São Jacinto: Dunes, Beach and Ria de Aveiro

São Jacinto brings together the Atlantic coast, a dune landscape and the Ria de Aveiro within a compact geographical area, without this necessarily resulting in a uniform holiday experience. The Reserva Natural das Dunas de São Jacinto lies at the tip of a peninsula between Ovar and the town of São Jacinto. To the west, it borders the Atlantic Ocean; to the east, an arm of the Ria de Aveiro. This contrast is particularly interesting when choosing accommodation: you can focus on the beach and water sports or combine nature, regional history and culinary discoveries.

Dunes, forest and nature observation

The Trilho da Descoberta da Natureza offers the opportunity to observe and interpret the natural assets of the Reserva Natural das Dunas de São Jacinto. In addition, the Centro de Interpretação provides various information about the protected area and the region. Those travelling with different interests can therefore combine an active outdoor stay with an explanatory perspective on the landscape.

The Mata de S. Jacinto is also part of the area's distinctive character. It was planted in 1888 to stabilize the dunes. In the Reserva Natural, many species of ducks and herons, as well as other seabirds, find protection in specially created freshwater ponds. An extensive wooden boardwalk runs through São Jacinto between the waters of the Ria and the beach, complementing the nature experience with a clear point of orientation in the town.

Atlantic beach and activities on two bodies of water

Praia de São Jacinto lies on the boundaries of the Reserva Natural and has an extensive, almost untouched sandy beach. On the sea side, you can go bodyboarding, while sailing takes place on the Ria side. The Centro de Alto Rendimento de Surf (CARSurf) de São Jacinto is dedicated to surfing, bodyboarding and longboarding and is located between Praia de São Jacinto and the Ria de Aveiro.

The Dunas de São Jacinto Festival is also part of the local events calendar. It is a three-day event featuring stand-up paddling (SUP), canoeing and environmental education activities. CARSurf has also hosted a stage of the European Tour Bodyboard. Such varied offerings help you assess the desired mix of exercise, water and nature for planning your trip, without making every day the same.

For people with reduced mobility, the Praia Acessível service provides an amphibious chair next to the beach post. No bathing assistance is offered there. This specific information may play an important role when planning a day at the beach.

Church, boats and regional cuisine

The history of São Jacinto is also closely connected with the water. The Ermida da Senhora das Areias, which today serves as the parish church of São Jacinto, was associated with an image of Nossa Senhora da Conceição believed to perform miracles and with numerous pilgrimages. Next to the Ermida stands a Cruzeiro, supposedly erected in 1584, which served as an anchorage for ships navigating the channel.

The headquarters of the Reserva Natural houses a miniature collection of typical boats from the Ria. The collection is the work of artisans from São Jacinto and illustrates a local maritime tradition. A fish and eel stew is highlighted as a gastronomic speciality. Thus, in addition to beach and nature experiences, the town also offers points of connection with culture and regional cuisine.

Choosing São Jacinto as a base

If you are looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can first decide which of these aspects should shape your stay: observations in the nature reserve, days on the Atlantic, activities on the Ria or insights into the town's history. A regular boat service operates from Aveiro to São Jacinto across the Ria de Aveiro, further assisting with orientation when planning your trip.

For further trip planning, you can also view Sao Jacinto, Oliveira De Azeméis, Arouca, Estarreja, Murtosa, São João Da Madeira, Santa Maria Da Feira and Oliveira Do Bairro.

For the higher-level travel overview: Aveiro.