Your ultimate travel guide to the Cíes Islands. Nestled along the coast of Galicia, Spain, lies a hidden gem awaiting discovery by adventurous travelers: the enchanting Cíes Islands. Renowned for their stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and untouched natural landscapes, the Cíes Islands are a piece of paradise for nature lovers. This guide will guide through everything you need to know to visit this beautiful destination!
There are a few conditions for visiting the islands, but you’ll find out all about them in this guide!
Where are the Cíes Islands?
The Cíes Islands are off the coast of Galicia, near Vigo, so they’re the ideal day trip if you’re visiting this region. They are famous for their paradisiacal beaches with crystal-clear waters and for the richness of their fauna and flora. The islands of O Faro and Monteagudo are connected by a sandy beach, which is crossed by a path that facilitates passage. The island of San Martiño, on the other hand, is little visited and its main visitors are those arriving by private boat.
The archipelago has no permanent residents (with the exception of the surveillance team) and can receive a maximum of 1800 visitors a day.
When is the best time to visit the Cíes Islands?
You’ll have the best experience visiting the islands during the summer (June-September), because the weather will be sunnier and more suitable for bathing, with the water temperature at around 18ºC (remember that the islands are in the north of Spain, where the waters are colder, so the peak heat will be in July and August). In addition, there is only daily transportation to the Cíes in summer. In May and October it is possible to visit at the weekend, as well as the week before Easter.
How to get to the Cíes Islands?
You can reach the islands by private boat (for which you need to ask for a special permit for the boat), or by public boat, the option most people choose because it’s practical and cheaper.
To visit the Cíes Islands you need a permit – free of charge – from the Xunta de Galicia, which serves to ensure that the islands do not exceed the limit number of visitors per day. This permit can be requested via the official website, starting 90 days before the date on which you plan to visit the islands.
When you receive the permit by email, you only have 2 HOURS to buy the boat tickets, otherwise the permit will be invalid and you will have to request another one. At this point you will be asked for the code corresponding to your permit.
The shipping companies you can book your trip with can also be found on the Xunta de Galicia website: Mar de Ons, Cruceros Rías Baixas and Nabia Naviera. Most departures are from Vigo, but there is also the possibility of departing from Baiona, Cangas, and occasionally Sanxenxo and Portonovo. It’s not possible to visit the islands all year round, there are more trips available in the summer, at Easter and on certain weekends when the weather is good. Summer tickets sell out quickly, so plan your visit as far in advance as possible.
Each return ticket costs between €22 and €25 for adults, between €10 and €12 for children aged 3 to 12 and is free for children under 3. The trip takes about 45 minutes from Vigo.
Where to stay in the Cíes Islands?
There is no accommodation on the Cíes Islands, so for a one-day visit you could stay in Vigo.
Cíes Islands Camping
If you want to enjoy the islands for longer, you can stay at the campsite on the island of O Faro and experience the place much more calmly. The minimum stay is 2 days and the maximum stay is 15 days, with a limit of 600 people per day. If you stay overnight on the island, the park will issue you with a permit when you book, which you will then use to book your boat ticket.
You can bring your own tent or book one from the campsite. The park has toilets and a social area. This is where you can charge your electronic devices, as there is no light in the rest of the park.
You can check the prices here.
Where to eat in the Cíes Islands?
As you might expect, the preservation of this natural destination means that there are few restaurants, longer waiting times and high prices. There is only Restaurante Rodas, Restaurante Tapería Illas Cíes, Bar Restaurante Serafín and Bocadillo Begoña. You can also find a small supermarket.
What to take to the Cíes Islands?
If you need to buy something in the Cíes Islands, such as food or sunscreen, there are few options and it can be expensive. That’s why it’s best to take some food and water with you.
Sunscreen and a hat are also essential for a good day at the beach – remember that we’re in a nature reserve with no infrastructure to provide shade (apart from the trees, of course), so you’ll be exposed to the sun for a long time.
If you plan to swim in the sea, bring your towel, swimsuit and flip-flops. I advise snorkeling enthusiasts to bring their equipment because there are incredible areas to see marine life!
Bring comfortable clothes and shoes for walking. Some of the trails are worth doing and there are some very demanding parts. A comfortable backpack is also a bonus (I took a beach bag to carry on my shoulder and it didn’t work at all for walking :/ ).
Finally: a garbage bag! There are no garbage cans on the Cíes Islands. Every visitor is expected to take their garbage back with them, otherwise fines will be imposed.
What to do on the day of your visit
Arrive at the port of Vigo in advance, as you’ll have to collect your ticket from the ticket office half an hour before the trip. Then just wait in line and get on the boat! The boat has plenty of seats, but the earlier you arrive, the more likely you are to get a window seat and enjoy the view of the islands. You can always go out on deck to get some air and get a better view.
To return to Vigo, make sure to be near the boat around 15 minutes before the departure hour. Lines are long and if you lose your boat you need to buy another ticket.
What to do in the Cíes Islands?
Relaxing at the beach
There are several beaches you can enjoy in the Cíes Islands:
- Rodas Beach (the largest and best known; also the most crowded)
- Figueiras Beach
- Cantareira Beach
- Nosa Señora Beach
- Areiña Beach
My favorite was Figueiras Beach, great for snorkeling and less crowded than Rodas Beach!
Hiking
The Cíes Islands have several hiking trails that you can take to access incredible viewpoints!
- Monte O Faro route
- A Porta Lighthouse Route
- Alto do Príncipe route
- Monteagudo Route
Birdwatching
Along the different trails there are several observatories for those curious about birds.
Snorkeling and kayaking
The crystal-clear waters make this archipelago ideal for water activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving and kayaking. If you have your own snorkeling equipment, you can take it with you to the island. If you prefer to be accompanied, the campsite organizes snorkeling (2-3h, 30€) and kayaking (2h, 30€) tours. Buceo Islas Cíes also offers diving baptisms on the islands (4h, 85€).
Stargazing
Those who spend the night on the Cíes Islands have a unique opportunity to observe the starry sky. The absence of light pollution makes this an ideal place for stargazing! This is one of the activities that is also organized by the campsite (8€).
I hope this article “Your Ultimate Travel Guide to the Cíes Islands” helped you plan your trip to Islas Cíes Leave your opinion in the comments and follow me on social networks so you don’t miss my next trips. Use #travelplannerholic to get noticed.
With Love,
Catarina Vieira
Would you like to save this article? Hover the image to pin it!
