Ribeira Sacra tour: Sil River canyons and monastery visit

Vertical rock walls frame ancient vineyards as your boat cuts through the Sil canyon.

A full-day tour of Ribeira Sacra departing Santiago visits the Sil River canyons by viewpoint and optional catamaran, the 6th-century San Pedro de Rocas monastery carved into the mountainside, and Ourense's monumental quarter with its Cathedral, Roman Bridge and thermal springs. An official guide leads the route in English or Spanish, and lunch in Ourense is on your own.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Ribeira Sacra and Ourense

• Depart Santiago for Ourense
• Pick up passengers in Ourense
• Travel to Sil river bank
• Free time on Sil river
• Optional catamaran ride on Sil river
• Visit viewpoint over Sil canyon
• Travel to San Pedro de Rocas monastery
• Visit ancient monastery
• Travel to Ourense city
• Lunch free time in Ourense
• Guided tour of Ourense monuments
• Return to Santiago de Compostela

The experience

The day starts at 8:15 from Santiago, with a pickup stop in Ourense before heading to the Sil River. You'll have free time at the riverbank to take in the canyon from the shore, or book a catamaran ride (13 euros per person, arranged on-site) that threads through the near-vertical rock walls where vineyards cling to impossible slopes. The boat moves slowly enough to absorb the scale of it: the river below, the stone faces rising on both sides, the terraced vines that have grown here for centuries.

From a viewpoint above the canyon, you'll stand for about 25 minutes to see the full sweep: the river, the canyon itself, the Pé do Home area, and the old albarizas (traditional wine-storage structures). Then the tour moves to San Pedro de Rocas, a monastery founded by hermits in the 6th century and tied to the Christianization of this part of the peninsula. You'll walk the grounds for 45 minutes, seeing the ancient tombs the monks carved directly into the rock of the mountain. The guide will walk you through the history and the legends that cling to the place.

Lunch happens in Ourense, where you have about 100 minutes free to eat at any of the city's restaurants. The guide can point you toward options if you ask. After lunch, a 75-minute guided tour covers the monumental area: the Cathedral, the Roman Bridge, and the Burgas, a natural source of boiling thermal water that still flows in the city center. The return to Santiago takes about 30 minutes from there. The whole day runs roughly ten hours from start to finish.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• official tourism guide in English or Spanish.
• guided tour of Ourense's monumental area including the Cathedral, Roman Bridge and Burgas thermal springs.
• viewpoint time overlooking the Sil canyon.
• visit to San Pedro de Rocas monastery with guide.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:15

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Toxo Travel

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want both the water-level perspective from the catamaran and elevated canyon views in one day, with the monastery and Ourense's monuments included. The boat ride is optional and priced separately.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Sil River catamaran ride, and do I have to book it in advance?

The catamaran is an optional boat trip through the Sil canyon that you can arrange on the day itself for 13 euros per person. It takes you between the steep rock walls and past the vineyard terraces at water level, a perspective you cannot get from the shore. It is not included in the tour price, so you decide when you arrive whether to add it.

How much time do I actually spend at San Pedro de Rocas monastery?

San Pedro de Rocas gets 45 minutes of walking time, plus 30 minutes of travel to reach it from the viewpoint. The guide leads you through the 6th-century structures and explains the carved tombs in the rock, so you are not exploring on your own.

Is lunch included, and what are the food options in Ourense?

Lunch is not included. You have about 100 minutes free time in Ourense to eat at a restaurant of your choice. The city has a wide range of restaurants for all tastes, and your guide can recommend places if you ask.

How long is the full day, and what time do we return to Santiago?

The tour runs about ten hours total, departing Santiago at 8:15 and returning in the late afternoon. The return journey from Ourense to Santiago takes roughly 30 minutes.