Walking Tour: Portugal's Costa Verde

A leisurely walking tour along Portugal's Costa Verde rewards you with Atlantic Coast views to your left, the Minho countryside to your right, and ample time to explore both.

The northwest coast of Portugal is known as the Costa Verde, or Green Coast, thanks to the abundance of lush vegetation that backs onto it and the not-so-distant mountains of the Minho countryside. As you head north from Porto on this 8-day self-guided coastal walk, you’ll experience the ever-changing coastal landscape of wide sandy beaches, rocky coves, pebble beaches, pleasant seaside towns, and fishing villages. You’ll also have time to relax and spend time in the small historical city of Viana do Castelo, rich with culture and tradition. You'll end up in the charming town of Caminha at the very top of Portugal, just across the river from Spain.

• Stunning views of the Costa Verde (Green Coast) and unspoiled beaches along boardwalks
• Inland walks through pine forests and fields
• Plenty of time to relax in small villages or swim at the beaches
• Fresh wine, including vinho verde, and fresh seafood in fishing villages
• Opportunities to bike, SUP, or kitesurf (additional cost)

While much of the route hugs the coast, you’ll head inland at times to walk through fields, forests, and villages to get a deeper insight into the lifestyle of rural Portuguese communities and small-scale farming practices.

With relatively short, leisurely walking days, you’ll have plenty of time and energy to explore the towns and villages you stay in and to take breaks en route for a swim or to spend time on the beach. Make the most of the ample opportunities to sample the freshest catch of the day and other delicious Portuguese fares from the Minho region.

As well as the fruits of the sea, this region of Northern Portugal is famous for its vinho verde, also known as green or young wine. This is usually slightly effervescent and a little lighter in terms of alcohol level than a mature white wine, making a white vinho verde a very refreshing beverage in warmer months. The range of grapes and flavors in vinho verde is surprising so we recommend tasting several varieties to understand why it is the second most produced wine in Portugal after red wine.

Like what you see but it is not quite a perfect fit?
Simply tell us what you’re looking for. We’ll happily adapt this itinerary to suit your personal interests, needs, and schedule to create your ideal trip.

You can book this itinerary from March 1st through October 31st each year.

• Low Season: March - May & October
• High Season: June - September

Spring, early summer, and fall are ideal for walking holidays in northern Portugal. Days are generally warm and sunny but can be chilly and possibly windy, especially on the coast. There is always a chance of experiencing some rain, so please come prepared for changeable conditions. May, June, and September tend to be warmer with less chance of rain.

July and August are usually the hottest months, with temperatures regularly exceeding 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius).

Traveling during the low season is generally considered a sustainable tourism practice as it helps with tourism dispersal – spreading out where tourists go and how their money supports locals throughout the year.

We firmly believe that travel should be a safe and rewarding experience for all concerned, including the destinations that you visit and the people you meet. This walking tour was crafted using extensive local knowledge and designed to respect both the way of life of local populations as well as the natural environment.

Environmental Initiatives
We wanted to highlight the beautiful and diverse coastline north of Porto on this fascinating coastal trail that passes through historical towns, traditional villages, fishing communities, nature reserves, and delightful beaches and countryside. Along the 77 km of coastline that they traverse, clients will encounter a wide variety of biologically diverse natural habitats and sites of ecological interest. We took into consideration such local environmental issues when planning this route.

• Traveler's conduct

Because much of the trail involves boardwalks that take guests alongside the ocean or across fragile ecosystems in the sand dunes, we use our welcome briefing to highlight the traveler’s code of conduct and emphasize the importance of sticking to the boardwalks in protected areas so as to respect and protect the exceptional quality of this natural and scenic heritage. We also provide refillable water bottles and encourage clients to drink excellent quality tap water instead of buying disposable bottles. There’s no need to buy disposable batteries either as we supply rechargeable batteries and a charger for our GPS devices on self-guided walks. In a further bid to reduce the need to print documents, our route information is now available as an App.

For luggage transfers between accommodations on this linear route, we use local taxis, thus keeping driving distances and carbon emissions to a minimum.

• Wine Production

The wine region has undergone a significant transformation in terms of sustainability thanks to the "Green Wine Sustainability Program". A certification labeling wineries as producers of environmentally friendly wine is granted to those that meet certain standards. Some of the key areas of focus for the program include reducing energy consumption, conserving water, minimizing the use of pesticides and other chemicals, and implementing recycling and waste reduction programs.

Sociocultural Initiatives
Among the most interesting experiences along this route are the fishing communities in small coastal villages such as Angeiras, Apúlia, Castelo de Neiva, and Vila Praia de Âncora. In these places full of colorfully painted boats and huts, clients can observe and engage with fishermen while they are mending nets, preparing bait, or getting their boats ready to go fishing.

Of course, the best way to get the full flavor of the sea is to eat the catch of the day at one of the many specialty restaurants along the coast. At any of these eateries, clients are simultaneously contributing to the local economy and savoring the flavors alongside local people. If you like octopus, we have a great recommendation for you in Apúlia, i.e. Restaurante Paredão.

On Saturdays during the summer months, Praça da República is a riot of color and flavors as women dressed in the bright traditional costumes of the region sell local cakes. With a bit of luck, guests can experience one of the many festivities that take place throughout the year and bring an added dash of life and entertainment to the city.

Be sure you have traveler's insurance.