*NEW* Car Rental for the Independent Traveller *NEW*

Car Rental for the Independent Traveller

We are pleased to offer a new service to all cruise ship passengers visiting Vigo.

We have been able to secure a deal with a Spanish based car rental company, which offers you the convenience of having your rental car waiting for you when you disembark from your cruise.

This service is quick and efficient and saves you the hassle of locating the offices when you arrive, allowing you more time to explore this wonderful part of ´Green Spain.

All transactions are done at pick-up and the car checked upon your return.

We are also able to offer GPS (Tom Tom) with pre-programmed itinerary based on one of our available tours or alternatively a customised tour tailored to your requirements.

Please contact us for further information.

Guided Galicia

We offer specialised Private Guided Shore Excursions for cruise ship passengers calling to the port of Vigo, Galicia, Spain, and full one-day tours for tourist groups.

Galicia is a magical place, far removed from the stereotypical Spain of flamenco and bullfighting so often portrayed in travel brochures. Galicia has a strong Celtic link and the sound of the Galician gaita (bagpipe) fills the air, its many rivers, green valleys, brooding mountains and weather only gives strength to this Celtic tie.

Galicia has a rich heritage, with lush winegrowing areas, the famous Albarino is probably the best known but there are many more varieties little heard of outside Galicia just waiting to be savoured. Celtic ruins and perfectly restored castles. Ancient monasteries and stunning cathedrals, the most famous of them is Santiago de Compostela, which was once the third most important pilgrimage after the Vatican and Jerusalem. Galicia has many picturesque fishing villages and beautiful white sand beaches. Vigo is the second largest fishing port in the world after Tokyo and is home to some of the best seafood in the world, sample the incredibly fresh bounty from the sea with a glass of crisp Albarino and savour the moment.

We want you to experience the best of our little corner of the world in the short time that you’re with us. Our tours offer a wonderful insight into Galician culture, history, cuisine and architecture. Be warned, Galicia is an alluring place and once you’ve had a taste of its charm you’ll be coming back for more.

Choosing a Private Guided Shore Excursion allows you to immerse yourself in the Galician culture without the stress, we take away the hassle and let you soak up the atmosphere and tantalise your taste buds, overall to relax and just enjoy your very own Guided Galician Experience.

You can choose from one of our many tours we have to offer, if you have a specific interest or wish, we can help you to tailor make your very own unique private guided tour.

Our tours depart from your Cruise Ship in Vigo and return one hour before depature. The Vigo port is in a unique position, as it is located right at the heart of Vigo's historic quarter and because our tours end with a walking tour of the historic quarter, you are never more than five minutes walk from your Cruise Ship.

Our tours are all conducted in English and depart for Santiago de Compostela, Baiona, Pontevedra, and Tui among others. Private Guided Tours are a great way to see Galicia in the short time you are with us and they offer so much more than the coach options. We also offer walking tours of Vigo itself.



Right: Myself enjoying one of the many fiestas, with a plate full of mussels and some wine to help wash them down!!!

For details and prices of our Private Guided Tours please contact us by using the contact details in the right-hand column. We look forward to hearing from you.

Scroll down to view some of our tour options.

Testimonials

Dear Brendan,

Thank you for such a wonderful day -- we not only enjoyed spending time exploring Vigo and the surrounding areas, we very much enjoyed your company. You are obviously very knowledgeable and passionate about the history, traditions and beautiful sites in this beautiful part of Spain. We also appreciated how you designed a unique tour to suit both the weather and the interests of our small family group (two parents and 10 year old boy.) It was a relaxing and unhurried day, but we managed to see many beautiful sites near Vigo, do a bit of shopping and sample the local food, wine and beer! We were delighted with this tour and are most eager to return to Vigo again. We highly recommend your tours to anyone who wishes to experience this beautiful and unspoiled part of Spain!

All the best,
Richard, Nancy and Evan



Dear Brendan,
Thanks is not enough for the excellent tour you gave the four of us in Vigo & the surrounding areas May of 08. You were there waiting for us at our predetermined area even though it was in the rain & attended to all of our needs. We all agreed that you are the most knowledgeable, passionate & personable tour guide that we have had the pleasure of touring with. You truly are a fountain of exciting information. Any future tourist that uses your services will have an ultimate experience like we shared. I highly recommend your services & have done so with perspective clients.

Thanking you again,
Charlotte



We booked a private guided tour of Baiona and Vigo with Guided Galicia. Brendan promptly replied to all of our emails and created a customized tour based on our interests. He was waiting for us when we got off the cruise ship and we felt instantly at ease, as though we had an old friend showing us around. Brendan was pleasant, warm, accommodating, and professional and we really enjoyed our day with him. I would highly recommend your service to anyone visiting the area. Thank you for the wonderful memories!

Michael and Yvonne McGonigal
Woodbury, Minnesota (USA)



Brendan was very friendly and accommodating to our group. We're very glad we decided to go with a personal tour of the Galicia region rather than a cruise ship sponsored tour. Brendan was very flexible and interested in showing us what we wanted to see rather than a prearranged itinerary without our input. He informed us about the history and culture of the region and took us to less touristy places than we could have ever seen in a large group tour. For lunch, Brendan also made sure we had a flavor of the Galicia cuisine of where the locals frequented. It was a fun filled day. We learned as much as we could have about this part of Spain in a one day tour.

David Jones
Alexandra, Virginia

NEW!!! ATV / Quad Bike Excursions

If your looking for something different to do with your day in Vigo, why not go on a ATV / Quad Bike adventure and experience some of the beautiful scenery this area has to offer. ATV / Quad Bike excursions are available for up to four people. These excursions are lead by an experienced and licensed guide, a full car license is required to operate these bikes (licenses from U.S.A are accepted).

To find out more about ATV / Quad Bike excursions please email us at guidedgalicia@yahoo.com for further information.

Some of our available tours

New World Tour

Vigo - Baiona - Vigo

Baiona

The village of Baiona lies 25 miles (30mins) to the south of Vigo. This quaint town was the first place to learn of the discovery of the Americas, when the Pinta, one of Columbus' ships came into port on 1st March 1493. The town has a small yet pleasant old quarter with historic churches and numerous cafes and bars, along with many monuments commemorating the discovery of the Americas, which makes for an enjoyable stroll.

However the main attraction is the Fortress of Monterreal (main picture of the Guided Galicia blog). This fortress with its 14th century walls, sits out on a small peninsular, the walls are complete and are some 3km in length which make for a very pleasant walk, offering beautiful views out to the islands and coast.



Vigo

The city of Vigo is situated around the Ria de Vigo (Vigo Bay), protected from the Atlantic by the beautiful off shore islands Las Islas Cies. Vigo is the largest fishing port in Europe and second largest fishing port in the world after Tokyo. Vigo is a wholly down to earth fishing port and your cruise ship docks, literally right on the city's historic old quarter. Vigo doesn't have any must see attractions, but don't let that put you off. It is all the better for it. Vigo doesn't suffer from throngs of tourists and this gives you an opportunity to see a real Spanish city not geared to the tourist trade. Vigo is an intriguing and very likeable place. Wandering its cobblestone streets and visiting its many bars, cafes and seeing real locals doing what they do every day without the tourist hordes is fascinating in itself. That said, there is a ruined 17th century hilltop fortress with lovely views over the bay, the oyster ladies of A Pedra, an 800 year old olive tree, a street dedicated to the sole trade of wicker baskets, wonderful architecture up on the "Golden Mile" and much more.

The Tour

The tour leaves Vigo and heads straight to Baiona, where we visit the Fortress of Monterreal, we then make our way to the historic quarter, before we take a look around we can stop for some tapas and wine. Then after our walk we stop for lunch in a traditional Galician restaurant.

After lunch we then head back to Vigo and take in the stunning views of the bay and islands from "La Guia" before making our way to "El Castro" a ruined 17th century hilltop fortress, which again offers lovely views of Vigo and the bay. We then descend down into the historic quarter and experience the sights, sounds and tastes of this very intriguing city, before finally leaving you to board your ship.

The tour takes approximately 6-7 hours and is completely flexible to your requirements. A reasonable level of fitness is needed but the tour can be altered to accommodate those who have physical limitations.

For groups of 2-3 people transport is by car, 4-6 people large "people carrier/minivan"
All tours are conducted by myself and in English. Entrance fees are included to all sites visited. Meals are not included.

Please contact us for further information and prices at guidedgalicia@yahoo.com

Magical Santiago de Compostela Tour

Vigo - Santiago de Compostela - Vigo

Santiago de Compostela

Santiago de Compostela is a beautiful city and its crown jewel is its towering cathedral. This magical city is a must see for many tourist visiting Galicia and is a welcomed site for the many pilgrims ending their Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James).

Santiago was founded around the beginning of the 5th century not long after the collapse of the Roman Empire. Santiago shot to notoriety with the discovery of the the remains of the Apostle St. James in the early 9th century, this sparked a chain of events that would change the face of Santiago forever.

Construction of the present day cathedral began in 1075 but was not completed until 1128 when it was consecrated in the presence of Alfonso IX of Leon. However, further construction continued to endow and beautify the cathedral during the 16th and 18th centuries.

The Plaza Obradoiro is where the main entrance to the cathedral is situated, opposite is the Pazo de Raxoi (Raxoi Palace) which is now the town hall and home to the Galician Xunta. Adjacent is the Hostal dos Reis Catolicos, claimed to be the oldest hotel in the world.

Santiago de Compostela's historic quarter is full of architecture monuments dating from the Romanesque to Baroque and Neo Classical periods and almost all are of an impressive grandeur. The city never fails to impress, even when the heavens open, the Galician granite seems to shine under the falling rain, giving the city an illustrious aura "at least for the first three days or so" as told by Cees Nooteboom, Roads to Santiago.


Tour

Leaving Vigo we take the autopista (highway) direct to Santiago de Compostela, where we will enjoy a walking tour of this magical city, taking in its rich history and fabulous architecture with the cathedral as its centre piece. We will stop for lunch in one of the many excellent restaurants and enjoy some fabulous Galician cuisine accompanied by some fabulous local wine, as well as making obligatory tapas stops to sample various local delicacies and wine.

The tour takes approximately 6-7 hours and is completely flexible to your requirements. A reasonable level of fitness is needed but the tour can be altered to accommodate those who have physical limitations.

For groups of 2-3 people transport is by car, 4-6 people large "people carrier/minivan"
All tours are conducted by myself and in English. Entrance fees are included to all sites visited. Meals are not included.

Please contact us for further information and prices at guidedgalicia@yahoo.com

Two Countries Tour

Vigo - Tui - Valenca do Minho - Monte Santa Tecla - Vigo

Tui

Tui is a charming town situated on top of a hill above the river Mino and faces its Portugese counterpart (once bitter enemies) Valenca do Minho across the river, a mere kilometer away.

The main attraction is its 12th century Fortress Cathedral. This imposing building consecrated during the rein of King Alfonso is located on the towns highest point, which offers commanding views from its battlements over towards Portugal.

Tui has a charming old quarter with sections of its original 12th century walls still intact, as well as numerous churches and two monestaries. Along with its many cafes and bars, this attrative town makes for a very pleasant stop.


Valenca do Minho

Across the border from Spain and into Portugal lies the walled town of Valenca do Minho. This charming village nestled within its defensive walls, is a lovely place to stop and enjoy a walk through the cobblestone streets and around the ramparts, with fine views of the river Mino and back over to Spain.


Monte Santa Tecla

At the foot of Monte Santa Tecla is the last town on Spain's Atlantic coast, the small fishing town of A Guarda. The must see site here though is not in the town, but high above, near the summit of Monte Santa Tecla, here there is one of the best Celtic hilltop settlements in Galicia. Although ruined (there are two restored huts) it is a wonderful experience to walk the impossibly narrow paths of this 2000 year old village.

At the summit of Santa Tecla you can enjoy some stunning 360deg views towards Portugal and out over the Atlantic, from what was once known as the edge of the world.

Baiona

The village of Baiona lies 25 miles (30mins) to the south of Vigo. This quaint town was the first place to learn of the discovery of the Americas, when the Pinta, one of Columbus' ships came into port on 1st March 1493. The town has a small yet pleasant old quarter with historic churches and numerous cafes and bars, along with many monuments commemorating the discovery of the Americas, which makes for an enjoyable stroll.

However the main attraction is the Fortress of Monterreal (main picture of the Guided Galicia blog). This fortress with its 14th century walls, sits out on a small peninsular, the walls are complete and are some 3km in length which make for a very pleasant walk, offering beautiful views out to the islands and coast.


Vigo

The city of Vigo is situated around the Ria de Vigo (Vigo Bay), protected from the Atlantic by the beautiful off shore islands Las Islas Cies. Vigo is the largest fishing port in Europe and second largest fishing port in the world after Tokyo. Vigo is a wholly down to earth fishing port and your cruise ship docks, literally right on the city's historic old quarter. Vigo doesn't have any must see attractions, but don't let that put you off. It is all the better for it. Vigo doesn't suffer from throngs of tourists and this gives you an opportunity to see a real Spanish city not geared to the tourist trade. Vigo is an intriguing and very likeable place. Wandering its cobblestone streets and visiting its many bars, cafes and seeing real locals doing what they do every day without the tourist hordes is fascinating in itself. That said, there is a ruined 17th century hilltop fortress with lovely views over the bay, the oyster ladies of A Pedra, an 800 year old olive tree, a street dedicated to the sole trade of wicker baskets, wonderful architecture up on the "Golden Mile" and much more.


The Tour

Leaving Vigo travelling by car, we head to an area known as the Baixo Mino where we will find the two border towns of Tui and Valenca. Tui is a charming town situated a top of a rocky outcrop, where a 12th century fortress cathedral overlooks the river Mino, which separates Galica from Portugal. We will walk around the historic quarter of Tui and visit the Cathedral a pilgrimage stop for those doing the camino from Portugal. Before venturing across the border, we’ll stop to sample some of the local cuisine in a lovely Galician restaurant and of course sampling some of the famous local wine. We then cross into Portugal over the Mino and enter the walled town of Valenca do Minho for a little shopping and history.

We will then cross back into Spain and head towards the coast following the Mino, to the fishing village of A Guarda the last Spanish town on the Atlantic coast and make our way to the top of Monte Santa Tecla and take in the stunning 360deg views. We visit a 2000-year-old Celtic Hill Fort with museum and restored huts, and wander through this tiny village and its impossibly narrow paths.

We then head to Baiona along the Atlantic coast road where news of the discovery of the Americas first reached Europe. Before making our way back to Vigo and up to El Castro for some great views of the bay from a ruined 17th century fortress and then down into Vigo’s historic quarter.

The tour takes approximately 6-7 hours and is completely flexible to your requirements. A reasonable level of fitness is needed but the tour can be altered to accommodate those who have physical limitations.

For groups of 2-3 people transport is by car, 4-6 people large "people carrier/minivan"
All tours are conducted by myself and in English. Entrance fees are included to all sites visited. Meals are not included.

Please contact us for further information and prices at guidedgalicia@yahoo.com

Vigo - Cambados - Combarro - Pontevedra - Vigo

Vigo - Cambados - Combarro - Pontevedra - Vigo

Cambados

Cambados is a striking town with an elegant appearance, its old quarter is among the most charming in Galicia. The town is also the capital of O Salnes, the famous wine growing area renowned for its Albarino wine. This is a great place to sample the many wines of the region, in one of the many shops, bars and restaurants that line the streets of this charming town.




Combarro

The old-world fishing village of Combarro is a step back in time from the bustling resort town of Sanxenxo further west along the coast. Combarro's old world charm never fails to impress and its many Horreos (Granaries) for which it is famous, are found everywhere in this small village.

Wandering the streets of this charming town is a real delight and you will more than likely be offered to try some homemade Orujo (a type of liqueur) from one of the old ladies sitting outside their houses - of course you will be expected to buy a bottle for the favor!


Pontevedra

This ancient Roman town is full of history and charm. Its large historic medieval quarter and numerous plazas along with cafes and bars make for great places to sit and soak up the atmosphere. Of the many historical buildings and churches, La Capela da Virxe Peregrina (The Pilgrim Chapel) is one of the more interesting, built in the shape of a scallop.


Vigo

The city of Vigo is situated around the Ria de Vigo (Vigo Bay), protected from the Atlantic by the beautiful off shore islands Las Islas Cies. Vigo is the largest fishing port in Europe and second largest fishing port in the world after Tokyo. Vigo is a wholly down to earth fishing port and your cruise ship docks, literally right on the city's historic old quarter. Vigo doesn't have any must see attractions, but don't let that put you off. It is all the better for it. Vigo doesn't suffer from throngs of tourists and this gives you an opportunity to see a real Spanish city not geared to the tourist trade. Vigo is an intriguing and very likeable place. Wandering its cobblestone streets and visiting its many bars, cafes and seeing real locals doing what they do every day without the tourist hordes is fascinating in itself. That said, there is a ruined 17th century hilltop fortress with lovely views over the bay, the oyster ladies of A Pedra, an 800 year old olive tree, a street dedicated to the sole trade of wicker baskets, wonderful architecture up on the "Golden Mile" and much more.


The Tour


Leaving Vigo travelling by car, we head to an area known as O Salnes where we will first visit elegant Cambados and enjoy a stroll around this charming town, stopping to try some of the local wine in one of the many bars and cafeterias.

From Cambados we follow the scenic coast to the old world fishing village of Combarro and wander this picturesque town with its many Horreos and Cruceros, we will stop for lunch and sample some of the local cuisine in a lovely Galician restaurant and of course sampling some of the famous local wine.

We will then head to Pontevedra taking a slight detour to visit the Monastery of Poio. In Pontevedra we will take in the many historical sights of this captivating town, which is also the provincial Capital. We then head back to Vigo and up to El Castro for some great views of the bay from a ruined 17th century fortress and then down into Vigo’s historic quarter.

The tour takes approximately 6-7 hours and is completely flexible to your requirements. A reasonable level of fitness is needed but the tour can be altered to accommodate those who have physical limitations.

For groups of 2-3 people transport is by car, 4-6 people large "people carrier/minivan"
All tours are conducted by myself and in English. Entrance fees are included to all sites visited. Meals are not included.

Please contact us for further information and prices at guidedgalicia@yahoo.com

Gastronomic Tour of Vigo

Guided Gastronomic Tour of Vigo's Historic Quarter

This tour takes in the sights, sounds and tastes of Vigo's Historic Quarter.

In A Pedra market try an oyster or two fresh from the bay ,washed down with a cool Albarino.

At a wholly down to earth bar we will sample some traditional Galician tapas, such as Pulpo a la Galega (Octopus) accompanied with some homemade Galician wine straight from the barrel served in traditional ceramic bowls. Continuing our gastronomic theme, we visit another Vinoteca (Wine bar) where you can try some of the fine Galician cheeses on offer, along with Jamon Iberico (cured ham).

Taking a break from our Gastronomic tour, we burn off some calories by heading up El Castro, where you can take in the wonderful views of Vigo and the bay from the ruins of a 17th century fortress.

We then head back down into the old quarter and try a Galician specialty, Empanada (Galician Pie).
And finally to round off the day we sample some of the best wines Galicia has to offer and for the brave, try some Orujo de Galicia (Galician Liqueur).

This is a walking tour, the tour takes approximately 4 hours and is completely flexible to your requirements. A reasonable level of fitness is needed but the tour can be altered to accommodate those who have physical limitations.

All tours are conducted by myself and in English. Entrance fees are included to all sites visited. Meals are not included.

Please contact us for further information and prices at guidedgalicia@yahoo.com

Guided Grain Mill Nature Walk

Vigo - Los Molinos de Picon y Folon - Vigo

Los Molinos de Picon y Folon

The little known region of O Rosal is one of Galicia's best kept secrets. This region called the Baixo Mino (Lower Mino) is often referred to as the "Jardin do Baixo Mino (The Garden of the Lower Mino) and is a thriving grape growing area and there are many boutique wineries dotting this picturesque landscape.

Located in these beautiful green surroundings are Los Molinos de Picon y Folon (The Grain Mills of Picon and Folon) These wonderfully restored grain mills (many of which date back to the 17th century) of which there are seventy one, represent one of the highest concentration of there type in Europe. The Mills follow a river which runs a steep course amid the hills and woods and are completely in tune with the environment, representing a rare balance between industry and nature.

The Tour

Leaving Vigo travelling by car we head to Los Molinos de Picon y Folon. Here we begin our 2 hour circular walk of the grain mills and learn about the rich heritage of the area. After our walk we will stop for lunch and enjoy some of the fine cuisine and local wine from the area. Next we make our way back to Vigo and the end of your tour.

Please note: This tour requires a high level of fitness as it covers difficult hilly terrain.

The tour takes approximately 5-6 hours and is completely flexible to your requirements. A high level of fitness is needed.

For groups of 2-3 people transport is by car, 4-6 people large "people carrier/minivan"
All tours are conducted by myself and in English. Entrance fees are included to all sites visited. Meals are not included.

Please contact us for further information and prices at guidedgalicia@yahoo.com