Things to do in Galicia

Ribeira Sacra is a unique tourism destination, with captivating landscapes and long-standing agricultural and winemaking traditions. You can enjoy top-quality wines along with the excellent local cuisine, while also exploring the region’s diverse ecosystems. The roads that will take you through Ribeira Sacra are impressive, as they wind their way through native forest environments. However, they are sometimes narrow and some drivers may find them a bit intimidating. This is why we have selected a series of tourism resources to highlight here, which are all within 20 km of O Canto da Terra, or in other words, no more than a 30‑minute drive away. So, keep reading to discover our recommendations for what to do in Galicia, which are activities that will help give you an optimal tourism experience.

Things to do in Ribeira Sacra, Galicia

Just 2 kilometres from O Canto da Terra you’ll find the Augas Santas mineral bath spa and golf resort, where we have negotiated special discounted rates for our guests. This is an excellent opportunity to enjoy this resort’s various mineral baths and spa facilities, or to play a round of golf during your stay at O Canto da Terra.

For a unique visual tourism experience, a boat trip is an excellent way to explore the magnificent landscapes and ecosystems of the local rivers and canyons. We recommend Siltrip and Quinta Sacra for trips on the Sil River, and Sacra Activa for trips on the Miño River. Sacra Activa has pioneered the use of electric tourism boats in Ribeira Sacra, and it also offers a visit to its own traditional wine cellar, with catered meal options available as well.

For our guests who want to explore the intriguing world of “heroic viticulture” by visiting the local vineyards and wineries, we recommend the following three options: Abadía da Cova, with its impressive viewpoint, Alma das Donas Adega, a family‑run winery that also welcomes pets, and Finca Míllara, which is located in a charming reconstructed village. Experience the special passion of the local winemaking process, and delight your senses with a wine tasting experience.

As a splendid way to experience the region’s cuisine and the excellent quality of the locally sourced ingredients, we recommend three exceptional restaurants: Berso in Sober, Trespés in Monforte de Lemos, and Rectoral de Castillón in Pantón. These restaurants all provide opportunities to experience the region’s traditional cuisine, with an innovative touch and exceptional quality. If you would like to try the traditional Galician fair-style octopus (“pulpo a feira”), you can find the perfect opportunity at the local market fair held in Pantón on the 1st and 15th days of each month. As another option, you can enjoy this popular traditional dish at the Pulpería Os Chaos restaurant in Monforte de Lemos.

For our guests who are interested in exploring the remarkable Romanesque architectural heritage found in Ribeira Sacra, we recommend Mais Que Románico. This company offers personalized guided tours that will help you discover and learn more about small Romanesque churches such as San Miguel de Eiré and San Fiz de Cangas, as well as the San Salvador de Ferreira monastery.

We also highly recommend a visit to the impressive Do Cabo do Mundo viewpoint, which features views over the Miño River; as well as the Cadeiras, Cividade, and Boqueiriño viewpoints, which offer spectacular vistas over the Sil River. For our guests with hiking on their agenda, we recommend the Fervenza de Augas Caídas hiking route with its spectacular waterfall, the Ribeira Sacra do Miño route, with views over Belesar, and the Muiños de Xábrega route in Sober. You can also check Wikiloc for walking routes shared by other O Canto da Terra guests, many of which are also suitable for cycling.

For cooling off in the summertime, we recommend a visit to the A Cova river beach and the Maiorga boat jetty. Both of these locations also have a restaurant, along with other recreational activities available.

For a local cultural experience, we recommend a visit to the Arxeriz Ecomuseum, where you can learn about the traditional boats used in Ribeira Sacra. You can also make a visit to the Rectoral de Gundivós to learn about the region’s traditional blackened ceramics, or to the Pazo de Tor Museum in Monforte de Lemos, to experience a traditional local manor house with many of its interior furnishings and decorations preserved inside.

Finally, to round out the local tourism options, there are some other equally interesting activities such as a horse riding lesson or family equestrian experience at the El Carmen Horse Ranch, or the La Búsqueda escape rooms at Casa dos Muros, where you can search for the Holy Grail, solve the Mystery of the Monastery, or discover the Philosopher’s Stone.

More information on what to do in Galicia

For more information, we highly recommend a visit to the Official Ribeira Sacra Tourism website developed by our exemplary Ribeira Sacra Tourism Consortium, where you can find an abundance of information about the region and also download guides and maps. In addition, the Tourism Office in Ferreira de Pantón, located in that town’s Praza do Concello square, has an excellent staff ready to help visitors. Its telephone numbers are 982 45 63 77 and 982 45 62 79, and its email address is turismopanton@hotmail.com.