The Arousa Charter blog.
Guides, routes, tips and everything you need to know before renting a boat in Rías Baixas. Written by people who live and work on the Arousa estuary.
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O Carreirón by boat: the wild corner of Illa de Arousa almost nobody knows
We take you by boat to the O Carreirón nature reserve, at the southern tip of Illa de Arousa: unspoilt beaches, a bird lagoon, the Con do Cocodrilo rock and anchorages you won't find in any guidebook.
Private boat or tourist catamaran in the Ría de Arousa: which one to choose (an honest comparison)
Tourist catamaran trip or private boat hire with skipper in the Ría de Arousa? We compare real price per person, route, schedules and experience so you can choose well.
Autumn boat trips on the Ría de Arousa: why October is our best-kept secret
Sailing the Ría de Arousa in autumn: October brings the Albariño grape harvest, the year's best shellfish, an empty ría and a light that simply doesn't exist in summer. Here's how to make the most of it on a skippered boat from Vilanova.
Things to do in Vilanova de Arousa: a weekend plan on land and sea
Things to do in Vilanova de Arousa in 48 hours: a real fishing town, Valle-Inclán's birthplace, the beaches of As Sinas and O Terrón, ría seafood and — the highlight — a skippered boat day on the Ría de Arousa.
Photography on the Ría de Arousa from a boat: light, locations and tips from locals who sail it
Photography on the Ría de Arousa changes completely when you shoot from a boat: mussel rafts at water level, the Punta Cabalo lighthouse with nobody in the frame, and that golden autumn light you only see from the middle of the ría.
A Pobra do Caramiñal by boat from Vilanova: Barbanza, Valle-Inclán and the finest views of the ría
Crossing the Ría de Arousa by boat to A Pobra do Caramiñal means discovering the Barbanza shore: a fishing port with centuries of history, the beaches of Cabío and A Barca, the literary shadow of Valle-Inclán and the great ridge of A Curota watching over it all.
Vilagarcía de Arousa by boat from Vilanova: the ría's capital seen from the sea
Vilagarcía de Arousa by boat is a different city altogether: the ría's biggest port, Compostela beach right on the water, with Carril and Cortegada next door. Here's what the trip from Vilanova looks like and how to fit it into your skippered boat rental.
Sailing with Your Dog on the Ría de Arousa: A Boat Day with Your Best Friend
Can you rent a boat with a dog in Galicia? On our boat in Vilanova de Arousa, yes. Here's how we run a dog-friendly boat trip on the Ría de Arousa: safety, swim stops, beaches and everything you need to know.
Prone to seasickness? Why the Ría de Arousa is the best place to get over it
How to avoid getting seasick on a boat trip is the question we get asked most before booking. Here's why the sheltered waters of the Ría de Arousa are perfect for first-timers, and the tricks we use on board so nobody feels ill.
Rianxo by boat from Vilanova: the town of A Rianxeira on the northern shore of the Ría de Arousa
Crossing the Ría de Arousa by boat to Rianxo is one of our favourite trips: the home town of Castelao and A Rianxeira, a harbour full of traditional dornas, mussels with a name of their own, and a northern shore almost no tourist ever sees from the sea.
Illa de Rúa by boat: the lonely lighthouse at the heart of the Ría de Arousa
Illa de Rúa is a granite islet crowned by a solitary lighthouse right in the middle of the Ría de Arousa. Here's how to see it up close by boat from Vilanova de Arousa, why every sailor in the ría navigates by it, and how to fit it into a full-day route.
Carril clams: a boat trip from Vilanova to the village of Spain's finest clam
The Carril clam is the most celebrated in Spain, and its cultivation beds are best seen from the water. Join us by boat from Vilanova de Arousa to O Carril: what the clam beds are, why this clam is different and where to eat it fresh from the ría.
Team building on a boat in the Ría de Arousa: the company event your team actually wants
Hire a skippered boat in Vilanova de Arousa for a team building day or corporate event: why it beats a meeting room, what we do with teams on board, and what it really costs (from €300 for the whole group, not per person).
Romantic Boat Trip on the Ría de Arousa: The Couples' Plan You'll Never Forget
A private boat trip for two on the Ría de Arousa: sunset by the Punta Cabalo lighthouse, anchoring at Areoso, Albariño on board — even a marriage proposal. Here's how we organise a romantic boat escape from Vilanova de Arousa.
Stand-up paddleboarding in the Ría de Arousa by boat: paddle where no one else can
SUP in the Ría de Arousa is twice as good when a boat drops you in crystal-clear, crowd-free water: here's where to paddle, when to come and how we run a paddleboard day out of Vilanova de Arousa.
Birdwatching by boat on the Ría de Arousa: herons, cormorants and the autumn migration
The Ría de Arousa is one of Galicia's best spots for seabirds: grey herons, little egrets, cormorants, terns and passing ospreys. Here's where to see them from a skippered boat out of Vilanova de Arousa — and why September and October are the star months.
O Grove Seafood Festival 2026: the best way to arrive is by boat from Vilanova
Every October, the O Grove Seafood Festival fills the town with spider crab, oysters and scallops. Here's how to enjoy it without traffic jams or parking queues: arriving by boat across the Ría de Arousa from Vilanova, skipper included, with a mussel-raft detour on the way.
Illa de Sálvora by boat: the lighthouse, the mermaid and the wildest island in Arousa
Illa de Sálvora guards the mouth of the Ría de Arousa with its 1852 lighthouse, an abandoned village and the legend of the mermaid Mariña. Here's how to see it by boat from Vilanova de Arousa, what the national park allows, and why it's the most epic crossing in the ría.
Illa de Cortegada by boat: the secret national park of the Ría de Arousa
Illa de Cortegada is the hidden gem of the Atlantic Islands National Park: a laurel forest unique in Europe, just half an hour by boat from Vilanova de Arousa. Here's how to visit it, what you can and can't do, and why it deserves a spot on your route.
Tides and weather in the Ría de Arousa: what to know before your boat day
Tides in the Ría de Arousa move up to four metres of water twice a day, and the weather rules every plan: here's how we read wind, tide and swell before each departure from Vilanova de Arousa.
Snorkelling in the Ría de Arousa by boat: where to dive in and what you'll see
Snorkelling in the Ría de Arousa from a boat changes everything: we take you to the clearest waters around Areoso and the Illa de Arousa, far from the crowded beaches, and tell you what marine life awaits below the surface.
Cambados by Boat from Vilanova de Arousa: Sailing into the Capital of Albariño
Visiting Cambados by boat from Vilanova de Arousa is the most beautiful way to discover the capital of Albariño wine: here's the route, what to see, where to anchor and why September, at harvest time, is the perfect moment.
Gifting a Boat Experience in the Rías Baixas: an Honest Guide from the People Who Run Them
Gifting a boat trip on the Ría de Arousa is one of the few presents nobody ever returns: here's how it works, what it really costs and how to book it in five minutes.
How to get to Vilanova de Arousa: where to park and where to board for your boat day
A practical guide to reaching Vilanova de Arousa by car, train or plane, parking stress-free right by the harbour and boarding in five minutes for your boat rental on the Ría de Arousa.
Boat fishing in the Ría de Arousa: species, spots and how to plan your trip from Vilanova
A boat fishing trip on the Ría de Arousa is one of the most rewarding experiences in the Rías Baixas: here's what species you can catch, what licence you need and how we run a skippered fishing day from Vilanova de Arousa.
Where to Rent a Boat in the Rías Baixas? Vilanova vs Sanxenxo vs O Grove — an Honest Comparison
We compare boat rental in Vilanova de Arousa, Sanxenxo and O Grove: prices, crowds, routes and which harbour suits your plan in Galicia's Rías Baixas.
Bachelor or bachelorette party on a boat in the Ría de Arousa: the celebration nobody sees coming
Planning a bachelor party on a boat in the Ría de Arousa is the surprise plan that always wins: private boat with skipper from Vilanova, hidden coves, mussel rafts and a sunset toast from €300.
What to Pack for a Boat Day on the Ría de Arousa: The Skipper's Definitive Checklist
The complete checklist of what to bring on a boat trip in the Ría de Arousa, from the crew that rents out its own skippered boat in Vilanova de Arousa: clothing, sun protection, cooler — and what you do NOT need to bring.
A family boat trip with kids on the Ría de Arousa: the plan that never fails
Renting a skippered boat for the whole family in Vilanova de Arousa: safety, calm shallow beaches, dolphins and a day tailored to the little ones.
Boat trip to O Grove and A Toxa island from Vilanova de Arousa
The full crossing of the Ría de Arousa: a private boat charter with skipper from Vilanova to O Grove and A Toxa — the shell-covered chapel, the shellfish harbour and the best stops along the way.
The Best Time of Year to Go Boating in Galicia: Why September Is the Ría de Arousa's Secret Month
When is the best time to go boating in Galicia? A month-by-month guide from Vilanova de Arousa — and why September, with its warmest water, empty ría and Albariño harvest, is our favourite.
Dolphin watching in the Ría de Arousa: how, when and where to spot them from a boat
Seeing dolphins in the Ría de Arousa is more common than you think: here's when the local bottlenose dolphins show up, where they roam and what a real sighting looks like from our skippered boat.
Renting a boat with no licence in Galicia: how skippered charters work
Can you rent a boat in Galicia without a licence? Yes: with a skipper included you can cruise the Ría de Arousa with no qualifications, no experience and nothing to worry about. Here's how it really works.
Sunset Boat Trip on the Ría de Arousa: The Outing Nobody Forgets
A sunset boat trip on the Ría de Arousa is the most requested summer experience: here are the best times, anchorages, what to bring and how to book it from Vilanova de Arousa.
The mussel raft route by boat: see how Ría de Arousa mussels are born
Ría de Arousa holds the largest mussel farm in Europe. Here's what the bateas are, how to visit them by boat from Vilanova and why it's the most authentic trip in the Rías Baixas.
Boat rental in Vilanova de Arousa: the complete 2026 guide
Everything you need to know before booking a skippered boat in Vilanova de Arousa: prices, routes, what's included, what to bring and how to book step by step.
Areoso sandbank: how to visit Galicia's most photographed beach
The Areoso floating beach only appears at low tide and is only reachable by boat. We explain when to go, how to get there and what NOT to do to protect this fragile place.
Punta Cabalo Lighthouse: history, route and best hours to visit
The most photographed lighthouse on Illa de Arousa, lit on the same night as Sálvora in 1853. We explain the history, how to reach it by boat and why it's the best snorkel stop in the ría.
The Traslatio Route: the maritime Camino de Santiago by boat from Vilanova
The Traslatio is the only maritime stage of the Camino de Santiago: the journey pilgrims took with the Apostle's body. It departs from Vilanova de Arousa. Here's how to do it.
The 7 best coves in the Arousa estuary only reachable by boat
The Areoso is just the most famous one. The Arousa estuary hides dozens of wild coves only reachable by sea. Our skippers' 7 favourites, with coordinates and best timing.
What to see by boat between Vilanova and Illa de Arousa
The stretch of sea between Vilanova de Arousa and the island is one of Galicia's densest in history, nature and gastronomy. We cover it point by point — what you see left and right.