Stage of the Camino
Stage Description
This stage has a singular character: it combines a boat crossing with a coastal day already on Galician soil. From Caminha, the pilgrim crosses the mouth of the river Miño by boat, the natural border between Portugal and Spain, and lands in A Guarda, a lively seafaring town famous for its lobster and for the nearby Monte de Santa Tegra, a viewpoint and hill fort overlooking the Atlantic. From there the Way hugs the coast, alternating shoreline paths, rural tracks and stretches of tarmac, always with the ocean as a reference and without major climbs. It is a flat stage, though somewhat demanding because of its distance. The arrival in Oia is marked by the silhouette of the impressive Cistercian Monastery of Santa María, perched literally at the edge of the sea.
The stage between Caminha and Oia is one of the most distinctive of the Portuguese Coastal Way, for it includes a section that is not walked: the boat crossing of the mouth of the river Miño. From the quay at Caminha, a small craft ferries the pilgrim across to A Guarda, spanning the natural border between Portugal and Galicia; the crossing, of around twenty minutes, depends on the state of the tide and on the service timetable, so it is wise to check it in advance. Now on Galician soil, A Guarda welcomes the walker with its fishing port, its gastronomic fame —lobster is its hallmark— and, above the town, Monte de Santa Tegra, with its Celtic hill fort and an exceptional viewpoint over the Atlantic and the Miño estuary, a highly recommended optional climb. The Way continues north, clinging to the coastline, alternating seaside paths, rural lanes and the occasional stretch of road, over essentially flat terrain swept by the Atlantic breeze. The open, rocky landscape accompanies the pilgrim as far as Oia, a small village whose image is dominated by the monumental Monastery of Santa María, a 12th-century Cistercian abbey that rises literally at the ocean's edge, one of the most photographed spots on the entire route.
Last updated: 18/05/2026
Where to Sleep
Accommodations in this Stage
Find the perfect place for your rest in Caminha o Oia.
Design & Wine Hotel
Hotel Porta do Sol Conference & SPA
Prazer da Natureza Resort & Spa
Albergue de São Bento
Azenha do Tio Luís
Bom Caminha - Private Albergue for Pilgrims
Casa do Coura
Casa do Montinho
Donna Nega Guest House
Ednas Place - Tranquilidade e Natureza
Just Like Home - Casa da Telheira
Just Like Home - Casa do Rosmaninho
Just Like Home - Casinha da Vila em Caminha
Litos al alojamento local
Palacete Villa Idalina
Parque de Campismo Orbitur Caminha
Quintinha D' Arga
Rinoterra Minho
Villa Idalina
Villa Victoria
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