This is one of the most visited places in the Rías Baixas due to its large mobile dune measuring 20 meters high, its endless beaches and its megalithic heritage. Corrubedo also has a vast ornithological wealth that is worth discovering.

Birds of the sand

Corrubedo is also a place of unquestionable natural beauty and unique geological and human features and is a major area for bird breeding, migration and wintering. The nature reserve covers coastal habitats (such as beaches, rocky shorelines, marshes and dunes) and inland areas (such as woods, fields, ponds and areas of scrub).

The routes

Route by car: Baroña Castro - Corrubedo Cape

BEST TIME

In migration season (from September to November and from March to May)

DISTANCE

32 Km

DURATION

3 hours

DIFFICULTY

None

COUNCILS

Porto do Son, Ribeira

PATH

Baroña Castro - Corrubedo Cape

Key points on the route:

  1. From the Baroña castro (1), look out for seabirds such as the northern gannet and balearic shearwater.
  2. Next, head along the AC-550 through Queiruga (2) to Caamaño. On the way keep watch out for european nightjar and sardinian warbler.
  3. From there follow a track to the right to Arealonga beach, entering its northern side to the dune area (3) (where there are kentish plovers and eurasian skylarks) and the Sieira river estuary (where european herring gull and common gull can be seen).
  4. Further south, in Xuño (4), watch out for eurasian tree sparrows and eurasian bullfinches and, towards the coast, the european nightjar, woodlark and common whitethroat. In the lagoons of Xuño and Muro (5), the garganey is common in spring and the sedge warbler and various waders are common in late summer.
  5. A little further south, on the northern edge of the Corrubedo Natural Park, use a telescope to find eurasian stone-curlew at the foot of the mobile dune (6).
  6. Further west, at the entrance of the town of Corrubedo, take the first paved road to the left to A Pedra do Pino and the rocky coastline of A Comboa (7). Eurasian oystercatcher and sanderling can be seen there.
  7. From the centre of Corrubedo the route reaches the vicinity of the port, where sandwich terns and rock sparrows can be seen.
  8. Next, take the road that leads to the lighthouse to watch the passage of seabirds such as the european shag and pay attention to the open areas, bushes and nearby wires in search of migrant land birds.

Route by car: Port of Ribeira - Corrubedo Interpretation Centre

BEST TIME

In winter above all (between December and February).

DISTANCE

20 Km

DURATION

2 hours

DIFFICULTY

None

COUNCILS

Ribeira

PATH

Port of Ribeira - Corrubedo Interpretation Centre

Key points on the route:

  1. The route begins at the port of Ribeira (1), where sandwich terns and great black-backed gulls can be found.
  2. Follow the coast to the nearby wharf of Touro (2), where common scoter and european herring gull can be seen.
  3. Next, arrive at Aguiño (3) through the beaches of Castiñeiras and O Castro. On the way, look out for the kentish plover and possibly the crested lark and, on arriving at the port, sanderlings and mediterranean gulls.
  4. Cross through the village to the junction with the CP-7306 and continue west to the junction at Os Castriños (4), where there is the possibility of finding rock sparrows.
  5. Continue to the points of Couso and Falcoeiro (5), where purple sandpipers can be found and the passage of seabirds witnessed.
  6. From A Graña walk to the bird observatory of the Vixán lagoon (6) to see Anatidae, grey and purple herons and western marsh harrier.
  7. Returning to A Graña through Monte Vixán, make your way towards O Vilar (7), where little owl and Eurasian scops owl can be found, then descend to the beach car park. Walk along the groomed trails; with some luck merlin and short-eared owl can be found.
  8. Walking northeastwards we eventually reach the 'Casa da Costa' visitor reception centre (8) at the Corrubedo Natural Park and also the Galician Coastal Ecosystem Interpretation Centre. In the pine forest there are forest birds such as the european nightjar and Eurasian scops owl.

Route on foot: Xuño lagoon - San Pedro de Muro lagoon - A Sarrosa and return

BEST TIME

Especially from October to June

DURATION

2-3 hours on foot

DIFFICULTY

None

COUNCILS

Porto do Son

PATH

Xuño lagoon - San Pedro de Muro lagoon - A Sarrosa and return

Key points on the route:

  1. From the access to the Xuño lagoon (1) walk through the dune area to the west. eurasian skylark and dartford warbler can be seen on the way.
  2. On reaching the spillway of the Muro lagoon (2) look out for western yellow wagtail and settled waders.
  3. Continue south and easily watch birds from the lagoon's observatory (3). western marsh harrier and the occasional purple heron can be seen here.
  4. Taking a dirt road into the pine forest, continue along the lagoon to the southeast and south to the edge of the reedbed (4) while looking out for eurasian reed warblers and the common reed bunting that nests in this area.
  5. Continue until a wooden walkway (5) that leads over the top of the dune to Arealonga beach and the A Sarrosa stones (6) to see black-throated loon and european herring gull. Return along the same route to the point where the route began.
The birds

Corrubedo is one of the three main towns in Galicia where the eurasian stone-curlew and kentish plover breed. There are also gadwalls, purple herons, western marsh harriers, spotted crakes and common reed buntings. In addition, this park is a stop-off point for migrating birds and also an important wintering area: eurasian oystercatchers, purple sandpipers, sanderlings and turnstones call these rocky areas and coves their home in winter. Starting in November, merlin, european golden plover and short-eared owl appear on the dunes.

Tips and resources
  • Bring suitable footwear (rubber boots or waterproof shoes) in autumn and winter.

  • Use of a telescope is recommended for watching water birds.

  • Respect the rules of the Natural Park.

  • Only travel on trails and do not trespass on farm land.

Arriba