Running from the Spanish villages of Muros and Malpica, the Costa da Morte makes up a significant part of the Galician coast. It has earned its name from the numerous shipwrecks that have occurred along its dangerous rocky shoreline and it overlooks the rough waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Along this coastline you’ll find a number of charming villages, towns and hamlets.

Just south of Fisterra sits the Cape Finisterre Lighthouse, where you can admire uninterrupted Atlantic Ocean vistas. Nature lovers will enjoy finding the Cascada de Ézaro slightly north of O Pindo, as this scenic waterfall offers memorable photographs and a small swimming hole.

Beach lovers shouldn’t miss visiting Playa de Carnota, a sprawling white-sand beach with calm, blue water. From Malpica you can embark on numerous coastal hiking trails, while Muxia is home to the 17th-century Virxe da Barca sanctuary, a church that was partially destroyed by lightning in 2013.

Getting there

The Costa de Morte is a popular road trip route that’s best experienced with a hire car. You can start it in either Muros or Malpica. Both are between 5.5 and 6.5 hours’ drive from Bilbao or Madrid, where you can fly into Bilbao Airport and Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport, respectively.