Playa Ouriceira

The beach is calm in character and smaller than the main sands around Raxo. It suits visitors looking for a straightforward local beach without the stronger urban feel of Xiorto or the historic bustle around Combarro.

Ouriceira can feel intimate even when several families are present, because the shoreline is only about 100 metres long. The tide affects the amount of dry sand, while the sheltered position often gives the water a gentle appearance. Wind direction and passing boats can still change the surface.

Ouriceira is a compact sheltered beach on the Poio coast between Chancelas and Raxo. Fine sand fills a small semiurban cove facing south across the Ria de Pontevedra, with homes and local roads close behind and Tambo Island prominent offshore.

Chancelas is the nearest coastal community, with Chancelas Pequena and the adjoining beach forming part of the same sequence of ria-side sands. Raxo lies a short distance west, providing a harbour, restaurants and more accommodation.

Combarro is the wider cultural anchor. Its historic waterfront, granite houses and raised granaries offer a strong contrast with Ouriceira's quieter residential setting. Together, these places show how Poio's coast alternates between village harbours, heritage sites and modest bathing coves.

Ouriceira extends for roughly 100 metres and is classed as a sheltered fine-sand beach. Low rocks and vegetation shape the margins, while the semiurban backdrop remains visible above the shore.

The view across the ria is the beach's strongest natural feature. Tambo Island sits almost directly ahead, with Marin and the Morrazo hills layered behind it. Small craft crossing this section of water add movement without making the cove feel like a harbour.

At low tide the strand widens and the rocky edges become more accessible. Higher water reduces the available space and brings the sea closer to the back of the beach. Ouriceira is best approached as a small, convenient cove for a few relaxed hours, with the scenery of the Ria de Pontevedra providing more scale than the sand itself.