La Playa de las Catedrales is already famous for its rock formations, being classified as one of the most beautiful in Spain. Its popularity has grown a lot, so that many people come every year to see this great beach, which has certain peculiarities. It is a great visit, because it is considered a natural monument of great value and because the surroundings are also of great beauty.
This beach is located in the north of Spain, in the autonomous community of Galicia, specifically in the province of Lugo. This province only has a coastal area in the north, where this famous beach is located. We are going to know a little more about it and the tips to visit it.
Where is the Beach of the Cathedrals
This beach is located on the known as Mariña Lucense, which is the coast of the province of Lugo, located in its northern area, in front of the Cantabrian Sea. The beach is located within the council of Ribadeo, to which it belongs. This place is known to be bordering with the Principality of Asturias. The beach is quite isolated from urban centers, in an area surrounded by natural spaces, making it even more beautiful.
How to get to the beach
If we are going to visit the beach we can go to more central places like Ribadeo and take the N-634 to deviate later towards a smaller road, the LU-P-5209. In this place it is good to use a GPS, although there are indications, but there are no large roads, as can be expected from such a touristy place.
Services on the beach
Upon reaching the beach we will meet a large parking lot to leave the vehicles. You have to walk a bit on dirt roads and we will arrive at the entrance of the beach. There is a restaurant in the area but as we have said it is quite isolated, so if we are going to spend the day it is better to bring food and everything we need. In the area there are some picnic areas with impressive views of the sea, so it is a great ideal to eat in this place.
Tickets to the beach
Until a few years ago the entrance to see the beach was free. However, the increase in the influx of tourists made the administration limit these visits to protect the beach, flora and fauna. At present you can make reservations online in advance. It is not necessary during the low season, as there are usually enough visits, but from July 1 to September 30 is mandatory take out the ticket in advance. It is important to know this in order not to arrive and find that we cannot visit the beach.
Curiosities of the beach
This beach is not actually called Playa de las Catedrales, as everyone knows it, but is called Playa de Aguas Santas. In addition, it is necessary previously know the tides, because being able to visit the beach will depend on them. At high tide this sandy area disappears completely, as it is covered by the waters. It can only be visited when the tide is low and you have to follow the instructions of the lifeguard personnel, since the tide changes at some times are faster.
There is a fairly long staircase to go down to the beach. When there are strong tides, the last step can be a bit far from the sand of the beach, so everyone should be careful, especially the elderly and children. Once on the beach you can walk along it but always keeping in mind which are the areas that you cannot go to and what we must never disturb the fauna what's on the beach. An accident happened on this beach not long ago due to a rock that fell off, so be careful with restricted areas.
Visit to the beach
The visit to the Catedrales beach is the best part. You can walk through it admiring those incredible rock formations that have been shaped by the action of wind and water. They are impressive cliffs. In addition, you can see arches that recall the flying buttresses of cathedrals, hence the name of the beach. There are also some caves and areas where water collects. This beach can even be seen from the top, from the cliffs, so the recommendation is to take it easy and enjoy taking beautiful photographs.
See the surroundings
If we have time after visiting the Playa de las Catedrales, we can still enjoy seeing the beautiful town of Ribadeo. His The old town has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, where there are beautiful houses and the XNUMXth century Atalaia chapel. In this place it is also a great idea to find a restaurant to try the delicious Galician gastronomy.