Day trips
Santiago de Compostela
Leave the peninsula by the Salnés highway and take the motorway towards Santiago.
Visits:
- Santiago’s cathedral (42º 52’ 49’’ N – 8º 32’ 44’’ O)
- Squares surrounding the cathedral (Obradoiro, Platerías, Quintana)
- Historical buildings (Hostal de los Reyes Católicos)
- Palace of Fonseca, Raxoi Palace
- Walk through the streets of the historic center (Rúa del Villar, del Franco)
- Toural Square, Rúa Nova, Museums (Museo do Pobo Galego, Galicia Dixital.)
Baiona – A Guarda – Tui – A Fortaleza (Portugal
Leave O Grove on the highway and take the highway towards Pontevedra – Vigo. Pass the exits to both cities continuing to Baiona.
Visits in Baiona: (42º 07’16 N – 8º 50’ 58’’ O)
- Port, caravel of Columbus and walk through the wall of the National Parador, old castle.
- Virgin of the Rock (viewpoint to the sea from the 15m high statue).
Follow the coast road in the direction of A Garda.
Visits in A Garda: (41º 53’ 59’’ N – 8º 52’ 26’’ O)
- Santa Trega’s Mountain: (41º 53 ’17’ ‘N – 8º 52’ 15 ” O) interesting reconstructed Celtic settlement (Castro) and remains of petroglyphs. From the top, impressive panoramic view of the estuaries and the mouth of the Miño, the Atlantic, Portugal, A Garda. Follow the road Tui Towards.
- Old town, cathedral – fortress. Cross the bridge over the Miño to Portugal and stop at the first town on the border, A Fortaleza.
Visits in A Fortaleza: (42º 01’ 56 N – 8º 38’ 39’’ O)
- Walled town, magnificent views over the Miño.
- Opportunity to shop in the many small shops of clothes, cotton, souvenirs.
Combrarro – Pontevedra
Exit the O Grove peninsula by the motorway after passing the exit towards Pontonovo (42º 23 ’39’ ‘N – 8º 49’ 23 ” W) and 6 km exit at Sanxenxo (42º 23 ’55’ ‘N – 8º 48’ 24 ” O) and take the coastal road towards Pontevedra. 10 km from Sanxenxo we find Combarro.
Combarro: (42º 25’ 51 O – 8º 42’ 23’’ O)Curious seaside village with a beautiful historical center. Highlights its streets and houses built on the same rocks. The granaries and cruceiros built practically above the sea are also very attractive. It is a good place to tapas or ciomprar some memory. Leaving Combarro we go to Pontevedra (8 km) and go to its historic center.
Pontevedra: (42º 26’ 11’’ N – 8º 38’ 21’’ O) It is a historic city with an impressive old town in a magnificent state of preservation and whose streets are pedestrianized. Its emblematic squares stand out (Ferrería or Herreria, Leña Square, Verdura Square, Teucro Square, Méndez Núñez Square,.), Its lordships and its magnificent urban pazos (Mugartegui, Méndez Núñez) without forgetting the churches: La Peregrina, San Bartolomé and the Basilica of Santa María. Pontevedra is the perfect city for strolling, tapas on its outdoor terraces and shoppi
Santa Uxía de Ribeira – Corrubedo – A Curota
Leave the O Grove peninsula and take the motorway and motorway towards Santiago, leaving it at exit 104 (Valga, Boiro, Ribeira). Then, Vía Rápida do Barbanza in the direction of Santa Uxía de Ribeira (42º 33’ 19’’ N – 8º 59’ 25’’ O).
Once we have reached Santa Uxía, we will head towards the dunes of Corrubedo (42º 35 ’03’ ‘N – 9º 02’ 41 ” O), famous for being the National Park and the largest mobile dune in Europe. It is a protected area because it is a reserve for some endemic species of animals and plants. There is a beautiful and immense beach.
Leaving Corrubedo in the direction of Noia, we find the original and unique Castro de Baroña, a very peculiar pre-Romanesque town because it is located on a peninsula above the sea.
Returning to Ribeira, we go to Mount Curota (42º 36 ’38’ ‘- 8º 58’ 49 ” O), where we can see horses and wild cows, as well as admire spectacular views.
Cambados – Illa de Arousa – Vilagarcía
We can go by the highway or the coast road. Arriving at Cambados (42º 30 ’48’ ‘N – 8º 48’ 59 ” O) we will visit the old town with its great pazos, especially the one of Fefiñáns. We can make a beautiful tour of the town and surroundings in the tourist train that leaves this square. The Albariño wine is emblematic of this place.
Illa de Arousa: (42º 33’ 48’’ N – 8º 52’ 23’’ O) Continuing along the coast we will reach the island of Arousa, joined to the land by a bridge. It has several routes to walk and good beaches. Recommended are its octopus and mussels. The route arrives at Vilagarcía, capital of the Salnés region.
Vilagarcía: ( 42º 35’ 58’’ N – 8º 46’ 00’’ O) It has a beautiful walk along the beach of Compostela, a large variety of shops and an important port. Its nightlife is famous.
Illa de Ons
Leave the O Grove peninsula and take the motorway to Portonovo (8 km). In the port we will embark in the direction of the island in a journey of approximately 30 min. The island of Ons (42º 22 ’36’ ‘N – 8º 55’ 54 ” O) belongs to the Illas Atlánticas National Park. It is very important for being a reserve of marine birds like, cormorants, gannets, mascatos, guillemots, etc. It has fine sand beaches and transparent waters like Melide beach. There is a hiking route that runs throughout the island, being able to visit the lighthouse and the curious Burato do Inferno (Hell’s hole).
Highlight the octopus in “caldeirada” and seafood. It is not advisable to visit the island on weekends of greater affluence.
Illas Cíes
We leave the O Grove peninsula and take the highway joining the highway in the direction of Vigo. Once there, we take the exit V-4 to the port, where we find the maritime station. The Mar de Ons shipping company is responsible for moving to the Illas Cíes in a beautiful route along the Vigo estuary.
The Illas Cíes (42º 13 ’39”N – 8º 54′ 00 ” O), like that of Ons and Sálvora, are part of the Illas Atlánticas National Park. Like the previous ones, they are an important reserve of seabirds. Once there, we can enjoy paradisiacal beaches Rodeira, Alemanes (nudist), etc. You can make several hiking routes led by guides. It is not advisable to make this visit during the most populated weekends.