Complete hiking route around the Cíes Islands

Planning a hiking route around the Cíes Islands?

Here's all the practical info you need to make the absolute most of your visit:

Technical details

• Difficulty: easy.
• Distance: 17.4 km (round trip).
• Elevation gain:  578 m.
• Hiking time: 4.5 hours moving time (6.5 hours including stops).
• Start: pier next to Rodas Beach.
• Finish: pier next to Rodas Beach.
• Date completed (photos): September 2019.

Exploring the Cíes Islands inside out, step by step

Even though we could have left the car at the cottage in Cangas where we were staying, we decided to drive closer to the pier…

Big mistake!

It didn't matter that it was a regular September weekday; free parking spots were nowhere to be found.

So after a lot of stress, nerves, and an early-morning dash with our breakfast half-eaten, we miraculously made it onto the boat just in time. 😉

Thank goodness we had already booked our tickets…

Top tip? Try to arrive 15 minutes before departure time.

Ferry to the Cíes Islands

The journey from Cangas to the Cíes Islands takes about 1 hour because the ferry stops in Vigo to pick up (or drop off) passengers.

Weather permitting, grab a seat on the top deck to enjoy the views and, if you're lucky, spot some dolphins coming into the estuary to feed.

4 hiking trails in 1

There are 4 main hiking trails you can explore on the Cíes Islands.

• O Faro da Porta:
  • 5.2 km round trip
  • 1 h 45 min
  • Easy difficulty
• Monte Faro:
  • 7.2 km round trip
  • 2 h 30 min
  • Moderate difficulty
• O Monteagudo:
  • 5.6 km round trip
  • 1 h 45 min
  • Easy difficulty
• Alto do Príncipe:
  • 3 km round trip
  • 1 hr 15 min
  • Easy difficulty

The ideal option? Do them all by combining them into a single route.

Here’s our itinerary:

1. Faro da Porta

We start by heading towards Faro da Porta, which offers gorgeous views of the South Island and San Martiño beach.

Along the way, you can also catch a glimpse of the Cíes Lighthouse (in our case, trapped among low-hanging clouds).

2. Cíes Lighthouse

There is a sloped path that cuts down the distance between both routes.

You can't miss it—it'll be right behind you when you stop at the viewpoint just before reaching Faro da Porta.

Thanks to that path, getting to the Cíes Lighthouse will take way less effort (though no one can save you from the zig-zag climb up to the base of the lighthouse!).

This stretch is a bit demanding, but you can take as many breaks as you need, and honestly, the views of the cliffs battling the Atlantic on the west side of the island are priceless.

Cheesy?

Yeah, I thought so too. But it's true, even with the fog. 🙂

3. Pedra da Campa

On the way back to the North Island, you'll find a short detour to Pedra da Campa, a great spot for spotting seabirds.

Then continue on the path back to the campsite (take advantage of the restroom break and drinking fountain), the Dos Nenos Lagoon, and the artificial walkway connecting both islands.

4. Faro do Peito

In our case, we decided that the next stop would be Faro do Peito because the trail looked, at first glance, like it had more shade than the alternative.

However, feel free to switch the order around (at the end of the day, the amount of tree cover is pretty much the same).

This lighthouse offers great views of the Vela Coast and Cabo do Home.

5. Alto do Príncipe and Silla de la Reina

On your way back, you can take a detour to the famous Silla de la Reina (Queen's Chair), a massive rock hollowed out by the wind that offers spectacular views of the Middle Island.

Hands down, my favorite viewpoint of the whole hike.

6. Figueiras Beach

When you start through the North Island, it's impossible not to notice Figueiras Beach.

Especially if it's hot and the sun is shining. 😉

So, if you have time, I highly recommend making a stop there on your way back—at the very least to cool off your feet with a stroll along the shore.

What a stunner!

Returning by ferry

Our ferry back was leaving at 7:00 PM, so we took the chance to grab a quick snack at the bar in front of the pier while we waited.

Watch out: protect your food from seagull attacks. They are dying to snatch it right out of your hands.

I'm totally serious…

If you want to grab dinner right after getting off the boat in Cangas, I recommend Tapería O Pelao. Arriving shortly after 8:00 PM, you'll find a table, and it's well worth it.

Wikiloc Itinerary

Want to follow this route on Wikiloc?

It's not necessary at all, as the trail signs along the way are super clear, but you can see the route mapped out at this link.

How to get there and when to visit the Cíes Islands

The most popular ferry companies taking you to the Cíes Islands are Mar de Ons and Piratas de Nabia.

Both offer similar prices, so I went with the one that had the schedule that best fit my plans from Cangas del Morrazo—Mar de Ons in this case.

But before that, I have a quick question for you:

Are you traveling during peak or off-peak season?

• High season:

From June to mid-September.

If you want to visit the Cíes Islands in the summer, before buying your ferry ticket you must request authorization on the official Xunta de Galicia website.

In July and August, you can only do this up to 45 days in advance and you'll need to be ready to purchase your round-trip ticket as soon as you get it.

Heads up for campers:

If you want to stay at the Cíes Islands campsite, book your spot there first. They take care of managing your official permit for you.

Why all this fuss?

To prevent the island from receiving more visitors than it can handle without suffering from overtourism.

Its popularity has grown dangerously fast (for its own good).

How can you do your part?

Traveling off-season.

• Low season:

Easter, May bank holidays, late September, October weekends and bank holidays.

If you visit the Cíes Islands in late September (like we did), you won't need to get an authorization permit.

Either way, whenever you go, I recommend checking the official permit website beforehand, as dates and conditions can change from year to year and depending on the weather.

What to bring

• Food: pack whatever snacks you fancy for the hike in your backpack. Need some inspiration? Galician empanada, fresh fruit, nuts, cookies… If you forget, you can always grab a bite at one of the restaurants inside or near the campsite, or at the bar right by the pier.
• Water: other than the spots selling food, we only found one drinking water fountain next to the public restrooms. So, I definitely recommend bringing at least 1 liter of water per person (even better if it's 1.5L). 😉
• Sun protection: keep in mind you'll be out in the open for most of the trail, so pack sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen… Trust me on this, even on overcast days. You never know when the sun will break through.
• Clothing: light clothes, a warm layer or windbreaker (especially for the ferry's top deck), hiking shoes, and swimwear if you're visiting in high season.
• Travel insurance: if you don't have Spanish nationality, book your IATI travel insurance through this link to get a 5% discount. They offer customizable coverage to fit your needs and take care of paying all medical expenses upfront if you notify them beforehand. I never travel without them anymore (outside my home country, of course).

Where to sleep

The closest place to sleep near the Cíes Islands is… right on their very own campsite!

But if you're looking for something more comfortable and well-connected, your best bets are Cangas del Morrazo or Vigo.

We chose Cangas, where we spent 3 days on a "workation" (yep, working and vacationing at the same time—easier said than done, believe me 😉) at Casa Rural la Garita.

It's a gorgeous, super comfy B&B with free parking on the eastern edge of Cangas, right where the beach ends.

From there, it's a 35-40 minute walk along the promenade to the port, but you save yourself the hassle of driving and looking for parking in downtown Cangas (which, as I mentioned earlier, is a total nightmare even in low season).

The best part about the house is that it has just a few rooms (so it's super quiet) and a spacious living room overlooking the estuary, where we took the opportunity to get some remote work done.

Trip budget

• Ferry: €32 (€16/person)
• Food: €40
• Accommodation: €100 (€50/night)

In total, we spent €173 for a day trip and two nights to visit the Cíes Islands, which works out to €86/person.

Useful links

• Official permit to visit the islands.
• Mar de Ons ferry company.
• Piratas de Nabia ferry company.
• Casa Rural la Garita.
• Hotel deals in Cangas de Morrazo.
• Flight deals to Vigo and Santiago: Trabber, eDreams, Momondo, and Vueling.
• 5% discount when booking your adventure travel insurance with IATI.

If you're traveling around Galicia, you might also like:

• Why you should visit Combarro in low season.
• Route along the Costa da Vela and Cabo do Home.
• Ponte Maceira, on the Camino from Santiago to Finisterre.

Map

Need specific tips on how to plan your hiking route around the Cíes Islands?

Leave me a comment right below and I'll be more than happy to help you out! 🙂