São Jacinto is a small parish of the city of Aveiro, tucked away between the estuary (ria) of Aveiro and the Atlantic ocean, bestowed with a beautiful beach with silky white dunes and natural dunes reserve that stretches far beyond the horizon.
Up until the early 2000s, the region was bustling due to the local shipyards and the codfish drying industry. After these were shut down, São Jacinto preserved its unique, familiar and frugal touch. On this tiny peninsula where the estuary meets the beach, one has a sense of peace, tranquility and wholesomeness.
Fishing is part of the culture of São Jacinto. The ferry boat from Gafanha da Nazaré arrives at São Jacinto 13 times a day. Sure enough, you will find a number of fishermen on the return journeys, boasting their freshly caught sea bass, mackerel, broom…
Fear not – you will not have to fish your dinner. São Jacinto is home to outstanding restaurants that serve the freshest fish and seafood you can imagine; captured from the Atlantic ocean or from the nearby estuary.
Give the amêijoas à Bulhão Pato a try!
Hop on a 15-minute ferry boat ride from São Jacinto to Gafanha da Nazaré. From here, you can catch a bus or Uber to the city centre of Aveiro – the “Portuguese Venice”, with its beautiful river canals, traditional boats (moliceiros) and home to delicious sweets (ovos moles, trança, tripa).
As a guest at casa ria mar, we offer 1 round-trip ticket per person. Discover Aveiro and make sure to be back for the breathtaking sunset at the beach in São Jacinto.
The Natural Reserve of the Dunes of São Jacinto (Reserva Naturaldas Dunas de São Jacinto) boasts a total of over 995 hectars, including land and maritime area. In this very particular region of Portugal, the thin strip of peninsula São Jacinto lies on separates the salt water from the Atlantic from the brackish water where the river Vouga flows into.
On the road to São Jacinto, you will find a red wooden house to your left with a large sign reading “Reserva das Dunas de São Jacinto”. This marks the spot where you journey through this unique, outerworldly landscape begins.
São Jacinto lies at the very end of a peninsula that stretches along the estuary (ria) of Aveiro. From Esmoriz through Cortegaça, Maceda, Ovar and up to Furadouro you can find 40 kilometres of bicycle path that will take you through forest areas, dunes, beaches and urban centres.
Between Esmoriz and Furadouro there is the 10-kilometre forest road bicycle path called “Ecopista do Atlântico”, which connects both beaches through the forest and the dune landscape. Pick a sunny day, get one the bicycles Casa Riamar has in store for you and cycle away.
