The Atlantic Islands offer incomparable landscapes and are home to an important biodiversity both on land and in the sea. Discover the beaches, cliffs, lighthouses and trails of this protected natural space that attracts visitors from all over the world to the province of Pontevedra.
Situated in the Ría de Vigo, the islands of Monteagudo, Faro, - connected by the stunning Rodas Beach and a stone bridge -, and San Martiño make up the Cíes archipelago, almost unspoilt. To protect the environment, access to visitors is limited to 1,800 per day.
In this idyllic paradise, visitors will find crystal-clear intense turquoise waters, and beaches and coves with incredibly fine white sand. In fact, the Rodas Beach was chosen as the best in the world by The Guardian newspaper. If you walk along the walkway connecting both islands, you will be able to feel how the waves break into the eastern side of the archipelago, which is steeper. Between the protected sand dunes and the bridge there is a lagoon known as Lagoa dos Nenos. Access permit.
In Monteagudo you find the Area da Cantareira beach, and the nude beach of Figueiras; and in Faro, the Nosa Señora, a clear water beach which offers stunning views over the San Martiño Island. These islands are perfect for scuba diving for its rich seabed.
None of these islands is inhabited, allowing their natural beauty to be preserved intact and protected. However, if you decide to stay at the full service campsite, it is possible to wake up and admire the sunrise among the pine woods.
Hiking along the routes available is also a good idea to discover the islands. If you take one of these routes, you will have the opportunity to admire steep cliffs and monumental lighthouses, which offer stunning views. The lighthouse located to the north of the island of Monteagudo, Faro do Peito, offers magnificent views of the Ría de Vigo; Cabo Home, in Cangas; and a sea cave known as Furna de Monteagudo. Nearby, there is one of the bird observatories of this natural park.
Further south on this island is the Alto do Príncipe, a magical place with amazing views in which erosion has left its mark on the rocks forming a kind of bowl and a throne with breathtaking views of the cliffs and the sea. On the Faro Island, on the south, we find the lighthouses of A Porta and Cíes, at almost 180 metres above sea level, offering stunning views of the cliffs and the San Martiño Island, which can only be accessed by private boat.
The islands are the habitat of an extraordinary colony of seabirds, making them ideal for bird watching.
Area: 3,091 hectares (433 terrestrial and 2,658 marine)
Access permit
Access to the Natural Park of the Atlantic Islands has been restricted, with the aim of preserving this natural environment. The authorization to access the islands is free and to obtain it, it is necessary to fill in a form ( https://autorizacionillasatlanticas.xunta.gal/illasr/inicio ). Once authorisation has been granted, visitors can book their boat tickets to Cíes Islands.
How to get?
The only way to reach the Cíes Islands is by boat. There are different shipping companies departing from several ports in As Rías Baixas. From the ports of Vigo, Cangas, Baiona and O Grove, there are ferries departing to the Cíes Islands, whereas the ports of Sanxenxo, Portonovo, Bueu and Vilanova de Arousa offer boat tours to Ons.
Shipping companies
