Galicia and Asturias: Seafood and Sightseeing Road Trip in North-West Spain

Part of Cangas de Onís is located within the Picos de Europa National Park. Known for its spectacular green landscape and dramatic rock formations, the park is also where you’ll find Torre de Cerredo, the highest mountain in the Cantabrian range. Today is your chance to explore the area with a private guide. First, you’ll head to Covadonga, a cultural and spiritual sanctuary where King Pelagius the Conqueror emerged victorious over Umayyad invaders in 722. This battle is considered the start of the Reconquista (the Christian campaign to recapture Spanish states from Moorish control) and it is said that the Virgin Mary aided King Pelagius in his quest for victory. You’ll then head to Lake Enol and Lake Ercina to enjoy breath-taking views of blue water contrasting with deep green vegetation in this stunning natural spot. While you’re there, keep your eyes peeled for Pyrenean chamois and griffon vultures.

It’s time to take to the road along the Galician coast for just over two hours until you reach Ribadeo. You have two days to spend here enjoying sparkling sea views from the grounds of your parador and tucking into some traditional Galician cuisine. If you’re interested in really making the most of this seaside spot, try your hand at some of the watersports your hotel has on offer before getting a good rest ahead of another day of exploring.

Ribadeo has been a popular holiday spot since the 19th century thanks to its mild climate, Galician gastronomy, beautiful forests and location on the Cantabrian Sea. Today, this small port at the mouth of the River Eo – located in a UNESCO World Heritage biosphere reserve – has retained every ounce of its charm. Spend your fourth day in north-west Spain strolling along the seafront or taking in the eclectic architecture of the nearby villages of Castropol and Naiva, whose ornate buildings were built by the so-called Indianos: Spanish men who emigrated to the Americas. Not far from Ribadeo, the Playa de las Catedrales (Cathedral of the Sea) is a real natural wonder. These immense arches of hollowed-out rock rise up from the sand with a backdrop of sparkling ocean and are as spectacular as any man-made cathedral.

It’s time to pack your bags and hit the road once again. But don’t worry, you’re not leaving the coast behind just yet. You’ll spend your next two nights in a charming hotel in A Coruña where you can really immerse yourself in the seaside atmosphere. It’s no surprise that fish and seafood are the stars of the menu here, and you can expect this fresh produce to be prepared and served with the utmost skill. Wash your meal down with a glass or two of Galician wine as the day draws to a close.

Begin your day with a visit to the Tower of Hercules, the only Roman lighthouse still in operation. Since the end of the first century AD, this 180ft tower has been guiding ships safely into harbour. Fittingly, it’s now received UNESCO World Heritage status. When you’ve finished marvelling at the architectural prowess of the Romans, head to the town’s beaches to experience some local life. Praias Riazor and Orzan comprise nearly 5,000ft of white sand in the town centre, while Las Lapas and San Amaro are both located close to the tower itself. Old Coruña is a fortress city with three ports, so be sure to take a wander down its alleys, through small squares and past grand old houses to soak up this historic setting. You’ll find the Royal Galician Academy here, which is dedicated to the study of Galician culture and language, along with many museums such as the Casa Museo María Pita, the house-museum of A Coruña’s great heroine. When you’ve worked up an appetite, enjoy some of the region’s excellent seafood including crab, octopus, hake and crab. There are also plenty of places where you can get your tapas fix alongside a glass of local wine.

Your next stop is Santiago de Compostela, a 50-minute drive away. You have three nights to spend in this spiritual mecca, the culmination of Europe’s most famous pilgrimage route. Full of Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque architecture, the old town is as beautiful as it is cultural, so take a relaxed stroll through the city to get your bearings before the real sightseeing begins tomorrow. When you return to your hotel, relax in the tranquil garden or take a dip in the pool before enjoying a delicious meal at the on-site restaurant.

Today begins with a visit to Santiago de Compostela’s world-famous cathedral. This spectacular structure’s Baroque façade forms one side of the square of Obradoiro and is undoubtedly the city’s most iconic sight. Inside, the Pórtico de la Gloria transports you to a different time, a stunning portico whose central arch is an ornate sculpture of Christ. This sophisticated expression of Romanesque art will have you reaching for your camera again and again. At the Cathedral Museum, learn more about this architectural masterpiece by browsing religious art, medieval tombs and tapestries across four floors. When you’ve explored to your heart’s content, you have the rest of the day to spend at your leisure. We recommend grabbing a table at a street café and sampling a slice of tarta de Santiago, a sweet regional speciality.

Forget stumbling around in a huge crowd following a tour guide you can barely hear. Today, you’ll have a private tour of this important city. Santiago de Compostela has a special status in Europe, a symbol of the Spanish Christians’ struggle against Islam. The cobbled streets of its old town take you on a journey from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance to the Baroque era, and your guide will explain more about the area’s history during a three-hour tour around some of the city’s historical highlights, including Rua das Casas Reais, the Hospital of the Catholic Kings, and Praza da Inmaculada. When your stomach starts rumbling, enjoy a feast of Galician specialities such as boiled octopus and jamon asado at one of our recommended restaurants.

Your next three nights will be spent in Cambados, around an hour’s drive away from Santiago de Compostela. Enjoy a lazy morning and a breakfast of pastries and café con leche before jumping in the car and heading to the final stop on your journey around north-west Spain. When you arrive, take a stroll in your hotel’s tranquil gardens or cool off with a dip in the pool. The Albariño grape is indigenous to this region, so carve out some time today to sample a glass or two alongside some excellent seafood, whether in your hotel’s excellent restaurant or in one of the many local eateries dotted along the town’s cobbled streets.

It’s time for another private tour, this time of Cambados. Accompanied by a private guide, you’ll visit the area’s historic districts where you’ll see the Galician pazos: traditional manor houses which were the heart of life for the gentry between the 16th and 19th centuries. At Praza de Fefinans, discover the beautiful eponymous pazo, San Bieito church and a dungeon. As you might have guessed by now, this city is known for its history and culture. But as you’ll learn after a short walk to the port, it’s just as much about fishing and stellar seafood-based cuisine. The rest of the day can be spent eating your way around the area’s historic neighbourhoods, visiting a local winery or perhaps taking a Galician cooking class.

On your final full day in Spain, explore the Galician paradise of Arousa: a small island with around 5,000 inhabitants that’s connected to the mainland by road. In the south of the island, the Parque Natural de Carreiron is home to a number of important bird species including a colony of herons. With a private guide leading the way, traverse the island by bike along its dedicated paths and discover monuments such as the Punta Cabalo lighthouse, Porto do Xufre and the Mirador do Santo: a lookout point with stunning views over the valley. Of course, it would be a shame to visit Arousa without stopping to appreciate its beautiful beaches. The combination of white sand, green vegetation and sparkling sea is the perfect encapsulation of what Galicia is all about. If you like, we can also arrange for a private tour of a shellfish farm in the port of Santo Tomé, where you can learn all about the collection, sorting and selling of scallops and other shellfish.