Peace, tranquility, unspoiled nature and breathtaking landscapes: the most beautiful beach in the world is not located in the Maldives, but in a paradise on the Galician coast.
The prestigious British newspaper The Guardian, in 2007, stated that the most beautiful beach in the world is located in the Cies Islands.
Not in the Maldives or in Polynesia but, more simply, in Galicia.
The most beautiful beach in the world
When I landed on these islands I didn't struggle to understand why the famous magazine made this statement.
Le Cies Islands, once a refuge for pirates, are located off the coast of the beautiful Galician coast and, despite being a paradise, they are still little known.
Today they are uninhabited and are part of the Atlantic Islands National Park, together withIsle of Ons, Cut off e Salvora.
How to access
Being considered natural Park are safeguarded and, for this reason, access is allowed only with advance booking and for a maximum number of 2200 people per day.
The Cies archipelago, is made up of three main islands, Saint Martin walk, Monteagudo e Lighthouse which, joined by a tongue of white sand, form Praia das Rodas, the beautiful beach named by The Guardian.
Here, the color of the ocean is crystal clear and creates wonderful bodies of water like the Lago de los Niños; a spectacle of nature.
Another beach that struck me very much is that of Figueiras, very popular with nudists: the white beach in contrast with all the shades of the water, is something indescribable.
Resisting a swim is impossible, although the waters are quite cold, because the colors, the quiet and the beauty of these places, make you want to stay there for hours.
Unspoiled nature and trekking
The Cies Islands are not only beautiful for the sea, but also for the unspoiled nature and breathtaking landscapes that can be fully enjoyed by doing a little trekking, following the various marked routes.
The most beautiful, in my opinion, is the one that takes you to Cies lighthouse (the most important of the three); from the arrival of the ferries, it is about an hour's walk, where you can see many birds and enjoy an incredible view, especially once you arrive at your destination (hoping there is not the dense fog that characterizes these areas).
Cies Islands, how to reach them and where to stay
As I said at the beginning, access is limited and you need to book at least a couple of days in advance.
You can do it all online or go directly to Port of Vigo, where there are the various shipping companies.
Since 2018 the authorization of the Xunta de Galicia which, theoretically, should be done online but I, not knowing it, went to the port of Vigo and a very kind lady from the Nabia company did it for me at the moment.
Upon arrival you will find a restaurant, with an excellent quality / price ratio; if you decide to bring a packed lunch, be aware that there are no baskets on the island, so make sure you have a bag to take away the garbage.
If you would like to stop for a few days or take a vacation at Cies Islands, the only way is to stay in the only campsite on the island, for no more than 7 days.
In short, a real paradise to be safeguarded and protected.
