Cesantes
It is a small village of 3500 inhabitants located in "Ría de Vigo (Vigo sea inlet)".
It is a quiet village without mass tourism and strategically located to visit the "Rías Baixas" region.
Cesantes offers a spectacular panorama view of a bay where is located the San Simon Island (which has an ancient history... from leper hospital to jail or monastery), the Rande Bridge (where according to the legend, there is a huge treasure at the bottom of the sea since 150 boats sank in there after the Rande Battle). After this bridge, we can see the Cies Islands (where is located "Rodas beach" which was selected in several occasions as the most beautiful beach on the world).
You can check here the different timetables and fares to visit any of the islands around: Cies, San Simón or Ons (Cíes and Ons are bigger islands with beaches. San Simon is a historical island with no beach).
I must say that Cesantes beach is not the best one in Galicia, over all because it is inside the bay and there is not many water movements, but it is worth a visit.
There is one area called "a punta(the tip)" because when the tide is low, there is a sand path with the shape of a "tip". At the end of that path there is a sculpture of Julio Verne and 2 divers which can only be seen with low tide.
Surroundings
There are mountains around with different hiking routes (senda da auga), rivers (Verdugo) with adventure activities, different landscapes and viewpoints (Castiñerias lake, A Peneda, monte Penide, A Fervenza...).
Redondela town is nearby (2km from Cesantes) and there are many cafes, supermarkets, banks, markets…
Arcade town is also near by (2km from Cesantes) and you can find in there the best places for seafood.
It is worth the visit to this bench, only locals know about it! Restaurants & Bars
Here some bar recommendations in Arcade and Redondela:
Los leones. It is said that they have the best burgers in the area. La Barraca. Bar where they offer free tapas with your drink.
O muíño vello. It is an old mill where they serve all kind of tapas. It is ideal for dinner.
O muíño da ponte. Another mill similar to the previous one.
Romasa. Another good
Avenida. Other restaurant for seafood
Typical Food
You must try "empanada de chocos (cuttlefish pie)" that is typical from Redondela area, “empanada de zamburiñas (little scallops pie)". You can find other types of empanada (pie): tuna, meat, chicken, octopus, cod with raisins, mussels, …
SEAFOOD: "Arroz con bogavante (rice with lobster)", "Navajas (razor Shell)", "Percebes (barnacles)", "Vieiras (scallops)", "nécoras", "zamburiñas (small scallops)"...
WINES: Albariño, Ribeiro, Godello, Mencía and “vino de casa” (home wine)... you must go to “furancho”.
Furancho is a typical rural restaurant in Rias Baixas region. It is a place where they serve home made food with home made wine at very good price. They are indicated with laurel and you must follow the signs. They usually open for some time between December and july.
FISHES: Rape, rodaballo (turbot), lubina (sea bass), choquitos en su tinta (cuttlefish with the ink), lamprea (lamprey), …
TAPAS: zorza, chorizo ó inferno, xoubiñas ó parrochiñas, chinchos, pulpo, pimientos de padrón,…
SHOTS: licor café, crema de orujo. Queimada
DESSERTS: tarta de santiago, tetilla con membrillo, filloas, buñuelos, requesón con miel, empanada de manzana, melindres, rosquillas, leche frita, roscón de yema. Check some pics here.
Areas and Beaches. Rías Baixas
1. Baixo Miño route (Baiona, Santa Tecla (A Guarda) and Tui).
BEACHES: Playa América, Panxón
2. Salnés area (Combarro, A Lanzada, O Grove, A Toxa, Cambados, Illa de Arousa).
BEACHES: Montalvo, A Lanzada, Paxariñas, Canelas, Espiñeira...
3. Morrazo area (Cabo Home, ría de Aldán) BEACHES Liméns, Nerga, Melide, Area Brava, Menduíña, las playas de Marín (Mogor, Aguete y Portocelo)...
Islas Cíes . Islas de Ons.
4. Old city Pontevedra and Santiago de Compostela.
5. Muros-Noia: A Pobra, mirador de A Curota, mirador da Rá, parque natural de Corrubedo, castro de Baroña, Noia, Muros.
6. Driving to the north. Monte Louro, Carnota, Ézaro, faro de Fisterra.
Areas and Beaches. Rías Altas
"Rias Altas" are far away from Cesantes (2 hours minimum) but if you have time, it is worth a visit.
Playa de las Catedrales (natural monument), cliffs like O Cabo do Mundo in "sierra de la Capelada" (the highest cliff in Atlantic Europe) , Estaca de Bares.
Among the cities, we must mention A Coruña (Hercules Tower, UNESCO World Heritage Centre), Betanzos, Ribadeo, Viveiro, Narón and Foz.
Cedeira, Cariño cliff, Cabo Ortegal, San Andrés de Teixido, Fragas del Eume.
In summary...
Take it easy. You just need a car. Go through the coast and stop in any beach you like, there are hundreds...
Just enjoy the food and the people! If you go in summer, there are many open air orchestras on the villages where everybody is out enjoying (old ones, young ones, kids, grandpas...)
And also outdoor gastronomical parties, you can take a look here.