Camino de Santiago · Coastal Route · Caminha, Portugal
Caminha on the
Coastal Camino
Your hyper-local pilgrim guide to Caminha — the last Portuguese town before Spain. Ferry crossings, where to sleep, where to eat, and everything in between.
- ~10 min
- Boat to Spain
- €6
- Water-taxi fare
- 24 km
- From Viana do Castelo
- Daily
- Water-taxi crossings
Everything You Need in Caminha
The complete pilgrim toolkit — from crossing the river to finding a pharmacy.
Critical Info
Ferry & Logistics
Timetables, siltation risks, water taxi alternatives & Valença detour.
Accommodations
Where to Stay
Municipal albergue, guesthouses & boutique hotels — all budgets.
Food & Dining
Where to Eat
Pilgrim menus from €8, fresh Atlantic seafood & traditional pastéis.
Pilgrim Services
Useful Services
Duty pharmacies (rotating schedule), gear & boot shops, ATMs.
Holy Year — Xacobeo 2027
2027 is a Holy Year. The Coastal route is the smart way to walk it.
The Holy Door opens on 31 December 2026 and stays open all year, and 2027 is expected to be the busiest Camino on record. The Camino Francés from Sarria will be packed — the Portuguese Coastal route carries a fraction of that crowd for the same Compostela. Here is what changes, and exactly when you need to book.
Caminho da Costa
The full Coastal Camino route
Caminha is one stop on the northern stretch from Viana do Castelo to Santiago. Follow the stage-by-stage guide across the Galician coast.
See all 10 stagesAbout Caminha on the Coastal Camino
Caminha (population ~7,000) sits at the confluence of the Coura and Minho rivers, facing the Spanish town of A Guarda across the water. Its 14th-century walls, fortified clock tower, and elegant Praça do Conselho make it one of the most charming stops on the entire Portuguese Coastal Camino.
For pilgrims walking the Caminho da Costa (Coastal Route), Caminha marks the transition from Portugal to Galicia, Spain. The river crossing — a short but memorable boat ride of about 10 minutes — has linked the two banks for centuries; today it is made by licensed water taxi (€6) while a new municipal ferry is awaited. After crossing, pilgrims continue north through A Guarda along the Galician coast toward Santiago de Compostela.
The town is a practical overnight stop before the crossing, with a municipal pilgrim hostel, several guesthouses, and enough excellent restaurants to recover from the long coastal stage from Viana do Castelo. New to this stage? Start with the complete Caminha guide or the pilgrim guide to the Coastal Route.