The largest reservoir in Galicia, the Embalse de Belesar is what you see first from Chantada — a long, winding lake that fills the steep gorge of the Miño river. The terraced vineyards of the Ribeira Sacra DO climb the banks at angles that defy logic, the descendants of vineyards first planted by Romans and tended through the Middle Ages by monks.
A catamaran service from Belesar runs down the river to O Peares when water levels allow — three or four hours each way, and the only easy way to see the steepest of the vineyards from below. Reserve in advance with the local tourism office. The reservoir is also good for kayaking and swimming on summer days, with several quiet inlets accessible from minor roads.