Discover Boiro: archaeology, trails and maritime culture

When looking for a hotel in Boiro, you can assess the destination according to the themes you want to shape your trip: archaeology, hiking trails or maritime culture. The contrast is especially clear between the 32-kilometre Boiro section of the A Orixe pilgrimage route and the almost one-kilometre-long Paseo Fluvial do Río Breiro. Shorter visits have their own highlights, too, such as the archaeological sites of Neixón, the Cadarnoxo waterfall or the trails along the Paseo marítimo de Barraña.

Archaeology and megalithic heritage

The Castros de O Neixón lie on a small peninsula and comprise two settlements. The Castro Pequeno dates from the 6th to the 4th century BC; the Castro Grande spans from the 4th century BC to the 3rd or 4th century AD. The castros were recognised as an Asset of Cultural Interest in 2011. The Centro Arqueolóxico do Barbanza, which preserves finds from the excavations, is located at the entrance to the archaeological site. It was the first archaeological collection in Galicia with a local focus to be open to visitors.

The centre has provisions for visitors with visual impairments; the lower exhibition room is suitable for people with reduced mobility. These practical details about the exhibition are also part of what visitors can expect. Those interested in other forms of megalithic heritage can visit the Casota do Páramo, a Galician megalithic burial chamber recognised as an Asset of Cultural Interest. A historical engraving can be seen on one of the chamber's slabs: it depicts a monstrance or reliquary beside a chalice.

The Arca do Barbanza lies near the middle reaches of the Río Barbanza and is considered to be relatively well preserved. Its dolmen chamber is made of enormous granite slabs, some weighing more than seven tonnes. The Ruta das Mámoas offers a different perspective on the archaeological landscape: a natural passage route through the interior of the mountain range, it passes more than 30 burial mounds. You can walk it independently; guided walks are usually organised by the Centro Arqueolóxico do Barbanza.

Routes and waterfalls

The Boiro section of the A Orixe pilgrimage route is 32 kilometres long. It runs from the Estivada stream to the Ermita de Ponte Beluso in Bealo. The Boiro Tourist Office stamps pilgrims' credentials digitally or on paper. When planning your journey, both the specific route length and the designated endpoint provide useful reference points.

A much shorter walk is the Paseo Fluvial do Río Breiro: the footpath is almost one kilometre long and connects Boiro town centre with the Paseo marítimo de Barraña. Unlike the 32-kilometre pilgrimage stage, this path can be thought of as a short stretch between two named areas. Another hiking route begins in the centre of Boiro, at the Río Coroño in Brazos. It passes through the mountains of the parishes and climbs to the Serra do Barbanza. At Castelo de Vitres, it offers views of the Ría de Arousa and the Río Coroño estuary.

The Cascada de Cadarnoxo has a 30-metre drop and is considered one of the largest waterfalls in Galicia. You can drive almost all the way to the waterfall; only a few metres remain to be covered on foot. You can also plan a stop at the Mirador de Coto de A Filloa, which offers views of the Ría de Arousa.

Maritime culture and activities by the water

The Paseo marítimo de Barraña has a cycle path, football and beach volleyball courts, a fitness park, a workout area and space for running. Its range of facilities makes the promenade a place for cycling, ball games and running or workout sessions. The ethnographic exhibition Mar de Boiro offers a different insight into maritime life. It covers the harvesting of mussels and other shellfish, coastal fishing and mussel farming, and displays traditional fishing gear.

On the Ruta do mexillón, mussels are also the focus of a boat trip: the route passes between the mussel rafts and heads close to the island of Rua. Group trips are organised from the ports of Escarabote and Cabo de Cruz. You can learn about mussel farming and marketing at close quarters. The route explains the process from collecting the seed to the finished product and includes a tasting with wine.

Festivals and further discoveries

The Romería de San Ramón de Bealo takes place every year on 31 August, has been celebrated for 260 years and holds the status of a Galician Festival of Tourist Interest. As part of the fertility ritual, dozens of women ask San Ramón for a child each year. For a different kind of visit, consider A Casa das Camelias: the botanical garden showcases a wide variety of plants from around the world, a camellia maze, a pond, a mill and a hórreo. The interests described in Boiro thus range from archaeological remains and pilgrimage routes to maritime themes, an annual festival and a botanical garden.

Discover more destinations: Beluso, A Coruña, Pontedeume, Mugardos, Seoane, Verdes, O Bosque, Sesa De Abaixo.

For the main travel overview: Coruña.