Galicia is a community that stands out for many things, from its great gastronomy to the beautiful natural landscapes that make it up. In it there are several natural parks that can be a great list of places to visit. There are several protected natural parks in Galicia that you should not miss seeing and enjoying, such as the Corrubedo dune complex in Ribeira.
By visiting these natural parksWe must also take into account that they have protected areas and that we must comply with the regulations of the place. They are specially protected areas whose natural environment should not be damaged so that it continues to be a space that can be enjoyed by all.
Dunar de Corrubedo Complex
This is a natural complex of incredible beauty, which never leaves anyone indifferent. In these natural parks we have to take into account that normally you have to walk a lot, so you have to wear comfortable shoes and clothes to protect yourself from the sun in case of summer. In this complex the star is the great sand dune, which years ago you could climb on foot to fully enjoy it. To protect it, they forbade climbing it and crossing it, so what you can do is go along a wooden path walking until near the base, where it is possible to take photos and learn a little more about the dune and its surroundings. To get to the beach area we must use other routes.
In this complex there are several self-guided tours that can be followed and it all starts at the Visitor Reception Center. However, the place is very spacious, and certain places can be reached by car. You have to be careful and put the GPS to get to the parking lot to see the dunes, since it is on a small path. Once in the car park, you can follow the path to the dunes or take another route through a natural setting, which leads to lagoons environment. This path to the lagoons is long, more than a kilometer, so it is better not to do it in the central hours of the day, because there is no place to shelter from the sun. The arrival to the lagoons is certainly worth it, since we arrive at a beautiful landscape where the brackish lagoon connects with the sea, in the background, and splits the long beach in two when the tide rises. This must be taken into account if we go to the other side, since the climbs are sometimes fast and we can become isolated on the other side.
In this natural complex there are protected ecosystems, since marshes are created with special conditions. There are protected birds and specific flora of this area of the coastline. In addition to being a natural place that can be visited all year round, this area is visited in summer to enjoy the beach area. A large and not very crowded sandy area that is also perfect for activities such as surfing. It can be reached from several areas, by wooden walkways, and there are areas where you can do nudism. You can go to the popular beach of O Vilar, which also has a large car park and some services, such as lifeguards.
Places near the dune complex
Near this wonderful lunar complex we will find other natural areas that must be visited. Going up to the area of Noia and Porto do Son we will find a place that also receives many visits throughout the year, and that is located a few kilometers from the dunes. We talk about Castro De Barona, an Iron Age settlement. It is the best-preserved fort in Galicia and it is also located in a very beautiful place, so there are two important reasons to visit it. We must leave the car in the parking lot and go down the path that is signposted and leads to the forts, which are in a rocky area next to the beach and facing the sea. It is a settlement in which you can still see the forms of the forts, their old houses in a circular shape. In addition to walking through the forts and getting to know a little about this place, we will be able to see the incredible marine landscapes from this high and rocky area and imagine what these inhabitants saw hundreds of years ago. The nearby beach is also a place that fills up in summer, to enjoy the cool Galician waters.
In Ribeira we can also find the famous Dolmen of Axeitos, a funerary monument dating from 3.600 or 4.000 BC. It is undoubtedly one of the most important megalithic monuments in all of Galicia, such as the Dombate Dolmen in Cabana de Bergantiños. It is located in the middle of a beautiful oak forest, and you can even see two small rocks that were part of the delimited path to access the dolmen. It is located in the Oleiros parish in Ribeira,