Complete hiking route around the Cíes Islands

Are you planning a hiking route through the Cíes Islands?

Here is all the practical information you need to make the most of your visit:

Technical specifications

• Difficulty: easy.
• Length: 17.4km (round trip). 
• Elevation gain:578 m.
• Travel time: 4.5hours in transit (6.5 hours including stops).
• Start:pier next to Rodas Beach.
• End:pier next to Rodas Beach.
• Date of completion(photographs): September 2019.

Exploring the entire Cíes Islands, step by step

Although we could have left the car at the rural house in Cangas where we were staying, we decided to take it to the pier...

Error!

It didn't matter that it was a weekday in September; there were no free parking spaces to be found.

So after a lot of nerves, stress, and a early morning dash with toast stuck in our throats, we miraculously made it in time to board the boat. 😉

Thank goodness we already had the tickets...

The ideal situation? Arrive 15 minutes before departure time.

Ferry to the Cíes Islands

The trip from Cangas to the Cíes Islands takes approximately 1 hour because the boat stops in Vigo to pick up (or drop off) passengers.

If the weather permits, sit at the top to enjoy the views and, with a little luck, the dolphins that come in to feed in the estuary.

4 hiking trails in 1

There are four defined routes you can follow on the Cíes Islands.

• The Porta Lighthouse:
  • 5.2 km round trip
  • 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Low difficulty
• Mount Faro:
  • 7.2 km round trip
  • 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Medium difficulty
• O Monteagudo:
  • 5.6 km round trip
  • 1 hour 45 minutes
  • Low difficulty
• Prince's Hill:
  • 3 km round trip
  • 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Low difficulty

The ideal option? Do them all by combining them into one.

Here is our itinerary:

1. Faro da Porta

We start by heading towards Faro da Porta, which offers beautiful 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, shrouded in low clouds).

2. Cíes Lighthouse

There is a sloping path that shortens the distance between the two routes.

You can't miss it; it's behind you when you stand at the viewpoint before reaching the Porta lighthouse.

Thanks to this path, it will be much easier to reach the Cíes Lighthouse (although you still have to climb the zigzag path to the base of the lighthouse).

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

Cheesy?

Yes, I thought so too. But it's true, even despite the fog. 🙂

3. Pedra da Campa

On your way back to the North Island, you will find a small detour to Pedra da Campa, a good spot for birdwatching.

Then continue on the path back to the campsite (take advantage of the restroom and drinking fountain), Lake Dos Nenos, and the artificial passageway connecting the two islands.

4. Faro do Peito

In our case, we decided that the next stop would be the Peito lighthouse because, at first glance, the path promised more shade than the alternative.

However, you can change the order without any problem (after all, the amount of area protected by the trees is similar).

This lighthouse offers good views of the Costa da Vela and Cabo do Home.

5. Alto do Principe and Silla de la Reina

On your way back, you can take a detour to the famous Silla de la Reina, a huge rock carved out by the force of the wind that offers spectacular views of the island of Medio.

Without a doubt, my favorite view of the entire tour.

6. Figueiras Beach

When you start on the North Island, it's impossible not to be drawn to Figueiras Beach.

Especially if it's hot and sunny. 😉

So, if you have time, I recommend stopping there on your way back to at least cool your feet by walking along the shore.

How wonderful!

Return by ferry

Our return boat left at 7:00 p.m., so we took the opportunity to have a snack at the bar in front of the pier while we waited.

Be careful, protect your food from seagulls. They are eager to snatch it right out of your hands.

I'm serious...

If you want to grab dinner as soon as you arrive in Cangas, I recommend Tapería O Pelao. If you arrive shortly after 8:00 p.m., you'll find a table, and it's well worth it.

Itinerary on Wikiloc

Do you want to follow this route on Wikiloc?

It's not necessary at all, as the directions you'll find along the way are very clear, but you can see the route on the map at this link.

How to get there and when to visit the Cíes Islands

The most well-known ferry companies that take you to the Cíes Islands are Mar de Ons and Piratas de Nabia.

Both offer similar prices, so I chose the one that offered the schedule that best suited my needs from Cangas del Morrazo, Mar de Ons in this case.

But before that, I have a question for you:

Are you traveling during high season or low season?

• High season:

From June to mid-September.

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

In July and August, you can only do so 45 days in advance and be ready to purchase your round-trip ticket as soon as you request it.

Notice to campers:

If you want to stay at the campsite on the Cíes Islands, make your reservation there first. They will take care of obtaining your official authorization.

Why all this?

To prevent the island from receiving more visitors than it can accommodate without its integrity suffering from excessive tourism.

The fact is that her fame has spread dangerously (for her).

How can you do your bit?

Traveling off-season.

• Low season:

Holy Week, May holidays, end of September, weekends and holidays in October.

If you visit the Cíes Islands at the end of September (as we did), you will not need to obtain authorization.

In any case, whenever you go, I recommend that you first take a look at the official permits page, as dates and conditions may vary from year to year and depending on the weather.

What to bring

• Food: pack whatever you feel like eating during the trip. Need some inspiration? Galician empanada, fruit, nuts, cookies... If you forget, you can eat at one of the restaurants inside or near the campground, or at the bar next to the pier.
• Water: except for the places where you can also find food, we only found one drinking water fountain next to the public restrooms. So I recommend bringing at least 1 liter of water per person (preferably 1.5 liters). 😉
• Sun protection: remember that the route is mostly outdoors, so bring sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, etc. Take my advice, even on cloudy days. You never know when the sun will come out.
• Clothing: light clothing, warm jacket or windbreaker (especially for the upper deck of the boat), hiking boots, and swimsuit if you are going during the season.
• Travel insurance: if you are not a Spanish citizen, book your IATI travel insurance through this link and get a 5% discount. They offer customizable coverage according to your needs and will pay all medical expenses in advance if you notify them beforehand. I no longer travel without them (outside my country, of course).

Where to stay

The closest place to the Cíes Islands where you can sleep is... at their own campground!

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

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

It is a beautiful B&B, very comfortable and with free parking at the east end of Cangas, right where the beach ends.

From there to the port, it takes 35-40 minutes walking along the promenade, but you save yourself the trouble of moving the car and looking for parking in the center of Cangas (which, as I mentioned before, is a nightmare even in the low season).

The best thing about the house is that it has few rooms (it is very quiet) and a large living room overlooking the estuary where we took the opportunity to advance some remote work.

Tour Budget

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

In total, we spent €173 for one day and two nights visiting the Cíes Islands, €86 per person.

Useful Links

• Official authorization to visit the islands.
• Mar de Ons Shipping Company.
• Pirates of Nabia Shipping Company.
• La Garita Rural House.
• Hotel deals in Cangas de Morrazo.
• Flight offers to Vigo and Santiago: Trabber, eDreams, Momondo and Vueling.
• 5% discount when you take out your adventure travel insurance with IATI.

If you are traveling in Galicia, you may also be interested:

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

Map

Do you need specific recommendations on how to organize your hiking route through the Cíes Islands?

Leave me a comment right here and I'll be happy to help you in any way I can. 🙂