Camping Islas Cíes Restaurant
What to order: pulpo á feira or in caldeirada, and grilled fish from the estuary; for something quick, the self-service
Opens in the campsite's season; no bookings, except groups of more than 20
geocalia
Day itinerary · 42.22° N · 8.90° W
An early boat, the Cíes lighthouse and the afternoon on the sands of Rodas.
Permit and boat from Vigo, a climb to the Cíes lighthouse in the morning, lunch at the campsite and the afternoon on Rodas beach before the last boat.
Leaving from
Part of Cíes IslandsStarry skies in Spain
Add to my trip
Total time10 h
By car30 min each way
BoatReturn from €27.50
On foot7 km, 175 m of ascent
DifficultyMedium
PermitEaster and 15 May – 15 Sept
DogsNot admitted
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Pontevedra 30 min by car
to the Vigo Maritime Station; paid parking at Ribeira do Berbés
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1
Boat to the Cíes Islands from Vigo, Cangas or Baiona
Mar de Ons · €27.50 return · Xunta authorisation and ticket beforehand
+34 986 225 272
- 1 h 30 on foot
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2
Monte Faro route, to the Cíes lighthouse
3.5 km uphill from the pier; back the same way
- 1 h 30 on foot
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3
Camping Islas Cíes Restaurant
self-service or table · no booking · 13:00 to 16:00
Camping Islas Cíes, isla do Faro, Vigo · +34 986 687 504
Restaurant €€Book - 10 min on foot
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4
Rodas beach
swim in cold, clear water
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Back home 45 min by boat
last boat of the afternoon to Vigo; in Pontevedra around 20:00
Approximate cost
About €50–65 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Boat to the Cíes Islands from Vigo, Cangas or Baiona
The Cíes can be done well in a day if you get organised beforehand: permit, ticket and first boat. That way you climb to the lighthouse in the cool, eat on the island and leave the whole afternoon for Rodas.
Before you set off
From 15 May to 15 September, first apply for the free Xunta permit at autorizacionillasatlanticas.xunta.gal and, with the code, buy the boat on Mar de Ons. In summer, a month ahead. Outside those dates the shipping company handles it when it sells you the ticket, but the campsite restaurant is closed.
The day, hour by hour
8:00 · Set off. From Pontevedra, half an hour to the port of Vigo; from Santiago, an hour. Collect your ticket up to 30 minutes beforehand.
9:00 · Boat. From the Estación Marítima. Join the queue 15 minutes early, with your ID.
10:15 · Monte Faro route. From the jetty you cross Rodas and climb by track to the Cíes lighthouse: 3.5 km and an hour and a half each way, 175 m of ascent. At the top, the west cliff and the whole estuary.
13:30 · Lunch at the campsite. The island's only large restaurant: octopus, fish from the estuary or quick self-service. No bookings.
15:30 · Rodas beach. An afternoon of sand and swimming. Remember there are no bins: your rubbish goes back with you.
18:30 · Head home. Confirm the time of the last boat when you buy your ticket.
Change the route
With children: the Porta lighthouse, one hour each way with almost no climb:
Faro da Porta route
If you are short of time: the Alto do Príncipe, 1.7 km from the pier:
Alto do Príncipe and the Queen's Chair
From age 12: guided kayak at 12:00, instead of the lighthouse:
Guided sea kayak route around the Cíes
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
© ParadoresEnxebre A Pinta, at the Parador de Baiona
What to order: zamburiñas á grella, pulpo á feira and bakery empanada, to share
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Cíes Islands
From 15 May to 15 September, with daily boats and the campsite restaurant open. June and September, with fewer people. On those dates you need the Xunta permit beforehand.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Permit first
Without the Xunta code you cannot buy the boat in high season.
- 2Water and something to eat
There are no fountains on the routes.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much does the day cost?
Boat, €27.50; permit, free; lunch at the campsite, €20 to €35.
Can you go with a dog?
No: the National Park does not admit domestic animals, except guide dogs.
What if the weather is bad?
The shipping companies cancel in rough seas. Check the forecast the day before.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/spain/galicia/cies-islands/itineraries/day-from-vigo-lighthouse-and-rodas
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.