The fiestas of the Virgen de Latas take place in Loredo (Ribamontán al Mar) from 5 to 9 September 2026, with the main day on 8 September. They combine a maritime procession that crosses Santander Bay by boat, a solemn mass, a popular romería and an evening party around the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Latas.
Every 8 September, Loredo and Somo come together for their patron saint, Nuestra Señora de Latas, in a celebration that blends devotion with the atmosphere of a country romería, without losing the coastal character typical of the villages of Ribamontán al Mar. The programme kicks off several days earlier, but the moment that really sets it apart from other patron saint festivals in Cantabria is the maritime procession: the Virgin crosses Santander Bay by boat, over the same stretch of water that separates Somo from the city.
For anyone staying in Bareyo, this is a festival just a short drive away along the Trasmiera coast, and one worth planning ahead for, since the main day draws large crowds for the solemn mass, the romería and the evening fireworks. Falling in early September also means the summer crowds have already thinned out, while the coastal villages are still lively.
The Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Latas, between Somo and Loredo
The Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Latas, in the Latas neighbourhood of Loredo, is the religious heart of the entire municipality of Ribamontán al Mar and the starting point for much of the programme, as noted by the Ribamontán al Mar Town Council itself. During the festival days it hosts masses, novenas and visits from locals and devotees who come from Somo, Galizano and the other nearby villages, as well as curious visitors keen to see a shrine with centuries of Marian devotion on this stretch of coast. The rest of the year the sanctuary keeps a much quieter pace, with a reduced schedule of masses, which is why festival week is when it truly comes to life.
The maritime procession: the Virgin crosses the bay by boat
On the Sunday before the main day, the Virgin's image boards at the Somo chapel at 17:00, after a transfer that begins at 16:15, and crosses Santander Bay in a maritime procession joined by accompanying boats and onlookers on both shores. It's a tradition tied directly to the seafaring life of the area, and it turns the crossing into one of the most photographed moments of the whole festival week, especially at sunset, when the light falls fully across the bay.
The main day: solemn mass and romería
8 September starts early, with masses at 8:00 and 9:30, and at 10:45 the Virgin sets out in procession from the sanctuary to the well-known El Rumor roundabout, ahead of the solemn mass at 11:30. In the afternoon the mood changes completely: the popular romería, with music this year from the orquesta Takicardia, fills the area around the sanctuary with outdoor picnics, fancy-dress contests and families making the most of the day together.
Traditional sports, fireworks and the evening party: the festival goes on
Alongside the religious side, the programme includes children's games, exhibitions of Cantabrian bolos and other traditional sports, fireworks and an evening party with fairground stalls, in the same spirit as other patron saint festivals on the Trasmiera coast, like San Pedruco in Ajo, the one we celebrate in our own village. If you liked how that celebration feels in Bareyo, Loredo's has the same neighbourly spirit, with the maritime procession as its own signature touch.
What you need to know
- 2026 dates: 5 to 9 September, with the main day on 8 September.
- Maritime procession: the Sunday before the main day, boarding at the Somo chapel at 17:00 (transfer from 16:15).
- Main day: masses at 8:00 and 9:30, procession at 10:45 and solemn mass at 11:30, followed by the popular romería in the afternoon.
- Getting there from Bareyo: along the road that runs the Trasmiera coast to Loredo/Somo, just over half an hour.
- Parking: limited around the sanctuary on the busiest days; it's worth arriving early or parking in Somo and walking.
- Tip: if you're going with children or older relatives, the solemn mass and the midday romería are easier to manage than the afternoon maritime procession, when crowds build up along the shore.
"Watching the Virgin cross the bay by boat, with Santander in the background, is one of those sights you can only really understand from the shore."
Festivals like Loredo's are a good reminder that, right on Bareyo's doorstep, every village on the Trasmiera coast has its own way of celebrating the end of summer. We celebrate ours at San Pedruco, and we always recommend that guests staying at Bareyo Residences head to one of the nearby villages' festivals, because they're the best way to feel how life here goes all year round. At the villas, with availability already open for September 2027, that local rhythm is as much a part of the experience as the beach.
