Islas Cíes

The Islas Cíes form the outer arc of the Ría de Vigo on the Pontevedra coast, and are part of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park alongside the Ons archipelago, the Sálvora islands and Cortegada. The Cíes group consists of three main islands: Monteagudo (the northernmost), San Martiño (the southernmost) and Faro, which is the most visited as it holds the campsite, Playa de Rodas and the main trails. The three islands together cover around 435 hectares of land and are visually connected by the sand tombolo that forms Playa de Rodas on the sheltered inner side of the ría. The beach is 1.2 kilometres long, with fine quartz sand and waters that reach 18-20 °C in summer inside the lagoon formed between Faro and Monteagudo.

Access is regulated: the islands receive a maximum of approximately 1,800 visitors per day between April and October, managed through a pre-authorisation system at the National Park. The ferry departs from Vigo harbour (45 minutes) and from Baiona and Cangas in high season. There is only one accommodation option on the islands: the Rodas campsite, with around 800 pitches that sell out months in advance in July and August. Those who stay overnight can walk the trails at sunrise, when the colonies of yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis) and shags (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) are still active on the cliff sections and before the day visitors arrive.

The trail network on Faro island covers around 20 kilometres in total. The Faro trail (3 km, 200 m ascent) climbs to the Cíes lighthouse (177 m) and the Monte Faro viewpoint, which overlooks the Ría de Vigo, the coast as far as Cabo Home and, on clear days, the Portuguese coast to the south. The Playa de Nosa Señora trail (2.5 km) leads to the exposed Atlantic coast of the island, with 50-80 metre cliffs and the open-ocean swell. The dunes, inner lagoon and salt meadows between Rodas and the campsite host characteristic flora such as the sea daffodil (Pancratium maritimum) and sea thrift (Armeria maritima).

The seabed around the Cíes is one of the reasons the archipelago was declared a National Park. The seagrass meadow (Zostera marina) covering the Rodas lagoon floor is a nursery habitat for several fish species, and the rocky reefs on the Atlantic side harbour lobster, octopus, spider crab and a variety of reef fish. Snorkelling is common in the sheltered coves on the inner side; scuba diving requires National Park authorisation. Outside the islands, sea kayak and paddleboard operators on the Ría de Vigo allow visitors to approach the islands without entering the terrestrial visitor quota.