Beaches - Visit the Isles de Cies from Bayona

he Isles de Cies (Islands of the Sky) are a favourite day out. Seeing the long white sandy beach as the ferry boat approaches always reminds me of a tropical paradise

I am lucky to live in North Portugal near to the Spanish border so that it is not too far away. However it is easy to visit on a short break from northern Europe now that cheap air travel has arrived.

The Islands are a nature sanctuary at the mouth of the Ria (Inlet) containing the busy harbour of Vigo although it is nearer the popular holiday and sailing resort of Bayona (Baiona).

There are no hotels on the island but there is a camping site. Yachtsmen are also allowed to anchor overnight in the bay,

As my yachting days are now behind me, on my last visit we stayed two nights at the Parador at Bayona. This Parador is inside the fort an the promontory that shelters the harbour from the winds. Unfortunately for the people of Bayona, the fort did not protect them from, to use their words ‘that English Pirate Drake’ when he ransacked the town when ‘Singeing the King of Spain’s beard’. Bayona was the port where the ‘Pinta’ docked to bring news of the discovery by Columbas of America and the New World. A replica of the ‘Pinta’ is moored in the harbour.

The Parador is a recent building in the style of a local manor house and built with large granite stones. Like all the hotels in the state owned Spanish Parador Group, there is high class accommodation with the traditions and dishes of the local area being retained, Details of this Parador can be found at the English language website at http://parapromotions-spain.com/parador/spain/baiona.html.

The ferry to the islands is a large catamaran which takes about 45 minutes, passing close to other islands on the way. It is operated by Naviera Mar de Ons whose hard to use website with pictures in Spanish is at http://www.mardeons.com

The ferry leaves Bayona at 10.15 or 12.15 and on arrival, walk back along the path behind the beach and through the camp site. Stop far a beer and use the toilets before continuing to a small bistro type restaurant a little further on under the trees overlooking the beach and sea for lunch.

After lunch it is a snooze for me, the beach for the youngsters or a walk to the lighthouse for the energetic. Then amble back of the kilometre to catch the 7.15 ferry back to Bayona although there is a later one to Vigo.

Being a nature reserve, there are strict rules to preserve the habitat which must be obeyed. The ferries are only allowed in the three summer months and this year cease on 27 August. Also you must keep to the recognised paths.

Naturists will be pleased to know that there is a nudist beach tucked discretely away behind the café by the ferry pier.

The weather is usually fine in summer here. The winds are calm in the morning becoming fresh from the north in the afternoon and dropping again during the evening. This is ideal weather for this visit since the sea is calm for the morning journey, the beach is sheltered but the heat of the afternoon is cooled by the northerly breeze and the journey back is with a following wind.

The nearest airport is Vigo but both Santiago de Compostela and Porto (Oporto) are within easy reach by motorway

David Lumby is a retired British Chartered Accountant living in Viana do Castelo. He is a director of Manor Houses Lda which finds holiday accommodation in Portugal for English speaking guests. The web pages of the firm are at http://www.manorhouses.com Learn More…