Ria de Pontevedra - Docking

Anchorages:

South of Aguete are some good anchorages and the small Ria de Aldan (between Punta Couso and Cabo de Udra) is one of the prettiest settings for anchoring in Galicia, with a thickly wooded coast and protection from the W, S and E.

Ria de Aldan: There are a multitude of small rocky bays to choose from in this Ria, but the anchorage at the head of the Ria close to Aldan town offers a calm night's sleep in almost all weather (except strong N/NW winds).

The bottom can be weedy in places, so be sure to test your anchor is well dug in and there are numerous isolated rocks easily spotted on a large-scale chart. The west of the Ria has many mussel farms, however it's possible to weave through these to reach the small bays beyond and shelter tends to be better on this side of the Ria. The eastern shore is much deeper and can suffer from swell.

Note that many of the beaches have large yellow buoyed swimming areas which can restrict shelter available compared to that found on the charts. During the summer months small "chiringuitos" pop up in the various bays for a cheap meal ashore.

The fishing village of Aldan has grown substantially in the last 10 years with the influx of summer tourists from Madrid and elsewhere in Spain. There are various slipways near the town where a dinghy can be landed, or alternatively use the pontoon opposite the town and walk around the bay to reach the shops.

Combarro: If possible, a visit to Combarro at the top of the Ria should not be missed. Many class Combarro as the most scenic of Galician villages, set right on the water's edge with the rocky shoreline lined with "horeos" - large grain stores typical of  Galicia. Whilst it gets very busy during the summer it can be a charming place to explore once the crowds have left and the tourist shops have closed their doors. The marina here provides most services, with anchoring possible just off the marina, and there is provisioning and restaurants ashore.

Bueu: is a bay at the entrance to the Ria which offers shelter from the West, South and East.

Marinas:

There are five marinas in this Ria, at Portonovo, Sanxenxo, Pontevedra, Combarro and Aguete (on the southern coast). Pontevedra, however, has a restricted entrance due to the road bridge (clearance 12m). The small marina at Beluso and temporary pontoons in the summer at Bueu can provide berths.

The busy commercial and naval port of Marin should be avoided as it is difficult to access by boat.

Last updated:  August 2019