Caminha–A Guarda Crossing: Live Status (August 2026)
This page tracks what is actually crossing the Minho between Caminha (Portugal) and A Guarda (Spain), verified against operator schedules, municipal announcements and pilgrim reports. Last verified: 2026-08-12.
Crossing today? Find a place to stay in Caminha tonight before the boat.
Find a place to stayStatus Overview
- Crossing: operating daily, including Mondays. About 10 minutes, from €6 per person one-way — fares differ by operator, see the table.
- Old official ferry (Santa Rita de Cássia): stopped 2020, will be dismantled. Not coming back.
- New municipal ferry: announced for summer 2026 (~50–60 passengers, shallow draught). Not yet operating.
- Backup: train Caminha → Valença + walk across the Tui bridge — always available.
Who Is Crossing Right Now
| Operator | Schedule | Price | Booking | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi Boat Peregrinos | On request, 24/7 (weather permitting) | €6 (€7 with bike) | Phone or at the dock +351913254110 | Licence MT 115/2019. Two boats operating 24/7 except in bad weather. Boards at the end of the Mata Nacional do Camarido, where the river is narrowest — about a 5-minute crossing, landing at Camposancos (~3 km flat walk to A Guarda). Also runs Caminha–Valença/Tui upriver, about 1 hour. Fares are not published online — confirm by phone or WhatsApp; the €6/€7 figures are carried over from the June 2026 check. |
| Xacobeo Transfer | Nine departures daily, 07:00–15:30 (Nov–Mar: 08:00–09:00 only) | €9 (€10 with bike) | Online (website) +34613011226 | Official-backed service since April 2022. Daily, including Mondays. Nine published departures from Caminha (Portuguese time): 07:00, 07:30, 08:30, 09:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 14:30, 15:30. Six back from Camposancos (Spanish time): 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 16:00. Extra sailings on request when demand is high, sometimes every 10–15 minutes. November to March it runs only between 08:00 and 09:00 Portuguese time, with no afternoon crossings. Bookings are flexible: arrive early or late and you board the next boat with space. Cancelled for weather means a full refund. |
| Taxi Mar Caminha | Daily (reduced in winter), All year (winter ~1 departure/day) | €6 (€7 with bike) | Online (website) +351915955827 | Authorized year-round service from Bar do Ferry (Av. Dr. Dantas Carneiro, 4910-130 Caminha) to Camposancos. Online booking and WhatsApp. The cheapest crossing at €6 per person; €7 with a bicycle, €10 with an electric bike, €9 for the ticket-plus-breakfast option at Bar do Ferry. |
Schedules flex with tide and weather; off-season (November–March) departures are far fewer and cancel more easily. Boats run on Portuguese time — Spain is one hour ahead on arrival.
Latest Updates
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August 2026
Fares and timetables re-verified against the operators' own sites. Xacobeo Transfer has raised its fare from €6 to €9 (€10 with a bike) and publishes nine fixed departures from Caminha rather than an hourly pattern; from November to March it sails only between 08:00 and 09:00. Taxi Boat Peregrinos runs two boats on request around the clock, weather permitting, boarding at the Mata do Camarido. Taxi Mar Caminha remains €6.
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June 2026
Water taxis fully operational. Taxi Boat Peregrinos running every 30 minutes (07:00–17:00); Xacobeo Transfer roughly hourly (07:30–15:30) with online booking. Crossing daily, including Mondays.
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May 2026
Câmara de Caminha confirms work continues on the new river link with Galicia; longer-term ambition for an international bridge stated publicly.
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December 2025
New municipal ferry announced for summer 2026: shallow-draught vessel, ~50–60 passengers. Dock repair and dredging budgeted (~€30–40k). Santa Rita de Cássia to be dismantled.
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2023
Dock works on the Galician side completed, but river-mouth siltation keeps the official ferry grounded. Licensed water taxis carry all crossing traffic.
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April 2022
Xacobeo Transfer begins operating the crossing with backing from the Xunta de Galicia, Concello da Guarda and Câmara de Caminha.
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2020
Official ferry Santa Rita de Cássia (in service since 1995) stops running due to assoreamento — siltation at the Minho river mouth.
Water Taxi Now vs Waiting for the New Ferry
Take the water taxi (recommended)
Operating today, several operators, from €6, landing at Camposancos / A Pasaxe where the Camino arrows resume. There is no reason to plan around the new ferry — it has no confirmed launch date, only a "summer 2026" target.
Waiting for the new ferry
Only relevant if you walk after it launches. Expected benefits: larger capacity (50–60 vs ~6–12) and a fixed municipal timetable. Fares not yet announced. This page will record the launch in the changelog above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Caminha to A Guarda ferry running right now?
How much does it cost?
Can I cross with a bike?
Do I need a booking?
What happens if no boat crosses on my day?
Plan the Crossing
Sources: operator websites (xacobeotransfer.com, taximarcaminha.com, taxiboatperegrinos.com), Câmara Municipal de Caminha announcements (Dec 2025, May 2026), regional press (Alto Minho TV, O Amarense, e24.pt) and pilgrim reports on the Camino de Santiago forum. Independently verified; this site has no affiliation with any transport provider.