about me

Galician by birth and by heart

My name is Sonia, and I’m the one responsible for This is Galicia coming to life in 2024, after a long time just swirling around in my head.

I’m Galician by birth and by heart, and very proud of our rural entity. I was born in Vigo, the most populated city in Galicia, although in a parish on the outskirts, surrounded by animals and nature, and I’ve always felt a tremendous urge to explore everything else. I’ve been fortunate to have lived in other countries, to have traveled a lot (although it’s never too much!), and my place was far from my homeland for a long time.

However, life takes many turns, and my turns always ended up here, at home. So, in my late thirties, I decided to buy a house in Tomiño, very close to Portugal, and turn it into my home. After living in huge cities like London, or in densely populated countries like China, I’ve come to a village of a few thousand inhabitants, surrounded by more animals than people, and much more green woods than gray buildings.

And why? Well, because I’ve always been restless, but life now asks me for calm, for mountains, for woods and water… and we have plenty of that in Baixo Miño. So much so, that I want to share it with the world, and that’s why This is Galicia was born.”

I want you to come, and I know you’ll want to come back

Although my university studies are related to languages, and that was my main occupation for a couple of decades, I’ve always had a wandering soul, and I decided to bet on what had always been my plan B: tourism.

I trained and obtained my license as an Official Tour Guide in Galicia, Official Guide of the Atlantic Islands Maritime-Terrestrial National Park of Galicia, and then as a Travel Agent and Event Organizer, and I have been working in this sector since 2013.

I started by designing itineraries and accompanying groups to discover London, a city that excites me and where I have spent a lot of time. But I have always been convinced that Galicia is beaches, islands, the Camino de Santiago, but also much more. I don’t want those who visit this area to miss out on all that we have to offer them: culture, intangible and natural heritage, gastronomy, wellness, adventure, wine, and much more.

see my proposals

Baixo Miño Region

This is the place where the Miño River finally meets the sea, offering mountain routes where you can see endless rows of still-functioning windmills. Here, artisans work, continuing to mold with their hands the natural fibers of our fields, the wood from our woods, and the clay from our soils. We preserve manor houseswith years of history that have welcomed the lives of many generations, whose stories are still written on those same stone walls for you to discover. Mountains, valleys, rivers, and also beaches. The magic of living in a community between two countries, separated only by a few litres of water.

Whatever your way of traveling, Baixo Miño has a lot to offer, and I want to help you know how to get here, where to start, what to see, what to do, and how to make it special and unforgettable.

let´s talk!

There are no two identical travellers, nor two identical journeys

I believe that travelling is living, discovering, learning, sharing, and respecting, and based on that foundation, I create my journeys. The people of each place, their customs, traditions, gastronomy… all of that also shapes a destination, and my travels are imbued with all of it to offer you a unique experience. Respect for the environment, the people who inhabit each place, and their cultures is the basis of my way of traveling and designing trips.

Every traveller has a way of feeling, enjoying, and experiencing a destination. That’s why I believe that no two travelers are alike, nor are two trips identical. I don’t believe in traditional tourist packages that offer the same thing to everyone because not everyone likes the same things, not everyone has the same amount of time or economic resources. At This is Galicia, I create exclusive journeys. And they are truly exclusive because they are designed only for you, so that you can enjoy them, live them, and remember them. At your own pace, just the way you want.

Because it’s my home. Would you like me to show it to you?

At This is Galicia, my specialty is the area of O Baixo Miño and Rías Baixas, because it’s the area where I live, and I’ve been showing it to visitors for years. However, I design all your trips to Galicia, so you can get to know my land, the one that, after many kilometres with a passport full of stamps in hand, still makes me want to stay.

let´s talk