In Galicia there are sandbanks of considerable length to take a good walk. So, to pour yourself a lot of sunscreen, since the breeze from the seashore is the hottest thing, put on a good visor (or straw hat, pamela… in short, there are looks for all tastes) and, on going! Advice for beginners: take reliable references from our settlement, since with so many kilometers ahead it is easy to get disoriented.

The longest beaches are to the north, some in A Costa da Morte, where the force of the open sea thoroughly shapes the sands of the coastline. So the sand is so fine and the water is so clean, and there are so many dunes. Let’s start the walk from north to south, then:

Between the Ortigueira and Ladrido estuaries stretches the Morouzos beach, in Ortigueira. At low tide it reaches more than 2 km long. It is irregular, with sandy bars and a dune ridge that gives rise to the San Martiño lagoon. To the east we come across the small island of San Vicente, which can be crossed on foot at low tide. This is the only beach with dark sand in the north, and with grain of medium thickness. If we want to continue walking in the shade, we have a leafy pine forest in the background, which becomes a free camping area when the Ortigueira Festival arrives.

We continue along the coastline and come upon A Frouxeira beach, in Valdoviño, which runs from Punta Faluchos to Punta Frouxeira. This beach of more than 3 km, with white sand and facing the open sea, is perfect for walking and running. It is very windy and waves, ideal for surfing. It also has a more urban part for those who need an extra. And, surprise, behind the cordon of dunes: the Valdoviño lagoon, very suitable for bathing the little ones. The walk has the added attraction of A Percebelleira, a large rock accessible when the tide is low.

The next long beach is San Xurxo beach, in Ferrol, south of Cape Prior. It covers a little more than 2 km. It is a windy beach (watch out for hats), good for surfing and kite flying. It is also called the beach of the two rivers, because the Esmelle and the Xuncal flow there.

On the Costa da Morte we start with Baldaio beach, in Carballo. It is another very complete beach, with a lagoon, marsh, and a bar of dunes that joins Baldaio and Razo, which means that the sand stretches for 3.5 km. After a past of exploitation of the area for the extraction of sand, the lagoon recovers little by little. Here you can walk at ease, but be careful not to go too far into the sea, which is dangerous. People fond of walking around collecting shells will surely find a few “ollos maus”, small eroded shells that are said to repel the evil eye.

It seems that every great sandy area has a lagoon behind it. This also happens on the Traba beach, in Laxe, which is more than 2.5 km long. It is open to the sea, and the wind and waves make it a surfing destination. The natural space of Traba is formed by the great beach, between Punta de Arnado and Punta de Traba, a dune ridge and a lagoon, a great ornithological reserve and a great reserve of legends.

And, attention, we come to the longest: Carnota beach. It has approximately… 7 km! Here we do have to be careful where we leave the towel, or wear it. The beach is accompanied by a set of dunes and marshes with an interior lagoon, a refuge for many plant species and waterfowl, some of which are in danger of extinction, such as the píllara papuda. In addition to being immense, the beach opens its mouth and lets the waters of the Vadebois River pass through, in the area known as A Boca do Río.

We leave A Costa da Morte and arrive at O ​​Barbanza. There we have a sandbank with the complete pack: Corrubedo Dune Complex and Garregal and Vixián Lagoons. Here, rather than a long beach, we speak of a succession of attached beaches: A Ladeira, Ferreira, A Lagoa, O Vilar and Anguieiro. The walk along the seashore is about 4 km. With their backs to the sea, there are bars of dunes that would give rise to a desert and, later, the Carregal lagoon, with salt water, and the Vixián lagoon, with sweet water. A very complete ecosystem. The show is served!

More sheltered is the Barraña beach, which is the urban beach of Boiro, 2.5 km long. Being protected by the estuary, the water are very calm. The gently sloping sandbank extends from Barraña-Saltiño to the mouth of the Coroño River. We have a promenade, in case we get tired of walking on the sand, and the city behind.

And we finish in the Rías Baixas, with the A Lanzada beach, which stretches along 2 km of sand to the open sea, on the O Bao isthmus, which joins O Grove and Sanxenxo. Of course, it also has dunes and wetlands with a title: Umia-O Grove Intertidal Space Complex. We can continue the walk to the hermitage of A Lanzada or the archaeological sites in the area, with a necropolis from the 4th century BC. If we walk with the board we can also do some surfing, which is open sea.

They are available at any time of the year, although the beaches of Costa das Ondas, in Ferrolterra, and Costa da Morte, are more recommended in spring and summer, and those of Mariña Lucense and Rías Baixas, in autumn and winter. So, attention surfers, from south to north, here are the best spots (places where surfing is practiced) in Galicia:

Patos (Nigran). It is the beach with the greatest surfing tradition in the Rías Baixas, very frequented by the people of Vigo. It is in an urban environment, with many surf schools, specialized shops and a wide range of hotels. At the western end is the Pico de Patos, the most famous wave in the area. On your left we find La izquierda de Monteferro, another wave, clearly on the left. It is very pleasant to surf with views of the Cíes.

Montalvo (Sanxenxo). This beach of fine white sand, with dunes and pine trees in the background, borders on the left with Punta Montalvo and on the right with Paxariñas. It is in a rural area in front of the Ons. It has variable peaks and requires a swell to break. When conditions are optimal, large tubes form. The area is full of hotels and campsites.

In the same area, we must also mention the beach of A Lanzada, excellent for beginners, with a fairly flat wave, especially with low tide rising.

Río Sieira (Porto do Son). Wild beach, with fine white sand and strong waves. It is also called As Furnas beach. It is very constant, it does not need much sea to break, so it is suitable for surfing at any time of the year. In addition, it has a wonderful picnic area in the A Coviña pine forest.

Nemina (Muxía). Large virgin beach south of Cape Touriñán, which adjoins Lires beach. It has high quality waves, frequented by surfers from all over Europe. It is also known for bass fishing. Although it is isolated from urban centers, it is well endowed with catering establishments and accommodation in the surrounding area.

Soesto (Laxe). It is one of the most constant beaches of the Costa da Morte. The waves are powerful, and sometimes they come with a dolphin and everything. With what the sea beats here, the sand is very fine and white and dunes are formed. Away from the madding crowd, it has the advantage that in the surroundings it is allowed to sleep in caravans and vans.

Areamaior (Malpica de Bergantiños). It is Malpica beach. In it we enjoy waves at mid-tide, among which a left current peak and a right one to the center of the sand stand out. It has parking, where you can sleep in a motorhome or van.

Razo (Carballo). The last beach of the Costa da Morte. It is a long sandy area that, added to that of Baldaio, with its dunes and marshes, forms the Razo-Baldaio Natural Area. It has multiple peaks throughout the beach. It has a car park and several catering establishments. In summer it is the capital of surfcamps.

Caión (A Laracha). Place of reference for surfers in A Coruña. It has several important peaks, one stands out in the middle and other right at the bottom. Here, sand waves work best at mid and high tide. It is a lively beach, with a wide range of hotels and port life.

Orzán (A Coruña). It is in the city of A Coruña. It is a very accessible urban beach, with several surfable peaks, although the best wave is O Matadeiro. Although it works throughout the year, it can be said that it is a classic of winter surfing. Being in the center of the city, the offer of facilities and hotels is very complete.

Ponte Pedrido (Bergondo). This beach boasts of having the longest wave in all of Galicia, Ondalonga, which forms at the exit of the Betanzos estuary. It is ideal for longboarding; in fact, since 2010, the fun gathering of surfers Ondalonga Longboard Festival has been held.

Doniños (Ferrol). This beach is almost 2 km long and is very accessible. Here we have one of the best sand breaks in Galicia for surfing, with many peaks. To the north is the Outeiro area, very busy; in the south, Punta Penencia, less frequented but with great quality waves. Since 2011 the Spanish Surf Championship has been held here.

Campelo (Valdoviño). It is a beach surrounded by cliffs, with multiple peaks for surfing, among which one on the right side and one in the middle stand out. It does not need much sea, so in summer there are many people, since there are always waves. The presence of bolos (large boulders) in contrast to the fine sand gives it a unique character.

Pantín (Valdoviño). It is said that if there are no waves in Pantín, it is because there are none in all of Galicia. Its perseverance makes it an ideal place to surf in all kinds of conditions. It has many peaks, the most characteristic, the right and left on the right side of the beach. At the end of summer, since 1989, the Pantín Classic is held, the oldest surf event in Spain and with the highest professional level.

Areoura (Foz). This beach with a rocky bottom is known for its famous wave A Machacona. It is a difficult wave, straight, fast and tubular, for surfers with a lot of experience, you can see it by the name… When it looks best it is at mid-tide with waves from one meter.

Peizás (Foz). It has an area of sand and another of rocks, with various peaks of long waves. A peak of rock and sand stands out on the left and right in the westernmost area. It needs a lot of sea, so the best time to surf here is in autumn-winter, when the sea is rougher.

Oliñas (Barreiros). With its multiple peaks and large tubes, it is a classic of Lugo winter. On days with a lot of sea, it is only suitable for very experienced surfers. It is followed by other beaches, in a very touristic area of the Mariña Lucense.

There are many legends in which the beach of A Lanzada is mentioned, and it is known that the place was one of the most important centers of folk medicine in Galicia until the 50s. Possibly, the proliferation of stories and traditions linked to A Lanzada is related to the fact that it is a place that has been inhabited for several thousand years: archaeological remains were found on the islet in front of the Ermida de Nosa Señora da Lanzada belonging to the Iron Age, and in the same small peninsula (formerly island) that marks the southern limit of the beach, there are besides the aforementioned romanic hermitage, the ruins of a medieval tower that at the time served as a defense against Norman and Muslim attacks. Moving a little further on the mainland, you can visit a necropolis, a celtic castro and some Roman structures.

An important part of the legends that will be discussed below has to do with female fertility, and it is indeed probable that some goddess or god of fertility was worshiped in the area in pagan times. As in many other similar cases in Galicia, these pagan rites would have been later christianized, giving rise, over the centuries, to some of the traditions that persist today.

The best known legend is that of the bath of the nine waves. If a sterile woman who wishes to have children lets nine waves of the Atlantic pass on her belly, the power of the ocean will put an end to her infertility. This bath can only be taken in the area of ​​the beach located next to the hermitage, on the night of the last Saturday in August, when the Romaría da Virxe da Lanzada is celebrated. However, being a popular tradition, not all sources agree; some say that the bath would also be effective at twilight on the night of San Juan, or on a full moon night in August. The ritual is based on the reproductive power of the sea, in this case the ocean. This water-reproduction relationship is also very old, being reflected for the first time in the Galician-Portuguese medieval cantigas. Returning to the ritual, according to tradition, before (or after, depending on the source) bathing, women who wish to end their sterility have to sit or lie down in the Cuna da Santa or Cama da Virxe. These names are given to a group of rocks near the hermitage whose shapes evoke a bed or crib. These rocks are also participants in another legend starring the patron saint of the temple: it is said that the Virgin was long ago stolen from the hermitage by the residents of San Vicente do Mar, a nearby parish, in O Grove. The Virgin returned alone to A Lanzada, under the sea, in her stone bed.

In addition, the Virgin defends against the evil eye the one who, following tradition, sweeps around the altarpiece of the hermitage three times on the day of the romaría. Three coins for the temple, three tours of the chapel, or three Masses also cure the evil eye. Not for nothing is the Virgin of A Lanzada considered one of the most miraculous ones in the area.

Last, the Santa Compaña also passes by the beach. The Santa Compaña is a terrible procession of souls on their way to purgatory, very present (with different versions) in popular Galician and northwestern peninsular mythology. According to the tradition of the region, the souls in pain of the Santa Compaña leave A Lanzada in the direction of the Ons Islands, where they end their procession in the so-called Buraco do inferno (“Hell´s hole”).

These are some legends and stories that fill with mystery and magic A Lanzada, a beach almost three kilometers long in which historical heritage and tradition meet a unique natural beauty, open to the Atlantic.

Located in the heart of the estuary of Corme and Laxe, the Balarés beach is a place that attracts a multitude of bathers in summer because of its location, more protected from the waves and the wind than other nearby beaches, and because the environment, with a pine forest and a picnic area.

But, the place has much more to offer, starting with a story in which facts and legends interweave with World War II. The origins of the pier that still closes the north end of the beach date back even further back in time, in the mid-1930s, when the discovery of a titanium deposit in the area drove the establishment of the company Titania S.A. The neighbors of the area, men and women, were who built the original structure of that pier and the oldest people of the area still keep alive the memory of an era and in which comverge the hardness of the times of the Civil War and the postwar period, the possibilities of development and the echoes of Nazi Germany.

The majority of the Balarés ore was sent to the Basque Country to be used in a company owned by Germans. But not even the local protagonists of those events are very clear about the final use of titanium that was extracted from the sand of the place until the 60s, when Titania S.A. was closed. There are those who explain that the mineral was used by the pharmaceutical industry and by matchmakers, but others argue that during the Second World War this mineral was used by the Germans to reinforce the alloys of their weapons. In fact, not far from Balarés, in the municipality of Santa Comba was the Varilongo mine. There it was extracted iron and quartz, but at the beginning of the 40s became a strategic place for the Nazis by the appearance of tungsten. This mineral was known as the “black gold” for its importance in the manufacture of cannons and armor and was also extracted in another nearby place, the mine of Monte Neme, in Carballo.

The boats with the titanium extracted in Balarés departed from the beach pier, but some say that there was also tungsten smuggling. Some people even talk about the presence in the nearby waters of German vessels and the participation Germanic staff in some of the work done on the mainland.

At present, besides the port, you can still see in the surroundings of the area remains of the pools in which the mineral was deposited and processed before being shipped. A walk through the place invites you to discover the vestiges of that time and let your imagination fly trying to complete the unknown of a story yet to be written.

Let’s solve all your fears.

 Although most of the beaches do not admit animals from May to September, more and more municipalities are joining this initiative to allow animals to enter some of their beaches. Currently on the Galician coasts there are 10 beaches that allow dogs to access.

If your holiday destination is in the province of Pontevedra, there are 5 municipalities where your dogs can swim with you at sea.

 In O Grove we can go to the beach of O Espiño and O Portiño. Located next to each other, they are next to the Puerto Deportivo de Pedras Negras, in San Vicente do Mar. These are quiet beaches with little waves where you can spend an ideal day with your pet.

Also in the Rías Baixas you will find the beach of O Castelete, in Vilagarcía de Arousa. After many years being visited by bathers with pets, the town council decided to officially allow the access of animals, and as it is close to the road, they installed wooden fences to prevent them from escaping to the street. It also has bins to deposit your pet’s excrement.

In Cangas you can also enjoy a fun day with your pet. On the beach of A Cunchiña, in front of the former Massó canner, access with dogs is allowed. 

The Cesantes canine beach is a fantastic place to enjoy this vacation. Located in the municipality of Redondela, it has a length of about 150 meters.

Vigo has two canine beaches. A Foz, next to the mouth of the river Lagares, and Calzoa, located next to it. With a fairly large surface, dogs can run at ease and take a good dip.

In the province of Lugo there is a petfriendly town hall. Barreiros allows access to our canine friends to the beach of Punta Corveira. This beach, adjacent to the beach of Lóngara is rocky.

In A Pobra do Caramiñal, province of A Coruña, we can find the Arenal beach, which separates the seafront from the sea. This sandy beach, 1 km long, is known by locals as the shellfish beach. It is ideal to go with your dog to take a bath and then walk quietly around, since it is an urban beach.

And also in the province of A Coruña we can go to the beach of Ares, which for a few years has dedicated part of its urban beach to the dogs. With clear waters and fine sand, it is 1 km long where you can enjoy with your pet.

The real name of the beach is Augas Santas, but its characteristic arches (more than thirty meters high), reminiscent of the buttresses of a cathedral, make it famous by its other name: Las Catedrales. Next to them, grottos of tens of meters and sand corridors between blocks of rock hide a multitude of curiosities and stories that make this beach an absolutely magical place.

The first one arises around its origin: it was thought that its arches and walls have been sculpted in the stone by the wind and the sea through the time. However, a few years ago a group of archaeologists detected in the zone remnants of what could have been a Roman gold mine and, if confirmed, its origin would not be only natural, but humans would have also acted in its formation.

But beyond the small or large curiosities, there are countless legends that mysteriously surround this place …

Legend tells that if you ever spend a lot of time with your feet anchored in the sand, you can see the secret passageways opening and closing. It is said that men sleep there, retained by the sea spellbound in their embrace of foam. They also say that every day or night, never at a specific time, there is a moment when the edges of the doorway of Las Catedrales (the huge arch that goes into the sea) are illuminated by Suns or Moons, And that at that time you could predict the future or return to the past. In addition, the old sailors also tell that in the darkest hours, on nights when the Moon disappears, bright spots mark the limits and center of that door, and that those are the green eyes of the sirens which illuminate, from the origin of time, the way back home.

And there are more … It is said that if you are under the bow at the moment when the lower limit of the tide coincides with the moment when the sun begins to descend the horizon, you must ask for a wish, because that is the moment In which the Gods come to listen to what people ask them.

In short: the only way to discover all the mystery hidden in Playa de Las Catedrales is obviously going to visit it. Do you dare?

Galicia has a long and beautiful coastline, from the portuguese border in the south to A Coruña and Ferrol in the north and Ribadeo in the east. The video above shows you some of the beaches and the lighthouses spread over this long coastline.

You can find more information on beaches and/or lighthouses on the “Lighthouses and wild beaches” page that Turgalicia has created.

Have a look here for a list of each individual lighthouse and beach here.