Tiny island off mainland Spain has exotic white sand beaches and £10 stays – but only 1,300 people are allowed at a time
THERE’S a little-known island in Spain that could be the perfect place to relax this summer thanks to its crowd-free beaches.
Finding peaceful places away from other tourists can be a challenge, but there’s one island off the coast of Galicia that almost guarantees a slice of solitude.
Set in the Pontevedra Estuary, in Galicia, Spain, the Ons Archipelago is made up of two little-known islands called Ons and Onza.
Part of the Maritime-Terrestrial National Park, Ons Island is the larger of the two and is home to around 78 residents, according to Fodor’s Travel.
Ons Island has largely gone under the tourist radar in comparison to other nearby islands off the coast of Galicia.
That’s because the archipelago is a dedicated nature reserve that doesn’t allow more than 1,300 visitors each day.
The official website states: “The daily visitor limit for the Ons archipelago in high season is 1,300 people per day, so it is necessary to have prior authorization from the Xunta de Galicia when buying the ticket from the shipping company.”
The high season runs from May to September, with visitors required to apply for a permit before visiting.
Visitors will need to apply for passes via the island’s website, which can be accessed here.
There are also no cars allowed on the island either, meaning traffic noises and pollution from cars is non-existent.
Because of the strict conservation measures, the island is home to white sandy beaches and crystal-clear, clean water.
There are several beaches dotted across the island, including Melide Beach.
The Blue Flag beach is thought to be the most beautiful in the Ons Archipelago thanks to its clear waters and fine white sand.
It’s also a well-known nudist beach, so it could be somewhere Brit families may want to avoid.
There are several other beaches on the island holidaymakers can visit, including Dornas Beach.
Located right next to the pier, Dornas Beach consists of rock formations and coarse sand.
But even with its rocky ground, it’s the busiest beach on the island because of its proximity to O Curro – a village on the island.
There are only a handful of shops and restaurants on the island.
Holidaymakers who do find themselves sitting down for lunch should aim to try pulpo al estilo de Ons – an octopus dish that’s revered across Spain.
There are also a network of walking routes and hiking trails on the island, meaning visitors can explore the lush landscape without wandering off the beaten path.
The landscape and views are fantastic
Along each of the four routes, there are spots where holidaymakers can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding islands.
For those wanting to stay overnight on the islands, there are no hotels on the island, only a campsite.
Visitors will need to reserve a glamping tent before arriving on the island, if they want to stay overnight.
Tent pitches at Camping Isla de Ons start from £10.55 per person per night.
Glamping tents are also available to book, with pitches from £30 per night, based on two people sharing a tent.
Ons Island has been described as the perfect place to stargaze because there isn’t any light pollution in the evenings.
The island has been praised by visitors on TripAdvisor, with one person saying: “Great place to hike and the views of the water are amazing.”
Another person added: “I preferred Ons Island to Cies Island because it’s bigger and more beautiful.
“We had a beautiful trekking along the cliffs, then we rested at one of the amazing beaches.”
Someone else added: “The landscape and views are fantastic, especially from the southernmost and northernmost points.”
Several ferry routes connect Ons Island to the mainland, with daily crossings from Bueu, Portonovo and Vigo available.
Journeys can between 40 to 90 minutes, depending on the chosen departure port from the mainland.
Sun Online Travel have found return ferry journeys from Vigo to the Ons Islands for £32 per person.
Everything you need to know about visiting Spain
- Brits must have at least three months left on their passport from the day they plan to leave the country.
- Tourists do not need a visa if visiting for up to 90 days in an 180-day period.
- Make sure your passport is stamped on entry and exit.
- Travellers may be asked to show hotel booking confirmations and that they have enough money for their stay at the border.
- Spain is one hour ahead of the UK.
- The country uses the euro with around €10 working out to £8.55.
- Flights to Spain from the UK take between 2-4 hours depending on the destination.
Meanwhile, this is the country with the most award-winning beaches in Europe.
There are several other lesser-known beaches dotted around the country too – including Cala Pedrosa which is an 800m walk from the main border.