Different routes to discover the islands
When visiting the Cíes, it is best to take one of the roundtrip tours that leaves from the information booth on the island of Monteagudo. The Ruta del Monte Faro (7.4 km; 2 and a half hours) is the longest and most comprehensive of them all. During the tour to the Faro, you can see the Playa de Rodas, the children’s lake, the beach and the picnic area of Nuestra Señora, the Isla Sur, the remains of the Castro das Hortas, and the zigzagging path up to the lighthouse.
The Ruta del Faro da Porta (5.2 km, an hour and 45 minutes) is easier and shorter than the previous one, with which part of its tour overlaps. Instead of going up to the lighthouse, you veer off and go to the Faro de Portas, one that is much lower. The Ruta del Alto do Príncipe (3 km, an hour and 15 minutes) is the shortest, but it is still beautiful. It takes you to the Alto del Príncipe, where you have a great view to admire the landscape.
Lastly, the Ruta de Monteagudo (5.6 km, an hour and 45 minutes) adds on to the previous one with a trip to the area of A Valgada, bringing you to the Faro do Peito and the point at which you can do some birdwatching. Here, you can enjoy amazing views of the Ría de Vigo and the Costa da Vela.
Flora and fauna
In the flora and fauna of this paradise, you’ll find the most spectacular marine bird colony of the Spanish coast. The most abundant birds here are the seagulls (this area is actually the largest refuge in the world for these birds). Its aquatic depths, which offer a huge display of biological diversity, also deserve mention.
Wonderful beaches
You can also enjoy its three magnificent beaches, which are concentrated on the Isla de Monteagudo. These include the Playa de Rodas, the arc-shaped and most well-known beach; the Playa de Nuestra Señora, the smallest but the most comfortable; and the Playa de Figueras, a nudist beach also known as the Playa de los Alemanes because it used to be only Germans who would make use of this beach.
Lastly, we recommend you visit the ruins of the Monastery of San Estevo, where an information center has been installed. Here, you can watch videos and examine models that inform you of the most interesting aspects of the National Park.