Vigo Maritime Station

The Vigo Maritime Station is at calle Cánovas del Castillo 26, right in the centre, between the port and the old town. It is the port from which Naviera Mar de Ons sails to the Cíes with the most departures, and also the one for its regular line to Cangas, which runs 365 days a year. If you go to the islands without a car, you arrive here on foot from almost any hotel in central Vigo; if you go by car, there is paid parking next door.

Tickets, fares and information point

Mar de Ons has an information and sales point at the station open every day from 9:00 to 21:00, with phone +34 986 225 272 and email [email protected]. There you collect a ticket bought online and sort out changes. The company publishes for the Vigo – Cíes journey a return fare of €27.50 per adult and €12 per child aged 5 to 12; under-5s travel free. There is a 20% discount for passengers with a disability of 33% or more and one companion, with prior booking, and if the outward and return trips are from different ports a supplement of €3 to €9 per person is charged. The company itself warns that the calendar and timetables may change, so check the day's departure times on its website before going.

Before buying: the permit

At Easter and from 15 May to 15 September a ticket is not enough. You must first request the free Xunta visit permit, and with it you buy the passage. It can be requested up to 90 days ahead, with a maximum of 10 places per request, and cancelled up to 15 days before the visit. In summer the islands fill up: Mar de Ons recommends booking at least 30 days ahead. Outside those dates, the company arranges the permit when it sells you the ticket.

The day of departure

Collect your ticket at the information point up to 30 minutes before departure and join the boarding queue 15 minutes before, with your ID to hand: the permit is in each traveller's name. The company has a map of the boarding area on its website. On the Cíes you cannot bring domestic animals, except guide dogs, or bicycles without the park's prior authorisation, so leave them on land. Bring water, food or money for the campsite restaurant, and a bag to bring your rubbish back: you cannot leave any waste in the park.

Parking and getting there

If you arrive by car, the covered Ribeira do Berbés car park, paid and open 24 hours, is beside the port, a few minutes' walk from the station. For a day trip expect to leave the car from first thing until the last return. While you wait for the boat, the old town is just above.

Once on the island, the usual thing is to disembark at the Rodas jetty and choose between Rodas beach and the Monte Faro route. All the information on the crossing is on the boat to the Cíes page.