Playa de Las Catedrales

It’s always worthwhile getting up early, and on this particular June morning, it was no different. I had spent the night in the small fishing village of Rinlo, just a stone’s throw from the famous Playa de las Catedrales. Considered one of Spain’s must‑see natural monuments, Playa de las Catedrales is an essential stop for anyone travelling along the Galician coast.

The beach, officially known as Praia de Augas Santas — the Beach of the Holy Waters — is renowned for its majestic natural arches, sculpted over centuries by the relentless force of the sea and wind. Some of these towering formations rise up to 30 metres, resembling the soaring arches of a Gothic cathedral, which is how the beach earned its evocative nickname: Playa de las Catedrales.​

The best time to wander among these giants is at low tide, ideally early in the morning or later in the evening, when the busloads of tourists have moved on. As the waters pull back, the imposing arches reveal themselves once more to the visitors who flock here to witness this natural spectacle. And it’s not just the arches — the cliffs hide a whole network of sea caves waiting to be explored.

Between the rock formations, you’ll find stretches of sand and small rock pools, all of which vanish again as soon as the tide returns. It’s essential to keep a close eye on the tide times to ensure a safe journey back before the “cathedrals” are swallowed by the sea, only to reappear a few hours later.

If you look closely at the rocks, you may spot clusters of goose barnacles, a prized delicacy in Spain and Portugal known as percebes. Their presence is a small reminder of the rugged, untamed nature of this extraordinary coastline.​