<i>GALICIA </i> <i>COSTA DA MORTE</i>
<i>GALICIA </i> <i>COSTA DA MORTE</i>
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GALICIA COSTA DA MORTE

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Sea Kayak Holidays

15.–20.06.2025

GALICIA: COSTA DA MORTE

Our latest program for people with a good portion of experience and pioneering spirit: our Sea Kayak Holidays week on the Costa da Morte, the "Coast of Death", in wild Galicia. Rough weather is not uncommon in Galicia, which is more reminiscent of Ireland than the rest of Spain. The coast is rugged and varied. Our camp is planned as a stationary camp, but an overnight tour with a bivouac is not out of the question.

Even though the conditions in Galicia can be rough and this is certainly not a camp for inexperienced paddlers: Hey, it's mid-June and we're in Spain! That means it's summer here too and it's not stormy every day, and you can reasonably expect wonderful paddling and holiday weather. We have already spent several weeks in Galicia in June and really enjoyed the time, even if it may have rained or gotten foggy from time to time. So we are optimistic and are looking forward to a great discovery camp with you, during which we all will to explore the entire Costa da Morte between Malpica and Fisterra on day trips. Our basic Sea Kayak Holidays motto applies here too: quality instead of quantity, wows before miles.

What can you expect on the Costa da Morte? First and foremost, a super exciting, winding coastline, with dozens of larger and smaller capes and rocky headlands, all of which are open to the west and northwest and thus exposed to the Atlantic swell. In between: flat, light sandy beaches like in paradise and some lush green, deep rias that offer protection and adventure at the same time on days when it is too rough outside. At some points in these rias, but also around the offshore Sisargas Islands, in the very north of the Costa da Morte, there are also strong tidal currents that promise exciting conditions. The tidal range during our week is only 2m on average, and Wednesday is neap tide. But that's not a bad thing, because the unfiltered Atlantic swell will provide enough fun or challenge, depending on the situation.

DETAILS

Programme Day 1
Day 1
As always, our first day of paddling starts on Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m. – probably right on the beach in front of our campsite, unless we make a different plan on the first day due to the weather. You would find out about that, though, because we assume that you will arrive at our campsite on Saturday evening already.
Programme Days 2–5
Days 2-5
We don't have a fixed programme for this week. But, as always, we have lots of excellent building blocks at our disposal, from which we will put together a great programme every evening, depending on the weather and swell. Some of the highlights are: Cabo Vilán, the Sisarga Islands and the coast of Malpica, Cabo Touriñan (the westernmost point of Spain) and the famous Fistera, our Ría de Camariñas, the coast around Laxe with its amazing surfing beaches (cover photo of this page) and the mouth of the Rio Anllons with the fantastic beach Praia da Barra. Around a hundred kilometers of coastline (excluding the Rías) between Malpica and the Islas Sisargas in the north and Fisterra in the south offer us more than enough choice for a great week on the Costa da Morte!
Programme Day 6
On our last day of paddling we will make sure we get off the water by 16:00 at the latest and end the course with a feedback session. You have enough time to take care of your equipment or preparing for your departure. We recommend planning this for Friday evening at the earliest, or even better Saturday.

If you have borrowed gear from us, we ask that you rinse everything with fresh water and return it to us clean and salt-free by Friday evening.
More Info
Participant Numbers: Minimum 4, Maximum 8
Languages: German and English

TYPICAL CONDITIONS

This is what you may hope for

Weather
The weather in Galicia is wetter and rougher than in the rest of Spain. The exposed Costa da Morte in particular is very exposed to the elements. Fog is not uncommon in summer. However, storms are comparatively rare in June.

Wind
Anything is possible and windy days are not uncommon.

Waves
This is where the unfiltered Atlantic swell from America arrives. That can sometimes be quite a lot.

ACTIVITIES

This is what you may expect

Click on the pictures to learn more about the activities.

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Discover Europe's Most Beautiful Coastlines With Us

There are paddlers for whom sea kayaking primarily means making distance. Often these people paddle purposefully in a straight line past the most beautiful coasts – and overlook all the small and large things that there are to discover. So many beautiful things, so many incredible things, so many spontaneous adventures – if you take the time for them. That's exactly what we mean by "exploring the coast": taking advantage of every opportunity for experiences and fascinating discoveries. The lines between “touring” and “play” blur depending on what presents itself to us. Depending on the tide, swell, wind and weather, a coastline is always different.

We don't measure the success of a paddle-day in kilometers, but in the number of "Wows"! And believe us: there are a lot of them where we go sea kayaking with you.
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Fantastic Day Trips

Touring doesn't always mean that you have to paddle for several days with a lot of luggage: Exciting day trips let you enjoy the juicy bits of a coast and you're back at the base camp in the evening. And at the same time, a "day trip" doesn't always have to be synonymous with touring: Just as often as we undertake an excursion-style day trip, we go on paddle-strolls "just around the corner" to a particularly cool rock garden, a tide race or Surf beach and see what happens there. This way, without paddling many kilometers, we also make great, fulfilling and exciting days of sea kayaking.
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Touring

Touring is the most classic form of sea kayaking. There are millions of different possible sea kayak tours and each one is different. And yet, in essence, it's always about the same thing: a journey by kayak. No matter whether your tour lasts a day, a week or six months - the goal and purpose is to paddle from A to B. The focus is on moving forward, discovering and enjoying nature.

We love touring. The freedom, the adventure, the wind and the waves, the endless sea and the salt crust on your skin. From one beach to the next, past islands, capes and harbours, from one camp to the next. One paddle stroke after another.
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Dynamic Water: Widen Your Comfort Zone

Paddling in dynamic water – whether generated by wind, tide or swell – provides variety and excitement. And it makes you a better paddler.

It is part of our course structure to accompany you step by step from the calm lake to increasingly challenging conditions. What is “challenging” on this journey and what is specifically understood as “dynamic water” – that is highly subjective and is ultimately determined by you, your skills and, above all, your comfort zone, which we will try to carefully expand together. That's why we work with you to find conditions that challenge you without overwhelming you or generating bad experiences. Because we want you to have new experiences, become a safer paddler and walk away from the water with a good feeling and a big grin after each day with us.
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Surfing – of Course in a Sea Kayak

At Salty Cosmos we agree: there is almost nothing more addictive than surfing with a sea kayak! No matter whether forward, backward or a reverse start with a turn (like Ella in the picture above), steep pirouettes, spectacular "bongo slides" and fast rolls in the breaking wave – surfing a sea kayak is an absolutely fantastic thing. It is not only extremely fun, but it sharpens your boat control and technique like nothing else. Being able to paddle in the surf zone also means a huge increase in safety: Here you will quickly find out whether you can really intuitively edge and brace, whether your roll works effectively without a setup and whether you understand what your kayak is doing in such a dynamic environment.

You alone decide what conditions are right for you when going sea kayak surfing. It's not about who surfs the biggest waves. It's not (just) about adrenaline rushes or about who can pull off the most spectacular stunts, but simply about having maximum fun and learning while playing. And yes: capsizing is part of it and is neither dangerous nor something to feel ashamed of.
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Rockhopping: Big Fun, Also in Smaller Waves

Next to surfing, rock hopping is certainly the most playful activity in the vast cosmos of sea kayaking. Paddling with the waves at exactly the right moment over a washed-over granite rock, through narrow passages and into bubbling rock features – always in the rhythm of the waves – that's rock hopping. It takes timing, skill, good observation skills, confident control strokes and a bit of boat control, which fortunately grows with each session.

Rock hopping is an activity that quickly becomes addictive and is a lot of fun. There is no need for big waves. On the contrary: the best rock hopping sessions take place in generally rather calm conditions. Even small waves can create turbulence, suction and very dynamic conditions between the rocks. You have to accept scratches and dents in your kayak before involving in this activity, otherwise it definitely won't be fun. Even a small hole in the boat can happen from time to time, which is why we always have repair materials with us. And to ensure that no injuries occur, we always exercise caution. A good rule for rock hopping is: never play where you don't want to swim.
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SKILLS

This is what we expect from you

You can swim

Minimum three weeks experience on the sea, also in more advanced conditions. You should have paddled on the Atlantic before where you have experienced a range of conditions.

Experience in waves of 1.5 meters and up to 20 knots of wind

Launching and landing on a suitable beach in swell with a period of up to 15 sec.

You can roll rather securely (at least 80%). If your roll fails, you can self-rescue.

You can tow another paddler and you have trained complex group rescue scenarios before.

Experience with more difficult rescues in dynamic conditions in between the rocks or in the surf zone

SAFETY PARAMETERS

This is what you can rely on

The sea does what it does. With our safety parameters we determine the maximum environmental conditions up to which we will go on the water* during this programme:
Wind
Offshore wind:
  • Up to 21 knots (wind force 5) in areas with predominantly steep banks that offer enough protection
  • Up to 21 knots (wind force 5) in areas with predominantly flat shorelines that offer insufficient protection

Onshore wind:
  • Up to 15 knots (wind force 4) in areas with predominantly steep, rocky shores
  • Up to 21 knots (wind force 5) in areas with flat, sandy shores with easy landing options
Waves
  • Swell of up to 1m and maximum 15 sec. period in areas with predominantly rocky shores
  • Swell of up to 1.5m and a maximum of 15 sec. period in areas with predominantly sandy, flat shores that provide safe landing
The sea weather report or swell forecast serves as the basis for assessment. In the case of short, steep wind waves, cross seas, etc., the situation is assessed individually.
If it is not possible to find these (or easier) conditions in our paddling area, we will stay on land. Other safety parameters (extreme gusts, rapidly falling air pressure, thunderstorms, etc.) also apply.

* For more information on this topic, see our FAQs

EVERYTHING ELSE

This is what you need to organise by yourself

For all of our programs, arrival and departure as well as all transport and on-site accommodation are the responsibility of the participants. This means that you have to take care of these things yourself. Below you will find all the information you need:
Meeting point & arrival
GETTING THERE

Meeting point:
Camping O'Paraíso
Calle Merexo, 152
15124 La Coruña
A Coruña
Spanien

+34 981 75 06 95

Time:
For a quieter and relaxed start to the week, we recommend arriving the day before (Saturday). When exactly you arrive is completely your choice. Please prepare to be self-sufficient on the day of arrival and note that your Salty Cosmos team is also busy preparing and will not be available before the programme begins.

The course starts on Sunday morning (June 15th) at 10:00.

Getting there:

By car:

When making travel arrangements, please don't forget to ask the other participants whether they are looking for or offering a ride.

Unfortunately, getting to Galicia by public transport is only for people with a lot of time, unless you are traveling the Iberian Peninsula anyway.

Flying: Certainly the easiest and fastest means of transport to Galicia is by plane, ideally to A Coruña (La Coruña). From there you'll reach our camping by rental car in less than one hour.

If you are joining us from the UK or Ireland, we recommend taking the ferry from Plymouth to Santander or from Roslare to Bilbao and drive on to Galicia from there.
Accommodation
Will be published in October
Please remember that either way you are responsible for organising, booking and paying your accommodation.
Rations
In all Salty Cosmos programmes, food and drinks are generally the responsibility of the participants. Please consider whether you would like to cook for yourself or eat in a privately organised communal group.
Insurance
Accident insurance, travel health insurance, rescue and recovery insurance
In all Salty Cosmos programs, accident insurance, travel health insurance and rescue and recovery insurance are the responsibility of the participants. Please take care of these things early.

Cancellation cost insurance
Please take out cancellation insurance when you complete your booking. If you were to become sick ahead of the programme, it would be a pity if you were not only missing out, but also losing money.

More questions? See our FAQs

This is what Frédéric Flamant says

I am not going to say anything now! Please wait until October!

Normal price
1250 CHF*

Price including use of our gear

This price includes a kayak, paddle and all the gear you need for participating. You need to order this gear separately after booking, ahead the programme.

Arrival and departure, accommodation and meals are the responsibility of the participants and are therefore not included in the price.

Reduced Price
1100 CHF*

Price with your own material

Price if you participate with your own equipment. You are responsible for bringing your kayak and equipment and, if necessary, transporting them during the programme.

Arrival and departure, accommodation and meals are the responsibility of the participants and are therefore not included in the price.

*Net price plus Spanish VAT (21%)

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