Galicia is a region full of charm where the wild landscape and the most beautiful and quiet corners intermingle to give life to a place that, in many cases, is yet to be discovered. In addition to its extensive beaches, its steep cliffs and its unmistakable estuaries, in it we can find a countless small and large islands that are distributed throughout their more than 1,400 kilometers of coastline. Among them are, without a doubt, the Cíes Islands, considered the Galician paradise and the best beach in the world for many. But, in addition to these, in Galicia there are other islands that have nothing to envy to what is the new ‘place to be’ if you visit Galicia.
If you want to discover these beautiful places, SamBoat, the online boat rental platform from professionals to individuals, offers you a route through some of the most unique and unknown islands that you can only reach by boat. An ideal excursion to enjoy a perfect day of sailing if you visit Galicia this summer:
–Islet of Areoso, Illa de Arousa (Pontevedra): It is not an island to use but, without a doubt, it is a place that will not disappoint you. It is not in vain that it is known as the Galician Caribbean. 1.4 kilometers from the island of Arosa, it has only 9 hectares of fine sand, which give it the unique appearance of a dune, surrounded by crystal clear turquoise waters. With archaeological remains of great relevance, on the top of this islet you can admire an incredible megalithic dolmen, and it is also a unique bird refuge.
–Coelleira Island, O Vicedo (Lugo): It is the largest island in the entire Galician Bay of Biscay, located in front of the Ría de O Barqueiro and Vicedo, with some 25 hectares of land. Its trapezoidal shape surrounds it with a special charm that is joined by its mysterious centuries-old history. To get to it, you have to dock at the Portiño from where a path starts that reaches the lighthouse. A lighthouse that dates back to the 19th century and was inhabited until a few decades ago. Also noteworthy is its 9th-century Benedictine monastery, which was destroyed by Norman attacks and of which no remains remain. But if you want to enjoy its seabed, dare to dive and explore its waters where you can find a peculiar marine fauna or spot, if luck is on your side, one of the ships sunk centuries ago.
Boat travel
–Lobeiras Islands, Corcubión (A Coruña): Lobeira Grande and Lobeira Chica form a peculiar archipelago in the Corcubión estuary, opposite the municipality of Carnota, on the famous Costa da Morte. They stand out for their granite surface, their steep shape and their seabed in which stones are the main protagonists. Their wild beauty should be highlighted, which is why they have been recognized by the local press as the most beautiful, leaving the admired and famous Cíes in second place. Little known and visited, the big island is popular for having been inhabited by lighthouse keepers, where you can still admire the lighthouse, today automated, which dates back to 1906, and which included housing, a warehouse and an office. But not only the lighthouse is its great attraction, these islands were the scene of many shipwrecks, like other nearby islands, among which that of two Greek merchants stands out. One of them, the Skuld in 1901 and the Polymia in 1904.
–Sálvora, Riveira, (La Coruña): Located in the national park of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia, it belongs to the municipality of Riveira and is at the mouth of the Arosa estuary. Just 1 km long and about 300 wide, it is home to three fine white sand beaches, of which you can only visit Almacén beach, a spectacular sandbank with crystal clear waters that will leave no one indifferent. A spectacular landscape where you can relax and swim to enjoy the seabed. But Salvora is much more. Currently uninhabited, its history shows us a beautiful sculpture of what is known as the Siren of Sálvora, a Pazo, an old factory for drying and salting fish and the abandoned village in which 60 people lived and which had eight houses, a square and font. Essential corners full of charm to which is added the route of the lighthouse, located at Punta de Besugueiros, which began to be built in 1847 and has an octagonal U-shaped tower.
–Isla de Ons, Bueu (Pontevedra): Recognized as the little sister of the Cíes, Ons forms, together with Onza, a small archipelago located in front of the Ría de Pontevedra, just 4 km from the mainland. With 5.9 km long by 1.3 wide, on this island you can find some of the most spectacular beaches in Galicia such as Melide, Pereiró or Canexol, which are defined by their fresh, calm and crystalline waters. There are also various hiking trails that surround the island and its beaches, including the Lighthouse, located at the highest point of the island and more than 100 years old.