Route along Costa da Vela and Cabo do Home

Are you spending a few days in the Ría de Pontevedra?

Then you can't miss this easy hiking trail along the Costa da Vela to Cabo do Home.

The Cabo do Home trail I wish I had done

The walking route I've marked on the map at the end of this post is the one I would have loved to hike.

It is an easy circular route about 10 km long with gentle slopes that passes by several points of interest:

Picture-perfect beaches.
Panoramic viewpoints looking out into infinity.
Lighthouses with history.
And even the ruins of an ancient Celtic hill fort village.

It would have gone something like this:

Trekking along Costa da Vela and Cabo do Home step by step

Park next to the Cabo do Home Conch Shell (Caracola) in the morning with everything you need for the day in your backpack (swimsuits and a towel or two included).
Head toward the Cabo do Home lighthouse along the coastal path.
Reach the nearby Punta Robaleira lighthouse.
On the way to the third lighthouse at Punta Subrido, you'll probably want to stop for a swim (or a stroll along the shore, depending on the weather) at Melide beach, a gorgeous white-sand cove you'll recognize if you've already taken the boat to the Cíes Islands.
From there, head back along the opposite side of the headland until you reach Barra beach (a nudist beach). Fancy another dip?
Next, head back toward Donón, cross the village, and visit the Facho de Donón, the ruins of an ancient Celtic hill fort.
And finally, head back to the parking lot by the Cabo do Home Conch Shell to watch the sunset from there before returning to your accommodation.

The walk along Costa da Vela that I actually did

Why didn't I reach my goal?

Because that day started off rainy, my favorite photographer was feeling under the weather, and we had too many pending tasks on our schedule.

So we spent the day resting and working at our rural hotel.

That said, when afternoon came around, we headed to the Cabo do Home Conch Shell viewpoint and strolled along Costa da Vela as the sun went down.

We didn't make it to the lighthouse, but the views gave us the perfect excuse to come back next year. 😉

What to bring

Food and water: if you're only going for the sunset, you don't need to bring anything (maybe a bit of water at most). But if you're doing the full hike, remember to pack everything you need in your backpack (at least 1.5 liters of water per person).
Sun protection: for sunset, a pair of sunglasses will do. But if you want to complete the full hike, make sure to bring sunscreen and a cap too.
Clothing: dress in layers, pack something warm for when the sun goes down, and wear your hiking shoes.

Where to sleep

Although there are accommodations near the Conch Shell with great views to watch the sunset right from your terrace (just next to the Caracola), we chose to stay in Cangas del Morrazo, which is better connected to the port for visiting the Cíes Islands or Vigo.

Specifically, we spent 3 days on a “workation” (working and vacationing at the same time) at Casa Rural la Garita.

It's a gorgeous, super comfy B&B with free parking on the eastern edge of Cangas, right where the beach ends.

From there to the Cabo do Home Conch Shell parking lot, it takes about 25 minutes by car.

The best thing about the house is that it has its own parking, just a few rooms (it's super quiet), and a spacious living room overlooking the estuary where we took the chance to get some remote work done.