Yzabelle Bostyn
THESE beaches in northern Spain have golden sand and turquoise waters but are unknown to most tourists, here’s how to visit them.
While thousands flock to Mallorca, Valencia and the Costa del Sol, some of Spain’s best coast goes undiscovered by tourists.
The country’s rugged northern coast is well trodden by Camino de Santiago pilgrims and Spanish holidaymakers – so why are we missing out?
In fact, Galicia is home to some truly unspoilt, undiscovered beaches and touring them makes for the perfect summer holiday.
READ MORE: The stunning island in northern Spain you’ve probably never heard of
The region not only has cooler temperatures than the scorching south, but is often cheaper and less crowded.
One of our favourites is the Playa de Nerga, though a hairising drive takes you through windy streets and hills, it’s worth it to reach this pristine beach.
The long stretch of white sand almost seems to sparkle in the sun with the remnants of broken down shells as the bright turquoise water crashes into the shore.
To either side of us, there are dunes and rugged rocks which intrepid visitors may walk over them to visit the equally stunning Playa de Viño and Playa de Barra.
However, the big advantage of staying at Nerga beach is El Gran Sol, a restaurant-chiringuito owned by a Dutch couple.
Jacqueline and Jordie took over the establishment just over a year ago and have been thriving with fresh, local dishes and options for veggies and vegans.
Reviewers have even made the hour and a half drive from Santiago just to eat at the restaurant again.
From Nerga, drive back up (and down) the hill, heading to the town of Aldan.
Much like Nerga, Aldan offers wonderful beach walks, with a seaside path snaking along the rocky coast.
Wander along the Playa de San Cibran, admiring the dramatic landscape of the Galician archipelago.
Daring visitors might take a dip, but be warned, Galicia lies between the Atlantic and Cantabrian sea, meaning the water is often very cold.
But, our next recommendation, Areacova beach, is more sheltered, making it the perfect place for a dip.
This was by far the most popular beach we visited, we even came across the only other British family we saw that day, and it was easy to see why.
Areacova beach is nestled between two chiringuitos overlooking the beach, each with cheap food and amazing views.
After refuelling with an ice cream and Estrella, head down to the white sands where there’s plenty of room for dozens of families on the shore.
Though cold, the waves are calm enough to swim, making it a great option for families with young children.
We liked this area so much we decided to come back a few days later to enjoy a full day in the beautiful surroundings.
There are hundreds of unspoilt beaches around this area and it’s well worth taking a few days to explore them all.
But get there while you can, Galicia and other northern destinations are becoming increasingly popular due to the extreme heat in central and southern Spain so it won’t be long till these secrets are revealed.
Thanks Yzabelle. We’re heading up that way assuming we survive the 2 country zipline at Sanlucar de Guadiaro.
Yzabelle,
of course they won’t remain secret for long, when bloggers like you divulge that secret…
This is another reason why locals everywhere are going against tourists, their best kept secret hideaways that give locals respite from tourists are being revealed by influencers and bloggers for their 5 minutes of fame…!!!
Definitely will not remain a secret when you broadcast it to tens of thousands.