Cíes Islands, Island group off the coast of Galicia, Spain
The Îles des Cíes are a group of three islands off the coast of Galicia, in northwestern Spain, sitting at the mouth of the Vigo estuary. They are part of a protected natural park where no cars or paved roads exist, and visitors move only on foot along marked trails.
The islands were farmed and fished for centuries, and traces of past settlements can still be seen among the rocks. In 1980 they were placed under protection as a natural park, which ended any further development.
A visit requires a free permit that can be requested online up to 90 days in advance, and boat tickets should be booked early, especially in summer. Sturdy shoes, sunscreen, and water are worth bringing since facilities on the islands are limited.
Rodas Beach, a curved strip of sand between two of the islands, was once named the best beach in the world by a British newspaper. On one side it faces the open sea, and on the other it borders a shallow lagoon known as the Lagoa dos Nenos, calm enough for young children to wade in.
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