Lush valleys, impressive beaches, heart-stopping cliffs, charming towns and cities, monuments of great value, exquisite gastronomy, springs and spas… Do you know what place we are referring to? Yes! You’re right! We are talking about Galicia , a Spanish autonomous community in which it is worth spending the summer holidays.
Of all the corners of Galicia that are worth visiting, today we want to highlight the National Maritime-Terrestrial Park of the Atlantic Islands , a park located in the province of Pontevedra that includes the islands of Ons, Cíes, Sálvora and Cortegada and, of course , the maritime space that surrounds them. As you can see for yourself below, especially if you take a look at the gallery at the end, it is a beautiful place that is worth discovering. Would you like to discover this wonderful park more thoroughly? Well then you can’t miss anything that we tell you below!
The only Natural Park in Galicia
The Atlantic Islands National Park comprises a territory of almost 1,200 land hectares and more than 7,200 hectares of maritime surface. It is the last space in Galicia with this category, awarded in 2002 for being one of the best samples of the ecosystems of the Atlantic coasts and seabeds of Spain. As we mentioned at the beginning, the park is made up of four sets of islands, all of them rocky, where it is possible to find spectacular cliffs, paradisiacal beaches and dunes. And not only that! And it is that in these island territories you can also contemplate cultural values (hermitages, forts, wrecks, cruises …) and discover their traditions, superstitions and legends.
The islands
The most recognized islands in the park are the Cíes, which are home to one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet. We do not say it, but important international publications. We refer to the famous beach of Rhodes, which is characterized by its paradisiacal landscape. The best way to discover this wonderful corner is to walk its enabled trails, although kayak rides are also highly recommended. In the archipelago of Ons we want to highlight, in addition to its beautiful landscapes of cliffs, rocky areas, small sandy areas and dunes, the island of Ons, which still retains the charm of a rural coastal town. Less known are the islands of Sálvora and Cortegada. The first of them houses a wealth of flora and fauna very well preserved due to the little influence that man has exerted. For its part, Cortegada is home to a laurel forest, a botanical rarity that is visited by many experts. Of course, we must also highlight the shellfish banks of the Ría de Arousa and the ghost town that has no inhabitants.
Flora and fauna
It is important to bear in mind that this natural park in Galicia is highly appreciated by bird lovers, since here it is possible to see important colonies of marine species. Of course, beyond the birds, a great biological wealth can also be observed in the aquatic depths of the islands, with more than 200 types of algae, in which numerous fish and mollusks take refuge. The problem is that these highly valuable ecosystems can end up disappearing or being altered or destroyed if the activities carried out in this area are not regulated and, of course, if the people who visit this place do not become aware of the importance of preserve it.
Then we leave you with our gallery , where you will find more images of this beautiful natural park belonging to Galicia. Do not miss it!
