Ferries to Cies Islands

The ferry port of the Cies Islands is in Galicia in Spain. From here you can reach Cangas, Vigo and Portonovo. Together the services run up to 25 departures a day. Crossings take between 45 minutes and an hour. The port is served by Mar de Ons and Naviera Nabia.

Getting there and the terminal

The boats come not from one port but from several towns in the Rías Baixas. Vigo and Cangas carry the traffic, with Portonovo in addition. Naviera Nabia handles passengers in Vigo at the Estación Marítima on Rúa Cánovas del Castillo; in Portonovo the desk is at the Muelle de Pasaje.

For the return trip, what matters most is where you left your car. In Vigo and Cangas there is hardly a public space free in July and August; the operator advises arriving half an hour earlier and points to the private car parks at each departure quay. In Portonovo there is a public area next to the quay where, with a bit of luck, you can park free of charge.

Check-in

Between 15 May and 15 September you need a permit from the Xunta de Galicia for the Cies Islands, and you need it before you buy your ticket. It can be applied for up to 45 days in advance and cancelled up to 15 days before your visit; if you book by phone with Naviera Nabia, they handle the application for you at no charge. Boarding starts 15 minutes before departure, and all passengers have to go to the desk beforehand to print their tickets and find out which pontoon they leave from.