The Cíes Islands are a hidden treasure. 45 minutes by boat from the bustling city of Vigo, in the northwest of Galicia, (Spain), are the Cíes Islands, a paradisiacal destination with unspoiled beaches and steep cliffs, a network of quiet hiking trails and an impressive coastline. When you arrive, you will be so impressed by the expanse of water filled with shades of green and blue that for a moment you will think that you have gone to the wrong place and have ended up in the Caribbean.
Island of the Gods
The Cíes Islands are an archipelago of three small islands: Monteagudo, Faro and San Martino . In the past, at the time of the Roman Empire, they were called the “Islands of the Gods”, although now the locals know them as the “Galician Caribbean”. Although no one lives there today, there are remnants of a Bronze Age settlement and throughout the centuries the islands were inhabited by Celts, Romans and various orders of monks, not to mention the pirates who took refuge. in them.
Monteagudo and Faro are linked by a stretch of sand known as Playa Rodas . On one side, the mountainous landscape stands out with several 100 m high cliffs and numerous caves; to the other, the coast is covered by trees and shrubs, which makes it possible to enjoy the beaches and the dunes at the same time. Without a doubt, this natural beauty is worth exploring
Rodas , which stretches for about 1,300 meters between the two islands, is the longest beach in the Cíes archipelago and the most beautiful . The boats that bring visitors from the Rías Baixas in summer dock at the jetty at one end, and tourists flop onto the soft sand.
On the same road that leads to the north of the island of Monteagudo there are two areas with sandbanks: the beaches of Cantareira , the only place that has pebbles instead of fine sand, and the beach of Margaridas.
On the island of Faro there are two more beaches apart from Rodas, a little further away: the first is Bolos beach and the second is Nuestra Señora beach. Opposite the latter is the beach of San Martino , on the island that bears the same name. As this island can only be reached by private boat, the virgin beach – big and beautiful – is a true paradise.
How to get to the Cíes Islands?
Visitors are limited to 2,200 per day: there are no hotels, just a campground, and a couple of basic restaurants. There are no bicycles, much less cars. This forces visitors to have to access them through the standard Cíes transport: a ferry-type boat that can be taken from Vigo, Baiona, Portonovo or Sanxenxo, and that transfers tourists to the port of the aforementioned beach. of Rhodes .
Transportation is quite cheap (€ 18.50 for adults and € 6 for children) and tickets can be purchased at the Vigo maritime station. However, it is recommended to book in advance especially in July and August, since the influx of visitors is quite high.
But, if you are looking to enjoy a more interesting trip, you can rent your own private boat, although you must obtain authorization to be able to dock on the islands before starting the trip. Get authorization to anchor before heading to the Cíes Islands. Furthermore, the private boat is the only option available to visit the island of San Martiño, where conventional ferries do not arrive.
Hiking in the Cíes Islands
Since 2002, the Cíes are part of the National Park of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia , which means that the land and the surrounding sea are highly protected: 86% of the park is under water. But, despite not being an excessively wide expanse of land, they are not so small that you cannot enjoy a good walk around them: in fact, they are quite popular with hikers and bird watchers, especially in the fall. A single day will not be enough to get to know the beautiful landscapes of the area. Therefore, there are several hiking trails that guide you along the most prominent points of interest.
There are four main natural routes that are well marked: the Monte Faro route, the Faro da Porta route, the Faro do Peito route and the Alto do Príncipe route. The trails curve uphill, flanked by sycamores, holly trees, and scented acacias. While walking you can breathe in the delicate smell of honeysuckle. But beware: as it is a national park, you are not allowed to collect anything, not even keep seashells from the beach as souvenirs.
The Route of Mount Faro
The first of the routes, that of Monte Faro, is the most popular and the one that tourists travel the most. It starts at the information booth and passes behind the beach of Rodas, then crosses to the island of Faro through a dam in a spectacular lagoon, Lagoa dos Nenos , which is full of fish and seaweed. After leaving this section and reaching another intersection, an ascent begins on the right side that leads to the main lighthouse on the island. During the ascent, the island of San Martiño offers one of its most splendid panoramic views.
Halfway up there is a turn to the right where you reach Pedra da Campá, a curious rock crossed by the winds of the salty ocean and the bird observatory. In addition to the abundant presence of seagulls, the Cíes have an important colony of cormorants. After almost an hour of meandering ascent, you will reach the spectacular panoramic view from Monte Faro. Don’t forget your sunglasses: the sun is strong and the trees disappear from a certain height.
Plan your visit in advance
Since the Natural Park has a daily limit of people who can visit the islands, as we have already mentioned, the summer season can be a bit difficult to book your trip or to obtain authorization to navigate there.
But if you do not plan to visit it in summer, keep in mind that the regular boats do not operate throughout the year. The boats leave daily from June to September -with cheaper tickets and other offers- and some weekends in May, Easter and other important holidays when the weather is good. That said, if you do not receive the tickets for the desired date, try again the same day at the ticket counter in Vigo. They get cancellations from time to time and it could be your lucky day. On the other hand, if you want to sleep at the campsite -the only option on the Islands-, you must book in advance.
Things you should take to the Cíes Islands
The basic things you should take with you are towels, flip flops, sunscreen, cash, the ferry ticket, etc. But there are some extras that you should not forget:
- Boots or walking shoes: There are not only beaches in the Cíes Islands. Unless you are planning to sunbathe all day, something you can do elsewhere in the Rías Baixas, you will need appropriate shoes to tour the islands, see the birds and climb the lighthouse.
- Food and water: Although there are some places to buy drinks and food near the pier on the beaches of Rhodes and at the Camping, you will see that the prices are high and there are not many options. We recommend that you bring some food and water, especially if you plan to go to Figueras beach or visit the cliffs. Also, restaurants and bars are closed in low season.
Keep these rules in mind if you visit the Cíes Islands
In addition to the daily limit of visits, there are a series of restrictions that are established to protect the environment of the Cíes Islands Natural Park:
- Do not bring pets: the fauna and flora cannot be interrupted, so it is forbidden to introduce pets with the exception of guide dogs.
- If you want to sleep there, there is a campsite with small bungalows and tents that you can rent (or bring your own).
- Collect the garbage you generate : You will have to take all the garbage with you when you leave the islands since there are no garbage containers, so do not leave your things behind.
