The Port of Vilagarcía combines its logistics and commercial activity with the arrival of cruise ships. This port has become, due to its unbeatable geographical location, an excellent starting point from which to discover Galicia, the Rías Baixas, the region of O Salnés and Santiago de Compostela.
The Port of Vilagarcía offers a quality service to shipping companies and visitors, as well as a wide range of activities to carry out during their stay.
A privileged setting
The Arousa estuary is synonymous with excellence in mussel farming. It is the largest producer and marketer of this product in the world and has a unique quality certificate: the DOP Mexillón de Galicia. The rafts are one of the most characteristic elements of the Arousan landscape, and they usually attract the attention of cruise passengers on their journey through Arousa bay, before entering the port.
Vilagarcía, and by extension the entire region of O Salnés, have numerous attractions to offer, both from a landscape, architectural, cultural or gastronomic point of view, and in each of its towns the visitor will be able to discover unique corners that make their stay unforgettable.
Once on land, the cruise passenger does not lack alternatives to enjoy their stay. In Vilagarcía and its immediate surroundings there is a wide and diversified leisure offer. From guided visits to wineries with the possibility of tasting wines in the area, playing golf, diving or water sports, hiking trails, visits to monuments and natural spaces, large pazos (Galician manor houses) , beaches or the best gastronomy of the Rías Baixas, with the fish and shellfish as great attractions.
At all stops, the Port Authority installs, at the foot of the quay, a visitor service point attended by personnel from the Port Authority itself and where tourist and commercial information on Vilagarcía and its area of influence is offered.
Traveller transport
The stopovers of smaller cruise ships are made at O Ramal dock, while ships with greater draft or length use one of the docks in the southern area of the port area (Ferrazo, Comercial W, Comercial N or Comboa).
The cruise passenger from the Port of Vilagarcía has a free shuttle service that connects the docking pier with the city. There are other alternatives such as a taxi or a journey on foot, especially attractive for cruise ships that dock at O Ramal as this pier is practically integrated into the urban layout of Vilagarcía..
Another option is to take part in some of the excursions offered in the vacation package. Santiago de Compostela is undoubtedly the most popular destination, and walking through its famous old town to visit its cathedral is one of the most attractive options. The Port of Arousa is the closest to the Galician capital and its connection, both by road and by train, is direct, comfortable and fast.
Promotion of the destination
Vilagarcía Port Authority belongs to Cruise Europe association, whose mission is to develop, promote and foster sustainable relationships between members and cruise lines.
The organization has 124 associated ports from a total of twenty countries in four different geographical areas: Atlantic Europe; United Kingdom and Ireland; the Baltic; and Norway, Iceland and Faroe Islands.
The Port Authority also regularly attends national or European events related to the cruise industry to promote itself as a welcoming and crowd-free destination, experienced in proffesional attention to tourists and oriented towards small and medium-sized cruise ships that seek to offer their passengers an experience focused on the tourist attractions of the destination.