Walking along the beaches of the Portuguese Way by the coast
The Portuguese Way along the coast follows the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela along the Atlantic coast of Portugal and Spain. Along this route, you will find several beaches where you can relax and rest and even, if the weather is good, take a refreshing swim. From Viajeros Canallas we provide you with information about some of the beaches you will pass along the Portuguese Way, starting in Baiona.
The beaches of Baiona
We will start with a tour of Baiona. The day you arrive in this municipality, if you are lucky enough to have good weather, you will be able to enjoy the beautiful beaches in the area. In the town centre of Baiona there are three beaches: Santa Marta beach, an extensive beach that allows you to walk along the coast with calm waters; A Ribeira, which is located in La Palma, known for its soft sand and its promenade that takes you to the seashore; A Concheira, a sandy area open to the sea with great waves. In the latter, the promenade next to the beach is known as the "Paseo Pinzón", as it honours the arrival of the Pinzón caravel in Baiona.
The beaches of Nigrán
We continue our route towards Nigrán. In Baiona, extending towards Nigrán, we find Ladeira beach, a wide sandy area more than 1 km long, perfect for enjoying a day of sun and sea. It has all kinds of infrastructures, a kayak rental service and a campsite nearby. We continue walking towards Nigrán and we find two beautiful beaches. In the municipality of Nigrán, the river Muíños divides two beaches: Playa América to the south and Panxón to the north.
Playa América is an extensive beach, with more than 2 kilometres of fine golden sand and a pleasant promenade that runs along the coast. It is a popular beach with a wide range of services for visitors, including beach bars, restaurants and bars nearby, and a sailing club, which offers activities such as windsurfing and paddle surfing. This beach is perfect whether you want to enjoy a relaxing swim and sunbathe or take part in water sports. It is also famous for the San Juan night and for various local events that take place on and around the beach.
Panxón is the other popular beach that connects at one end with Playa América and at the other with the marina. This port, a place frequented by sailing enthusiasts, adds a picturesque touch to the area. It is a very popular beach, especially during the summer and at weekends, with a wide choice of cafés, ice-cream parlours and restaurants.
We continue our tour along the coast and arrive at Patos beach, known for its favourable conditions for surfing. It is a beautiful place to enjoy the natural beauty and the waves of the Atlantic. Due to its popularity among surfers, it has different surf schools with classes and equipment rental service. It also has a promenade, with views of the Cíes Islands, and restaurants.
The beaches in the Vigo area
One of the first beaches you'll come across before entering Vigo is Canido Beach. It's a smaller urban beach compared to some of the larger beaches you've passed by, but it offers a pleasant setting for those looking to enjoy the sea and a swim in an urbanised environment.
If you keep walking, just 450 metres away is the beautiful beach of O Vao. It is a huge sandy area where you will see groups of friends spending the afternoon, playing a game or even practising some water sport. It has a promenade that will allow you to walk along the beach and to get to some other beaches nearby. It also has some beach bars where you can have a drink in a very pleasant atmosphere.
Finally, before entering the asphalt of the city, you can have a good swim (if the weather is nice) at Samil beach. It is an urban beach with an extension of 1.5 km that offers a wide range of services and amenities. It has a long promenade ideal for strolling while enjoying the sea views. There are also numerous restaurants, bars and cafes nearby.
The beaches of Redondela
On the way to Redondela you will see several beaches, including Arealonga beach, with various services such as restaurants and recreational areas and a promenade to contemplate one of the most beautiful landscapes of Redondela. You will also pass by the beach of Cesantes, also known as the beach of La Punta, a sandy area in a natural setting in the middle of the San Simón inlet.
The fluvial paradise of Caldas de Reis
In the middle of Portuguese Way we are going to find a small fluvial paradise which is the Fervenza de Segade. We have left the beaches behind, but this place will not leave you indifferent, you can take a refreshing bath in the waterfall and the pools. At Caldas de Reis Another wonderful spot is the Barosa River Natural Park, with its waterfalls, so don't forget your swimming costume and enjoy!
Conclusions
The French Portuguese Coastal Route from Baiona offers us the possibility to walk along the Galician coast and enjoy the natural beauty of the Galician sandy beaches. Also, if you are lucky enough to have good weather, you can take a refreshing swim. Good Camino!
