New Boat service from A Caminha to Guarda

[wisepilgrim]

Good news for pilgrims coming up the coast. The iffy service of the Santa Rita has been replaced by a new agreement between Galicia and Portugal, called Xacobeo Transfer.

There are now two new boats to ferry pilgrims and locals from one country to another, and starting in July one of them will be electric which I imagine will make for a nice quiet ride. The service is daily, so Monday pilgrims can now cross too!

This will make onward pilgrimage via Mougas, Bayona, and Vigo much more reliable. The service is 6€ and takes 20 minutes. Bookable online here:

Nauticdestination.com

Descúbre tu próximo destino

www.nauticdestination.com

 

[FourSeasons]

Fantastic !

 

[Nika.S]

Thanks for letting us know

 

[kenwilltravel]

Great news for pilgrims, but also for pilgrim-related vendors on the coastal route up to Vigo. I've heard that they've been hurt by the financial impact of all the problems with the old ferry, which was sending a lot of traffic over to the Central route (i.e., crossing the Minho at Valença instead of Caminha).

 

[gittiharre]

I'm crossing over in mid June, on a Friday
..are there likely to be options?

 

[Corned Beef]

I'm crossing over in mid June, on a Friday
..are there likely to be options?

The water taxi still operates from the cafe by the jetty. It only goes to the other side of the river so you'll have a couple of miles walk at the other side to get to A Guarda.

 

[gittiharre]

The water taxi still operates from the cafe by the jetty. It only goes to the other side of the river so you'll have a couple of miles walk at the other side to get to A Guarda.

Lovely! Thank you!

 

[Flog]

The water taxi still operates from the cafe by the jetty. It only goes to the other side of the river so you'll have a couple of miles walk at the other side to get to A Guarda.

I'll be crossing in a couple of days, it would be nice not to have to detour 25km to stay on the coast. The last time I crossed here was 5 years ago, was official ferry. Water taxi you say, is thIs a local person offering service, does it depend on tides do you know?

 

[Flog]

I can answer my own question, for anyone who needs to know:
At present, a local fishermen runs a boat taking just 6 or 7 at a time. I only had to wait a few minutes. A fun spin across the Estuary with a Normandy beach style landing on the opposite shore. It isn't tide dependant but operates further out in the Estuary so involves a little more walking both to and from the ferry, but it's pleasant enough..

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Hopefully they'll be keeping the channel dredged - 50m out after "setting sail" from Portugal and we hit a sand bank!

 

[Former member 22438]

Hopefully they'll be keeping the channel dredged - 50m out after "setting sail" from Portugal and we hit a sand bank!

And hope not you get a Normandian style welcome at the Spanish side.

 

[juliogris]

Good news for pilgrims coming up the coast. The iffy service of the Santa Rita has been replaced by a new agreement between Galicia and Portugal, called Xacobeo Transfer.

There are now two new boats to ferry pilgrims and locals from one country to another, and starting in July one of them will be electric which I imagine will make for a nice quiet ride. The service is daily, so Monday pilgrims can now cross too!

This will make onward pilgrimage via Mougas, Bayona, and Vigo much more reliable. The service is 6€ and takes 20 minutes. Bookable online here:

Nauticdestination.com

Descúbre tu próximo destino

www.nauticdestination.com

Thanks, I took Xacobeo Transfer and it is a perfect way to go to A Guarda. and a very ecological idea.
Congrats

 

[pinamontik]

Good news for pilgrims coming up the coast. The iffy service of the Santa Rita has been replaced by a new agreement between Galicia and Portugal, called Xacobeo Transfer.

There are now two new boats to ferry pilgrims and locals from one country to another, and starting in July one of them will be electric which I imagine will make for a nice quiet ride. The service is daily, so Monday pilgrims can now cross too!

This will make onward pilgrimage via Mougas, Bayona, and Vigo much more reliable. The service is 6€ and takes 20 minutes. Bookable online here:

Nauticdestination.com

Descúbre tu próximo destino

www.nauticdestination.com

We will have two bicycles with us. Do you allow bikes? And do you suggest booking ahead for a Camino trip in September?

 

[Corned Beef]

We will have two bicycles with us. Do you allow bikes? And do you suggest booking ahead for a Camino trip in September?

Haven't come across anyone who has used this new service so there is no definitive answer. You could contact them and ask.

The water taxis that operate from the same location in Caminha do carry bikes in the (very) unlikely event the ferry doesn't. See pic. Or you can take the road round which is another 17-20 miles.

As regards that link in #1, that is the southbound link. You need the northbound one below and note that they use Spanish time. You'll be on Portuguese time.

However unless you intend to stay over in Caminha specifically for this ferry, you are likely to be using the taxis which are "on-demand" rather than scheduled.

Nauticdestination.com

Descúbre tu próximo destino

www.nauticdestination.com

 

[art4web]

Yesterday I took the xacobeo transfer ferry. It starts and arrives from the same place as the one that no longer exists. It had a petrol engine. When we arrived he left immediately, there were 2 of us, without respecting the schedules, but there were no reservations. In my opinion, he carries bicycles, certainly the taxi boats that depart from the campsite carry them. I added a photo of boat

 

[LesBrass]

Hello - I wonder if someone can help... I might be missing something obvious.

Does the new ferry only run once a day at 10:00 (Spanish time) or does it simply start at 10:00?

I'm planning ahead for my walking group so I need to be sure.

Many thanks

 

[Former member 22438]

Hello - I wonder if someone can help... I might be missing something obvious.

Does the new ferry only run once a day at 10:00 (Spanish time) or does it simply start at 10:00?

I'm planning ahead for my walking group so I need to be sure.

Many thanks

As far as I can understand the ferry Santa Rita ( o Transbordador ) does not exist anymore for some reasons. Initially some fishermen could set you over on demand and now I think somebody ( maybe a fisherman ? ) bought a new boat and set you over on demand .
it looks like the same service from the fishermen. And they made a website so you can book online . So it is randomwise. If somebody calls in ,they send the boat to the harbour to pick you up. Great service for the website see one post above me

 

[Mike Molloy]

Hi I have just finished the Portuguese coastal.from Porto.
At Caminha all the fishermen said there was no ferry, they were not telling the truth, there is a new electric boat that goes from the harbour hourly and cost €6.
Booking at,

Nauticdestination.com

Descúbre tu próximo destino

www.nauticdestination.com

 

[Mark Francis Auchincloss]

I can second that Mike. I was with you and our group doing the Camino from Porto to Santiago !

Here's where you catch it from :

Xacobeo Transfer CAMINHA - Peregrinos Caminho Português da Costa
613 01 12 26

Xacobeo Transfer Ferry & Taxi Boat CAMINHA - Caminho Português da Costa · Av. Dr. Dantas Carneiro, 4910-103 Caminha, Portugal

★★★★★ · Ferry service

maps.app.goo.gl

Cost 6€ for pilgrims 8€ for cyclists. You book online 30 minute slots. Well worth it. The two captains Miguel and Federico are super friendly & profesional.

 

[Ultreia et Suseia!]

Thank you for the valuable advice!
How crowded was this route? Did you have trouble booking the boat?
I'm doing the same route in September.
Ultreia!

 

[Mike Molloy]

The route was quite busy until it joined the central route, then very busy, several pilgrims told me that the had problems booking accommodation, especially near Santiago
No problems booking and paying for the boat on line.
Bon Camino

 

[Ultreia et Suseia!]

The route was quite busy until it joined the central route, then very busy, several pilgrims told me that the had problems booking accommodation, especially near Santiago
No problems booking and paying for the boat on line.
Bon Camino

Thank you so much for the helpful reply
Ultreia peregrino!

 

[C clearly]

Two threads on the same topic have been merged.

 

[Josep Montserrat]

Two threads on the same topic have been merged.

This is the boat and the skipper

 

[bowewe]

the portuguese taxi boat guy and the skipper from Spain do not love each other, almost ended up in a big boat fight while crossing...