San Vicente 
San Vicente Overview
The village of San Vicente is located on the O Grove peninsular, which in turn, is situated at the entrance to the Ria of Arousa, the largest of the Rias Baixas or lower estuaries.
Only a few centuries ago it was an island, until sand built up and formed the beautiful beach of La Lanzada and now just one road connects it to the 'mainland'. O Grove has two parishes. The main town of San Martin of O Grove has a fishing harbour. The remainder of the peninsular is the parish of San Vicente do Grove, and the village of San Vicente is situated about 7km from O Grove.
San Vicente do Mar is a beach and nature lover's paradise, nestled between the towns of O Grove and San Vicente. The surrounding rural area of Balea includes the southern and northern coast of the peninsular of El Grove and there are beaches along the coastal road on the southern side of the peninsular, all the way from the lovely long beach of La Lanzada to San Vicente do Mar.
The area is developing with new houses being built along this coastline and a new yacht marina and fishing harbour at San Vicente do Mar. There are two small supermarkets in San Vicente do Mar which open during the summer. There is a restaurant and a few beach bars which open during the summer.
San Vicente - Rural life & tradition:
San Vicente is a quiet, spread out village, largely undiscovered by tourists who usually stay nearer to the beach of La Lanzada. Rural life continues in San Vicente as it has for centuries, and most of the houses are smallholdings with their own vegetable gardens and chickens, cows and dogs. You might still see oxen pulling the carts of maize or seaweed, which is collected as a natural fertiliser, although small tractors are gradually taking over.
Sir Francis Drake enjoyed the local Galician hospitality when he came here to get provisions for his crew.
San Vicente - Beaches:
The village of San Vicente is not beside the sea, but is about 1km inland, so here you have the best of rural life but with many lovely sandy beaches within easy reach. These beaches are never crowded, even in high season, and you have a choice of whether you want south, west or north facing beaches. There is also an isolated naturist beach.
From the centre of San Vicente do Grove there are beaches to the north, west and south and all about 1km away. They are all of fine sand with some boulders and rock pools and slope gently into the sea. Some are backed by pine trees providing shade if required. The beaches on the north side are in the Ria of Arousa, and more protected from Atlantic waves.
The only beach with lifeguards and Red Cross post in July and August is the long beach of La Lanzada which is approximately 4km from O Grove and 6km from San Vicente, and which has been awarded the EEC Blue Flag. It has fine hard sand and slopes gradually so it is good for children, and for walking.
San Vicente - Out and about:
Approximately 2km from San Vicente do Grove, there is a new 'village' called San Vicente do Mar which is really an urbanisation with a group of buildings and small holiday houses amongst the pine trees facing the sea. It comes to life in July and August and it has a few places to eat and a couple of small supermarkets. From mid June to mid September one of these supermarkets is open all day from approx. 09.30 to 22.00, including Sundays, which is useful if you are arriving late on your first evening.
San Vicente - Activities:
In San Vicente do Mar there is a pretty little harbour called Pedras Negras with small fishing boats, a new marina and a yacht club where young children can learn to sail on 5-day courses in August. From the club you can also enjoy an instructed trip in a sailing dinghy.
O Grove offers a variety of activities including boat trips round the Ria of Arousa, a 9 hole golf course on the Island of La Toja, with its beach club and 50m salt water swimming pool and tennis courts. There is an aquarium with a variety of different species and excellent bird watching opportunities on the Bao, which is the tidal area and feeding ground for migratory birds - a lovely spot for a meal while overlooking the sea and with a good bottle of local Albarino white wine.
There is a campsite opposite the church of San Vicente, called Paisaxe II and it has a bar and restaurant. This is where the swimming pool is available for you to use with your Secret Destinations vouchers.
Sailing: A yacht marina has been built at Pedras Negras in San Vicente do Mar, There are sailing classes for young children during July and August. There is no boat hire, or windsurf board hire, but you can go sailing by the hour or morning/afternoon. Other sports are available on the Island of La Toja, about 10 mins drive from Pedras Negras, Balea and San Vicente.
O Grove has a long promenade from the bridge which goes to the Island of La Toja, to the fishing harbour area, with tapas bars with terraces and restaurants overlooking the sea. From here you can take boat trips to the mussel and oyster rafts, approximately 1 hour, and longer trips in glass bottom catamarans to see life on the sea bed.
Golf: Adjoining O Grove, on the Island of A Toxa (La Toja), 8km from San Vicente, there is a lovely 9 hole golf course with club hire, a beach club with an entrance fee to an Olympic size salt water pool, a small beach, three tennis courts and paddle tennis courts (charges). You are advised to bring your own equipment.
The pool at the beach club is open from mid June to mid September, depending on the weather.
Fishing: You can buy fishing tackle and live bait in O Grove and fish from the harbour or from the beaches. The shop in O Grove is Galeusca (which is in the main one-way street Castelao, and OMAR, on the street Alexandre Boveda) where you can also get swim suits, body boards, plastic sandals which are advisable to use on the beach.
Snorkelling is also popular around the San Vicente coastline, but the water is cold so do take care. Surfing is popular on the beach of La Lanzada, however it is not possible to hire windsurf or bodysurf boards.
An interesting day out for the whole family is a trip to the aquarium. It is situated down the lane beside the Hotel Bosque Mar in Reboredo on the rural road into O Grove and is well signposted.
There are sereval different boat trips available from the harbour in O Grove. Some give wine and freshly cooked mussels on board while you are taken around the mussel rafts and to the Island of La Toja.
On the Island of La Toja is one of the 2 Casinos that exist in Galicia, the other is in La Coruna. Open from 17.00 to 04.00 there is an entrance fee and you must take your passport to gain entry.
San Vicente do Grove - Fiestas:
There is a festival around the second weekend in October which is the Fiesta do Marisco and when the seafood is at its best. The other main fiestas in El Grove are around the 16th July to celebrate Our Lady of Carmen who is the patron saint of fishermen. There are funfair attractions, dancing in the square, and a firework display at midnight among other activities.
San Vicente do Grove - Eating Out:
Eating out is easy, good and reasonably priced with the main dishes being the locally caught fish, excellent sole, turbot, bream, sea bass and of course sardines from June onwards throughout the summer. Octopus and squid, scallops, mussels, and crabs should also be tried!! There is a good food market every morning in O Grove, where you can buy fresh fish, meat, and vegetables straight from the gardens. Weekly general market day is Friday morning.
The O Grove peninsular is situated at the entrance to the Ria of Arousa, the largest of the Rias Baixas or Lower Estuaries. The main town of El Grove, or O Grove in the Galician language, is a fishing town with a reputation for the best seafood in Galicia, and consequently in Spain.
There are a few restaurants in the area. On the beach of Area Grande, opposite the parish church of San Vicente, there is a good beach bar/restaurant for meals at practically any time of the day, open from June to September, called Parrilla Tango. Other small restaurants in San Vicente do Mar, in high season only, with bars for tapas, approximately 2km from San Vicente do Grove, and 7km from O Grove.
There is a good selection of restaurants and bars in O Grove, approximately 7-8km from San Vicente, at Pedras Negras and Balea. In San Vicente do Mar there are a few informal restaurants which open all year, or others that only open in July and August.
San Vicente do Grove - Nature:
The O Grove peninsular is an excellent base from which to explore the rest of Galicia, all within easy reach on the new road from La Lanzada, which joins the area to the motorway.
The Island of A Toxa is famous for its Spa and healing waters, a whole range of La Toja beauty products are made from the salts.
San Vicente do Grove - Shopping:
There is only one shop situated in the small square in the centre of the village. It is a basic local supermarket and is open from approx. 09.30 am to 13.30 and 16.30 to approx. 21.00hrs every day except Sunday, when it is only open in the morning. There are also 2 small supermarkets at the centre of San Vicente do Mar which are open all day every day until 10.00pm including Sundays in July and August, and one of them stays open in low season. O Grove is recommended for main shopping.
San Vicente do Grove - Public transport:
There is a local bus which goes to O Grove only twice a day, approx. 7.30 am and 14.00hrs, where connections are made to 4 bus routes. One goes along the coast via Sanxenxo to Pontevedra and the train station, and the other to Vilagarcia station via Cambados. Frequency is practically every 1 and half hours. There is also a bus to Santiago from O Grove four times a day, and another bus goes to Vigo 3 times a day. During the high season a bus service goes round the peninsular from O Grove to San Vicente and you can pick it up at any of the bus stops.
Taxis are available in San Vicente but there is no taxi rank and have to be called. There is a public coin phone in the bar/local shop in San Vicente do Grove and in the Pedras Negras Cafeteria, or outside by the newspaper kiosk.
In Galicia there is one railway line, which goes from north to south, via Vigo, Pontevedra, Vilagarcia, Santiago, La Coruna and El Ferrol.
A good coach service runs between the main cities of Galicia from the main bus stations. The new bus service between Santiago and O Grove; goes from the main bus station in Santiago and is a Castromil bus. If the timing is not right for you, then it is best to get a bus from Santiago to Pontevedra, then bus to O Grove.
San Vicente do Grove - Our holiday accommodation and service:
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So, if you're looking for an activity holiday walking, cycling and trekking or climbing in Northern Green Spain's mountains and countryside; exploring fascinating Galician villages, rural towns and historic cities such as Santiago and Vigo; following the historic pilgrims routes; enjoy bird watching, nature and exploring the Rias Bajas and Ria de Arousa; fancy a spot of surfing, swimming, sunbathing or relaxing on great Galician beaches; sampling fabulous Galician seafood or you just want to simply escape the tourism masses with a privately owned apartment, cottage or family villa with a pool, call our holiday team today. We can also assist you with flights to O Grove and Galicia, ferry travel and holiday car hire.
