The Cies Islands are just off the coast of Galicia, in the mouth of the Vigo river. These islands are loved by the tourists both in Spain and from around the world, as they are the perfect day trip destination. in fact, the island is so alluring that it has a cap of 1800 visitors a day – which is both good news and bad news for you, so it’s usually safest to book ahead.
Cies Islands have a lot to offer and this article will cover some of the must-sees.
All of these attractions can be found on our handy Cies Islands map that will help you better navigate the area during your visit and easily find them.
Visit the Vigo estuary
Vigo estuary is home to some of the most breathtaking sights. The place opens up to the view of the never ending ocean, together with multiple different beaches. Vigo estuary is also well known for its colourful atmosphere and great nightlife. One of the most popular towns there is Baiona, famous for being the place where discovery of America was announced to the world.
The Interpretation Center
This is a must visit for every tourist, as the Interpretation Center provides you with everything you need to know about the Cies Islands. They will guide you to the famous lighthouses and will advise you on which hiking trail to go for a relaxing walk in. Besides, the building itself is a unique visit, as they have an exhibition area with paintings, photographs, sculptures, sounds and many more.
Enjoy the beaches
If you’re looking for fantastic beaches to escape to, the Cies Islands would be the perfect choice. There are 2 main beaches on the islands: Beach of Rhodes and Figueiras.
Rhodes beach has a long stretch of pristine white sand, and is kept quiet because of the island’s 1800 per day visitor cap. It’s the largest beach on the Islands, being more than 1km in length and 60 meters wide.
Figueiras beach is situated further up north on the island, and is considerably smaller, being around 300 meters in length. Despite being smaller, this is often the quietest beach as it’s more hidden away. There are often boats around, but just behind the beach lies some stunning forestry. There are walking trails through the trees, which is up a hill from the beach, so the view downwards onto the beach can be stunning.
As you would expect, both beaches share the same, crystal clear waters. Both beaches are also on the East coast of the island, meaning that they point towards mainland Spain for some nice, distant views.
Try the Galician cuisine
Galicia is famous for their delicious traditional dishes and local products. Cies Islands are a great place to indulge yourself into Galician cuisine, as they have some great restaurants serving the local food.
For example, the Camping Islas Restaurant offers home-made Galician meals and is located in the center of Rhodas beach for easy access. Your dining experience will feel like paradise in front of the beautiful views the area has to offer. If you just want to grab a quick bite and carry on exploring the islands, Bocateria Begona serves delicious hot sandwiches for affordable prices. There are a variety of great restaurants to choose from in the Cies Islands, you will be able to find all of them in our Cies Island map.
Travel Safely, travel with Mar de Ons
At Naviera Mar de Ons, we have established a number of safety measures that should be kept while travelling on our boats. This is to make sure that our passengers and our equipment receive the highest standard of safety and comfort. Therefore, it is recommended that you consult us before travelling and we are happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Let’s all collaborate to enjoy this summer responsibly!
Once again, we want to thank everyone for following all the COVID – 19 recommendations and travelling with a mask. We also carry them!
Hope to see you soon on board!
