Albarino Wine Tour of the Rias Baixas Galicia Spain a Land of Seafood and Fine White Wines

On this deluxe food & wine tour of Spain you will explore Galicia's Rias Baixas an exceptionally indented coastline, with creeks and hidden coves at every turn, a scattering of inlets lying close inshore, and an alternating pattern of cliffs and beaches. In this Forgotten Celtic region of Northwestern Spain nature alone is not at play however. There is much to be enjoyed including its famous Albariño wines accompanied by rich local cuisine most notably Seafood.

On this tour you will discover the Galicia, Northwestern Spain with all senses... starting off in Santiago de Compostela the Capital of the region and also the end of the important Pilgrimage Way of St. James. Here you will walk the streets of the old quarter and visit the Cathedral which marks the heart of this historic centre. Then you will follow down the Atlantic coast in the area called the Rias Baixas (Low Estuaries or Bays), here you will get a chance to stroll along the ports of small fishing villages and enjoy exclusive visits to various wineries making the highly acclaimed Albarino white wines of the D.O. Rias Baixas.

In between winery & cultural sites you will stop to dine in a mix of different types of restaurants while touring, we have selected them to show you the variety of the Galician Cuisine... from Michelin Star Restaurants in Santiago to small fishermen´s taverns right on the docks offering an abundance of fresh seafood (Spider Crab, Bay Prawns, Lobster, etc...) caught just that morning and served in handmade wicker baskets right on the table for everyone to dig in and enjoy this delectable finger-food. You will get the chance to learn in-depth about the Galician gastronomy by cooking side-by-side with a Galician chef who knows just about all the traditional coastal cooking secrets of Galicia!

After following down the Rias Baixas coast your inland journey begins alongside the Mino River visiting a few more Albarino wineries, before winding down our unforgettable wine journey of the Rias Baixas

For your comfort during the trip we have selected  a mix of Paradores (Baiona), these accommodations are placed within historic building like Monasteries, Castles, etc..., a few more rural stays in Galician Pazos, which are Noble Manor Houses with all the amenities of a Parador but on a smaller more personal scale, and modern 5* spa-hotels.

Come Savor Seafood and Albarino wines of Galicia, Atlantic Spain!

DAY 1: 
SANTIAGO

• Arrival to Santiago de compostela the end of the Pilgrims` way
• Your private driver will meet & greet you at the Airport or train station depending which way you arrive. 
• Transfer to hotel (NOTE: Transfer is based on a pick up from Santiago airport or train station, even a city centre location. If you did need a transfer from Vigo or Porto airport see Add-ons section for additional transfer costs in our Driver Services)
• Check into hotel anytime after 2:00pm
• Enjoy a "Galician Dinner" in the historic monastery-hotel. 
  
• Overnight in Santiago

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DAY 2: 
SANTIAGO 

• Breakfast
  
• Meet your Private English-Speaking Official local guide in Santiago de Compostela  at the front entrance of your hotel
  
• Morning or afternoon walking through the old quarter stopping at  various monuments to see from the outside and of course the cathedral (inside).
  
• The tour will end where at the Plaza de Abastos market area.
• Meet our English-Speaking Food & Wine Specialist Guide at the entrance of the Cafe of Hotel Pazo de Altamira which is right beside the market (See Location Map)
• Take a stroll thru the *market (*Closed on a Sunday, will walk more thru the streets on that day).
• We offer you a guided tour of some of Santiago´s finest tapas bars with commented tastings and explanation of the different tapas savored. 
  
• 02:30PM-03:00PM APPROX: Tour will end at the last tapas stop.
• Dinner in Michelin Star Restaurant restaurant with fine cuisine in the old quarter
• Overnight in Santiago
  

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DAY 3:
SANTIAGO -  BAROÑA - CORRUBEDO - CATOIRA - CAMBADOS 

• Breakfast
• Meet your English-Speaking guide who will accompany you during the next few days.
• Departure from Santiago
  
• Follow down the Upper Rias Baixas coastline passing by many small fishing villages
  
• Visit the Celtic Hill-fort of Castro de Baroña
  
• Visit the ancient Dolmen of Axeitos
  
• Lunch in a restaurant in the village of Corrubedo with excellent views of the coast and delicious fresh seafood & Albariño white wines
• We will pass by and see from a distance the Dunes of Corrubedo, a nature beach park with large sand dunes, wild flora & fauna
• Entering into the Rias Baixas of O Salnes, we see from the bridge when passing the remains of the 17th century defense towers in Catoira
• Visit Bodega Pazo Baion, an Albariño winery located in the O Salnes sub-zone of the Denomination of Origin Rias Baixas
• Then we visit Cambados village, the heart of Albariño wine country
• Walk around the Plaza de Fefiñanes and quaint streets of this noble village.
• Dinner on your own
• Overnight in Cambados
  

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DAY 4: 
CAMBADOS - COMBARRO - BUEU - DONON - NATURE WALK AROUND MAN´s CAPE - HIO - VIGO

• Breakfast
• In the morning your English-Speaking guide and you will leave Cambados to visit the quaint fishing village of Combarro
• Walk along the port promenade with Horreos (Stone Granaries) which hang over the bay
• Continuing on we follow along the coastline arriving at the point of the Peninsula of O Morrazo.
• In the small village of Bueu we will visit its market, famous for its fresh seafood and fish
• After, we will have a seafood lunch in a local restaurant.
• After lunch we will walk around what is know as Cabo Home (Man´s Cape) in Donon here we see a few lighthouses (including an Ancient Celtic Lighthouse at the top of Monte Facho) all with excellent view of the Cies Islands in front.
• From here we walk in the direction of the Beach of Melide whereas we reach an other lighthouse of this Cape, which faces to the Ria of Vigo offering spectacular view over the Ria.
• In the small village of Hio we visit the Wayside Cross of Hio the most famous in Galicia and built from on solid block of granite. Beside the cross is the Romanesque Church of San Andres (St. Andrews) we take a peek inside before leaving.
• Then we make our way to Vigo
• Free time for dinner
• Overnight in Vigo
  

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DAY 5: 
VIGO- CANGAS - MOAÑA - VIGO

• 10:00AM Meet your foodie guide at your hotel in the city centre (Galician Coastal Cooking Class and Boat Ride on Vigo Bay).
• We will start our Gastro-Day of Peninsula of O Morrazo on the other side of Vigo Bay.
• Enjoy a short small ferry ride over Vigo Bay (20 mins.) to the small fishing village of Cangas.
• Arriving in Cangas we will walk along the seaside promenade to the *market and take a look what has been caught that morning ( on Sundays or holidays when the market is closed it will be substituted with a short walk around the port of Vigo or Cangas).
• After visiting the market we will take a walk around the old part of Cangas and a little walk along the promenade.
• Then you will be picked up and transferred to Moaña to the local cooking school where you will enjoy a private fun cooking class with a local Galician Chef that has worked in various local restaurants.
• The classwill start with a demonstration of the dishes you will prepare then main course/dish hands-on. It will be based on products of the area... fish, seafood, etc… A 1st starter course (could be 1 or 2 dishes), 2nd main course then 3rd dessert dish.
• You will eat lunch or dinner based on what you have prepared with your chef and guide accompanied by Albariño white or Mencia red wines. From the dinning area enjoy views of Vigo bay and Moaña in the background. A special foodie experience and a great introduction to the gastronomy of the Rias Baixas, Galicia.
• Then we are transferred to the port of Cangas where we will  return by ferry boat back to Vigo.
• Ending back where the tour started at the Ferry terminal of Vigo.
• Free time to rest in Vigo
• Then we will take a short stroll thru the streets to the Michelin-starred restaurant Maruja Limon  by Chef Rafa Centeno and his team where we will have a table reserved for us .
• Walk back to our hotel just around the corner.
• Overnight in Vigo

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DAY 6: 
VIGO - BAIONA  - O ROSAL - LA GUARDIA - TUI - AS NEVES

• Breakfast
• In the morning we follow up the Lower Rias until arriving in Baiona.  
• We will have a walk around the Parador and we can take a peak inside the Parador too, a fortress protected from the open sea by a lovely bay.  
• Then we will make a visit to Bodegas Terras Gauda (Or similar winery), an Albariño winery located in the O Rosal, sub-zone of the D.O. Rias Baixas
  
• Lunch in a seafood restaurant at the port of the fishing village of A Guarda. Enjoy a Seafood feast with Lobster, crab etc... and Albariño wines
• After we will make our way to the top of the St. Tecla hill with  Panoramic Views of the River Miño meeting the Atlantic sea, and views of the mountains of Northern Portugal.
• Here we will also see the Monte Santa Tecla Celtic Hill-Fort with reconstructed huts and the museum with artifacts
• Then we will make our way to the ancient boarder village of Tui
• Visit the Fortified Cathedral of Tui and it´s old quarter
• Boarding our minibus we drive back to our hotel in  As Neves
• Some free time to relax before our special tasting and dinner.
• The hotel we are staying at is owned by the winery Señorio de Rubios which is right beside the hotel and we will take a brief visit this evening and a tasting of their award winning wines.
• Dinner at the restaurant of the hotel offer a creative cuisine.
• Overnight in As Neves

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DAY 7: 
AS NEVES - BAIXO MINO RIVER WINE COUNTRY - AS NEVES

DAY 8: 
AS NEVES - SANTIAGO, VIGO OR PORTO TRANSFERS

• Breakfast
  
• In the morning meet our food & wine Guide in the lobby of your hotel, board our minibus to transfer you to Santiago. 
• Drop off in Santiago and final goodbye from your guide. (NOTE: Transfer is based on a drop off at Santiago airport or train station, even a city centre location. If you did need a transfer to Vigo or Porto airport see Add-ons section for additional transfer costs in our Driver Services)

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END OF TOUR SERVICES