Cíes Islands, the Romans’ “Islands of the Gods”

Por Wikipedia

Por Namiac

By Namiac

The Cíes Islands, called by the Romans the “Islands of the Gods”, form an Atlantic paradise at the mouth of the Vigo estuary in Galicia’s Rías Baixas. This archipelago of three islands—Monteagudo (North), Faro (Middle) and San Martín (South)—is joined by the sandy Isthmus of Rodas and protected as a Natural Park since 1980, part of the Atlantic Islands National Park.

Visiting the islands

You can explore the Cíes by:

Day-trip boat from Vigo (online booking; daily limit 2,200 visitors).
Private yacht rental to discover secluded coves at your leisure.
Camping at the official campground, with basic facilities and a mini-market.

Beaches

Rodas Beach: 1,200 m of white sand, named “world’s best beach” by The Guardian (2007), linking Monteagudo and Faro.
Figueiras Beach: wide bay nicknamed “Beach of the Germans”, perfect for nudism and tranquility.
San Martín Beach: pristine and remote, accessible only by private boat from the south island.
Other coves: Gramela, Canexol, Monte Agudo and Nosa Señora.

Hiking trails

Cíes offers four marked routes:

Monte Faro: 7 km round-trip, 1½ h; panoramic views of the estuary and ocean.
Faro da Porta: short trail to the estuary entrance viewpoint.
Faro do Peito: intermediate route through pine forests and rocky outlooks.
Alto do Príncipe: gentle ascent to a 360° viewpoint over the islands.

Discover this natural refuge: feel the Atlantic breeze, wander pristine beaches and hike trails where time stands still among cliffs and maritime pines.