June 2025
28jun(Jun 28)8:0004Jul(Jul 4)19:00
Event details
Event Description
In this activity proposal, we're going to walk along the "famous" and splendid Way of the Lighthouses - Costa da Morte, in Galicia! A spectacular route for all walkers, especially those who enjoy contact with the sea, the rugged coastline, paradisiacal beaches, breathtaking viewpoints, corners that will mark the eyes and memories of everyone who walks these paths! In this itinerary, we've chosen the best of the 200 kilometres that this route covers! You won't regret it, because from Malpica to Finisterre you'll discover only the best! You'll also have time to enjoy the local gastronomy and other unmissable sights! Come with us!
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 31 MARCH 2025
7 DAYS, 6 NIGHTS, 5 STAGES: 90KMS
The Way of the Lighthouses - Costa da Morte - Galicia
The Way of the Lighthouses has to be rightfully considered one of the most beautiful walking routes in Europe. What distinguishes it from other longer hiking routes, apart from the majesty of the ocean and the trails that flank it in a chain of promontories and coves, is the very small presence of hikers. The Way of the Lighthouses remains, among many paths, one of the most contemplative and spectacular. It's a path that has the sea as its main protagonist and passes many of the lighthouses and main points of interest on the Costa da Morte.
At every turn, after every climb or descent, what remains is admiration for majestic nature, for a small fishing harbour or a solitary beach embedded in high cliffs. The deep respect for the sea is something you feel straight away when you talk to anyone who lives in these lands.
Costa da Morte - The origin of the name...
This stretch of Galician coastline got its sinister nickname after a long series of shipwrecks over the centuries. The irregular shape of the coastline, together with often adverse weather conditions, were a fatal combination for a large number of vessels. The most famous shipwreck dates back to 1890. Serpent it was an English ship". "It had to go from Plymouth to Freetown in Sierra Leone, but it sank during a violent storm... it was 10 November." At the site of the shipwreck there is now a memorial, a kind of small stone fort as a reminder of that day. "The gravestone says that the captain lies there," "but in reality there's no certainty of this." "The captain was probably buried with the rest of the crew there, where they were recovered. This is because, as Englishmen, they were of the Protestant faith and the parish priest at the time didn't want to bury them in consecrated ground." The Cemetery of the English is not a collection of tombstones, contrary to what the name might suggest. But a few metres from the water there is a series of pebbles piled up at different heights, resembling slender, unstable columns.
Not far from the site of the wreck of the Serpenttoday stands the Cabo Vilán lighthouse. Replacing a smaller, steam-powered structure, it was the first electric lighthouse in Spain. You get there after a few kilometres on a comfortable dirt track, except for a short but steep climb through brambles and broom, and the last asphalted stretch. The view from the lighthouse's rocks once again leaves you in awe.
Cape Finisterre Lighthouse
Built in 1853, 138 metres above sea level, it is considered to be the cape at the end of the world (Finis Terrae). For thousands of years it was thought that beyond this point there was only a watery sea where the sun went out every night and through which you reached a region of darkness, populated by sea monsters. It is a lighthouse made up of an octagonal tower, the lighthouse keeper's house and a square in honour of General San Martín, known as the Plaza de la República Argentina. It is said that on clear days you can see the border with Portugal. It is known by all the world's sailors for its importance as a means of warning of the proximity of a very dangerous coastline (its light reaches up to 65 kilometres in length), as well as for the treacherous reputation of this maritime area.
28th June
- Departure from Lisbon (Oriente Station) at 8am
- Lunch in Valença
- Check-in at a hotel on the Costa da Morte (Laxe)
- Group dinner (optional)
29 June
- Stage: Malpica - Cape Adrian - Roncudo Lighthouse - Corme - Poteceso (17 kms)
- Points of interest: Malpica Harbour, Area Maior Beach, Seaia Beach, San Adrián Cape, Sisargas Islands, Roncudo Lighthouse, Corme Harbour, Osmo Beach, Ermida Beach, Rio Covo Beach, Monte da Facha, Valarés Beach, Monte Branco, Anllóns River Estuary and Ponteceso Bridge.
- Group dinner (optional)
30th June
- Stage: Ponteceso - Laxe (19 kms)
- Points of interest: Castro de Borneiro, Vilaseco, Dolmen de Dombate, Fontefria, Monte Castelo de Lourido viewpoint, Canduas, Costa da Mundina, Praia de Rebordelo, Praia de San Pedro, Punta do Cabalo, Moinhos de Frexufre, Cabo da Area and Praia de Laxe.
- Group dinner (optional)
1st of July
- Stage: Laxe to Arou (18 kms)
- Points of interest: Laxe Harbour, Santa Maria da Atalaia Church, Laxe Lighthouse, Furna da Espuma, Crystal Beach, Baleeira Cove, Soesto Beach, Traba Beach and Lagoon, Camelle Beach, Man and Arou Museum.
- Group dinner (optional)
2nd July
- Stage: Arou to Cape Vilan (19 kms)
- Points of interest: Arou Beach, Lobeiras Beach, Santa Marina Harbour, Monte Branco, Trece Beach, English Cemetery, Reira Beach, Vilan Cape and Lighthouse, Camarinas.
- You can also visit Muxia
- Group dinner (optional)
3rd July
- Stage: Rostro Beach to Finisterre (17 kms)
- Points of interest: Praia do Rostro, Ponta do Rostro, Praia de Arnela, Cabo da Nave, Praia do Mar de Fora, Monte do Facho and Cabo e Farol de Finisterra.
- Tour of Finisterre
- Group dinner (optional)
And that concludes our journey with the arrival of the lighthouse at Cape Finisterre.
4th of July
- Visit to the Ézaro Waterfall
- Back to Lisbon
Reservations until 31st March 2025
Booking price: 150€ per person
Location
Meeting Point
Gare do Oriente - Lisbon
Latitude: 38°46'3.02″N
Longitude: 9° 6'7.03″W
TIME: Departure from Lisbon at 8am
RETURN: Arrival in Lisbon at 7pm
Route Features and Equipment
Linear
Circuit
Equipment
A rucksack for each day's walk and a suitcase for clothes and other personal belongings. The suitcase will be transported in our bus.