Camino Portuguese Coastal Day 4: Vila Praia de Âncora - A Guarda
We started later today since we weren’t walking a long distance. For a while, we followed the train tracks, which weren’t on the official Camino route, but we reconnected as soon as we could cross safely. The weather wasn’t great, but I was excited for the boat ride from Portugal to Spain. We booked it online, though we saw many options in Caminha. I also heard some boats operate illegally without proper insurance.
With time to kill before departure, we explored a local second-hand market nearby. The boat ride itself was short—only 6-8 minutes—but fun and a bit bumpy due to the waves. Sujin told me it was her first time on a boat, and it happened during the Camino!
On the Spanish side, we had two route options to A Guarda: a shorter inland path or a longer coastal one. Since we were here for ocean views, we chose the coast. Heavy rain hit as we neared A Guarda, soaking our shoes. We arrived before check-in, so we enjoyed an amazing seafood lunch while waiting. The albergue owner recommended we take the "blue" route tomorrow instead of the official path, as it’s more scenic and it’ll reconnect with the official route further in.
Route Detail
Distance: 17.1km from Villa Ribeiro to Albergue O Peirao
Total elevation gain: 63m
Time: 3h 07m (total time with breaks 4h 30m)
Transportation
Xacobeo Transfer Ferry & Taxi Portugal - Spain €6
Accommodation & Food
Albergue O Peirao (Reserved via Agoda) €18
Food €26.95
