Mariña Lucense

Cantabric jewel

A Mariña is the green Galician balcony that hangs over the Cantabrian ocean, always covered in a sea of mist which limits the hours of sunshine that fall on the coast.  

Reserve

(+34) 881 091 209

Mariña Lucense

The unique beauty of A Mariña has always and continues to seduce whoever lays eyes upon it.

From the heights of Estaca de Bares, home to the northernmost lighthouse on the Iberian Peninsula, one hundred kilometres of coast burst with natural wonders along the shore, from the tranquil landscapes of the ría do Barquiero (Barquiero estuary), presided over by the bench at the Mirador de O Coitelo (O Coitelo Lookout), to the majesty of the Praia das Catedrais (Cathedrals Beach) or the estuario del Eo (Eo estuary).  Heading inland, our path follows that of the pilgrims heading towards Santiago de Compostela along the Northern Route, where you can discover some artistic treasures and sample the extraordinary local cuisine. Along the western part of the coast near O Vicedo, a standout is Xilloi beachArealonga , in Foz,  features a Celtic fort.  A small isthmus can be found between As Cubelas, in Cervo, and Viveiro, capital of the Western Mariña, and surrounded by the largest estuary in the Cantabrian Sea. Its artistic offerings include the Puerta de Carlos V, as well as one of the most important rock music festivals in Europe, Resurrection Fest, held in July.  But one of the biggest attractions here, without a doubt, is Holy Week (Semana Santa), a festival named as one of International Touristic Interest.  The beautiful Souto da Reorta is also a highlight, believed to be the oldest eucalyptus trees in Galicia.  We then recommend spending the night in San Cibrao, where you can enjoy several water sports, of which diving is the most popular.

Heading inland, you might like to choose Mondoñedo as your next destination, an old episcopal seat.  Although some roads can be challenging, it will be well worth it.  Here you will find several architectural gems  such as the Cathedral and the Medieval Wall.  A few kilometres from Foz, we come upon San Martiño de Mondoñedo Church, the oldest cathedral in Spain, and important monasteries such as that of San Salvador de LourenzáLa Serra do Xistral, named a Protected Natural Space, separates the Cantabrian Sea from A Terra Chá.  Here you will find several museums on offer: the Museo Histórico de Sargadelos (Sargadelos History Museum), in O Cervo, the Barco Museo Bonitero (Bonitero Ship Museum) in Burela, the only one of its kind in Spain, and the Museo do Mar (Sea Museum) in San Cibrao. The beaches are the true highlight along the westernmost part of the Cantabrian coast.  From Arealonga, in Barreiros, to Altar, along the Foz estuary, there are around ten sandbanks connected by a seafront promenade, with lots of parking and services available.  The campsite Benquerencia is a great option for those wanting to spend the night.  However, the most well-known and important beach along this stretch of coast is the Augas Santas beach, also known as the Playa de las Catedrales (Cathedrals Beach), located in the Ribadeo municipality.  The beach gets its name from the rock formations which have been sculpted into arches by the ocean.  Known as one of the top five beaches in Europe, it has been classified as a Site of Community Importance and a Natural Monument, and is one of the biggest attractions of the Mariña.  It receives visitors throughout the year, with many available services and lots of parking, although avoiding the site on national holidays is recommended.  Make sure you do your research about the tides before arriving, as the arches can only be accessed during low tide.  A few kilometres away, we stop in Ribadeo, and then head towards Asturias where some spectacular destinations like Luarca and Cudillero await us.

When it comes to food, northern Lugo is home to several food festivals and traditional products. These include rice served with lobster and goose barnacles in Rinlo, hake in Celeiro, sea urchin in San Cibrao, tuna in Burela, cockles in Foz and octopus in Ribadeo. Further inland, make sure you try the honey and chestnuts in Valadouro, the broad beans in Lourenzá, and the cake in Mondoñedo.  Bon voyage and bon appetit!

O Courel

The Magical Mountains

"Courel dos tesos cumes que ollan de lonxe!
Eiquí síntese ben o pouco que é un home…"  Uxío Novoneyra, el poeta de O Courel.

Read more
O Courel

Fragas do Eume

The forest gem

It is a paradise for nature lovers and the largest protected Atlantic forest in Europe.

Read more
Fragas do Eume

La Península do Barbanza

The land of the castros

Bordering and entering the peninsula of Barbanza means discovering the place with the highest concentration of prehistoric remains found in Galicia. Funerary tu...

Read more
La Península do Barbanza

Baixa Limia-Serra do Xurés

Virgin Territory

Here, history and tradition round out the many offerings of this virgin territory in south-western Ourense where it seems as if time has stopped.

Read more
Baixa Limia-Serra do Xurés

Ferrol

The surfing route

In the approximately 50 kilometres that separate Doniños and Cedeira, you will see a variety of tiny bays, rugged rock formations, and enormous sandbanks that ...

Read more
Ferrol

Fisterra

The Death Coast

The coast gets its name from the tragedies and shipwrecks that occurred amongst its wild landscapes, cliffs and untouched beaches. You can trace this winding co...

Read more
Fisterra

Rías Baixas

The waves in the South

Visitors can enjoy the best beaches, culinary and wine offerings, cultural heritage, and leisure and sporting activities in a place considered one of the most a...

Read more
Rías Baixas

Ribeira Sacra

Along de banks of the Rivers Miño and Sil

There are no beaten tracks and no horizons - the uniqueness of this region is found in its canyons, its many vineyards, its extraordinary lookouts, and its lusc...

Read more
Ribeira Sacra

This website uses cookies to get statistical data navigation users. Press the "OK" button to authorize the use.

OK | Decline | More info