During the High Middle Ages caravels were built in the port. The area does not draw many tourists; the regional economy continues to depend on fishing and on an aluminium plant owned by Alcoa.
The nearby peninsula has fine sand beaches. It is generally undeveloped and receives strong north-easterly winds throughout the winter, which makes the comarca or administrative unit of la Mariña Lucense, like much of the Asturian and Basque coast, excellent for surfing and water sports.
Part of the town of San Cibrao lies on the "Peace Peninsula" (Peninsula de la Paz) which is surrounded by the Cantabrian Sea, whose waters in this area typically reach a high summer temperature of 18 °C; there are five beaches in the area.
As of 2004[update], neither the shellfish and fish populations, nor any seafood related industries seems to be still affected in any way by the contamination from the Prestige oil spill
The fiesta of A Maruxaina is celebrated on the second Saturday of August. It is related to a popular legend about a siren who lives on some small islands, Os farallons, near San Cibrao. This festival has been distinguished by the National Centers of Cultural Interest. Most of the townspeople dress on this day as Maruxainos, that is, in costumes that resemble the dress of days past. Ritually, at noon, the mariners bring the siren from the islands onto shore, were in front of the museum they create a mock-trial to judge the Maruxaina on whether she is good or bad. After this the townsfolk serve a potent brew of "Queimada".
