A Special Cultural & Gastronomic Sailing Adventure

INTRODUCTION
The maritime and river route along the Arousa estuary and the river Ulla commemorates, according to tradition, the arrival by sea to Galicia of the body of the Apostle St. James the Greater, after his martyrdom in Jerusalem in the year 44 AD. St. James was a sailor and fisherman from Galilee, an apostle of Christ, the evangeliser of the West, and a martyr. The episode on his death, ordered by Herod Agrippa, is contained in St. Luke's "Acts of the Apostles". Ancient Christian traditions, backed by a number of medieval texts, claim that several of the Saint's disciples took his body, placed it in a shroud and carried it to the coast of Palestine. At the port of Jaffa, a ship, possibly a merchant vessel (one interesting theory suggests the "stone boat", was one that regularly traded in mineral tin with the East), sailed the Saint's body across the Mediterranean and up the Atlantic coast of Iberia to the very end of the Western world: one of the places where he had preached the gospel.

The apostle's remains entered Galicia along the Arousa estuary and up the river Ulla, coming ashore at the Roman city of Iria Flavia (Padrón). The most well-known text narrating the "traslatio" of the apostle's body fom Jaffa to Iria and from there to its place of burial in Compostela, is the famous 12th-century "Codex Calixtinus", (Book III, Chapter I). From oral tradition and medieval texts that describe the event, we gather that, after a long voyage that began at the eastern edge of the Mediterranean and ended up at the very West of the known world, St. James was finally reunited with the land where he had spread his legacy, the gospel. It is significant that the oldest portrayal of the apostolic ship, containing the body of St. James, appears on a 12th-century coin found in Adro Vello (O Grove, on the Arousa estuary).

The disciples who accompanied the body of St. James to Galicia, Theodore and Athanasius, had to keep their wits about them when they were confronted with the obstinacy of Queen Lupa and the fury of the Roman settlers in the vanished city of Dugium, close to Fisterra. But they finally overcame the dangers and found a burial-place worthy of their master. The place chosen for St. James's sepulchre, close to a crossroads, was covered for centuries by the undergrowth from the Libredón wood. The silence was broken in the 9th century, when the hermit monk Paio and the bishop of Iria, Theodomir, discovered the precious tomb and, with the help of King Alfonso II "the chaste", they reorganised and re-launched the cult of St. James the Greater. The "Traslatio", following the Apostle's maritime route, is still a vivid event that the people of Arousa and Ulla commemorate every year. At the end of July or beginning of August each year, the Committee of Mayors of this Compostelan route (now known as the "Fundación Ruta Xacobea do Mar de Arousa e Ulla"), along with the Marine authorities, the church of Santiago de Padrón and the ship-builders and fishermen of the area, organise a sea and river procession, (several dozen boats, full of people), that lands at Pontescures and Padrón where a religious ceremony is then held.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS AT A GLANCE:
• Santiago de Compostela Cathedral
• Travel by sea in a luxurious yacht with picturesque views
• Dock in various important Yacht Clubs in the Galician Estuaries
• Traditional Albariño winery visit
• Gastronomic delights… fresh seafood etc…
• Spectacular Blue Flag & Virgin beaches
• Nature parks, Small fishing villages etc…
• Relax paced sailing trip anchoring on various islands
• And much more... 

HOTEL OVERNIGHTS
BAIONA 1 • Parador or Historic hotel
SANXENXO 1 • Costal Hotel or Manor house
LA TOJA 1 • Luxurious Spa Hotel
RIBEIRA 1 • Historic Hotel
VILLAGARCIA DE AROUSA 1 • Historic Hotel or Manor house
SANTIAGO 2 • Historic hotel or Manor house

DAY BY DAY ITINERARY:
08 DAYS / 07 NIGHTS


DAY 1:
VIGO • RIA OF VIGO • CIES ISLANDS • PLAYA DE AMERICA • BAIONA
• Arrival to VIGO Spain's largest fishing port (Inquire for pre-tour services or hotel night stays)
• Make your own transportation arrangements (Transfer can be provided upon request) to arrive (10:00 am) at the yachting port, Real Club Nautico de Vigo
• Board the BRETON I yacht & introduction to the group
• Starting our Sailing journey around the RIA OF VIGO with selected stop in small fishing villages & stunning beaches
• Leaving the Ria de Vigo we cross over to the CIES ISLANDS where we will anchor the yacht next to the beach and enjoy a catered lunch with products & wines of the area aboard the yacht
• A short walking tour to observe the islands flora & fauna
• Free time at leisure to sit on the beach and explore the Island
• Boarding the yacht we sail across to the PLAYA DE AMERICA just like La Pinta did bringing word of the discover of America to Europe.
• Disembark in BAIONA at the yachting port, Real Club Nautico de Baiona
• In the harbor we will also see the replica of the Caraval Pinta
• Then we board our support Mini-van to take us by land to the Castle of Monterreal, now a Parador hotel where we will be staying tonight
• Free time before dinner
• Dinner in a restaurant specializing in Seafood dishes of the area accompanied by Albariño wines
• Overnight in Baiona
L, D


DAY 2:
BAIONA • RIA DE ALDAN • SANXENXO • COMBARRO • SANXENXO
• Breakfast
• In the morning we embark the Breton I to set sail over to the next Ria which is the RIA OF ALDAN
• Entering into the Ria we pass by many virgin beaches choosing one to anchor for a catered lunch aboard the yacht with products & wine of the area
• Free time to take a swim, walk or just sit on the beach and soak up the atmosphere of the Rias Baixas
• In the Afternoon we will sail across the next Ria, which is the RIA OF PONTEVEDRA disembarking in SANXENXO
• Then we will board or Mini-van to take a land excursion to the quaint fishing village of COMBARRO
• Free time to take a relaxing walk along the port promenade with Horreos (Stone Granaries) which hang over the bay
• Transfer to our hotel back in Sanxenxo
• Dinner tonight will be in a well-known restaurant right on the port of Sanxenxo with spectacular views of the Ria
• Overnight in Sanxenxo
B, L, D


DAY 3:
SANXENXO • ONS ISLAND • O GROVE • LA TOJA ISLAND
• Breakfast
• In the morning we embark the Breton I in the marina of Sanxenxo to set sail crossing over to the ONS ISLAND
• Disembarking you will have some time at leisure to walk around the island to view it's natural beauty
• Then we will have lunch in a Fisherman's Tavern with fresh fish & seafood located on the port
• In the early afternoon we set sail passing by A LANZADA BEACH with a small hermitage
• Entering the last Ria on our journey, which is the RIA OF AROUSA, here starts the MARITIME ROUTE TO SANTIAGO. The maritime and river route along the Arousa estuary and the river Ulla commemorates, according to tradition, the arrival by sea to Galicia of the body of the Apostle St. James the Greater, after his martyrdom in Jerusalem in the year 44 AD. St. James was a sailor and fisherman from Galilee, an apostle of Christ, the evangelizer of the West, and a martyr. The episode on his death, ordered by Herod Agrippa, is contained in St. Luke's "Acts of the Apostles".
• We disembark in O GROVE and board our Mini-van to take us to a luxurious Spa hotel on LA TOJA ISLAND
• Here we stop to see an interesting Church decorated with Scallop shell (A cultural symbol of the Camino) on the exterior
• Rest of the day free to relax in the Spa, walk around the Island or even play a round of Golf at the course nearby
• Dinner will be in a restaurant on the port of O Grove
• Overnight in La Toja
B, L, D


DAY 4:
LA TOJA ISLAND • O GROVE • ISLAND OF SALVORA • RIBEIRA
• Breakfast
• Embarking in O Grove we set sail to visit the small ISLAND OF SALVORA at the mouth of the Ria de Arousa
• Then crossing over the Ria we disembark in RIBEIRA where we will have lunch in a restaurant on the port
• After lunch we visit the Fish market of Ribeira to see how the fish is brought in etc…
• Boarding the Mini-van we make our way to visit the DUNES OF CORRUBEDO, a nature beach park with large sand dunes and wild flora & fauna
• Next we visit the ancient DOLMEN OF AXEITOS
• Transfer to a small rural hotel surround by nature
• Dinner in the restaurant of the hotel
• Overnight in Ribeira
B, L, D


DAY 5:
RIBEIRA • BOIRO • RIANXO • VILLAGARCIA DE AROUSA -CAMBADOS • VILAGARCIA DE AROUSA
• Breakfast
• Embarking in Ribeira we embark the Breton I for our last sailing day following along the north side of the Ria of Arousa visiting the AROUSA ISLAND
• Disembarking in VILLAGARCIA DE AROUSA we board our Mini-van to take us to the restaurant where we will have lunch
• Now we are in the RIAS BAIXAS OF O SALNES "Albariño wine country" in the Val do Salnes (Salnes valley), which is a sub-zone of the DENOMINATION OF ORIGIN RIAS BAIXAS
• In the afternoon we will make a special visit to an Albariño winery located within a Galician Pazo (Manor house)
• Then we stop to visit CAMBADOS village, the heart of Albariño wine country
• Free time to walk around the Plaza de Fefiñanes and quaint streets of this noble village
• Transfer to hotel
• Free time before dinner
• Dinner in restaurant close by serving traditional cuisine & Albariño wines
• Overnight in Villagarcia de Arousa
B, L, D


DAY 6:
VILLAGARCIA DE AROUSA • CATOIRA • PADRON • SANTIAGO
• Breakfast
• In the morning we still continue along the Maritime route to Santiago, but by coastal road stopping in CATORIA to visit the remains of the 17th century defense Western Towers, order to be built by the Archbishop of Santiago to stop Viking invasion up the River Ulla, this is also the way the Disciples came with the body of St. James
• Next stop in PADRON where two Pilgrimage routes meet, the Maritime route & The Portuguese way to Santiago
• Padron is where St. James's body was disembark and this village is also famous for its small little green pepper PIMIENTOS DE PADRON "Some are hot & some are not!"
• Here we will visit the Pilgrimage Church of Santiago before lunch in a traditional restaurant where we will try the famous peppers of Padron along with other products of the area
• After lunch we will take a scenic drive to see the plantations of the Peppers of Padron which are actually in the neighboring village of Herbon
• From here we following along the Portuguese Camino de Santiago
• Upon arrival to Santiago we will check into our historic hotel
• Free time before dinner
• Dinner in a well-known restaurant in the historic quarter of Santiago
• Overnight in Santiago
B, L, D


DAY 7:
SANTIAGO • WALKING DAY TOUR IN THE HISTORIC QUARTER OF THE ANCIENT PILGRIMAGE CITY
• Breakfast
• Morning visit of SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA the end of the Pilgrims' way
• We will walk to visit the Ethnographic museum of the Galician people, plaza de Abastos market, cathedral & old quarter
• Lunch on your own
• Rest of the day at leisure to explore the city
• Final "Goodbye Dinner" in a Traditional restaurant
• Overnight in Santiago
B, D


DAY 8:
SANTIAGO • LAVACOLLA, SANTIAGO'S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT • TRAIN STATION & CITY CENTRE
• Breakfast
• Morning transfer to Lavacolla, Santiago's International Airport, NOTE: If you are leaving from another airport transfers can be arrange upon request
• Those who are continuing on by other means of transportation will be dropped off in the RENFE Train Station in Santiago de Compostela.
B

END OF TOUR SERVICES

HOTEL HIGHLIGHT

PARADOR DE BAIONA — 4-WALLED FORTRESS SURROUNDED BY THE SEA
Occupying the Monterreal Peninsula, this is one of the most extraordinary Paradores, half medieval fortress and half Galician stately architecture. It rises up as an impressive viewpoint of the ocean, surrounded by a walled enclosure, protected by the sea and flanked by a beautiful pine wood. The Parador has regal and elegant common rooms in which decorative elements from other times abound. Stately living rooms and spacious bedrooms, many with views of the sea, make up a grandiose interior in which the splendid stone staircase of the entrance hall stands out. The sea-bass with razor shells in a parsnip top sauce, seafood dishes, Santiago cake and "filloas" (type of pancake) make up the varied gastronomic showcase of this Parador.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

THE TOUR ABOVE INCLUDES:

• 07 nights in Standard double room with private bathroom in selected Paradors, Historic Hotels, Manor Houses etc…
  
• 05 Days of Sailing in a luxurious yacht with a Captain and bi-lingual Tour guide
  
• Support & Transfer air-conditioned Mini-van with driver/guide for the duration of the tour
  
• Local guide for the visit in Santiago
  
• Breakfast Daily except day of arrival (B)
  
• 06 Lunches (L): 2 course gourmet meals changing the cuisine & wines typical of each region visited. All restaurants are selected for location, service & fine quality. 2 of lunches on board the boat by the services of a professional caterer
  
• 07 Dinners (D): 2 course gourmet meals changing the cuisine & wines typical of each region visited. All restaurants are selected for location, service & fine quality
  
• All appetizers, snacks & beverages when aboard the yacht
  
• Entrance fees to sights specified in the itinerary
  
• Albariño winery tour & tasting specified in the itinerary
  
• Detailed tour information package
  
• Local Taxes

THE TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE:

• Airfare
  
• Transfers not specified in the itinerary
  
• Entrance fees not specified in the itinerary
  
• Beverages not specified in selected meals
  
• Meals not specified in itinerary
  
• Laundry Expenses
  
• Telephone & Facsimile charges
  
• Excess Baggage charges
  
• Passport & Visa fees
  
• Personal & Travel Insurance
  
• Airport & Departure Taxes
  
• Optional excursions
  
• Room Service
  
• Tips & Gratuities to Tour Director and driver
  

PRIVATE GROUP SERVICES:

• Other than our scheduled departure dates we are able to run this tour for groups, couples etc.. please inquire for prices
  
• It is recommended to select a Monday as the day to start a tour. If you choose to commence on another day then some of the visits to selected wineries, attractions, etc. might be affected; if that should be the case, we will omit or subsistute some alternative.