Looking for a destination away from the madding crowd? To enjoy a unique experience, one of those that are always remembered? Let’s not think about it anymore, A Costa da Morte is waiting for us! We are going to see up close the power of the wild sea, the most natural beaches, some practically virgin, a first class gastronomy… Let’s see how we can compress everything into an exciting three-day getaway.
Day 1: Fisterra and Muxía
A good place to start is Cape Fisterra, where the world was once thought to end. Well, for us, the journey begins. From the lighthouse we get an idea of the shape of the coast, with the Corcubión estuary, Mount Pindo, the Lobeiras islands and even the Carnota coast. Just ahead, the islet of O Centolo, the cause of many shipwrecks. Nearby is the Langosteira beach, very secluded, nothing to do with the open sea of the cape.
Holy Week is a good time to go to Fisterra, since one of the most traditional festivals in Galicia, declared of tourist interest, is celebrated here. It is the Festa do Santo Cristo, a celebration with performances of the Passion, where images and people act. The most important day is Easter Sunday, when the sacramental play about the arrival of the women at the tomb and the encounter with the angel who announces the Resurrection is performed. After the relevant hallelujahs, the Danza dos paus or Santa María das Areas is danced, a dance from the 17th century. And all this in a unique landscape: in the vicinity of the church of Santa María das Areas, on the way up to the lighthouse.
After the party we head towards Muxía, where we will visit Punta da Barca. Here, next to the lighthouse, is the sanctuary of A Virxe da Barca and the stones that are said to be the remains of the Virgin’s boat: the famous stones of Abalar, Os Cadrís and O Temón (the supposed parts of the boat: sail, hull and rudder). Be careful, they are presumed to have healing and divination properties. In front of us we have Cabo Vilán and, between lighthouse and lighthouse, the Camariñas estuary.
Day 2: From Camariñas to Malpica de Bertantiños
And in Camariñas we stood up on the second day. It has one of the most important ports of A Costa da Morte. But above all it is known for its bobbin lace, famous throughout the world. Following Calle de la Constitución and then the road to Vilán, we arrive at Cabo Vilán. There stands one of the most powerful lighthouses on the peninsula. In front of it, the sea beats on the Vilán de Fóra islet, separated from land by the O Bufardo pass. Here we also find stones with their own names, such as A Caaveira or A Moa. Of course, we are in a privileged space, much loved by endangered birds, such as guillemots or cormorants.
To get fully immersed in what life at sea means, you have to visit the “Interpretation Center for Shipwrecks, Lighthouses and Maritime Signals”, which is right here.
Continuing the route north, we enter the Bergantiños region, with a succession of fishing municipalities where you can stop, such as Laxe or Malpica de Bergantiños, and lighthouses such as O Roncudo or Punta Nariga, incredible viewpoints over the Atlantic.
Inside there are also treasures to discover, such as O dolmen de Dombate and, a few kilometers away, the O castro de Borneiro, two jewels of our archaeological heritage, in the municipality of Cabana de Bergantiños.
Day 3: Discovering Mount Pindo
On the last day we return to the Fisterra region to get closer to Dumbría. There, in Santa Uxía de Ézaro, we have a natural phenomenon worth seeing. It is about the Ézaro waterfall, which falls 40 m high just when the Ézaro, or Xallas, river flows into the sea. The area is prepared with walkways to enjoy the show comfortably.
To have a good perspective from a distance, we have to go up to the Ézaro viewpoint, from where we can see the tip of Cape Fisterra, the Lobeiras islands, the Santa Uxía reservoir, the mouth of the Xallas and Mount Pindo. This mountain by the sea, the “Celtic Olympus”, full of granite forms, also has a lot of petroglyphs and the ruins of the castle of San Xurxo. Popular legends make it the home of Raíña Lupa; It is also said that the interior of the mount is full of treasures.
If we have time and are fit, we can reach the summit in about two and a half hours. From above we have a panoramic view of the mouth of the Xallas, Cape Fisterra, the Corcubión estuary and, of course, Carnota, with its immense beach. Mountain and beach make up the Carnota-Monte Pindo natural area, a special conservation area.
A good end of the day is to relax on this beach of more than 7 km, the largest in Galicia and one of the most impressive for its beauty, where you can fully breathe A Costa da Morte.
And here ends the plan for the three-day getaway in A Costa da Morte, just enough to always carry it in your heart. So, we already know: Easter? 3 days off? ideal destination… To Costa da Morte! Have a good trip!
