Vila Praia de Âncora

Vila Praia de Âncora is a fishing town in the municipality of Caminha, set at the mouth of the River Âncora, halfway between Viana do Castelo and Caminha. The Portuguese Coastal Way passes through it beside the sea, and many pilgrims choose it to split the long day between the two towns.

Next to the fishing harbour stands the Lagarteira fort, a small seventeenth-century coastal fortification built to defend the river mouth. Close to the centre is the Barrosa dolmen, one of the best-preserved megalithic monuments in northern Portugal, and on the way out of town the route passes the chapel of Santo Isidoro, heading towards Moledo.

Walkers find a wide sandy beach, a lively seafront promenade and a full range of accommodation, restaurants and shops. Fresh fish from the local market is the basis of its cooking.

Vila Praia de Âncora is one of the most comfortable stops on the Portuguese stretch of the coast, with every service and the Atlantic as a backdrop.