Barnacles, Bluffs and Brine: A Galician Seafood Pilgrimage

Day 1

Arrival & Welcome

This afternoon, arrive in Vigo and settle into our hotel, located just a hop, skip, and a jump from the Ría de Vigo estuary. We’ll meet in the hotel in the early evening for a welcome drink and introductions, with plenty of time to get to know our fellow travelers. 

From there, we’ll head out for dinner, where we’ll be introduced to the stars of the Galician kitchen, shellfish and crustaceans, which we’ll be hunting down throughout the week. We’ll raise a glass to a captivating – and delicious – week ahead.

Day 2

Celtic Origins

This morning after breakfast, we’ll head out for an introduction to Galician history, culture, and of course, cuisine. We’ll start in the historic town of La Guardia, where we’ll have a guided walking tour of the hilltop castro, the pre-Roman ruins of Galician civilization. Meandering down to the rocky shore, an area known for its rock lobsters, where we’ll tour the port and meet with local net menders to learn the artistry of their lobster traps before enjoying a late lunch featuring local lobsters and wines.

As afternoon blends into evening, we’ll visit the atelier of one of the region’s master bagpipe-makers, an ancient art which reflects the area’s Celtic connections. Inside the atelier, this maestro will give us a tour of his work and maybe even play a couple of tunes.

Day 3

Fish, Cook, Feast

After a relaxing morning in Vigo, we’ll check out of our hotel and head along the estuary to Cambados, where we’ll join a fisherman collecting mussels. He’ll take us to his hatcheries by boat and treat us to a fresh tasting, right there onboard.

After our excursion at sea, we will head to the village of San Amaro. There, in a farmhouse converted into a rural inn, we’ll spend the day with our host, the chef and owner of the property, in a hands-on culinary workshop, cooking with some of the best local seafood. She’ll introduce us to the classics of the Galician kitchen, step by step, before we sit down and enjoy the feast together. In the late afternoon, we’ll bid farewell to our host and spend the night in Cambados.

Day 4

Harvesting Shellfish in Cambados

Today we’re going deep in the shellfish hotbed of Cambados. We’ll spend the morning with a local woman who heads an all-female cooperative focused on harvesting shellfish, and we’ll have the opportunity to join her for each stage of her work, from collecting clams on the shore to taking them to the market. We’ll also get a chance to visit a local cannery and learn about the history of the fish canning industry. 

After an active morning we’ll treat ourselves by heading to a local winemaker for a tour of the vineyards and both a winetasting and private lunch with a local chef. 

In the evening, a most unusual experience awaits us. In a meticulously restored village home, we are welcomed into the Galician life of yesteryear. Expect house made charcuterie, candlelit dining room, and a Galician ritual known as queimada, which involves shots ladled out of a pot of flaming brandy by a toastmaster. The ritual’s roots may be Druid or Gallego-Cuban or a mix of both. What’s for sure is that, like all of the week’s experiences, it is uniquely Galician.

Day 5

Monumental Santiago

This morning we will check out of our hotel and make our way to Santiago de Compostela. Here we will be treated to a tour that unravels the mysteries of the famous pilgrimage destination of Santiago de Compostela. Walking around the city, we’ll visit the area’s significant historic sites, including the cathedral – one of the few remaining churches to be built over the burial site of an apostle – as well as a few of its more hidden corners.

We will have a tour of the famed Mercado de Abastos with a local Michelin-starred chef, sampling plenty of local produce together. In the afternoon, we’ll head to her restaurant, where we will feast on many preparations of the things we’ve shopped for and tasted together.

Day 6

Barnacle Hunting & Sunset Celebration

In the morning we’ll head to what local sailors refer to as the “Coast of Death,” where stone crosses on the shore mark lost ships. Here, some of the world’s finest barnacles cling to dramatic cliffs pounded by the surf. We’ll meet with a local barnacle hunter who’ll introduce us to his work and explain how he “reads” the sea on his dangerous daily hunts, and learn how he catches the barnacles. Together, we’ll picnic overlooking the ocean, cooking and tasting our freshly caught produce. 

We’ll also meet one of the last artisans practicing a traditional method of drying conger eel, which is then turned into a powder used to flavor a variety of classic traditional dishes. After walking along one of the paths of the St. James pilgrimage route, we’ll end at a lighthouse on the tip of a cape. Since ancient times – Greek and Roman ruins attest to that – this stretch of coast has been a site where pilgrims watch the sunset, believed to be a gateway to the beyond. We’ll watch the sun sink into the water before feasting with our new friends, the barnacle hunter and eel dryer, at a local taverna serving exquisite seafood and other local specialties.

Day 7

Combarro & Michelin Stars

The early afternoon will bring us to the picturesque seaside village of Combarro where unique, stone granaries jut out from the shore. Take some time to relax and enjoy the sea breezes before we head off to meet celebrated chef Pepe Vieira for our final farewell meal at his eponymous restaurant, Pepe Vieira. We’ll be treated to a tour of the grounds of this famous restaurant and a special insider’s view of its Michelin-starred kitchen. There we will watch the chefs finish and plate their exquisite dishes, and afterwards enjoy the restaurant’s elegant tasting menu for dinner. A fittingly stellar send-off. 

Day 8

Farewell & Departure

Over a long lazy breakfast at the hotel, and having completed our pilgrimage to Galicia, we must say our final goodbyes. Our guide will be happy to provide additional recommendations, if you’d like. Until our next adventure!