Things to do in Ribeira Sacra Galicia

Discover the unique Ribeira Sacra area along the banks of the Miño and Sil Rivers. Let its centuries-old vineyards and the charms of the Romanesque captivate you. Enjoy a catamaran ride down the Sil River, discover the Monastery of San Pedro de Rocas, and explore the city of Ourense. Depart from Santiago in the morning and head toward Ourense. Take a 1.5-hour catamaran ride upstream through the canyons of the River Sil. On the boat, taste a typical wine from the area. At the end of the ride, go to one of the viewpoints that surrounds the Ribeira Sacra to see the immensity of its landscape. Next, stop at the Monastery of San Pedro de Rocas, a unique architectural symbol of the Ribeira Sacra, located in the heart of the region. Then, continue to Ourense, known as the thermal capital of Galicia. Enjoy free time for lunch and visit the historic center. Stroll through its cobbled streets and find out why it is known as the city of bridges before returning to Santiago in the evening.

Fill a day with wine, art, gastronomy, and natural beauty. Visit exclusive wine cellars for a tasting and a medieval towns on this guided day tour of Ribeira Sacra. Enjoy a boat ride along the Sil River between the hills where grapes are grown , sometimes at vertical cliffs. Discover Galician cuisine and roman & celtic culture. Start your tour from the Plaza de Galicia in Santiago de Compostela. Local guides join you in the air-conditioned minibuses. First stop will take place at the medieval town of Castro Caldelas, one of the most beautiful ones of Spain. A huge medieval castle and quiet walks along small streets full of historical buildings. Fantastic views from the valleys of the Sil river can be enjoyed, and also time for a coffe break. It´s really recomendable trying the tipycal "bica" with the coffe, which is a really tasty cake. Driveing down Sil River valley for a leisurely cruise. More vineyards cover the slopes along the river, sometimes at vertical cliffs. Thats the reason for the name "heroic viticulture", done along centuries at this valleys. The guide will explain a lot of interesting things about this special wine production systems. One of the most spectacula viewpoints of Galicia will be waiting at the north side of the Sil River. Amazing views of vineyards wich have been built at impossible places, and the Sil River, always quiet. Views of many kilometers of chessnut and oak forests, vines and very tiny villages. Lunch time at the main town of the area: Monforte de Lemos. There are lots of nice restaurants waiting for us and offering the best meals of this region. After lunch, guided visit to the "Mons Fortis", where the tower of Lemos and the Monastery of San Vicente are built. Learn about the region on the way to the Church of San Vicente. From the church, snap a photo of the commanding view over the valley and vineyards. Exclusive local wine cellar visit. 5 of the varietals grown in the region will be on hand to sample. Find your favorite one!

The Ribeira Sacra, Galicia, between the south of the province of Lugo and the north of the province of Ourense, is a fairy tale landscape, crossed by the rivers Miño and Sil on whose shores we will discover the terraces of vineyards where different varieties of grape are cultivated to produce some of the best Galician wines. A humanized landscape, with a unique use of the land that transforms slopes of up to 70% in a succession of small terraces. The enologic resource together with the abundance of heritage, especially Romanesque churches and monasteries, as well as a spectacular landscape, justify the candidacy of the area for World Heritage Site. We will start our day navigating by catamaran through the spectacular Canyons of the Sil River, a 1 hour and a half ride with a drink included, in which we will contemplate the forests and vineyards so characteristic of this area of the Galician interior, an idyllic start of the trip without doubts. We will then move to one of the most special viewpoints of the Ribeira Sacra, to admire this incredible landscape from the heights. The next stop of our trip will be the monumental Monastery of San Pedro de Rocas, one of the architectonic symbols of the region. Located in the heart of the Ribeira Sacra, the legend says it was founded in the 6th century by a group of eremites. We will then continue to Ourense, the thermal city, where we will enjoy some leisure time for lunch on our own. In the afternoon, we will visit the historic center. This town, which in the past attracted the Romans for its gold and numerous thermal springs, will amaze you with its unique and carefully preserved artistic heritage. At the end of the day, we will be astonished by the number of sensations and places that we can find in this area of the Galician interior.

Leaving Santiago at 8:45 we will head to one of the most beautiful in the area, where it will serve as a balcony to enter this landscape. After this incredible viewpoint, we headed to one of the piers of the River Sil, to enter a catamaran ride through the canyons of this tributary of the Sil. Vineyards, monasteries, wineries, and canyons, all of this configure a landscape without the same. After this magnificent boat ride and approaching lunchtime, you will move to the capital of the Ribeira Sacra, Monforte de Lemos. This place located in this privileged site hides great history, you will have free time the food as well as time for a small guided tour and thus learn about the most emblematic places in the area. After knowing the history of its streets, and its castle among other monuments, you will head to take the gold from the area, which costs so much effort to get to its locals, the wine from the Ribeira Sacra. Visit a traditional winery and see vineyards and the artisan process as the grape is collected, even how it is bottled knowing all these steps and finally tasting with some appetizers. Say goodbye with a wonderful view of the meanders, this time of the River Miño, having known both rivers, and taking us a complete vision of this beautiful area of Galicia. Finally, and after having toured this jewel of Galicia, you will head to Santiago having visited one of the most beautiful destinations in our community.

The Ribeira Sacra, Galicia, between the south of the province of Lugo and the north of the province of Ourense, is a fairy tale landscape, crossed by the rivers Miño and Sil on whose shores we will discover the terraces of vineyards where different varieties of grape are cultivated to produce some of the best Galician wines. A humanized landscape, with a unique use of the land that transforms slopes of up to 70% in a succession of small terraces. The enologic resource together with the abundance of heritage, especially Romanesque churches and monasteries, as well as a spectacular landscape, justify the candidacy of the area for World Heritage Site. We will start our day navigating by catamaran through the spectacular Canyons of the Sil River, a 1 hour and a half ride with a drink included, in which we will contemplate the forests and vineyards so characteristic of this area of the Galician interior, an idyllic start of the trip without doubts. We will then move to one of the most special viewpoints of the Ribeira Sacra, to admire this incredible landscape from the heights. The next stop of our trip will be the monumental Monastery of San Pedro de Rocas, one of the architectonic symbols of the region. Located in the heart of the Ribeira Sacra, the legend says it was founded in the 6th century by a group of eremites. We will then continue to Ourense, the thermal city, where we will enjoy some leisure time for lunch on our own. In the afternoon, we will visit the historic center. This town, which in the past attracted the Romans for its gold and numerous thermal springs, will amaze you with its unique and carefully preserved artistic heritage. At the end of the day, we will be astonished by the number of sensations and places that we can find in this area of the Galician interior.