The area between Cape Finisterre in the province of A Coruña, and the border with Portugal in the province of Pontevedra is commonly known as the Rías Baixas. In short, the Rías Baixas includes the west coast of A Coruña and the entire coast of Pontevedra, which means that it has a little over 300 kilometres of coastline that, as its name suggests, has several estuaries along the way.
The main estuaries comprising this area in Galicia are—from north to south: Ría de Corcubión, Ría de Muros and Noia, Ría de Arousa, Ría de Aldán, Ría de Pontevedra and Ría de Vigo. They are all larger than most of the estuaries in Galicia.
The Rías Baixas offers a slew of options to choose from—suitable for different kinds of visitors—to keep everyone happy. Coastal and maritime tourism, food tourism, cultural activities, contact with nature, water sports—everything is possible in the Rías Baixas.
The deep blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean blend with the lush, green landscape that is so characteristic of Galicia, creating a unique environment brimming with peace and quiet conducive to rest and relaxation.
Some of the coastal towns that receive the most number of visitors are: Noia, Cambados, Sanxenxo, Pontevedra, Baiona and Vigo. Going along the coast will give you the chance to discover small fishing villages, historic gems and great cities which are delightful at any time of the year.
Food lovers definitely shouldn’t miss out on a visit to the Rías Baixas, which is commonly known as the best area in Galicia in terms of food. Freshly caught fish and seafood abound, starring in all kinds of stews and grills. There are clams, raw oysters with just a few drops of lemon, stuffed trout and salmon, as well as the ever-present, traditional polbo á feria (Galician-style octopus). Wash them all down with wine from the D.O. Rías Baixas, which has nearly 30 different wineries producing excellent-quality wine and orujo (grape liqueur).
It doesn’t matter which water sport you love; you’ll surely find the perfect place to engage in it in this area in Galicia. Surfing, scuba diving, windsurfing, sailing, rafting, kayaking, water skiing and even fishing. The clean yet rough waters of the Atlantic let you enjoy the waters to the fullest, leaving stress behind.
Galicia also gets its share of sunshine—those gorgeously clear days are perfect for lounging around the beach while enjoying your fair share of the water, sun and the open air. Enjoying the sun for a little while and visiting the fishing ports to see how catch of the day is unloaded from the boats will definitely make for an unforgettable experience!
