Ons Island, which belongs administratively to the municipality of Bueu, has formed part of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park since it was created in 2002, along with the Cíes Islands, Sálvora Island and Cortegada Island. All of these bodies of land comprise a beautiful natural paradise at the entrance to the Pontevedra Estuary. The islands are highly protected so that visitors can enjoy them in the way they should be enjoyed, and so that future generations will be able to visit them too. Only 1,300 visitors can visit the park each day in high season, and each person must request a special from the Galician regional government beforehand.
During your visit to the beautiful Ons Island, you should explore its wonderful beaches and discover its iconic lighthouse which is one of the most far-reaching in Spain. You could also visit the Buraco do Inferno (‘Hell Hole’) chasm and the Fedorento and O Centolo viewpoints. We also recommend sampling the exquisite local gastronomy which, as one might expect, features a lot of fresh fish and seafood from the estuary.
- Ons Island’s location and natural value
- How can I get to Ons Island?
- Ons Island’s beaches
- Hiking routes
- Where to eat on the island
- Where to stay in the Pontevedra province
Ons Island’s location and natural value
Such is the natural value of Ons Island, special visiting authorisation must be requested in advance from the Galicia Regional Government. Day-visit and camping tickets must also be booked in advance.
The Ons archipelago actually consists of two distinct islands: Ons Island and Onceta Island, which is also known as Onza Island. The archipelago also encompasses a group of 7 smaller islands: A Freitosa, A Freitosa de Terra, O Centolo, O Cairo, A Laxe do Abade, A Pedra do Fedorento and Con dos Galos.
The Ons archipelago covers a total surface area of 2,641 hectares, 470 of which are land. Around 60 people live in this territory.
How can I get to Ons Island?
The only way is to take a passenger boat from the port of Bueu, Portonovo, Sanxenso and, on a less regular basis, Vigo. The journey takes around 40 minutes from Bueu, Portonovo or Sanxenxo, and around an hour and a half from Vigo.
Ons Island’s beaches
Ons Island is home to five practically virgin beaches. The largest one, where nudism can be practised, is Melide Beach. Area dos Cans Beach, meanwhile, is the one with the largest number of bathers. You’ll see Dornas Beach as soon as you disembark, and Canexol Beach is the one beneath the island’s fort and the cemetery. Finally, Pereiro Beach is also worth checking out.
The island also has several stonier beaches, including Fontiñas Beach, Liñeiro Beach, Fedorento Beach, Onza Norte Beach and Onza Sur Beach.
Hiking routes
If you love nothing more than walking and discovering new landscapes, we recommend following one of the island’s four signposted hiking routes. The longest one, known as the Northern Route, takes around 3 hours to complete, while the shortest one, the Fort Route, takes around 40 minutes. It’s simply a case of choosing the one that best matches what you’re looking for.
You could also follow the Lighthouse Route, which takes 90 minutes to walk, or the Southern Route, which takes around two and a half hours.
Where to eat on the island
Ons Island is home to several exceptional restaurants which offer excellent value for money and high-quality ingredients, particularly in terms of fresh fish and seafood. However, the most famous restaurant on Ons Island is Casa Checho, which offers wonderful sea views and serves traditional Galician cuisine. It specialises in octopus, seafood and fish from the estuary, apple and corn empanadas and homemade cheesecake.
Other highly regarded restaurants include Casa Acuña, a popular meeting place for the island’s fishermen which has a reputation for being “the best Octopus restaurant in Galicia”, and the neighbouring Bar O Pirata, which is known for its churrasco steak and lunchtime set menu.
Where to stay in the Pontevedra province
If you’re looking to visit Ons Island and stay in a hotel that guarantees a quiet and comfortable night’s sleep without breaking the bank, we recommend the Occidental Vigo hotel. This four-star hotel in the heart of Vigo offers wonderful views of the city’s estuary and represents an excellent base to discover the city’s main attractions. It has 104 cosy and comfortable rooms with all kinds of amenities.
