El Grove - La Toja

El Grove is located on a peninsula set in the so-called Rías Baixas at the mouth of the Ría de Arousa, in South-West Galicia (North-western coast of Spain). A bridge connects the urban center of the town of El Grove with the island of La Toja. Together they form a great tourist destination that combines relaxation, beaches, thermal baths, luxury gastronomy, as well as the mild climate that dominates the entire O Salnés valley.

There are many activities to do in El Grove, such as beautiful scenic walks and fun boat tours enjoying the richness of the estuary aboard one of the underwater-vision vessels. El Grove is also home to the first aquarium opened in Galicia where you can discover many of the local marine fauna. This village has also multitude of restaurants where to try the best seafood, as well as a lively night life. Since 1963, at the beginning of October it is celebrated the Grove Seafood Festival. This gastronomic event of national interest allows you to taste fresh seafood at popular prices, participate in gastronomic seminars and workshops, and visit exhibitions and samples related to the world of the sea.

La Toja is a paradise island that offers us the benefits of the sea in its thalassotherapy centers. The medicinal properties of its thermal muds and medicinal waters were discovered in the XIX century, becoming private property. The discovery of the peculiar characteristics of its waters was by chance, after a donkey was abandoned on the island by its owner due to problems with its coat. After some time, the owner returned to check the fate of the donkey and, to his surprise, found it in perfect condition. It was in 1840 when a spa was built to take advantage of these medicinal virtues of the island’s water and mud. Within the island, there is the hermitage of San Caralampio, completely covered in scallop shells and dedicated to the saint of his own name and to the Virgin of Carmen.

There are also essential places worth visiting near the beautiful El Grove peninsula are “Miradoiro da Siradella”, “Sanxenxo” and “Portonovo”, as well as La Lanzada Beach, which is one of the best on the entire Galician coast with more than 2.5 kilometers of fine white sand where you can learn to surf.