Beach of Las Catedrales (Ribadeo, Lugo) · SENDITUR.COM · paths · routes

Did you know that... the Beach of Las Catedrales?

Praia das Catedrais in Galician is located in the municipality of Ribadeo, on the Cantabrian coast of Lugo, also known as La Mariña lucense, where sea and mountains, rivers and estuaries, meadows and beaches blend in perfect harmony. This beach is known by its popular tourist name, Beach of Las Catedrales, because of the gigantic rocks in the form of colossal arches and towers on its cliffs, reminiscent of Christian temples. It has been declared a Natural Monument by the Galician Regional Government's Department of the Environment and forms part of the protected area within the Natura 2000 Network, which stretches along a stretch of coastline of some fifteen kilometres.

Beach of Las Catedrales

What to see in the Beach of Las Catedrales?

In order to enter the arches, caves and corridors of this marine cathedral, it is essential that there is low tide, as it is then that from this sandy area we can admire an eroded cliff of slate and quartz schist that shows us its capricious shapes. Arches more than thirty metres high, reminiscent of the typical Gothic flying buttresses of a cathedral, aisles of sand, like cathedral naves, between blocks of rock and caves dozens of metres long. At high tide, this work of art created by the sea water, the wind and the weather becomes a small beach of fine sand.

Beach of Las Catedrales

What to do in the Beach of Las Catedrales?

At spring tide, when the water recedes the most but also when it rises the most at high tide, is the best time to visit of the Beach of Las Catedrales, you can even access the neighbouring beaches through the sand, but be careful of the rising tide, which in the Rasa Cantabrica is very fast. In addition, a walk along the upper edge of the beach with information panels completes our visit to Beach of Las Catedrales. A coastal path will also allow us to enjoy this beautiful environment above the cliffs, as well as the hiking route that from the beach of Las Catedrales will bring the most experienced hikers to the coastal Ribadeo. A short walk along the coast will take us to enjoy other interesting beaches close to the Catedrales and perhaps less known and therefore less crowded, such as Esteiro beach, das Illas beach, Os Castros beach, good for enjoying a relaxing time on the beach, or the beach of Xuncos, further away from the Catedrales

Beach of Las Catedrales

Curiosities

The coastal rasa that stretches from Burela to San Vicente de la Barquera has been formed because the rocky base of this part of the coast has withstood over time the action of tectonic movements, the successive phases in which the sea has appropriated the land and then withdrawn and the different terrestrial erosive agents. The Beach of Las Catedrales is part of this, a geological monument, a true architectural work whose sculptor is the sea.

Useful information for visiting the Beach of Las Catedrales.

The Beach of Las Catedrales can be visited at any time of the year, but it should be noted that during the summer months, specifically from 1 July to 30 September, and at Easter, a permit or reservation is required.
This is free of charge and can be obtained online
The rules and recommendations established for visits to the monument apply to all visits.
Reservations can only be made up to 30 days before the date of the visit. The website will not give the option to book earlier than 30 days before the date of the visit.
You can take your pet with you but it must be leashed and can only walk on the roads and footpaths. The municipal regulations on access to the sandy areas are also applicable.
The upper part of the As Catedrais Beach Natural Monument has paths and viewpoints enabled for access by people with reduced mobility.
Bathing at the Beach of Las Catedrales is allowed, but you must take into account the signs indicating the state of the sea on the beach and the recommendations of the lifeguards.
If you use the shuttle bus from Ribadeo to the Beach of Las Catedrales, which is in service during the summer months, the bus ticket itself works as an authorisation to visit the beach of As Catedrais.

Beach of Las Catedrales

The Legend

According to the locals, the name Praia de Augasantas comes from the fact that there used to be a spring of medicinal waters with miraculous properties.

How to get to the Beach of Las Catedrales by car

The three official car parks at the Beach of Las Catedrales are located next to the LU-P-0610 road. The N-642 is the road that connects the whole of A Mariña lucense, and through it we reach the beach from any point in the north of the province of Lugo. From the A-8 motorway, exit 516 is the direct access to the beach. From the centre of Ribadeo the quickest way is the N-634.

By bus

To get to the Beach of Las Catedrales there is a bus, with 3 daily services, which connects Ribadeo with the beach of Las Catedrales and which operates in July, August and September. It is a shuttle bus that makes a circular route and departs from the Ribadeo Tourist Office.

By train

The FEVE train line that connects Ferrol with Gijón stops at Esteiro-A Devesa, the closest stop to the Beach of Las Catedrales. Then a walk of only 15 minutes will take us to the beach. This train can be taken from the town of Rinlo or Ribadeo.

SENDITUR is not responsible for any variation in the information described or for the misuse of its guides and recommends that everyone be responsible and prudent in carrying out the activity. Likewise, we invite you to read books and specialised guides to complement the information described.. From the commitment of SENDITUR with Nature, respect and balance of the environment, SENDITUR urges you to travel in a responsible way, with low environmental impact and respecting at all times the Natural, Cultural and Social environment of wherever you go. For any suggestion, SENDITUR invites you to send an e-mail to

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