Cathedrals Beach (Praia das Catedrais, Ribadeo)

Cathedrals Beach (Praia das Catedrais, or As Catedrais) is a beach of slate cliffs, sea arches and caves on the Lugo coast of Galicia, in the municipality of Ribadeo, about 9 km west of Ribadeo town. You drive there on the coast road off the N-634 and park beside the cliff top; stairs lead down to the sand. You can only walk among the arches at low tide, and from 1 July to 30 September and in Holy Week you need a free authorisation booked online with the Xunta de Galicia. It suits anyone who wants to see one of Galicia’s best-known natural sights; skip the summer midday crowds, and do not go down without checking the tide.

Quick facts

• Names: Cathedrals Beach in English; Praia das Catedrais or As Catedrais in Galician (the beach itself is Augasantas, or Augas Santas); Playa de As Catedrais or Las Catedrales in Castilian.
• Where: O Rato, parish of A Devesa, 27796 Ribadeo (Lugo), on the Cantabrian coast of Galicia.
• Coordinates: 43.5542, -7.1575.
• Protection: Natural Monument since 2005; also a Special Area of Conservation in the Natura 2000 network.
• Size: the Natural Monument covers 28.94 hectares, 20 of them sea; the wider protected area covers 304.36 hectares along about 15 km of coast (Turismo de Galicia).
• Beach length: sources differ: 1,320 m on the Turismo de Galicia resource page, 880 m on spain.info.
• Cliffs: rock buttresses up to about 30 m high, with arches and sea caves.
• Entry: free. A free authorisation is required from 1 July to 30 September and in Holy Week.

Access, booking and parking

By car: Turismo de Galicia gives the access from the N-634 (A Coruña–Santander road), taking one of the turn-offs to the coast between San Miguel de Reinante and Rinlo, then the local roads that run parallel to the shore. From Ribadeo the Turismo de Galicia Mariña route follows the coast road west past Rinlo and the beaches of Os Castros and Esteiro to As Catedrais.

Parking: OpenStreetMap shows a free surface car park about 160 m from the beach, two more car parks just behind it, and the Condomiña car park about 250 m to the west. Further car parks line the coast road to the east.

Booking: during the summer months (1 July to 30 September) and Holy Week you must request an authorisation to go down to the beach. It is free and is issued online on the Xunta de Galicia booking site (ascatedrais.xunta.gal), as stated on the Turismo de Galicia As Catedrais page and on spain.info. We could not open the booking site itself, so check the current slots and conditions there. Outside those dates no booking is mentioned.

Without a car: OpenStreetMap shows bus stops on the coast road about 210 m from the beach, but we could not confirm which lines serve them or how often.

What to expect

The step known as the Cantabrian platform reaches the category of geological monument here, in Turismo de Galicia’s words: the sea has carved the slate and quartzite cliffs into arches, columns and vaults between the beaches of Augasantas and Carricelas. Tourists named the stretch As Catedrais because the arches look like the flying buttresses and naves of a Gothic cathedral. At low tide you can walk barefoot between the rocks, into sea caves and under arches within arches. At high tide the sand disappears and you see the formations from the cliff-top path, which has information panels.

Spain.info describes white, fine sand, moderate waves and an isolated setting with a high occupancy rate. It lists toilets, showers, a footwash and a tourist information point. OpenStreetMap shows a restaurant beside the car park and toilets at the top of the stairs.

Accessibility and safety

The way down is a long stairway, so the sand is not step-free. The cliff-top walk and its viewpoints are the option if you cannot manage stairs. The area is a protected natural monument: follow the signs and leave rocks and plants as they are.

Best time to visit

Plan around a low tide in daylight. In July, August, September and Holy Week you also need your free booking. Outside those periods the official pages mention no authorisation. Bring a layer: this is an exposed stretch of open coast.

Nearby alternatives

• Rinlo Costa Camping, 3.7 km east: a campsite near the fishing village of Rinlo, on the same coast road.
• Rinlo, on the way to Ribadeo: Turismo de Galicia describes a fishing village of slate-roofed houses on the cliffs, known for its soupy rice with lobster.
• Illa Pancha lighthouse, about 9 km east: a lighthouse on a small island at the mouth of the Ribadeo estuary, joined to the land by a bridge.
• Arealonga (San Miguel de Reinante), just west: a long beach in Barreiros that the Mariña route says you can reach on foot from As Catedrais by a wooden walkway.

Distances are in a straight line from the beach.

FAQ

Do you need to book Cathedrals Beach?

Yes, from 1 July to 30 September and in Holy Week. The authorisation is free and is requested online on the Xunta de Galicia booking site.

When is low tide at Praia das Catedrais?

It changes every day. Check a tide table for Ribadeo before you go; you can only walk among the arches at low tide.

Is there parking at Cathedrals Beach?

Yes. OpenStreetMap shows a free car park about 160 m from the beach and several more along the coast road.

How do I get to Cathedrals Beach from Ribadeo?

Drive west along the coast road past Rinlo, or take the N-634 and turn off towards the coast between San Miguel de Reinante and Rinlo. The beach is about 9 km from Ribadeo town in a straight line.

Can you swim at Cathedrals Beach?

Spain.info lists moderate waves on a fine sand beach. The main reason to go is the walk among the rocks at low tide; watch the tide and the waves if you go in.

Sources and freshness