Ribeira Sacra Tour; Canyons, Sil River and Ourense

About this tour

Spend 10 hours exploring Galicia's Ribeira Sacra region, a landscape carved by the Sil River's dramatic gorges. You'll cruise past towering canyon walls, visit the 6th-century monastery of San Pedro de Rocas perched above the water, then head to Ourense for lunch and a guided walk through its historic centre, taking in the Cathedral, medieval bridge and the thermal springs of Burgas. An expert local guide shares the area's history and character throughout.

Highlights

• Catamaran journey through Sil canyon gorges
• 6th-century San Pedro de Rocas monastery visit
• Ourense Cathedral and Roman Bridge
• Burgas thermal spring complex
• Expert local guide shares regional stories
• Multiple viewpoints of canyon landscape

What to expect

The day combines water-based sightseeing with cultural exploration. You'll travel by air-conditioned coach to the river, where you board a catamaran to drift past sheer canyon walls and ancient vineyards clinging to the slopes—the scale of the gorge becomes apparent from the water level. After returning to land, you'll climb to San Pedro de Rocas, where a small medieval monastery sits in an unlikely mountain setting with views down to the river. The afternoon shifts to Ourense's compact old quarter, where your guide points out architectural layers from Roman times through the medieval period, finishing at the Burgas, where naturally hot water bubbles from the ground.

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