Exploring the coast
The first time that we rigged our sails and we got into the water was in Caloura. We took advantage of a 10 knots breeze to explore on our windsup’s the beautiful coves. We got down to the shore by a stone stair that skirted a cliff, and we arrived to a black sand beach, sheltered by vertical dark red rocks, which with the green clear water, made a contrast like a Hawaiian postcard. The caves are equally incredible, huge caverns with ceilings like domes. For this reason Caloura became our favourite spot for cruising, even with so many places for exploring we came back here three times such was its lure! Also located in the south is Sao Roué village with its own enchantments. It has humble houses but all of them looking at the sea and painted with pastel colours, saint images adorning each entrance and an impressive colonial church on the cliff to complete the interesting views. Sao Roque beach is also well known for waves with hollow left handers on offer in south swells, which are more predominant in summertime and a port tack side shore wind prevails for windsurfing. On the northwest coast we travelled to Mosteiros. It is the place to enjoy sunsets and marvel at cliffs, islets with impossible geometric shapes, sea caves and canals that make you dream. If you have travelled with your SUP board, go paddle a calm day in Mosteiros, it is a wonderful experience!
Next stop, just south of Mosteiros, and a place you cannot miss, is Ferrarías beneath a lava hillside. At the end of the day, if it’s low tide, Ferrarías will offer you a warm bath in the open sea, between the rocks and under the cliff. If the low tide time allows you can even take it while looking at the stars at night. When the tide is high, the heat of the rocks is not enough to raise the temperature of the extra water volume.
