Vila Praia de Âncora” literally translates as “the beach village of Âncora.” The town of Vila Praia de Âncora is indeed located along the beach, and nearby, a bit further inland, is the town of Âncora.
In the town of Vila Praia de Âncora, I stayed at Baixinho Guest House, and I really liked it there.
Vila Praia de Âncora sits along the Ria Âncora River, spanned by a beautiful bridge.
A railway stretches through the whole town, equipped with convenient pedestrian crossings. Trains are infrequent — I can’t recall seeing or hearing even one.
A beautiful church on the main square, the Capela de Nossa Senhora da Bonança (Chapel of Our Lady of Bonança) — this is where I got a stamp for my pilgrim passport.
The main square, Praça da República (Republic Square), features a monument to Contra-almirante Ramos Pereira, who was born in Vila Praia de Âncora.
Sign and Forte da Lagarteira in the background.
Close by, there’s this installation. According to the inscription, it’s dedicated to fishermen and their families.
Homenagem do Povo de Vila Praia de Âncora aos seus pescadores e às suas famílias, às penas no mar e às esferas da terra, às lágrimas de dor e ao pão trazido a cada regresso.
Where can you eat in Vila Praia de Âncora?
Near the bridge on the promenade, there’s a nice café called Ruivo’s Vila that I can recommend. It has friendly staff, delicious food, and good Wi-Fi. My lunch in the photo, along with two beers, cost €11.
I had dinner at Café Oceano on the waterfront. I ordered a tuna salad and received an enormous plate that I couldn’t quite finish. The restaurant is very popular, and in the evening I could hardly find a free table. Despite the crowds, the service was quick, the food arrived fast, and there’s an English menu. My dinner cost €9.50.
A sunset over the Atlantic Ocean along the coast of Portugal.
And then came the most beautiful moment — the sunset by the ocean. A stunning sunset bathes the Atlantic shore in warm orange light, with gentle waves and silhouettes of people enjoying the peaceful evening on the beach in Portugal.
I captured a video of this beautiful moment — feel free to watch and enjoy!
Portugal
Porto
Hotels
- Residencial Princesa do Ave, Vila do Conde
- Baixinho Guest House, Vila Praia de Âncora
- Hotel Terra Linda, Viana do Castelo
- River Zen House, Esposende
Towns
Camino Portuguese
- Camino Portuguese – Day One – Porto — Vila do Conde
- Camino Portuguese – Day two – Vila do Conde – Esposende
- Camino Portuguese – Day three – Esposende – Viana do Castelo
- Camino Portuguese — Day Four — Viana do Castelo — Vila Praia de Âncora 17.5 km
- Camino Portuguese – Day Five – Vila Praia de Âncora – A Guarda 14 km
