Portuguese Coastal Way ‧ Stage 6

Information

About this stage

Distance and elevation

Stage profile

Km 0 ‧ Caminha

From the centre of Caminha we approach the pier, where we will take the ferry across the river Minho to Galicia. **Due to the temporary cancellation of the ferry service, from Easter 2022 the journey will be made by the Xacobeo Transfer boat (12 seats), available every day of the week, with variable timetables depending on the tides.

Km 0,7 ‧ A Pasaxe (Camposancos)

As soon as we leave the pass we walk a few metres to the left, passing in front of the building of the old Jesuit boarding school. Take the first street uphill and follow the arrows, which will take you around the Santa Trega hill on the right.
From the ferry pier, cyclists should continue straight ahead and uphill along the PO-355 road towards A Guarda, always with caution as there is no cycle lane. After the first climb, those who walk will reach the Camposancos road; 20 metres further on to the left a new climb begins, next to a bus stop and a power transformer. After a zigzag through the houses of the Saa neighbourhood we pass a dirt track through the bush that leads to the PO-355 road, in front of a football pitch, at the entrance to A Guarda. We follow the pavement of the road, then the Rúa Rosalía de Castro and finally the Rúa Galicia towards the centre of the town.

Km 4,3 ‧ A Guarda

We can continue along Rúa San Bernardo or Rúa Puerto Rico, as both lead us to Rúa da Guía, which becomes a square in front of the chapel of the Virgen de la Guía. Along Rúa Baixada á Praia, as its name indicates, we reach the beaches of Fedorento and Area Grande (Arena Grande), at the end of the town.
Bicycles: From here onwards the route becomes more difficult for bikes, so it would be best for cyclists to go up the asphalt ramp from the Area Grande beach to the PO-552 road, where they will find a viewpoint and a cycle path that they will follow, parallel to the road and along the seafront, to Baiona. This option would also be a prudent alternative for walkers on days of extreme storms, only in the (very rare) case that the waves reach the path along the rocks.
At the end of the beach car park, the most rugged section of the stage begins, during which we will advance along a path almost at sea level and between the rocks of the coast. This is part of the Cetaria Route.
After 1.1 km, just before the Redonda cetaria, the arrows take us uphill to turn left onto a path, which becomes a pleasant dirt track through fields and pine and eucalyptus groves. Finally the path climbs back up to the PO-552 road.
We continue along the cycle path for 1.9 km. We pass the Punta Bazar viewpoint and, just as we enter the municipality of O Rosal, the arrows take us back to the left along a very pretty path, parallel to the road wich will take us to the houses of Portecelo.

Km 11,3 ‧ Portecelo

We continue for 2 km along the old Estrada Real, returning later to the road’s cycle path, which we repeat on two occasions. Finally, we leave it and take a paved track downhill that leads to the chapel of San Sebastián, now in the municipality of Oia. In 800 metres we enter the Arrabal neighbourhood; we pass the cross of La Centinela. We arrive at the Cistercian Monastery of Santa María de Oia.

Km 17,1 ‧ Oia

We descend the cobbled ramp between the beach and the monastery embankment, after which we turn left to follow a dirt track; we will enjoy a very entertaining part of the landscape, with views of the meadows and fields stretching down to the edge of the ocean. At Punta Orelluda (Punta Orejuda) we return to the road and its cycle path.

Km 26,8 ‧ O Serrallo