Turismo de Galicia

The waters of the Atlantic, concentrated in a thalassotherapy spa

A picturesque coastal road leads to the municipality of Oia, in the Baixo River Miño region. This is the destination that we suggest for you to experience the effects of the recognised micro-medicinal mineral properties of the Atlantic’s seawater and its algae, silt, salts and mud applied in health, beauty and relaxation treatments.

We recommend arriving early in the afternoon at this area bordering the municipalities of Baiona and Oia. This way, you’ll have the chance to come into contact with the spectacular scenery of this coast which is open to the ocean and will impress you. You can do this from the lookout of the Cape Silleiro Lighthouse. Take the road that starts off in Baiona towards A Guarda; about five kilometres along, a detour to the left allows us to ascend to the lighthouse. It is a prime location for seeing how the waves hit the rocky coast and for viewing the town of Baiona, the islas Cíes and – scanning the distance – Cape Home.

The lighthouse at Cape Silleiro – dressed in its characteristic red and white stripes – stands 85 metres above sea level. It opened in 1924 to replace the old one that dated back to 1866; today, it is one of the main points of orientation for the ships that ply these waters. Its 3,000-watt lamp can be seen for 40 miles when the weather is clear. Above it, you’ll find some old artillery batteries and the remains of the military headquarters which served to defend this stretch of the coast.

Thirty-four-degree seawater, algae, mud and mineral salts
We can spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying the hot springs facilities of the thalassotherapy spa. Its seawater pool – heated to 34 degrees – has different hydrotherapy systems aimed at creating a state of relaxation and well-being following a series of seawater treatments. Another option is to experience the properties of seaweed, mud or salts via remineralising, moisturising, antioxidant or stress-relief treatments.

For dinner: octopus, soft-shell crabs, scallops or sea urchins
At dinnertime, you can decide whether to remain in the spahotel’s restaurant or choose another one in the area. There are numerous restaurants on both sides of the coastal road winding through all the villages in Oia that include products from the coast – especially octopus, soft-shell crabs, scallops and sea urchins – in their various preparations. When choosing the wine, keep in mind that we are close to the O Rosal area, which belongs to the Rías Baixas Denomination of Origin.

Sailing to the Cíes Islands

We embark on Bouzas pier in Vigo
If we got to know the more therapeutic and relaxing facet related to the sea, we’d like to encourage you to try a completely opposite kind of adventure. So, after breakfast, we suggest that you take a sailboat to the archipelago of Cíes Islands, which belong to the Parque Nacional das Illas Atlánticas de Galicia.

There are several charter sailing companies that arrange this kind of seagoing excursion from the Bouzas pier , in Vigo. There’s where we’ll have to go in order to embark at midmorning. Whether we are experienced sailors or taking our maiden voyage, we can experience the exhilarating sensation of steering the vessel ourselves during the voyage under the supervision and direction of the crew.

Special Protection Area for Birds
The archipiélago de las Cíes begins south, at Boeiro Islet and isla de San Martiño, also known as “Illa do Sur”(South Island) and the first whose shores we skirt. From the sea, we’ll be observing its mountainous terrain and its various faces. We’ll notice that the one facing the estuary is soft and sandy, while the western face – looking towards the open sea – will appear rugged, with steep slopes ending in cliffs.

During our voyage, we’ll spot birds such as the yellow-legged gull, which has one of the largest colonies in the world in the Cíes Islands. Not surprisingly, the archipelago has been declared a Special Protection Area for Birds . (SPA).

The British newspaper "The Guardian"
rated the beach in Rodas as
one of the world’s best

Next, we’ll head over to the Monte Faro Islands (Middle Island) and Monte Agudo (North Island), both linked by the large sand spit that makes up Rodas beach, where the boat will be moored to visit the island. You can take the opportunity to stroll its soft, light-coloured sand and dip your feet in the turquoise waters, or even take a dip if the weather permits. This place, crowned with small dunes, is a paradise; across the sand is a crystal-clear lagoon. In 2007, the British newspaper The Guardian rated this beach as one of the world’s best.

A lunchtime, we’ll head back to the sailboat for our picnic. After having a rest, we can hike a stretch of the path known as the “Monte Faro Route”. It starts at the information booth and soon leads us to “Illa do Medio” (Middle Island) through the dike connecting the two islands. This route allows us to discover iconic sites, the first of which will be the lagoon, where we can see the fish, shellfish and algae that are examples of this setting’s rich aquatic ecosystems.

Next, we can visit the Nature Interpretation Centre to better understand the park’s natural and cultural wealth. At the end of the climb there is a bird observatory from which we’ll see hundreds of seagulls nesting on the cliffs. Hopefully, we’ll also be able to see groups of European shags, which pick the areas closest to the sea to nest; there are magnificent views of the lagoon and Rhodes beach from here. After our hike, we’ll return to the boat, sailing the waters into the estuary until we dock at Bouzas pier.

If you decide to stay in Vigo before returning to the hotel for dinner, Vigo, we recommend that you go to the A Pedra market. There, the famous ostreiras on Rúa Pescadería – with decades of experience in their hands – will masterfully open the freshest bivalves for you, which you can enjoy with some Albariño wine with the Rías Baixas Denomination of Origin.

A treatment in the thalassotherapy spa and a visit to the Convent of Santa María

After breakfast, a final treatment in the thalassotherapy spa’s hot springs facilities, or a dip in the fun-therapy pool with seawater can be a great way to bid farewell.

Then – if you still have time – we suggest you visit Oia’s most iconic building: the twelfth-century Convent of Santa María, which we reach easily by following the coastal road. We’ll find this Cistercian gem – declared a Historic and Artistic Monument – on the waterfront with its baroque façade keeping an eye on the Atlantic or facing the onslaught of its waves when the weather is turbulent.