One of the best views on Illa de Arousa is from Parque Infantil do Monte
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5 Awesome Reason to Explore Illa de Arousa & Why it’s Worth Visiting

Illa de Arousa is a small island in the Ría de Arousa, or Arousa Estuary in the Rías Baixas of Galicia Spain.

The island is only 7 km2, or 3 square miles, and is home to under 5,000 people. Although small, this island offers stretches of white sand beaches, a protected nature park, and a port village filled with charm. While O Grove nearby attracts more tourists, Illa de Arousa feels more like a lived-in local community.

A majority of the attractions of Arousa Island can be explored casually over a day. Alternatively, it would be easy to spend a few days here lounging on the beaches, eating fresh seafood, and strolling through the quiet streets.

This is a quick guide on the best things to do in Illa de Arousa and why it’s worth visiting.

Table of Contents

Where is Illa de Arousa?

Hiking along the sandy shores of Carreirón Natural Park

Illa de Arousa is found in the Ría Baixas or lower estuaries of Galicia Spain. The Ría Baixas consists of four estuaries including Ría de Vigo, Ría de Pontevedra, Ría de Arousa, and Ría de Muros y Noya. The Illa de Arousa belongs to the Pontevedra province of Galicia Spain

Arousa Island is found north of Pontevedra, a historical city on the Camino Portuguese. It is also a short drive from Cambados, a seaside village famous for being the capital of the Albariño wine region.

Directly across from the Island of Arousa is the maritime port village of Vilanova de Arousa. This town has a ferry port that takes pilgrims walking the Camino Variante Espiritual route by boat up the Ría de Arousa to the Ulla River. This allows pilgrims to follow the actual traslación, or the route of the stone boat that Athanasius and Theodore used to return St James’ body to Spain after he was beheaded in Jerusalem.

How to Get to Illa de Arousa

The long 1.25 mile bridge connects Spain’s mainland to Isla de Arousa

The amazing thing about Arousa Island is that a long car/footbridge connects it to mainland Spain. Cross the nearly 1.25 mile (2 km) bridge to arrive at the island. The access point for the bridge is just south of Vilanova de Arousa.

Illa de Arousa is an accessible island by car or foot!

By Car

With a car, Illa de Arousa is a short drive from Cambados. I slept two nights in Cambados and spent a full day exploring the nearby island. I included it as part of my epic southern Galicia road trip.

Pontevedra is around a 40 minute drive to Illa de Arousa. From Santiago de Compostela, it could be an easy day trip with a car (around an hour). However, the public transportation logistics are tough for those seeking to day trip to the small villages along the Rías de Arousa.

Walk the Ruta del Padre Sarmiento

The trail markers for the Ruta del Padre Sarmiento can be seen all across Arousa island

Those seeking a different way to explore Illa de Arousa can walk a section or the whole Ruta del Padre Sarmiento. In fact, the entire Island of Arousa is included in the Route of Father Sarmiento.

This path was walked by Fray Martín Sarmiento to Santiago de Compostela in the year 1745. He was inspired to walk through the entire region of Salnés along the coast. The route starts from Pontevedra and overlaps with some sections of the Camino Variante Espiritual route, like the seaside village of Combarro. From there, the route stays along the beautiful coastline.

The Ruta de Padre Sarmiento is around 190 Km (118 miles) and is typically broken up over 9 stages. This route sees few pilgrims, meaning the infrastructure isn’t as profound as most of the Camino de Santiago routes. However, for those seeking a quiet, reflective, and alternative way to reach Padrón, the Ruta del Padre Sarmiento won’t disappoint.

The Ruta de Padre Sarmiento includes Illa de Arousa over stages 5 and 6 of the official route.

Remember, the best Camino de Santiago tip is to walk your own path and listen to your body. Try to pack light with minimal items and watch the magic of the way unfold.

Guided Tours

There are a few day tours from Santiago de Compostela that include a quick stop at Illa de Arousa. If short on time, a tour may be the best option to at least see a brief overview of the island.

This Full Day Rías Baixas Tour includes historical cities from Padrón, Combarro with the final stop at Arousa Island

This Private Rías Baixas Private Tour focuses on the gastronomy treasures of the Rías Baxias and can be tailored to include the Arousa Island

5 Awesome Reasons to Visit Arousa Island

Here are all the reasons that the Illa de Arousa is worth visiting.

1 | Illa de Arousa is an Option to Visit an Island in Galicia Without a Ferry or Permit

a quiet beach found in the Natural Park of Carreirón

There are over 300 island archipelagos found in Galicia Spain. The most famous islands of Galicia are the Cíes Islands, which are part of the Parque Nacional Marítimo-Terrestre de las Islas Atlánticas de Galicia. The Atlantic Islands National Park includes the archipelago islands of Cíes, Ons, Sálvora, and Cortegada. All of these islands are protected and regulated and require a ferry ride with a permit to visit.

During the high season, permits for the Atlantic Island National Park can be extremely hard to obtain as each island has a daily visitor cap. Additionally, during the low season, ferry services are extremely limited (to sometimes less than one time per week).

Illa de Arousa is a fantastic alternative, as you still see the beauty of a Galicia island, but do not need a permit or need to worry about organizing a ferry. The bridge makes Illa de Arousa extremely accessible.

2 | The Beauty of the Natural Park of Carreirón

The hiking path through Carreirón Natural Park includes forest and beach trail sections

One of the best things to do on Arousa Island is to hike through Carreirón Natural Park. This protected area is home to birds, sand dunes, and beaches. In fact, the area is a haven for herons.

The only way to explore Carreirón Natural Park is on foot. There is an hiking official trail that loops through the park. Although the trail is only 3.6 Km in distance, there are many beaches, sand dunes, and places to simply relax.

The natural area also boasts a forest section, so there is diversity along the way.

On a sunny day, it would be easy to lounge on the empty beaches for hours.

3 | The Old Town Around Port Xufre is a Delight to Wander

Strolling along the Xufre Port of Isla de Arousa

The main city of Arousa has a port lined with cafes and fresh seafood restaurants. If you move inwards through the heart of the Old Town, make sure to see the Church of San Julián de Illa de Arousa. There is a nearby stone cross that are famous throughout the region of Galicia.

Praza do Regueiro is a great open plaza opposite the marina with a playground and views of the bay. To me, Arousa Island felt very authentic and lived-in. It reminded me of the seaside city of Cee (north of the Rías Baixas).

To get the best views of the old town, head to either the lookout points of Con do Forno or my personal favorite, the Parque Infantil do Monte.

4 | The Long Stretches of White Sand Beaches

There are lots of secluded sandy beach on Arousa Island

The Island of Arousa boasts nearly 22 miles of spectacular coastline. A majority of this pristine coastline is home to incredible white sandy beaches.

Upon approaching the island via the bridge, it’s hard to miss Bao Beach. One of the most popular beaches is found on the southeast section of the island, Praia de Camaxiñas.

In Parque Natural do Carreirón, a favorite beach is Xastelas Beach and the nearby Playa de A Lameira.

The entire island is blessed with rocky coves, white sand beaches, and hidden gems. Take the time to explore with intention. On a sunny day, the water looks so turquoise blue that it almost feels like you’ve been transported to the Caribbean rather than on the rugged west coast of Spain.

The west coast of Spain has spectacular beaches all the way up to the Death Coast (Costa da Morte).

Be mindful that like most of the beaches found in Galicia, the water is quite cold as its coming in from the wild Atlantic Ocean.

5 | The Northwest Side of the Island

Cabalo Point Lighthouse

The Northwest side of Illa de Arousa is also worth exploring. Here, find many coves and the lighthouse, Faro de Punta Cabalo. For me, the unique stones surrounding the lighthouse reminded me of the mythical stones found near the chapel of Santuario de la Virgen de la Barca in Muxia.

From the many viewpoints, it’s hard to miss the many mussel farms out in the distant sea.

Praia Area da Secada is a blue flag beach and one of the most beautiful on the island. There are services at the beach and a small cafe.

Additionally, if the weather is nice, you could rent a kayak and visit the nearby Isla de Areoso which is found a little more to the south. This tiny island has untouched sandy beaches and unique dolmen structures that show the importance of this area to the Celtic tribes.

While most people visiting for the day explore Carreirón Natural Park and the Port of Xufre, don’t miss the untouched beauty of the northwest corner of Illa de Arousa.

Where to Stay on Illa de Arousa

As Arousa Island is rather small, accommodation options can be limited, especially for those on a tighter budget. There are a few hotels and pensions near the Port of Xufre.

The main accommodation option of Isla de Arosa is private apartments

Alternatively, there are a lot more budget accommodation options in Vilanova de Arousa right across the bridge. I stayed in Cambados and took the short drive to Arousa Island. Those looking for more historical cities could choose to sleep in Padrón or the lively university city of Pontevedra.

Is Illa de Arousa Worth Visiting?

Illa de Arousa was a highlight of my time exploring Rías Baixas even during the winter months!

Absolutely, Illa de Arousa is worth visiting. It is a beautiful island found in the Galicia region of Spain that can be reached by car or foot. Illa de Arousa is blessed with a spectacular natural area, 22 miles of pristine coastline, white sand beaches, and a charming town serving fresh seafood straight from the port.

Illa de Arousa is a fantastic place to visit in the Rías Baixas and can be explored over a few hours, a full day, or even better, over a lazy few days.

Conclusion | The Best Way to Spend the Day on Illa de Arousa

In short, this is a quick guide to Arousa Island, a fantastic small island in the Arousa Estuary. Although small, the island offers a wide range of things to see and do, from hiking through the Natural Park of Carreirón, lounging at the many beaches, exploring near the lighthouse, to wandering the town surrounding Port Xufre.

All of these attractions on the Island of Arousa can easily be explored in a full day. However, to really feel the authentic lived-in charm of the island, spend at least one night.

Spending the day on Illa de Arousa was a highlight of my Galicia road trip that I took during the winter months. I can’t wait to go back!

Have you been to Arousa Island in Galicia? What did you think of it? Did you explore it on foot or with a car? Let me know in the comments below!

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