Spain, a popular destination for millions of tourists each year, is taking decisive action to protect its most delicate and ecologically important locations. The Cíes Islands, an eco-paradise off the coast of Galicia, are the latest to experience these measures. Starting September 15th and lasting until May 15th, only 450 visitors will be allowed to step foot on the islands each day. This represents a significant reduction from the 1,800 tourists permitted during the summer months.
This initiative, aimed at combating overtourism, is considered essential for preserving the delicate wildlife and environment of the Cíes Islands while ensuring visitors can still experience the area’s beauty and exclusivity. For UK tourists and anyone planning to visit, the cap means thorough planning is vital, as demand for the limited spots is high.
The decision to implement a visitor cap stems from growing concerns about the impact of overtourism on the islands’ fragile ecosystems. For years, the Cíes Islands have been a popular tourist destination, especially during the peak summer months, when ferries transport thousands of visitors daily. While tourism is crucial to the local economy, the strain on the islands’ natural resources and environment has become increasingly apparent.
José Antonio Fernández Bouzas, director of the national park encompassing the Cíes Islands, highlights the need for protecting the area’s wildlife and landscapes. “There were just too many people before,” Bouzas explained, reflecting on the high tourist numbers during the summer months. “But now people understand the need for the cap, they respect and appreciate it. We need access controls to protect the area, but they also mean that people can enjoy their visits.”
In addition to the daily cap, all visitors to the Cíes Islands must now pre-book their trip. Before departing, tourists need to obtain a QR code from the regional government’s website. This QR code serves as proof of reservation, allowing visitors to board the ferry to the islands. The ferry ride itself costs €25 (£21), covering the round-trip journey to and from the islands. This new system encourages tourists to plan their visits well in advance, with many now reserving their spots up to three months ahead of time.
According to Bouzas, this pre-booking system has had a positive effect not only on the environment but also on the overall visitor experience. “That reduction has worked,” he said. “There’s an effect you get because people like something that feels more exclusive. People used to reserve their places on the day, but now they reserve them three months in advance. They really plan their visits.”
The introduction of the visitor cap reflects a broader global tourism trend toward sustainable and eco-friendly travel practices. The Cíes Islands aren’t the only destination grappling with the pressures of overtourism. Popular tourist hotspots like Machu Picchu in Peru and Venice in Italy have faced similar challenges, leading authorities to implement restrictions on visitor numbers to protect their cultural and natural heritage.
Bouzas and other conservation advocates argue that limiting tourism is crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability of these special places. “It’s about conserving them so that people can enjoy them – and tourism should be very focused on the defence and protection of the natural world that forms the base of its business,” Bouzas remarked.
By limiting the number of visitors to the Cíes Islands, Spain is prioritizing the preservation of biodiversity and the natural beauty that draws tourists to the islands in the first place. The visitor limit, along with the reservation system, ensures that those who do make the journey to the islands can enjoy a more peaceful and exclusive experience.
The implementation of visitor limits on the Cíes Islands is part of a broader conversation in Spain about sustainable tourism and how to balance the economic benefits of tourism with the need to protect the country’s natural and cultural heritage. For many years, Spain’s tourism sector has been one of the largest in the world, attracting millions of visitors to iconic cities like Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville, as well as natural destinations such as the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands.
However, as the number of visitors has risen, so too have concerns about the impact of mass tourism on local communities, infrastructure, and the environment. In Venice, for example, officials have experimented with limits on the number of visitors entering the city each day, while Machu Picchu has adopted a strict reservation system to protect the ancient ruins from erosion and degradation caused by large crowds.
Claudio Milano, a researcher at the University of Barcelona’s social anthropology department, highlighted the difference between controlling tourism in national parks and in urban environments. “What you’ve got in the Islas Cíes and in Machu Picchu and in these big national parks is something that works in parks, where we need careful capacity because of the environment,” Milano said. “If you do that in a city, then the message you’re sending out is that this is a theme park.”
The Cíes Islands are often referred to as “The Galician Caribbean” due to their pristine white beaches, turquoise waters, and abundant wildlife. Located off the coast of Galicia, the islands are part of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park and are renowned for their natural beauty and ecological significance. The islands are home to several protected species, including rare seabirds and marine life, making conservation efforts all the more critical.
For tourists, the islands offer a rare opportunity to experience a remote and unspoiled natural environment. Activities such as hiking, bird watching, and snorkeling are popular with visitors, but the limited infrastructure and sensitive ecosystem mean that careful management is necessary to prevent long-term damage.
By implementing a cap on visitors, Spain hopes to ensure that the Cíes Islands remain a place where nature and tourism can coexist in harmony. As Spain continues to navigate the challenges of overtourism, the decision to cap the number of visitors to the Cíes Islands represents a promising step towards more sustainable tourism practices. By protecting the environment and ensuring that visitors can enjoy a high-quality experience, the Cíes Islands offer a model for other destinations facing similar pressures. For tourists, especially those from the UK, the new system serves as a reminder to plan ahead and secure their spot on the islands well in advance.
