Its real name is Playa de Aguas Santas and it is one of the most famous beaches in Europe. It has become one of the essential places to visit if you go to the north of Galicia, and it is even possible to opt for a guided tour, either public —free—, or private. The Playa de las Catedrales in Lugo gets its nickname from how its rock formations resemble the exterior arches of Gothic cathedrals. It has received the title of Natural Monument since 2005 and was recognized some time ago as one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Spain.
How to book a visit to the Playa de las Catedrales
Due to the great popularity of this beach, the Xunta de Galicia had to control the number of visitors, in order to take care of this natural treasure. Crowds occur especially in the holiday season and on weekends. That is why, between July and September, it is necessary to make a reservation to be able to walk along its almost 1,400 meters in length.
But don’t worry, booking is very simple. You must visit the official website of the beach, enabled by the Xunta de Galicia , and fill out a form.
Now, if you want to book in advance to make sure you don’t run out of access and you also want to get to know Ribadeo, you can hire this excursion that gives you a guided tour of both sites and leaves you plenty of time to enjoy the beach. .
Keep in mind that the reservation can be made a maximum of one month in advance and it is recommended that you previously check the Tide Table for the area for the scheduled date, so you can choose a time when good conditions are forecast on the beach. The beach is only accessible when the tide is low, otherwise it will be covered by water.
Oh! And most importantly, even if you have to make a reservation , the entrance and parking are free . You don’t have to pay anything.
How is the Beach of the Cathedrals
It belongs to the Mariña Lucense and consists of a series of cliffs that are even more than 30 meters high. These, the caves and the enormous natural rock arches have acquired their shape due to the erosion of the wind and the sea, turning the beach into an amazing scenery.
At the top, there are viewpoints near the car park to contemplate the landscape, but I advise you to go down to see it because the most beautiful thing is to get into the gaps left by the formations.
Almost everyone stays in the typical image of the arch that is very similar to the Azure Window that was destroyed naturally a few years ago in Malta, but for my taste the area at the bottom of the beach is much more beautiful. There you will find some very curious formations and the beach is much clearer of people.
What to see near the Beach of the Cathedrals.
Lugo
In the first place I put Lugo, but only if you are going to be there for a few days, since due to distance and everything that we have already told you in this article about what to see in Lugo , it is not worth making the getaway just for a few hours.
Ribadeo
The Beach of the Cathedrals is within the municipality of Ribadeo. The town of Ribadeo is of tourist interest thanks to its proximity to the beaches and natural surroundings, and its historic quarter. Many of its constructions were made by Spaniards who made the Americas and returned to live in Spain. To show off how well they had done, they used to build very colorful and striking houses on the beachfront. You will see them in many other areas of Galicia.
If you are going to spend a lot of time in Ribadeo, stop by the Tourist Office to get a detailed map with the activities of the town. There are areas for surfing, bird watching and of course, tasting the gastronomy.
Rinlo
Also with the name of San Pedro de Rinlo, it is a small town with a port built in medieval times. Its narrow streets, fishermen’s houses, and less than 300 inhabitants, watch over an old cetaria —one of the first in Spain—, in which lobster and spider crab were cultivated in natural pools. Another reason to visit it is that the so-called route of the beaches begins here, that is, you can start from here and end up at the Playa de las Catedrales.
Of course, keep in mind that this route in high season is much more complicated to do.
Pancha Island Lighthouse
About 2 kilometers from Ribadeo, is this islet connected to the coast by a bridge. In it, on a field of plants lies a lighthouse and a shed that serves as accommodation. There is a viewpoint on the mainland, designed to contemplate the place from a distance. This is the mandatory stop to take some photos.
Where to eat after visiting the Beach of the Cathedrals
Well, you know that we are not much for sharing restaurants unless we are clear that they are worth it. This is one of those cases. Some friends from the area recommended that we go to the O’Piano restaurant and as they already told us, we were delighted.
They have a fairly large and comfortable terrace, which is appreciated these days. If you are looking for a very cheap place, this is not it, but in terms of value for money, I thought it was very good.
Here is the site map for you to take a look at:
If you plan to visit the area, you cannot miss the experience of stepping on the Playa de las Catedrales in Lugo.
