Portuguese Camino and Costa Verde walking vacation

Planet

The trail follows sections of the inland pilgrim path, the Camino de Santiago, through verdant countryside and small villages. We then follow the River Minho to its mouth, mainly along a cycle and walking path through areas of natural beauty to reach the Atlantic Ocean in Caminha. From there, we follow more eco trails and boardwalks through forests, coastal villages and across sand dunes and protected natural areas.

We take into consideration environmental issues when planning this route and designed it to have negligible harmful impact. To achieve this, we follow the guidelines laid out by the Portuguese Nature Conservation and Forestry Institute (ICNF), which protect and preserve the areas of natural beauty and environmental significance in which we operate.

We provide our self-guided clients with a full briefing and detailed instructions of their route, which includes a traveler’s code of conduct. This includes guidelines for avoiding damage to the landscape and advice on minimising waste. To help with this, we provide a refillable water bottle and make it clear that tap water is perfectly safe to drink.

Clients are able to use public transport to reach the starting town of Ponte de Lima and from the end point at Viana do Castelo and, other than using local taxis for luggage transfer services, there is no need for other transport on this programme.

People

We have always carefully designed our tours in a way that respects the way of life the local populations and provides clients with an intense and authentic experience. For example, the accommodation we use in Vila Nova da Cerveira is an 18th century manor house where the clients have the opportunity to enjoy a regional dish prepared by the owner.

The route offers opportunities for clients to see and interact with villagers who are growing their crops along the Camino trail – we supply some handy phrases and tips for greeting people respectfully to make these encounters mutually beneficial.

The difference that clients will notice in the fishing boats used along the River Minho, compared to the coastal towns of Camina and Vila Praia de Âncora illustrates how communities have adapted their boats and practices to the different fishing conditions.

Viana do Castelo is home to filigree jewellery, notably in the shape of the Viana heart, and beautiful embroidery; these handmade crafts make wonderful gifts and souvenirs. Vila Nova de Cerveira hosts an Biennial International Arts Festival, which provides additional opportunities to explore the town and its culture.

We are a local company, based in this part of Northern Portugal, so we have developed deep, long-term relationships with our partners and providers and, of course, our favourite restaurants, which we recommend for each day.