Muiño Beach

About this heritage

It is a fluvial beach forming part of the landscape of the mouth of the river Miño, with an interesting dune system preceded by a coastal pine forest. It has a semilunar shape and from the shore one can view the coast of the neighboring Portugal ahead. On the coastline, where it opens up to the ocean, the Ínsua can be seen, a spectacular Portuguese fortification which stands in the centre of the river mouth where the waters of both the river and the sea clash with greater energy.

It is considered one of the best beaches in the region due to its characteristics, such as the blue flag, excellent water quality and accessibility for people with reduced mobility.

It also belongs to the Miño estuary, which is classified as a Site of Community Importance (SCI) within the Natura 2000 Network and identified as a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA).

The Esteiro do Miño SPA is located on the final stretch of the Miño river before flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. It includes the territory of Tomiño, O Rosal and A Guarda and occupies an area of 1,688 ha.

This beach is crossed by the PRG-160 path that departs from the parish church of San Lorenzo and heads towards the river, passing through the first stage in Galicia of the Portuguese Coastal Way and then arriving at the bird observatories. It covers the last kilometres up until the mouth of the river Miño, in the area of O Puntal, and ends in O Seixal. The route has information panels referring to the importance of the estuary, fauna, vegetation and ecological aspects. This path connects with the Blue Path from Muíño beach, with the Coastal Path from the O Puntal area and also passes near the recently discovered Roman salt deposits sites.

To learn more

O Muiño beach is located at the mouth of the Miño river and is part of the Miño estuary, which is classified as a Site of Community Importance (SCI) within the Natura 2000 Network, and identified as a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA). The Esteiro do Miño SPA is located on the final stretch of the Miño river, where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. It includes the territories of Tomiño, O Rosal and A Guarda, and occupies an area of 1,688 ha.

Of particular importance is the group of marine and coastal habitats from which the best represented is that of coastal habitats and halophytic vegetation.

The Estero do Miño SPA includes an important colony of both migratory and nesting birds such as the Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola, the Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus or the Slender-billed Curlew Numenius arquata. The wintering populations of the tufted duck Aythya fuligula, the tridactyl sandpiper Calidris alba, the Great Plover Charadrius hiaticula or the Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus are the most noteworthy.

In the surroundings there are taxa of other groups such as the Gold-Striped Salamander Chioglosa lusitanica or the Otter Lutra lutra.

The Miño joins ecosystems such as the estuary habitats with an extensive area of reeds and wet meadows, islands and sandbanks with coastal elements such as dune systems and intertidal rocky areas.

The PRG-160 path, part of the parish church of San Lorenzo, passes through the first part in Galicia of the Portuguese Coastal Way and joins the Blue Path from the beach of O Muíño, the Coastal Path from the area of O Puntal and also passes through the recently discovered Roman salt deposits sites.

To know it better

Praia de O Muíño is a river area located in the town of A Guarda, in the province of Pontevedra. The water of this beach is the result of a blend of that of the Miño River and that of the Atlantic Ocean. Aside from its calm waters, bathers can enjoy its fine and white sand. The town of A Guarda also has other fluvial beaches, such as A Lamiña, A Armona and O Codesal, which locals and visitors can enjoy.

In the case of Praia de O Muíño, its name is directly related to the remains of a windmill that was found there. This sandbank is located in a natural area that also has a Special Protection Area for Birds and an estuary where, with the use of binoculars, you can observe different birds and species.