Casa Couto

When you need to stock up on essentials there are amenities such as a minimarket and shops within a 20-minute walk from the villa. The nearest town is Caminha, a popular coastal resort where the River Minho meets the sea on the Costa Verde. The drive will take around 10 minutes and gives the chance to take in some lovely scenery even before you reach your destination, as the route passes close to the coast.

The old town area of Caminha is centred around the main square with features including a 16th century fountain and a clock tower that was originally the medieval castle's keep. The square is also a great place to people watch and see locals going about their daily lives. After you've taken in all the historical and cultural sights, relax with a coffee and a traditional Portuguese pastry on one of the many cafe terraces.

The Minho River is good for kayaking, canoeing and windsurfing, and the strong waves of the sea make for great surfing conditions. You can also hire bikes to follow cycle trails through the pine forests and hills that make up this area's unique landscape.

Vila Nova de Cerveira is approximately 17 km north of the villa and is a charming small town that boasts a rich history. The 13th century castle has been modified throughout the centuries and houses within its walls a 16th century town hall and a parish church. It's also a lovely place just to wander around to get a feel for what an imposing structure it must have been to the locals when it was first built.

Please be aware that the location tab shown on the website is not based on the property's exact location; therefore, all location amenities are an approx of facilities, restaurants, and villages/towns you might find around the property. The property's exact location will be provided to you before arrival and might come along with some recommendations about the area and what to visit.

ABOUT MINHO

The areas of Minho extend from the Spanish border in the north, south to Porto and east to the mountains of Vila Real. It is a green and fertile area of rolling hills encompassing the great rivers Minho, Lima and Douro, and the National Park of Peneda Geres. The countryside of the region is typified by long, sandy beaches bordered by pine woods, picturesque villages nestling among vine-covered hills, and historic towns such as Amarante, Guimaraes, Barcelos, Ponte de Lima, and Viana do Castelo.

The area encompasses a range of postcard-worthy landscapes and features that could almost be Portugal in microcosm: dreamy river scenes, high mountains, rolling vineyards, beautiful historic towns, dramatic Atlantic beaches, ancient religious foundations and mysterious archaeological sites.

Then there's the bold, sharp and fruity Vinho Verde to consider. This young wine is fashioned from the fruit of kilometres of vineyards that wind along rivers, over foothills and into Minho mountain villages.

But while you're enjoying one of our fantastic villas in Minho, you may well want to take some time out from all that sun worship to explore everything else the region has to offer – so we've put together this handy travel guide to give you a little help and inspiration!

Check out our Minho Travel Guide >>