Praia de Ladeira & Lagoa de Baiona
Most visitors sunbathe on the central Praia de A Ribeira, but a 20-minute walk north of the castle brings you to Praia de Ladeira, a sweeping arc of pale sand backed by shifting dunes and, tucked behind them, the Lagoa de Baiona — a brackish coastal lagoon that is a certified birdwatching hotspot and one of Galicia's quieter natural treasures.
The beach and dunes
Ladeira stretches for nearly 2 km and faces directly into the Atlantic, meaning waves are reliably good for bodyboarding and the wind keeps the sand cool even in August. The dune system behind the beach is protected, laced with boardwalks that stop feet from eroding the marram grass.
In the early morning the beach is almost entirely empty — the light is flat and silver, the sand unmarked and the only sound is the surf. It is one of those rare European beaches that still feels genuinely wild.
The hidden lagoon
The Lagoa de Baiona sits immediately behind the dune ridge and is accessible via a short wooden walkway from the northern end of the beach car park. In spring and autumn it attracts waders, herons, little egrets and occasionally spoonbills on their Atlantic migration routes.
A small hide on the western shore gives unobstructed views across the lagoon; bring binoculars and approach quietly. The contrast between the crashing surf 200 metres away and the mirror-calm lagoon is startling.
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