View of Vila Praia de Âncora – Forte do Cão loop from Âncora-Praia

Hiking trails & Routes

Viana do Castelo

Vila Praia De Âncora

View of Vila Praia de Âncora – Forte do Cão loop from Âncora-Praia

Hard

4.8

(9)

hikers

View of Vila Praia de Âncora – Forte do Cão loop from Âncora-Praia

05:20

20.8km

90m

Hiking

Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 16, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Mata Nacional da Gelfa

Litoral Norte

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

946 m

Wooden Boardwalk Along the Âncora River Estuary

Highlight • Trail

As long as the boards aren't covered by quicksand, you can comfortably walk along the wooden path here. The Âncora River doesn't form a delta, but rather an S-shaped estuary.

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3.17 km

View of Vila Praia de Âncora

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beautiful section

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3.22 km

With the end of the War of Restoration (1640-1668), it was one of four fortresses built on the coast between Caminha and Viana do Castelo with the aim of strengthening the defense of the Atlantic coast of Alto Minho against a possible attack by the Spanish Marine.

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6.43 km

Esposende Forest Trail

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7.29 km

Afife Beach

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Very nice stretch of beach. A wooden path leads from the parking lot to the beach. An outside shower is available.

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9.19 km

Praia do Paçô

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Praia do Paçô is a well-known beach in the Viana do Castelo region of Portugal. It is characterized by its long stretches of sand and calm waters, making it ideal for swimming. The fine sandy beach stretches for approximately 700 meters along the coast. This beach is also notable for its lack of rocks and natural protection from the wind, providing a pleasant environment for beachgoers.
One of the most striking features of Praia do Paçô is the surrounding landscape. The beach is lined with dunes that form a natural barrier between the sandy coast and the green fields. It also offers stunning views of Montedor Hill and its lighthouse, which dominates the southern landscape. The beach also boasts the ruins of an 18th-century fortress, once part of the coastal defense system, lending it a historic charm. beachatlas.com/de/paco

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9.44 km

Paçô Castle 🏰

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Old fort from the medieval coastal defence system.

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10.6 km

View of Litoral Norte Conservation Area

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This structure, known as the Ronca, is located in Carreço (Viana do Castelo), between the Montedor Lighthouse and the Atlantic Ocean. It emitted an audible signal day and night and replaced the lighthouse's light in poor visibility due to fog, alerting ships to their proximity to land. It was decommissioned in 2001.
It seems quite out of place in the natural park, but it clearly served a purpose.
olharvianadocastelo.pt/2020/07/a-ronca.html

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11.7 km

Pinhal do Carreço

Forest

20.8 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

11.4 km

3.50 km

2.92 km

2.33 km

688 m

Surfaces

9.84 km

3.81 km

2.54 km

2.38 km

1.97 km

262 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Friday 16 October

21°C

15°C

15 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 21.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

October 25, 2023,2023-10-25 PK Jakobsweg Tag 4

Addendum to yesterday:
Important insight: if it's pouring, put on flip flops, at least for short distances to the bus🤩
In the evening I sat in front of the pool and finished the tour in Komoot. It was so beautiful, just a little cloud and the moon was shining.
The accommodation Casa do Adro is highly recommended.
Today we saw …

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