Dunas de São Jacinto

The São Jacinto dune reserve occupies the seaward side of the spit that separates the Ria de Aveiro from the Atlantic, about six hundred and seventy hectares of dune system with maritime pine and acacia planted from the nineteenth century to stabilise sand that was burying farmland and villages. A boardwalk trail of a few kilometres runs from the reserve entrance through the dune succession - fixed dunes, slacks, mobile foredune - past small lagoons used by waterbirds, and out to a wide, empty and entirely undeveloped beach. Numbers are limited and at times visits are guided, which keeps it quiet. The ferry from Forte da Barra is part of the trip. Acacia, planted as a stabiliser, has become an invasive problem across these dunes and its removal is an ongoing programme visible on the ground.

What you actually see

• The dune succession - fixed dunes, slacks and mobile foredune along the boardwalk.
• The pine plantation - nineteenth-century planting to stop sand burying the coast.
• The beach - a wide undeveloped Atlantic shore at the end of the trail.
• The acacia problem - invasive stabiliser now being removed.

When to go

April to October. Two to four hours including the ferry. Numbers are capped and some visits are guided - check before travelling.

Honest expectations

Access is limited and may require booking; the reserve closes on some days. The boardwalk is exposed with no shade. Ferry timetables are limited and the road route around is long. Swimming off this beach is unsupervised and Atlantic currents are strong.

Nearby

Aveiro and its lagoon are across the water; Ovar and Torreira are north up the spit.