Have you ever seen a forest of bay trees? Very few people have, because it is something truly exceptional, a botanical rarity visited by experts from all over the world.
In Galicia there is an island whose woods smell of bay and seafood: the most mouth-watering combination. The sand banks of the Ría de Arousa produce clams, cockles, razor clams, and other types of shellfish. And the Island of Cortegada provides the bay leaves to flavour these delicious seafood products.
Centuries-old trees conceal meadows and fields that were once cultivated in times past. A crumbling chapel, an uninhabited ghost town and a stone cross survey the scenery. The bay woods and Island of Cortegada are full of mystery. You wouldn’t want to miss this!
| Starting point | Route type | Km | Estimated time required | Terrain difficulty | Orientation difficulty |
| Centro de recepción de visitantes (Isla de Cortegada) | Circular | 2 | 1 h. | Low | Low |
| PROFILE: All walkers | |||||
The first amazing experience you will have of the woods of the Island of Cortegada is getting there! What better way to begin your exploration of these woods than from the coast as you approach at a leisurely pace on the calm waters of the Ría de Arousa? The island, the river, the soft lapping of the waves, the sea breeze, the seafaring culture that is palpable on all sides, the little fishing villages that sit on the shore, the white sands that adorn the coastline….
