Strokes of Nature

Heading to Santiago de Compostela, the routes of St. James' Way branch throughout all parts of Galicia, crossing different landscapes. 

Depending on their itinerary, pilgrims may find themselves crossing gently sloping mountains …

lush green forests full of oak and chestnut trees …

fertile valleys of farmland and pastures with grazing cattle …

the banks of Galicia's countless rivers …

the coast, with unpredictable terrain shaped by the estuaries …

or even the jagged cliffs of the regions exposed to the Atlantic Ocean and Cantabrian Sea.

All of the routes cross natural sites of great ecological value and scenic beauty. The natural sites discussed in this article are only a taste of the natural features that pilgrims cannot afford to miss on each of the 10 routes in Galicia. 

South of Fraga da Marronda, in Fonteo, the Eo river springs. The Northern Way crosses the mouth of this river. Nearby, pilgrims are met with an exceptional landscape: Holy Waters Beach (playa de Augas Santas), also known as As Catedrais Beach, is located in the municipality of Ribadeo. The wind and water have shaped enormous arches, tunnels, caves, and islets over time, forming a group of geological features that have been declared a natural monument in Spain. 

In the municipality of Baleira, which the Original Way crosses, there is an exceptional forest where the most westerly beech trees in Europe grow. The changing light and color draw in pilgrims no matter the time of year, and traces of human life can still be found here in the bridges, mills, granaries, and other structures. 

The greatest Atlantic forest in Galicia stretches over five municipalities, including Pontedeume on the English Way. Numerous routes guide visitors through every corner of the park, under oak, chestnut, birch, and alder trees, as well as large ferns that date back to the Tertiary Period.

One of the optional routes along the Silver Way runs south of the Central Massif of Ourense (Macizo Central Ourensano), a mountainous region where the O Invernadeiro Nature Park is located, in the municipality of Vilariño de Conso. On entering the park, visitors leave behind the hustle and bustle of human life and enter a landscape full of roe deer, red deer, wolves, and birds of prey. 

Leaving the breathtaking landscapes of Las Médulas behind, the Winter Way enters Galicia a little further south of the Serra da Enciña da Lastra Nature Park in the municipality of Rubiá. This place is not well known and holds many natural secrets, including unusual limestone formations, Mediterranean flora, unique villages, panoramic views, and 25 species of orchids.

In the middle of a highly populated area, anyone who makes their pilgrimage along the Portuguese Way will be happily surprised as they use bridges, pontoons, and stepping stones of great ethnographic value to cross the rivers and wetlands. Gándaras de Budiño, between Tui and O Porriño, is home to over 80 species of aquatic birds, a colony of European pond turtles, and various species of insect-eating plants: the sundews, or drosera.

The Coastal Portuguese Way crosses the estuary of the Miño river between Caminha in Portugal and A Guarda in Galicia. The crash of waves from the river and sea, which can reach up to 25 miles upriver depending on the tides, has created an area with a variety of habitats. Islands, sea rush, and sandbanks make perfect shelters for migratory birds.

Finisterre and Muxía are located right on Costa da Morte (the Coast of Death), a broad waterfront named for its history of shipwrecks. Steep cliffs, vast beaches, small rivers, and islands feature along this stretch of coast. The essence of Galicia's nature is sealed in rich cultural heritage.

The sea route to Santiago de Compostela crosses the estuary of the Sea of Arousa. At its widest point, travelers will find the Sálvora Islands in O Grove and the Cortegada Islands in Vilagarcía de Arousa. They are part of the Atlantic Islands National Park (Parque Nacional das Illas Atlánticas). Though they are quite different from one another, today these islands share a wild nature and the not-too-distant memory of a time when they were still inhabited.