Getaways and things to do in Rías Baixas

Rías Baixas are the four large Atlantic estuaries of Galicia’s southern coast, spread between the south of A Coruña and Pontevedra province: Ría de Muros e Noia, Ría de Arousa, Ría de Pontevedra and Ría de Vigo. A deeply indented coastline dotted with islands, archipelagos and peninsulas, where the sea enters inland for dozens of kilometers forming tranquil bays, white-sand beaches and viewpoints overlooking open ocean and interior mountains. It is arguably the most photogenic stretch of Galician coastline, and undoubtedly its richest pantry."[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]The calling card is the Atlantic Islands: the Maritime-Terrestrial National Park protecting Cíes, Ons, Sálvora and Cortegada. Rodas Beach in Cíes was chosen by The Guardian as the best beach in the world, and a day trip by boat from Vigo, Cangas or Bueu becomes one of the most vivid memories of any journey to the Iberian Peninsula. On land, the coast alternates between fishing villages with hórreos alongside the water (Combarro is the most famous), towns with walled historic centers like Pontevedra, traditional spas for a century like A Toxa, and Atlantic squares such as Castelo de Monterreal in Baiona, where La Pinta arrived in March 1493 with the first news of the New World.[][][][][][][][][]Gastronomy is reason enough to come. The best mussels in Europe are raised on the rafts of the estuaries, and scallops, clams and razor clams mature; percebes (goose barnacles) are pried from the rocks; pulpo (octopus), centollo (spider crab) and nécora (spiny lobster) are unloaded at the ports. Cambados is the capital of Albariño wine, home to the D.O. Rías Baixas and the Festa do Albariño which in August turns the historic center into a wine festival. The Ruta del Albariño strings together pazos (manor houses), family wineries and viewpoints over the Salnés, allowing you to taste one of the most prestigious Atlantic whites on-site.[][][][][][]Those seeking beaches will find long, open stretches like A Lanzada, hidden spots like Praia das Catedrais del sur in O Grove, or tranquil coves on the Morrazo peninsula. Sanxenxo is the quintessential summer villa, with a promenade, nightlife and the best hotel offer in the area. For lovers of active sea pursuits, there’s surfing all year round in A Lanzada and Patos, sailing schools in Bayona (birthplace of Galician ocean racing), kayaking through the canyons of the Ría de Pontevedra, paddle surfing in calm waters and whale-watching trips at the mouth of the estuary.[][][][][]Vigo, the economic capital, provides a port, urban gastronomy on Rúa Pescadería (the famous oysters of the street), the Castro with its views of the Cíes and an old town in full effervescence. Pontevedra offers one of the most well-maintained pedestrian historic centers in Spain. And in between, dozens of towns —O Grove, Bueu, Cangas, Marín, Vilagarcía— retain the mariner’s pulse and maintain the most faithful cuisine of the Atlantic.