Xares offers a variety of ways to experience the area: hiking, nature watching and architectural heritage. If you’re looking for a holiday apartment in Xares, it helps to first decide what you’d like to focus on during your stay—perhaps a hike, a visit to a lagoon or time to explore local cultural details. For planning, it’s also worth checking the route and specific destinations for each trail.

Hiking trails with different routes

The Ruta da Reserva is an 18 km circular route around the hunting reserve. Along the way, it passes Lagoa do Sextil and Lagoa de Ocelo. This means the route’s length and the two named lagoons are both part of the planning.

The Ruta da Pena Trevinca runs from Xares towards A Ponte, follows the Xares River to its source and passes waterfalls. The river and waterfalls are the main features here, setting this route apart from the circular route of the Ruta da Reserva and its lagoons. Check current trail conditions locally before setting out on either the Ruta da Reserva or the Ruta da Pena Trevinca.

The PR-G 200 also follows its own route: this circular mountain trail starts and ends in A Ponte. A Ponte also appears in the description of the Ruta da Pena Trevinca, as the direction the trail takes from Xares. This distinction is useful for finding your way: the PR-G 200 starts and ends in A Ponte, while the Ruta da Pena Trevinca runs from Xares towards A Ponte.

To Lagoa de Ocelo and the river valley

The trail to Lagoa de Ocelo starts at the Oficina de Turismo de A Veiga, passes through Xares and Cima Montes de Xares, and follows the signposted Ruta de las Lagunas. Conditions and signage can change, so check the wayfinding locally. The approach via Xares makes the lagoon a specific destination for anyone planning a trip around a named natural landmark.

The A Veiga–Prados driving route offers a different perspective on the area. It passes through Xares and then climbs through the valley of the river of the same name. After Xares, Iberian chiffchaffs and rock buntings can be spotted in this valley. These bird sightings are associated with the stretch of the river valley beyond Xares; the description specifically names these two species.

The church and other cultural details

The Igrexa de Santa Maria de Xares was built in 1010 and has a Neoclassical façade. Its construction date and façade design draw attention to two different aspects of the church: its historical date and its architectural character. For travellers interested in architectural heritage, it’s a clearly identified point of interest in Xares.

Local cultural details also include several fountains built over springs and preserved in good condition. Some are believed to be of Celtic origin. The fountains add another kind of local heritage to the picture of the area’s architecture, without requiring a hike to be the main focus.

There is also a funerary sarcophagus next to the school. Its origins have not been conclusively established. Together with the church and fountains, it offers another specific point of interest for anyone wishing to explore the village’s historical details as well as its trails.

Discover more destinations: A Vilavella, Carballal, O Irixo, Pepín, Dornelas, Vilar De Barrio, Requiás, Muíños

For the broader travel guide: Ourense.