Caminha

Caminha (kuh-MEE-nyuh, /kɐ.ˈmi.ɲɐ/) is a town facing the estuary of Minho and close to the Atlantic Ocean in Northern Portugal. The town is on the coastal section of the Portuguese Way (path of the Camino de Santiago). It is a popular place for second homes and as a summer resort.

Understand

Caminha - Rua Direita, main street of the medieval old town

The population of the municipality was about 15,800 (2021 census), with 2,500 in the urban central parish. Moledo and Vila Praia de Âncora (4 and 8 km south, respectively) are important coastal resorts, with long sandy beaches facing the Atlantic. Vilar de Mouros, a rural parish on the Coura River, is well known for the oldest rock festival in Portugal.

Caminha is 2 km from the Atlantic Ocean, on the southern side of the Minho estuary, where this river is met by the smaller and meandering Coura. Here the Minho reaches its widest point (about 2 km) and marks the border between Portugal and Spain (Galicia). It is a scenic area, with the wide estuary marked by low-tide sandbars, a pastoral and green rural landscape, and pine forests on the slopes of the granitic mountains.

Visitor information

• 1 Loja Interativa de Turismo de Caminha (Caminha Interactive Tourism Store), Praça Conselheiro Silva Torres, ☏ +351 258 921 952, turismo@cm-caminha.pt. M–Sa 09:30–13:00 & 14:00–17:30. (updated Jun 2021)
• 2 Posto de Turismo de Vila Praia de Âncora (Vila Praia de Âncora Tourism Post), ☏ +351 258 911 384. M–Sa 09:30–13:00 & 14:00–17:30. (updated Jun 2021)

Get in

There are two main routes to get to Caminha. Using the N13 national road, which links it to Viana do Castelo going south and Valença going north; or the A28 speed-way. A28 has virtual tolls, foreign cars must apply for a temporary permit.

See

Parish church of Caminha

• 1 Igreja Matriz de Caminha. The large Parish Church (begun 1488) is one of the most significant buildings illustrating the transition from Gothic to Renaissance in Portugal, with Manueline influence. Several architects from Northern Spain participated in its long construction. The outstanding timber roof in the interior has rich decoration showing Moorish influences (Mudéjar style). National monument. (updated Jul 2021)

Other major points of interest include the main square (Renaissance fountain of 1551), several Gothic and Renaissance houses in the old core and main square, and remains of medieval and 17th-century fortifications. Some pre-Roman archeological findings and ethnographic pieces are shown in the modest Municipal Museum.

Do

The marshes along the Coura are protected and good for bird watching.

The Atlantic beaches in the area are wide and have good sand but tend to be windy for part of the day; the Moledo beach (4 km south) attracts surfers. River and sea excursions can be arranged with local fishermen.

South of the Coura, the small granitic range ("Serra") of Arga (823 m) provides ample opportunities for hiking, cyclocrossing and canyoning.

In the wooded northern slopes is the small monastery of S. João de Arga (popular place for picnics, camping and exploring peaks and streams; also venue for a religious festival) and the village of Castanheira (scenic terraced fields and natural pools).

Buy

A weekly market is held every Wednesday.

Caminha its famous for its copper handiwork. Work from local copper smiths and lace-makers can be found around town.

Eat

• 1 Restaurante Baptista, Praça Conselheiro Silva Torres 24/26, ☏ +351 258 722 564. Daily 10:00–11:00. €5-18. (updated Jul 2021)

Drink

To have a fun night just go through the Torre do Relógio (clock tower) to the Rua Direita. There is a great number of bars and cafés where you can enjoy a drink. The peculiarity on this street is the possibility of mingle with people from other bars on the street. There is no minimum consumption in most of them and they are quite close from each other.

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Porta do Sol, Avenida Dr. Dantas Carneiro 1, ☏ +351 258 710 360, reservas@hotelportadosol.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 07:00–11:00. Four-star, 100 room hotel on the waterfront with three swimming pools, spa, and fitness centre. €68-141. (updated Jun 2021)

Connect

There is free Wi-Fi on the main plaza, Praça Conselheiro Silva Torres (a.k.a. "O Terreiro"), but often it doesn't work.