Path along the coast
Experience the seafaring essence of As Rías Baixas
The Coastal Route starts in As Rías Baixas from the mouth of the Miño River and runs along the Atlantic coastline to the bottom of the Vigo estuary, where it joins the traditional Portuguese Way. This coastal route, from A Guarda to Redondela, offers spectacular landscapes of beaches, cliffs, marshes, forests and river paths. You will discover a rich archaeological heritage, churches and manor houses; you will walk through beautiful historical sites; and you will immerse yourself in the gastronomy, culture and festivals of this territory.
The castro of Santa Trega is the best welcome letter for pilgrims on this route. From the estuary of the Miño River, the Coastal Route is a splendid balcony overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the Cíes Islands and the Vigo estuary, which will allow you to experience first-hand the seafaring and wine culture of the Rías Baixas.
You will hardly leave the seashore until you reach the central Portuguese Way. Enjoy this itinerary with the aroma of saltpetre, official since 2016, which will allow you to discover the magic of the coast of the province of Pontevedra.
Distance: 25 kilometres
The cross-border estuary of the Miño is a place of extraordinary natural interest, with an enormous biological diversity. Its riverside forest stands out, unparalleled in Galicia, where you can find alders, willows, oaks, ashes, poplars, elms, birches and laurels. In addition, you will be able to see more than fifty species of water birds from central and northern Europe.
The stop in A Guarda allows you to enjoy the typical, colourful and narrow houses and a quiet walk along the harbour. The Praza del Reló and the church of Santa María are interesting places to visit in the town.
The hill of Santa Trega reigns over the estuary and is home to the most important protohistoric archaeological settlement in Galicia, with its characteristic circular constructions. The citania dates back to the 4th century BC and bears witness to pre-Roman trade. It is worth contemplating the landscape from the highest point of the hill, with the estuary of the river, the town of A Guarda, the Atlantic Ocean and the beach of A Foz, in Caminha, at the foot. An unrepeatable image.
The route continues along the beaches of Fedorento and Area Grande, where archaeological sites rich in artefacts made by ancient settlers have been found. It continues on to the lands of the municipality of O Rosal, famous for its Rías Baixas Denomination of Origin wines. With the cliffs where the ocean waves beat at our feet, we have a view of great beauty where seabirds can be seen throughout the year.
In O Rosal we can also follow the route around the mills of O Picón and O Folón, recognised as an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC).
The next stop on this stage is Oia, the third municipality on the Way in Galicia. Here the Royal Monastery of Santa María de Oia is an obligatory stop. Located next to the Atlantic, its origins date back to 1137 under the tutelage of Alfonso VII of Castile and, throughout its history, until 1835, it was governed by 140 abbots.
This stage concludes in Mougás, where the port stands out, allowing you to admire a beautiful rocky area. The place also attracts surfing enthusiasts due to its waves, which are suitable for this sport.
A few kilometres from Mougás we can find A Cabeciña, an archaeological site with more than 4,000 years of history, formed by petroglyphs, and a fortified settlement with monumental defensive structures and impressive views of the Atlantic. Its original cave engravings are unique in Galicia.
Facing the Atlantic, the A Groba mountain range unfolds. From there you can admire the mouth of the Vigo estuary with the Cíes Islands, a natural jewel that forms part of the Maritime-Terrestrial National Park of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia.
Distance: 16 kilometres
From Mougás, the route heads towards Baiona, a beautiful municipality with a beautiful historic centre and a large number of tourists. Just on the edge of the municipality, still in Oia, stands the Cape Silleiro lighthouse, which marks the entrance to the Vigo estuary.
In the long and rich history of Baiona, the arrival of the Pinta caravel in its port in 1493 has a singular value, making this town the first place in Europe to have news of the Discovery of America.
The historic centre has been declared a Historic-Artistic Site, and the main points of interest are the chapel of Santa Liberata; the old collegiate church of Santa María, built between the 12th and 14th centuries in Romanesque style with Cistercian influences; the Sancti Spiritus hospital; the fountains of Ceta and Pombal; and the Santísima Trinidad transept.
The fortress of the Monterreal peninsula deserves special mention; its 18 hectares are surrounded by three kilometres of crenellated walls built between the 11th and 17th centuries. From the fortress and its surroundings there are splendid views of the Cíes Islands.
The route continues towards Nigrán, the next municipality on the Way. The Romanesque bridge of A Ramallosa, which links it with Baiona, was built at the mouth of the river Miñor in the 13th century. In the centre is a cross with a cross with a wreath of souls and an image of St. Telmo.
Other highlights are the church and the pazo of Cadaval. As we pass over the bridge of A Ramallosa, a marshland stretches out before our eyes. We finish our stage at the pazo of Pías or the hostel of the Apostolic Ladies. It's time to rest before continuing the route. Tomorrow, we head for Vigo.
Distance: 20 kilometres
The pazos are one of the many attractions of this route on the shores of the Atlantic and As Rías Baixas. The route passes next to Cadaval-Urzaiz, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest and whose origins date back to the 14th century. The manor house is surrounded by a beautiful garden.
Another of the manor houses on the route is that of Cea, also in the municipality of Nigrán, built in the 16th century and distinguished as a Historic Monument and BIC.
Nigrán stands out for its sandy beaches, among which A Praia América, Panxón and Patos are especially renowned, where thousands of bathers come during the summer to enjoy their leisure time. In addition, Patos is very popular with water sports enthusiasts, as it is suitable for surfing and windsurfing.
The route continues to Vigo, the largest city in Galicia, through the river path of the Lagares, the main river of the city of Vigo. Its course takes pilgrims to the beautiful Castrelos Park, the perfect place to take a break. In the upper part is another pazo, that of Quiñones de León, which houses the city's museum, with rich collections of archaeology, sculpture, drawing, ceramics, paintings from various schools and decorative arts.
The origin of the building dates back to the old Lavandeira pazo, built around 1670. The French-inspired Baroque-style gardens at the back of the building date from the 19th century, with their labyrinthine myrtle hedges and rose garden. In the lower part is the English garden, also known as the Tea Meadow, which features numerous varieties of ornamental and exotic plants.
The stage ends at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, also known as the Church of the Peaks and inspired by Le Corbusier.
Distance: 17 kilometres
A good way to start the stage is to stroll through Vigo's old town and enjoy its lively atmosphere.
There you'll find the Santa María Co-cathedral, the city's main temple, which houses the image of the Cristo de la Victoria (Christ of Victory), Vigo's religious symbol. The procession of Christ attracts tens of thousands of people every year on the first Sunday of August.
A Porta do Sol square, halfway between the lower and upper historic districts, is one of the city's nerve centres. It's right at the entrance to O Príncipe Street, Vigo's commercial golden mile, and next to the Ensanche, the urban expansion area that has grown progressively since the late 19th century. Here you'll find interesting buildings from different architectural schools.
Vigo offers stupendous panoramic views of the sea from splendid viewpoints such as the Paseo de Afonso XII, 500 metres from A Porta do Sol, or the magnificent fortress of O Castro. From there you can see the port, one of the most thriving in Europe, the Cíes Islands in the background and the Morrazo peninsula in front, with excellent beaches.
The Way leaves Vigo along the Ruta da Auga, which offers a rich natural variety and excellent views, and advances towards Rande, the scene of the epic naval battle of 23 October 1702 between the Spanish-French fleet and the Anglo-Dutch navy, which won the battle. These events gave rise to legends about treasures and riches hidden in the waters of the estuary.
The route enters the San Simón inlet, an area catalogued as a Site of Community Importance (SCI) and rich in aquatic birds. It is also notable for the cultivation of bivalves, with oysters as the main delicacy.
Off the coast emerges the island of San Simón, which throughout its history has been a monastic centre, a concentration camp, a lazaretto and a home for the education of orphans and sailors' orphans.
On the walk through Redondela, the walkers will find a rich civil and religious heritage, in which the pazo of Torrecedeira, built in the 17th century, and the church of Santo André de Cedeira, in Baroque style and dating from the 18th century, stand out.
The Bronze Age left a rich legacy of archaeological sites, from petroglyphs to burial complexes and cave engravings in Redondela. Romanisation made the town important and the Camino de Santiago increased its importance in the Middle Ages. Its railway viaducts and its beautiful historic centre are characteristic.