In Galicia, precisely in the province of La Coruña, there is a coastal region called Costa da Morte, which has impressive natural landscapes and quite interesting backgrounds for adventure lovers. Additionally, there is a route of the shipwrecks in Costa da Morte in which you can personally experience the imposing sea that caused several shipwrecks in the past and learn about its history.
If you want to know why this region is called that way and know a route that will tell you more about its history, you can stay with us to find out.
Why is it called Costa da Morte?
The name Costa da Morte can instill a bit of fear, but it really has a rather sad story that took place between Camariñas and Camelle, and it deserves to be known by every visitor who wants to do this route.
In 1890 one of the greatest tragedies of the place occurred in which an English ship called "Serpent" sank, due to the uncontrollable Galician sea, going blindly with a speed greater than 9 knots and hitting Punta do Boi. In this accident, 3 of 175 crew members could be saved, only 142 sailors were found and they were buried in what is now known as “Dos Ingleses Cemetery”.
Like the Serpent in 1890, 70 vessels have been wrecked in the last 130 years, but there may have been hundreds more small craft in the past that are unknown. This is why many people want to show their respect by doing the route of the shipwrecks, and honor all the sailors who lost their lives.
Stages of this route
The route of the shipwrecks starts from Camariñas to Camelle, and you can enjoy the outdoors while you see the imposing Atlantic sea breaking its waves with the Costa da Morte. It is important that you prepare well for this route, because even though it is less than 30 km away, anything could happen on the way. When starting the route in Camariñas, after having enjoyed a bit of the culture of this town, the first objective is to reach the Cabo Vilan Lighthouse to admire its structure and find out the history of this Lighthouse, which was the first to function with electric light. Then, follow the route along the coast until you reach Punta do Boi, witness the Galician sea with which the crew of the Serpent confronted and visit the Cementerio dos Ingleses. At the end of paying tribute to all the Serpent navigators, you must continue along the route to the church of Santa Mariña and end in the city of Camelle. It is important to remember that Galicia is famous for its humid climate and its sudden rains, so you must prepare well for any weather situation to enjoy this route to the fullest. The story was not only made to read it, but to experience it and discover it from the origin. The route of the shipwrecks in Costa da Morte shows another side of the stories that are not just written words, in addition to the fact that the environment that is perceived along the coast instills respect and admiration for the sea and for nature.
ROUTE OF THE SHIPWRECKS
At the end of the route in Camelle, we recommend a visit to the MUSEUM OF MAN, in honor of an anchorite from Germany, who died in 2002, on the occasion of the PRESTIGE; He has lived in a humble hut on the edge of the cliffs for more than 50 years, without electricity or water.
