to exercise that pleasure. If you want to treat yourself a bit have a meal at the Wine Hotel as well. I'm also assuming that you know about he ferry not running on Mondays (you take a powered row boat "aka a water taxi") instead. Buen Camino

Thanks. No I didn't know. I am just starting all the research on individual places. Probably back to front since I have already booked. So I am reading as much as I can in these forums. It seems a bit of a wasted day on a short trip but I guess a tour company like Raw has to decide how long each walking day will be so that where my luggage drops and accommodation is set for. So ferry to where? I will be in de Ankora on a Friday then Camniha on a Saturday. I could skip Caminha all together and walk through to Oia. Not sure how that would go with my tour plans . Thanks for your reply

 

[John Sikora]

When you get to Caminha, you are on the border with Spain. The city across the bay is A Guarda. There is no easy way to walk there from Caminha. You have to take a ferry from Caminha across the river and then walk a bit into A Guarda. From A Guarda its about 9 miles to Oia. You also lose an hour by going from Portugal into Spain. I actually stayed in Caminha, then since it was Monday, I took the water taxi (5 Euros) across the river and then walked the 2 or 3 miles into A Guarda and stayed the night there. Next morning continued on to Oia. That ferry ride and the hour loss kind of screws up the day. A Guarda doesn't have a lot going for it but it's a good size city with all the services you want and some nice restaurants along the estuary by the ocean.

If it would help, I've put some videos up on youtube that show the day to day walking from Lisbon to Santiago.

Camino Portugues and Coastal to Santiago

I walked from Lisbon to Santiago using the Camino Portuguese taking the coastal route to Santiago. Much of the walk is on highways and backroads (as opposed ...

www.youtube.com

They aren't blogs but do show videos of most segments of the path. It's speeded up by a factor of 10. It should at least show you what type of terrain you're in for (if you take the coastal route).

 

[FLEUR]

There was a little chapel by the sea on the walk from Vila Praia De Ancora that's worth visiting. We arrived in Caminha on a very hot Sunday in May. It was busy, many people about, also sitting outside cafes.

 

[Former member 91787]

When you get to Caminha, you are on the border with Spain. The city across the bay is A Guarda. There is no easy way to walk there from Caminha. You have to take a ferry from Caminha across the river and then walk a bit into A Guarda. From A Guarda its about 9 miles to Oia. You also lose an hour by going from Portugal into Spain. I actually stayed in Caminha, then since it was Monday, I took the water taxi (5 Euros) across the river and then walked the 2 or 3 miles into A Guarda and stayed the night there. Next morning continued on to Oia. That ferry ride and the hour loss kind of screws up the day. A Guarda doesn't have a lot going for it but it's a good size city with all the services you want and some nice restaurants along the estuary by the ocean.

If it would help, I've put some videos up on youtube that show the day to day walking from Lisbon to Santiago.

Camino Portugues and Coastal to Santiago

I walked from Lisbon to Santiago using the Camino Portuguese taking the coastal route to Santiago. Much of the walk is on highways and backroads (as opposed ...

www.youtube.com

They aren't blogs but do show videos of most segments of the path. It's speeded up by a factor of 10. It should at least show you what type of terrain you're in for (if you take the coastal route).

Thank you so very much for this amazing help. My accommodation is in Caminha so this all sounds like a great plan to get to Caminha and leave Praia de Ancora earlier. And brunch in A Guarda. I will look at the youtube videos. it is all starting to make so much sense and i ma very glad that I have chosen part of the Camino as my first foray into a walking holiday rather than the Balkans which i considered.
The forums and advice are amazing. Thanks again for the time taken to reply

 

[Hennie]

Tecla in A Guarda