• Region: Galicia.
• Province: Pontevedra and La Coruña).
• Declared a National Park: 2002.
• Park surface area: 8,480 hectares.

The Parque Nacional Islas Atlánticas are known in English as the Galician Atlantic Islands Maritime-Terrestrial National Park. They are located on the southern coast of Galicia and are made up of four archipelagos, Cortegada and Sálvora in the Arousa estuary, facing the Estuary of Pontevedra and the Cíes, in the Vigo estuary.

In the past they were known as a pirate haunt but today they are uninhabited and only open to the public in the summer.

Points of interest

In Ons don’t miss the mysterious “furnas”, granite sea caves cut by the waves, such as the mythical “Burato do Inferno”, which was “believed to go all the way down to hell, and on stormy nights the voices of the dead could be heard”.

There is a regular passenger transport service by sea to the Cíes from the port of Vigo, Baiona and Cangas during high season. There is the same service to Ons from Portonovo, Sanxenxo, Bueu and Marín. Services of a guide to Cortegada from Carril (Vilagarcía de Arousa). (Sálvora has no transport service by sea, and access to it is restricted.)

This national park has a controlled access with a maximum of 2,200 people daily allowed on the islands.

The area has also become famous as a starlight destination. The Starlight Foundation is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2009 to promote the protection of the night sky and the development of “astrotourism” and there is an ever growing list of starlight destinations in Spain to visit.

Find a hotel near to the Islas Atlánticas National Park

Flora:

This sea-land ecosystem has a laurel forest and over 200 species of seaweed whilst he beds of kelp are also of importance in these waters. The most representative land flora can be found on cliffs and dunes. Clumps of furze abound, but among the Park rarities are the corema album, Ons broom (Cytisus insularis) and sand toadflax (Linaria arenaria), a small annual plant that can be found on the dunes.

Invasive species

 Illas Atlánticas, is taking decisive action to address the threat posed by Acacia melanoxylon, an invasive species known to exacerbate forest fires. This initiative is part of a broader state forest management program aimed at safeguarding Spain’s most environmentally valuable areas. By eradicating acacias and implementing improved forest management practices, the National Park seeks to reduce the risk of fires and preserve its unique ecosystems.

Read more here: https://wildsideholidays.co.uk/illas-atlanticas-to-eradicate-acacias-enhancing-forest-management-to-mitigate-fire-risks/

Another short promo video for the Islas Atlánticas National Park

Fauna:

The park’s most representative natural systems are the coastal area and the Atlantic continental platform. All the islands have areas reserved as breeding grounds for numerous colonies of birds, principally the yellow-legged seagull and the shag. In the sea, there is the possibility of sighting cetaceans like the finback whale which frequent these waters in the summer.

Information/Visitors Centers

Cambón Visitor Center

Before getting on a boat to the Cíes Islands, a visit the Atlantic Islands National Park Interpretation Centre in Vigo’s old town is well worth it. This exhibition centre was designed to learn about the Cíes Islands, Ons, Sálvora and Cortegada, with audiovisual recreations about habitat, geography and geology etc

The different exhibition areas will allow you to explore the archipelago through different formats and media: images, maps, models, projections, sounds and even sculptures.

Address: Rúa Palma 4. Casco Vello – Vigo

The Interpretation Centre is located in the historic building of Cambón, behind the Church of Santa María. It is close to the Ría Maritime Station, from where boats depart for the Cíes and other parts of the Vigo estuary.

WINTER Tuesday to Saturday: 10: 00-14: 00 and 16: 30-19: 30 / Sundays and holidays: 11: 00-14: 00
SUMMER Tuesday to Saturday: 10: 00-14: 00 and 17: 00-20 : 00 / Sundays and holidays: 11: 00-14: 00
Monday closed (including holidays)

The official website for the Islas Atlánticas National Park can be found here.
https://www.turismo.gal/que-visitar/destacados/parque-nacional-das-illas-atlanticas-de-galicia?langId=en_US

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clive

I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain. My articles contain affiliate links that will help you reserve a hotel, bus, train or activity in the area. You don’t pay more, but by using them you do support this website. Thankyou!