{"id":17448,"date":"2018-09-18T03:40:07","date_gmt":"2018-09-18T01:40:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.piratasdenabia.com\/come-and-visit-the-island-of-ons-a-great-little-island\/"},"modified":"2018-09-18T03:40:07","modified_gmt":"2018-09-18T01:40:07","slug":"come-and-visit-the-island-of-ons-a-great-little-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.piratasdenabia.com\/en\/come-and-visit-the-island-of-ons-a-great-little-island\/","title":{"rendered":"Come and visit the island of Ons, a great little island."},"content":{"rendered":"

Visiting the island of Ons is one of the biggest attractions for every traveler who comes to the National Park of the Atlantic Islands (Galicia). Belonging to the municipality of Bueu, in the province of Pontevedra, the island of Ons offers a natural treasure and a whole range of tourist and gastronomic offerings that will make the visit one of your best trips.<\/strong><\/p>\n

From Piratas de Nabia we invite you to get on board and set sail to this little jewel of our R\u00edas Baixas. We are all ready at the port, shall we leave?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

WHERE IS ONS ISLAND AND HOW CAN I VISIT IT?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ons Island is the largest island of the Ons Archipelago<\/strong>. This archipelago is located at the entrance of the R\u00eda de Pontevedra<\/strong> and is 4 km away from the mainland. It consists of the island of Ons, the small island of Onza and a series of small islets<\/strong> that extend along the coast of both, including O Centolo<\/strong>, at the northern end of the island, and the islet of A Freitosa<\/strong> to the south. The island measures from north to south about 5.9 km, and 1.3 km wide. With a profile in profile, its maximum height is registered in Alto do Cucorno. At this point we will find the famous lighthouse of the island of Ons.<\/strong> Above sea level, the lighthouse is 128 m above sea level and its light is visible for 24 nautical miles.<\/p>\n

The total extension of the archipelago and its waters is 2,641 hectares, adding its 2,171 maritime hectares and 470 terrestrial hectares (4,458 km2<\/sup>)<\/strong> and geographically located at 42\u00ba 22′ north latitude and 8\u00ba 56′ west longitude. It is located on the map to the north of the C\u00edes Islands<\/strong>, both formations having formed part of a mountain range in the past, submerged in our era in front of the R\u00edas Baixas.<\/p>\n

Ons Island currently has a permanent population of 78 inhabitants<\/strong> according to the 2010 census. However, to nearly half a thousand in the summer months<\/strong>Thanks to all the tourists who wish to visit the island and residents of other municipalities of the Galician coast who choose Ons as a holiday destination, mainly at Easter, weekends in May and the months of July and August.<\/p>\n

You can only visit the island of Ons<\/a> by private boat<\/strong>, for which it is necessary to request an anchoring permit, or aboard a ship of a shipping company. Naviera Nabia provides this service in high season<\/strong>, with different schedules and routes departing from Bueu and Portonovo. You can obtain more information about these services, schedules and ticket fares by calling +34 986 320 048.<\/p>\n

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A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"History<\/a>
Petroglyphs found in Ons<\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Visiting the island of Ons is a journey in which to contemplate thousands of years of history<\/strong>. Pliny the Elder already described the island in his works on the Iberian Peninsula<\/strong>. He called it insula Aunios<\/strong>, a <\/em>name with an Indo-European root that clearly refers to water and its flow. However, there is information about settlements in Ons that date back much further, Paleolithic remains have been found, as well as remains from the metal age.<\/strong> The remains of two castros that developed on the island<\/strong>whose splendor was lived at the end of the Bronze Age. A castro is a fortified settlement characteristic of the Celtic people, generally pre-Roman, which is typically located in the R\u00edas Baixas and also throughout the northwest of the peninsula.<\/p>\n

Although we do not have much data, it is known that in the Middle Ages it was a place of congregation of hermit monks<\/strong>, and over the years, the ownership of the archipelago passed through various hands. Thus, until the tenth century it was owned by the Kings of Galicia<\/strong>, then passed to the Archbishopric of Santiago de Compostela, which in the sixteenth century donated the land<\/strong> to the noble family Montenegro.<\/p>\n

Like many Atlantic islands of Galicia, in its past it was a refuge of pirates,<\/strong> always inhabited also by all kinds of sailors and settlers during the Modern Age. In the 19th century, the islands became part of the properties of the Marquisate of Valladares<\/strong>, which established a small salting industry, and changed hands again at the beginning of the 20th<\/strong> century. In the middle of the last century, for social and labor reasons, the island experienced a population boom, reaching 530 people in 1955.<\/p>\n

In 1981, Ons was ceded to the Xunta de Galicia and thus became part of the national public domain.<\/strong> It will also be recognized as a National Park and, since 2001, the archipelago has been part of the Parque Nacional Mar\u00edtimo-Terrestre das Illas Atl\u00e1nticas de Galicia.<\/strong>The islands of C\u00edes, S\u00e1lvora Island and Cortegada Island.<\/p>\n

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ONS ISLAND OR C\u00cdES ISLANDS?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There are many travelers who hesitate about visiting Ons Island or the C\u00edes Islands.<\/strong> Trying to decide between two trips to different places is not easy! Without leaving Galicia, is it preferable to visit San Sim\u00f3n Island or San Vicente del Mar? Is it possible to eat higher quality seafood in the R\u00eda de Vigo or in the R\u00eda de Arousa? Is Melide Beach more beautiful than Vi\u00f1\u00f3 or Nerga Beaches? R\u00edas altas or R\u00edas Baixas? Vacation in July or August?<\/p>\n

Faced with these dilemmas, We can only answer that, if it’s all about travel and enjoyment, why not visit both?<\/strong> It is true that, in recent years, the island of Ons has been somewhat overshadowed by the C\u00edes Islands and that, although the whole group is part of the Parque Nacional das Illas Atl\u00e1nticas, the latter have enjoyed greater popularity and publicity. Perhaps it is due to the choice of the British newspaper The Guardian, some years ago, of Rhodes Beach as the best beach in the world, with its fine white sands. However, Ons is gradually removing the complexes, making it clear that on this island there are as many natural wonders to admire and beaches to enjoy as on its sister islands<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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WHAT TO VISIT ON THE ISLAND OF ONS?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"What<\/a>
Ons Map: Hiking Routes<\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whether you plan to sleep on the island of Ons and spend a few days there, or you prefer a shorter visit.<\/strong> and return, you can enjoy all that this site has to offer through the guided excursions offered by the Park services and hiking trails<\/strong> self-guided trails are available on the trails. As of today, September 18, 2018, there are<\/strong> already up to four self-guided routes covering almost the entire length of the island<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Visiting Ons Island or C\u00edes Islands<\/a>? Ons Island and C\u00edes Islands!<\/strong><\/p>\n