The Cíes Islands are a trio of islands: Monteagudo to the north, Faro Island, and San Martiño. Along with the islands of Ons, Sálvora, and Cortegada, they form the Galician Atlantic Islands Maritime-Terrestrial National Park near Vigo. The Romans called them the Islands of the Gods due to their extraordinary beauty. With turquoise waters and white sandy beaches, these shores are reminiscent of the Caribbean.
Rodas Beach was named the best beach in the world by The Guardian in 1997. Its cold waters cover several islets that connect below the waterline, revealing rich biodiversity, visible in the microscopic beauty of seaweed meadows and in the grandeur of the whales frequently spotted in the area. The islands’ landscape features gentle slopes facing the mainland and rugged cliffs facing the open ocean, similar to the vertical walls teeming with life beneath the waterline.
This archipelago represents all the natural systems associated with coastal zones and continental shelves in the Euro-Siberian region. It’s an impressive natural mosaic with over 200 species of algae, hosting a wide variety of fish, mollusks, and seabirds that nest in the cliffs.
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