Canoe tours, nature and relax
Do you feel like spending a relaxed day to recover your strength and to be able to continue your journey with new energy, all while allowing your feet some rest?
You have found the perfect place!
We offer you an idyllic canoe trip on the Miño river, paddling in a beautiful area among islands and native fauna, accompanied with a snack and a picknick and time to have fun and enjoy a refreshing swim.
And for those of you who would prefer to paddle a Camino stage with us, we offer the route Valença > V.N. de Cerveira, of course with a snack and picnic included.
Or would you rather do something else, such as a visit to the Roman hot baths, sightseeing in the area or guided hikes off the Camino? Gladly!
Canoe tour on the river
If you feel like spending a relaxing day on the beautiful river Minho with us, canoeing through the area of the islands and beautiful river beaches, we´re sure you´ll love our program.
We pick you up around 9:30 /10:00h Portuguese time in Valença or Tui and transfer you by car to the starting point in Valença*. There we´ll start our first stage together in 1 to 3 beginner friendly canoes (Canadian kayaks for 3 persons). Our route will take us upstream, paddling between the beautiful cities of Valença and Tui with their river islands until we reach one of the little beaches where we will have time to have a snack, cool off in a safe area of the river, sunbathe, …
During the trip you will be able to observe idyllic landscapes with an abundance of native flora and fauna, enjoying a splendid nature with a lot of tranquility and the freshness of the proximity to the water.
The second part of the trip comes to an end in a recreational area where we will have a good picknick/meal (vegetarians and vegans, please let us know beforehand). You will also have time to cool off in the river or take a nap under the shade of the trees (or both).
After saying goodbye, we will drive you with your backpacks to your next accomodation in Tui or Valença, or to our hostel PilgerPause in Fontoura, should you have decided to stay with us.
Number of participants: 3 to 9
Duration: 5 to 7 hours
Price: 60€ – 90€, all inclusive (sliding scale **)
Payment: Via bank transfer or cash
Reservations: until 3pm. the day before, although we greatly appreciate early reservations
* During the day, we keep your backpacks in the car.
** This means that everyone decides after the trip how much within this margin is adequate, depending on how much he/she liked the day and his/her economic circumstances.
Camino stage by canoe
Camino stage: from Valença to Vila Nova de Cerveira
You can also join us in taking a canoe tour from Valença to V.N. de Cerveira, to paddle a stage of your Camino, following the Miño river downstream. This route is around 15km long and is therefore much more strenuous than the river island tour, especially since the Miño sometimes flows uphill. (No joke!) You don’t need to have any canoeing experience for this tour because the 3-seater Canadians are very stable, but you definitely have to be keen on paddling.
If you like this offer, we will pick you up near your accommodation or at the train station in the morning (from Tui / Valença) and take you to the canoe to start together with you. If you have backpacks with you, we will transport them by car. About halfway we take a break to stretch, enjoy a snack, swim and “visit the bushes”. We then continue to Cerveira where a delicious picnic awaits us at the end of the tour before driving you to your hostel for the next night, anywhere on the route between Cerveira and Tui. Vegetarians, vegans, allergy sufferers, … please let us know in advance! (**)
Number of participants: 3 to 9
Duration: 5 to 7 hours
Price: 60€ – 90€, all inclusive (sliding scale *)
Payment: Via bank transfer or cash
Reservations: until 3pm. the day before, although we greatly appreciate early reservations
* This means that everyone decides after the trip how much within this margin is adequate, depending on how much he/she liked the day and his/her economic circumstances.
**You may be wondering, „Why are we paddling backwards? Why not just paddle straight up the river ?“
Because that would be too difficult for most people.
The Miño is a very wide, tidal river with strong elevation changes and currents – and while you can always make progress downstream, it is sometimes almost impossible for inexperienced paddlers upstream. That’s why we organize the opportunity for you to paddle the route in the direction that is feasible. Is this “cheating”? We don’t think so because you can also make a pilgrimage backwards. And it allows you to spend a beautiful day on the water without taking a day off.
Additional activities
And if the weather conditions don’t allow us to go out on the river because it´s either too wet, too cold or otherwise unsafe?
Or you would like to spend two days with us because you´d like to see more of our beautiful region?
No worries! We have a series of alternative activities that are just as interesting, such as:
- Visit to some hot Roman thermal baths
- Visit to some beautiful natural pools
- Visit to the Aloia mountain nature reserve.
- Visits to cultural and tourist attractions (like Santa Tecla, the monastery of Sanfins, …)
- A day at the oceanside and/or beach, with a canoe tour in a quiet area
- Autumn tours in the forest, …
We choose and decide together with you and spend the day according to your wishes.
Number of participants: 3 to 9
Duration: 5 to 7 hours
Price: 60€ – 90€, all inclusive (sliding scale **)
Payment: Via bank transfer or cash
Reservations: until 3pm. the day before, although we greatly appreciate early reservations
** This means that everyone decides after the trip how much within this margin is adequate, depending on how much he/she liked the day and his/her economic circumstances.
→ All activities include lunch and transfer.
→ Groups of a minimum of 4 could also book 2 days of different activities in advance.
Accomodation in our hostel „PilgerPause“
FAQ
Do I need canoeing experience?
No, the canoes are very stable and paddling is not difficult. What you need is a desire to paddle and to enjoy a beautiful day on the water. For the river island tour we´re adapting every day´s route to our clients and the river circumstances so the tour may be a little longer or shorter but: You do have to paddle some since otherweise the canoes won´t move.
For the camino stage you still don´t have to be a pro, just a bit more ambitious and keen on paddling.
And my backpack?
It stays safely stored in the car during the day.
What do I need in the boat?
– A small water bottle for on the go
– Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)
– Bathing suit/towel
– Your phone if you want to take photos/film
Are we alone in the boat?
No, we will accompany you the entire trip and paddle with you.
What do I need in the boat?
– A small water bottle for on the go
– Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)
– Bathing suit/towel
– Your phone if you want to take photos/film
Are we alone in the boat?
No, we will accompany you the entire trip and paddle with you.
What should I wear?
Clothing that can get wet, including swimwear depending on the weather.
Flip-flops, waterproof sandals or barefoot, please no hiking boots as they dry poorly.
Where will I be picked up?
We will either pick you up near your accommodation in Valença or Tui or at a meeting point agreed upon with you. (Some places in the old town are difficult to reach by car.)
If you arrive in Valença by train in the morning, we will pick you up at the train station.
If you spent the previous night in our hostel, you will of course travel with us in the morning.
Will you take me to the hostel afterwards?
Yes, sure. We will either take you to your accomodation in Valença or Tui for the next night, or nearby.
What and where is “PilgerPause”?
PilgerPause is our former hostel in Fontoura, about 8km before Valença on the Camino Central, which we now offer exclusively to our guests.
If you would like to spend the night there before and/or after your day’s activity with us, you are welcome to make a reservation. (to be paid separately)
Can I walk a short Camino stage afterwards?
There are now some accommodations between Tui and O Porriño, which are about 7-8 km away. If you have booked there for the next night, you can still get there easily in the summer months. If you´re not in a hurry, we would recomend something closer though.
Minimum age
16 years. If you are traveling with younger children, please contact us in advance.
Number of participants:
3 – 9
You don´t need to sign up as a group of 3, if you´re interested just ley us know about it and we´ll see if more people sign up. Many groups didn´t know each other before the tour.
Price
Between 60 and 90 euros. We know that there are pilgrims on the Camino from many different countries and stages of life and that their financial possibilities aren´t the same. The price range shown is our attempt to enable as many people as possible to take a tour with us. When you decide how much you want to give, we ask you to be fair with us and your fellow pilgrims so that we can maintain this system in the future.
Payment, how and when?
Via bank transfer or in cash, after the tour.
You only know at the end of the day how much you enjoyed it and what amount within our price range you think is appropriate for you and us.
Any further questions?
No problem, feel free to talk to me, preferably via WhatsApp:
Verena: +34677012859