Xunta visit permit for the Cíes

The Cíes form part of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park and have a limited number of visitors a day. To control this, at Easter and from 15 May to 15 September each person who disembarks needs a permit from the Xunta de Galicia. It is free, requested online at autorizacionillasatlanticas.xunta.gal and must be in your hands before you buy the boat ticket. Without it, the shipping company cannot sell you the passage on those dates.

How to request it, step by step

First you go to the Xunta website, choose the archipelago (Cíes or Ons) and the type of visitor: day visitors, campers or residents. You fill in the date and the details of each person travelling; the permit is personal. The website gives you a pre-booking code. With that code you buy the ticket from the shipping company, and once bought you receive the final permit, with a QR code per person, which is shown when boarding. The website also lets you download the permit again by searching by locator, and cancel it.

The deadlines matter. According to the shipping company Mar de Ons, the permit can be requested up to 90 days before the visit and cancelled up to 15 days before, with a maximum of 10 places per request. If there are more of you, you have to make several requests. In July and August the quota runs out weeks ahead: the company recommends booking at least 30 days ahead.

If you are camping or out of season

If you are going to sleep at the Camping Islas Cíes, the route is different: when you book the pitch or tent you receive the National Parks permit by email, and with it you buy the boat. Book boat and campsite at the same time, because camping places are also limited. Outside Easter and the 15 May to 15 September period nothing is requested on the Xunta website: the authorised shipping company arranges it when it sells you the ticket.

What the permit means on the island

The permit is also a commitment to the park's rules. Domestic animals are not admitted, except guide dogs. You may not light fires, leave litter, take shells or plants, or fly drones or kites without the park's express permission. Bicycles need prior authorisation and the paths are for walking only. Bring a bag to take your waste back on the boat.

Help

For queries, the Xunta answers on the 012 phone line Monday to Friday, from 8:00 to 20:00, and at [email protected]. For ticket changes, the information point at the Vigo Maritime Station is open every day. With everything in order, the classic plan is Rodas beach and the climb to Monte Faro.