Program 3: Rías Baixas (May 17-24, 2025)

Rías Baixas is the most visited tourist destination in the summer of Galicia. During a week of May, it will become for you a destination that will combine the best hiking trails with a large number of activities that will help you know much better as we are. We will visit a land that is rich in everything: extraordinary maritime landscapes, an ancient history and a high quality cuisine based on fish and seafood. On land, its vineyards, one of the best white wines: the Albariño wine.

Dificultad ALTA
Difficulty MIDDLE
Dificultad ALTA
Total: 82 kilometers (17 km/day)
Dificultad ALTA
7 hours/day
Dificultad ALTA
Total slope: +- 3000 m (+-500 m/day)

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a privileged region ...
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a hiker's paradise ...
Ferrería Vella - Froxán 0751
corners where to let your senses fly ...
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... and the best seafood in the world
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RÍAS BAIXAS
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Planning 2025 (17 May – 24 May)

This is the initial planning that realizes our mission to show you the most authentic of Rías Baixas.

* Day 1 – Check-In Santiago & Transfer to Sanxenxo & Arrival at accommodation. Presentation & Briefing

SATURDAY, MAY 17

Welcome to the Galicia Walking Festival.

From 2:00 p.m. we are at the Hotel in Santiago de Compostela, where we receive all participants.
From there, at 4:00 p.m., we take the bus to Sanxenxo where the hotel staff are waiting for us to check-in.
At 8:00 p.m. we make the presentation of the festival and briefing to solve the last doubts.
Later, we had dinner together before starting this adventure.


* Day 2 – Barbanza Mountains: viewpoint over the estuaries (19.6 km)

ROUTE BOIRO – A POBRA DO CARAMIÑAL

SUNDAY, MAY 18

At this stage we walk through the Serra do Barbanza from Boiro to A Pobra do Caramiñal, in a very complete route in which we cross ancient roads that lead to ancient castles such as Vitres, which guarded the estuary of pirate incursions. We also visit beautiful natural corners such as the Pedras River, which falls encased among the rocks and we cross green pastures full of wild horses and with beautiful panoramic views over the Ría de Arousa.



* Day 3 – Arousa Island: the pearl of the estuary (23.1 km)

ROUTE ILLA DE AROUSA (Circular)

MONDAY, MAY 19

A Illa de Arousa is a paradise for the hiker who, on a fairly flat and very diverse route, will discover one by one the secrets of this island that has only been connected to the continent for 35 years. This insular component gives a strong character to its people who, almost entirely, live from mussels and shellfish bats, both on foot and afloat. Beaches of all types, large rocks and the Carreirón Natural Park, which is one of the natural jewels of this estuary.



* Day 4 – Salnés Valley: heart of the Albariño vineyard (14.6 km)

ROUTE CAMBADOS – ARMENTEIRA

TUESDAY, MAY 20

At this stage we go through the Val del Salnes, the heart of Albariño wine and we know all its history. We will walk through the historic center of Cambados admiring its stone houses and the perfectly preserved manor houses. At the mouth of the Umia River we will see the small farms where the vineyards close to the Atlantic are cultivated, in an environment of great natural beauty refuge of many species of birds. To finish off we approach the Ruta da Pedra and da Auga, to ascend between the rapids of the river and its mills to the Monastery of Armenteira, closely linked to the history of the Albariño and spiritual center of the region.



* Day 5 – O Grove: paradise is here (19 km)

ROUTE A LANZADA – SAN VICENTE

WEDNESDAY, MAY 21

The coast of the O Grove peninsula is linked to the mainland by the O Vao Strait. The archaeological site of A Lanzada gives us the historical account of a day in which we will walk through this privileged natural environment of the intertidal Umia-O Grove complex, which we will see from the heights of Mount Siradella and which is chosen by many birds in their wintering. Already on the west coast of San Vicente a path with a multitude of different beaches and magical places to sit and contemplate the immensity of this sea.



* Day 6 – Ría de Aldán & Costa da Vela (12.5 km)

ROUTE ALDÁN – DONÓN

THURSDAY, MAY 22

The Aldán Estuary cannot be considered estuary because it is not formed by the mouth of the river, but we can say that it is a deep entree of great beauty of the Pontevedra Estuary. In this stage we will travel part of its west bank, full of small coves that we must travel at low tide. In the second half the landscape will change radically, crossing the Costa da Vela and its cliffs that will take us to the Monte do Facho, place of legend and unique viewpoint on the Rías Baixas, to end the stage in the sculpture of the Donón Caracola.



* Day 7 – Cíes Islands: Atlantic Islands National Park (14 km)

ROUTE ILLAS CIES NORTE & SUR

FRIDAY, MAY 23

In a walking festival like this one could not miss a route through the spectacular Cies Islands, which are part of the National Park of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia, created with the aim of preserving this natural space, promoting their knowledge and enabling compatible public use With the conservation of nature. We will disembark at the Rhodes Pier and walk along two of the islands on a tour where the history, landscape and nature of this privileged archipelago are perfectly mixed.



* Day 8 – Check-out & Transfer to Santiago & End of Services

SATURDAY, MAY 24

With breakfast and transfer to Santiago we end this week of hiking in Rías Baixas. We hope you have lived an authentic adventure in Galicia and we hope to see you next year in any of our Galicia Walking Festival programs.


Make your reservation for the GWF Rias Baixas Program

At the time of booking you can make the full payment or an advance of 150 euros per person (non-refundable). The remainder will be effective before April 1, 2025.

What is included?

  • Accommodation in rooms with private bathroom
  • Half Board (breakfast and dinner)
  • Transfer Santiago – Sanxenxo – Santiago
  • Transfer start / end of stage (according to program)
  • Specialized local guides in English and Spanish languages
  • Accident insurance
  • Gastronomic tastings
  • Cultural visits

What is not included?

  • Flights or transportation to coming Galicia
  • Personal picnic during the stages
  • Drinks in the bars where we stop

Lodging

In this program along the Rías Baixas we will stay at the three-star Hotel Nuevo Astur, located in the municipality of Sanxenxo and that will give us a lot of options to rest and perform activities


Knowing More Rías Baixas