Ria de Pontevedra

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Charts

British Admiralty

3633 - Islas Sisargas to Rio Mino

1732 – Ria de Pontevedra

Imray

C48 - A Coruna to Porto

Weather

The entrance to the ria is largely protected from N and W by the Illa de Ons and Illa de Onza, which stretch N-S about two miles off the entrance and keep out the worst of the Atlantic swell.

Fog is an occasional problem.

Sources for Weather forecasts:

• See Spain.

Passages

List popular passages/routes, timing, etc.

Islands

• Illa de Ons
• Illa de Onza
• Illa de Tambo

Communication

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Navigation

There are a number of rocky islands and reefs in the approaches from both N and S, but all are well charted. Directly opposite the entrance are the three-mile long Illa de Ons and the small islet of Illa de Onza on its S side. Other than these, there are no hazards in the approach.

Berthing

Visiting yachts can usually find a berth at one of the four marinas in the Ria. Clockwise from the N side of the entrance, the marinas are:

1. Club Nautico de Portonovo in Porto-Novo,
2. Puerto Deportivo Juan Carlos I in Sangenjo (Sanxenxo in Galician) a mile to the E,
3. the Puerto Deportivo de Combarro in the town of the same name five miles further into the ria – all on the N coast, and finally
4. the Real Club de Mar de Aguete on the S coast of the ria opposite Sangenjo (although this is currently out of commission due to storm damage).

Equally, there are several lovely anchorages around the shores of the ria, near the towns of Sangenjo and Combarro and also in the small Ria de Aldan on the S side of the entrance.

Marinas & Yacht Clubs

Anchorages

There are numerous sandy bays and small coves in the ria which could easily occupy one for a week to explore. Around Sangenjo and Combarro in particular there are several delightful anchorages where a yacht can stay overnight in settled weather. South of Combarro there is a good anchorage in the lee of Illa de Tambo, clear of the mussel rafts. Finally, there are several pretty sandy coves in the Ria de Aldan on the S side of the entrance which offer good shelter in S winds (again, avoiding the numerous mussel rafts).

Amenities

Facilities
Water	In Puerto Deportivo Juan Carlos I and Puerto Deportivo de Combarro
Electricity	In Puerto Deportivo Juan Carlos I and Puerto Deportivo de Combarro
Toilets	In Puerto Deportivo Juan Carlos I, Puerto Deportivo de Combarro, and Club Nautico de Portonovo
Showers	In Puerto Deportivo Juan Carlos I, Puerto Deportivo de Combarro, and Club Nautico de Portonovo
Laundry	In Club Nautico de Portonovo
Garbage	Bins at the marinas
Supplies
Fuel	In Puerto Deportivo Juan Carlos I and Puerto Deportivo de Combarro
Bottled gas	?
Chandlers	A basic chandlery in Sangenjo
Services
Repairs	In Puerto Deportivo Juan Carlos I (this the better one) In Puerto Deportivo de Combarro
Internet	WiFi in Puerto Deportivo Juan Carlos I, Puerto Deportivo de Combarro, and Club Nautico de Portonovo
Mobile connectivity	?
Vehicle rentals	Rental outlets in Sangenjo and Pontevedra

Provisioning

• Supermarkets in Sangenjo and Pontevedra
• Provisions in Combarro

Eating out

• Numerous restaurants in Sangenjo and Pontevedra
• Excellent fish restaurants in Combarro.

Transportation

• Local bus service Sangenjo – Combarro- Pontevedra.
• Train service to Santiago de Compostella
• Airport at Santiago de Compostela (65 kms)

Tourism

History

Give a short history of the port.

Places to Visit

The principal tourist highlights of the Ria de Pontevedra are the historic towns of Combarro and Pontevedra towards the head of the ria. Combarro is still a delightful and unspoiled fishing village (in spite of the big new marina there), which seems caught in a time warp. Most of its old granite-built houses, many of them with arcaded ground floors, still stand and the foreshore is lined with ranks of horreos (traditional Galician grain stores). Three miles E is the mediaeval settlement of Pontevedra, which has a very picturesque old town with winding, cobbled streets overlooked by arcaded granite buildings. A delightful lunch spot here is the square of Plaza de la Leña opposite the Pontevedra museum. The museum itself has some interesting prehistoric and Roman treasures unearthed in the area and a remarkable replica of a frigate cabin. Also worth a visit is the Iglesia de Santa Maria de Mayor, the fishermens’ church, with its intricate carvings on the fascia and inside the porch. For those of a religious bent, there is the Santuario de las Apariciones, a set of lodgings where Lucia de Fatima is reputed to have had a vision of the Virgin Mary and which is now a centre of pilgrimage.

The Plaza de la Leña, Pontevedra

Iglesia de Santa Maria de Mayor, Pontevedra

Combarro waterfront

Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forums

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

Links

• Ria de Pontevedra at the Wikipedia
• Pontevedra (Spain) at the Wikivoyage
• Noonsite

References

See Spain.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.

• Both Combarro and Pontevedra are delightful towns and full of character, unlike many of the reinforced concrete towns in the more northerly rias. --Atheneoflymington

Verified by

Date of member's last visit to Ria de Pontevedra and this page's details validated:

• July 2000 -- Atheneoflymington

This is a usable page of the cruising guide. However, please contribute if you can to help it grow further. Click on Comments to add your personal notes on this page or to discuss its contents. Alternatively, if you feel confident to edit the page, click on the edit tab at the top and enter your changes directly.

Contributors to this page
Names: Lighthouse, Athene of Lymington