Nearby
The towns of Caminha and Vila Nova de Cerveira both have lots of history and lovely squares. They also both have large outdoor markets, Caminha on Wednesdays and Vila Nova de Cerveira on Saturdays. Ponte de Lima has a lot of charm and interest to offer and is perfect for a day trip as is Viana de Castelo which has great views from the top of the Monte de Santa Luiza which can be reached by the longest funicular railway in Portugal.
Cross over to Spain for some tapas or seafood or take the ferry from Caminha with your car. There is a Celtic settlement at the top of Santa Tecla hill which can be seen from the Portuguese coast.
Beaches
Vila Praia de Ancora has a beach in the town which is child friendly with calm waters at one end and higher waves at the other. Heading south, Praia da Gelfa is small and calm with a children’s play park while a good beach for surfing is Praia de Arda which is more secluded. It is near to another attractive long, straight beach at Afife.
North of Praia de Ancora is the beach at Moledo, probably the most popular on this part of the coast and, as such, it is well served with cafes and restaurants. Near to Caminha is Foz do Minho beach where a small headland creates two beaches, one side facing the sea and the other facing on to the mouth of the river and this is subsequently the calmer side.
Peneda Gerês National Park
Created in 1971, this protected park is great for hiking, but Ponte de Barca is also a good starting point for a driving tour heading towards Arcos de Valdevez. There are picturesque villages which have seen little change since the 12th century, wild horses, waterfalls and forests of oak and pine. The park has designated picnic sites and good viewpoints for photo opportunities.
Activities such as canyoning and canoeing are available but if hiking appeals, the well-conserved Roman road with its ancient milestones is interesting, while several other itineraries pass mediaeval castles, monasteries, sanctuaries and dolmens.
