Lovers of Galician gastronomy, we will tell you that there are many more things to discover in this corner of northern Spain. A land full of contrasts between the beach and the mountains and with a culture rich in traditions. But if you are lucky enough to be able to go to Galicia in the summer, you will be able to discover the so-called Galifornia in Galicia.
This term refers to the great resemblance between the coasts of California and those of Galicia, coined precisely for the most skeptical. Those people who think that in Galician lands it only rains, they must know that they are very wrong, because there are many things to enjoy the summer as if it were California itself. From spectacular sandy beaches to landscapes that you will want to return to again and again, sunsets that will take your breath away and beaches for surfing. Ready to dive into Galifornia?
Galifornia is full of amazing beaches
Carnota beach at sunset.
If the Galician summer stands out for something, it is for being able to enjoy many beaches along the coast. From the Rías Altas to the Rías Baixas is a place where we can find all kinds of beaches. Very extensive arenales of soft sand and waves such as Playa de Carnota, located at the foot of the impressive Mount Pindo, or the beautiful Playa del Vilar in Ribeira, a space with kilometers of sand, dunes and a natural park where you can lose all the day.
Playa das Furnas in Porto do Son
These are some of the best known options, but certainly there are always those who know a corner, a small beach that can be reached by some path in the middle of pine forests, which is a real adventure, like Playa del Dique in Porto do Son . These little known little corners They make the Galician coast even more valuable, because we can always get away from the busiest places to have our corner of peace and meditation.
Rio Sieira Beach
In addition, the quality of the beaches in Galicia it has nothing to envy California. The waters are clear and the sand is fine on the beaches with the heaviest waves. On the beaches of the interior of the estuaries, as there are not so many waves, we find golden sand, but more full of pebbles. Of course, you have to know that the temperature of the waters is only for the most daring, since it is usually at an average of 18 degrees, although towards the southern beaches it is warmer.
Water sports in Galifornia
Another thing that can be seen in common with the American coast is the proliferation of water sports. In fact, in Galicia there is a beach that is on the European circuit for surfing professionals. On Pantín beach in Valdoviño, A Coruña has been celebrated every autumn for more than 25 years the Pantín Classic, that no fan is lost.
If you want to practice water sports as an amateur or to train, there are many places to go. There are beaches known for their waves, such as A Lanzada in O Grove, Pontevedra, La Salvaje beach in Oia, in the same province, or Lariño in Carnota, in A Coruña.
Nature in its purest form
Corrubedo Natural Park.
If there is something that will make you fall in love as soon as you arrive in Galicia, in addition to its cuisine, of course, it stunning natural landscapes. You can go from mountain to beach in moments, and visiting the estuary area is a unique experience. If we could recommend something, it is that you visit the coast and the most natural areas.
There are natural parks that are well cared for and immersed in a totally relaxing environment, away from civilization. Ideal places to get lost, especially if you have spent all winter in an urban area. The Corrubedo natural park in Ribeira is a good proof of it. A place where to get to the beach you have to cross a natural area, perhaps walk a kilometer or more, until you reach a sandy area where you will only hear the noise of the waves. Doesn't that sound idyllic?
Discovering the Cíes paradise
A visit to Galicia requires tasting seafood, enjoying its summer festivals but also an almost obligatory trip to the paradise of the Cíes Islands. A space that is located in the protected area of the Atlantic Islands Natural Park. To get there you have to take a ferry, and in summer you probably have to book online in advance if we are going to stay at the campsite or we run the risk of running out of place in high season. They can be visited any day from June to September, and on weekends when time permits. In addition, the influx is limited to 2.200 people.
On this island is the famous beach of rhodes, which the American newspaper The Guardian ranked among the best in the world in 2007. It was certainly compared to a Caribbean beach, with its clear waters and soft, golden sands. Although as they said in the newspaper, the comparison ends when you put a toe in the water. Be warned.
This is not the only beach that can be seen on these islands. They also have a nudist area, as it cannot happen otherwise in Galifornia, which is on Figueiras Beach, next to Rodas Beach, which is reached by a well-marked path. It is just as beautiful as the main one and much quieter.