Ons Island: Paradise just next door

Hello, hello! Today I am going to talk to you about Ons Island. Two years ago I already wrote a post on Erasmusu about this island, but now I fancy making it a bit more comprehensive, for during the last two years I have been a couple of times and I have discovered new parts of the island.

How to get to Ons Island

For those who don't know, Ons Island is situated on the Pontevedra river, in Rias Baixas and it forms part of the Atlantic Islands Natural Park. To get there, you have several options. You can get the boat in Bueu, Cangas, Vigo or Portonovo. If I remember rightly, the ticket costs around 14 euros return. Get it in advance because in recent years it has become quite popular (although still not as popular as Cies, of course) and the boat tickets sell out quickly, as do the camping places.

Camping

Firstly, I have to say that the campsite on the island is great. The first year that I went it was simply an area that was practically not defined, there wasn't a restaurant and if you compare the bathrooms how they were to how they are now, there's no comparison. After it was more rural and the ground was a lot more untouched. You got to the campsite and put up your tent wherever you wanted, practically, without any kind of control. Now they have a lot more facilities: the pitches are divided perfectly, there is a restaurant-cafe to have breakfast, lunch and dinner (with quite varied dishes for a campsite), as well as a children's park (I'll put in a photo) and a laundry service.

The bathrooms and the showers are really good: they are big and really clean. However, the first time that we went to the campsite, our toilet was a hole in the middle of a squared plank of white marble, not even a ditch. I don't even know how to describe how weird it was. We had to squat to try and aim. Then, we had to press the button of the loo, which let out a flow of water which went under the "plank" or marble and took everything away with it. Literally. Despite the fact that it is now a lot more comfortable, I am happy to have been to the old campsite when everything was a lot more rustic. It's all an experience. Now I can appreciate the renovations.

Let’s move on. Now to spend a night there (or however long you want) you have two options: bring your own tent like in the old-school way or you can also pay to use a canvas tent which are really big and are already put up. Inside there are beds and outside there is a wooden table to eat at. Very handy. Normally it is usually the best option for families who go with small children since it is a more comfortable option. We preferred the first option: getting up with back or next pain because you have put your tent on top the biggest tree route in the whole area, no one pays. This is the true camping life, the true experience. Also, to get to the campsite you have to walk quite a bit from the port and the truth is that it is a bit hard if you go with all of your stuff. I know that there is a tractor option, they charge you X amount of money and you, your friends and your things all get on the back part and then you pay per head. We did it the first year because we had so much stuff, but this time we decided to walk.

During the evenings in the campsite we stayed in the restaurant because there was live music, the atmosphere was perfect. Just behind the campsite, where there isn't any light, you can see the stars perfectly. In Bueu (or practically any surrounding town or city) it is impossible to do this due to the light pollution, but here you can. It was a great experience because this day there were shooting starts and you had to concentrate to be able to see the shotting stars and make a wish. Ah! I almost forgot, in the bar-restaurant of the campsite there is also a kind of little shop where they sell basic food products and also the typical things that you forgot to bring such as sun-cream or a toothbrush. They think of everything. However, if you want to go, you have to reserve it a lot in advance because the campsite gets extremely full, it is very popular.

In addition to the campsite, maybe you are one of the lucky people who have a little house on the island and you can sleep there, with all of the commodities and.. You genuinely feel like an islander.

What to see on Ons Island

Outside of the campsite, there are lots of things to do. The hiking routes are probably the most popular. The days that we went, it was really sunny and we got more and more dehydrated every step we took. We decided that the best thing we could do would be to go to the beach and cool off in the water. However, the water is really really cold. Just as cold as the water at Cies, or maybe even colder. We went to the Melide beach and the Area de Cans one which are probably the most well-known and popular ones, where there are some beach bars nearby to get a drink and refresh yourself. We roasted all day in the sun and we did a lot of walking on the rocks. One of my brave friends went for a dip.

When the day started to end and the sun wasn't at strong, we started walking to go back to see our favourite places on the island. We went to Buraco do Inferno which is translated something like "Hole of Hell, but I don't like translating it because I feel like it loses its impact and meaning. It is a really deep cave which goes down to the sea, which normally hits the rocks with force. It is called this due to the many legends which exist about it in the island, for they say that you can hear the cries of souls that have been trapped there by the devil. There is a cross there to commemorate wa person who died there whilst slipping and falling inside. You have to be careful when finishing this place. A bit under the Buraco do Inferno, walking along the rocks which form small steps, you can get to a kind of "balcony" which looks over the sea. From here you can appreciate its force and beauty as the views are incredible. Whoever visits won't skip out on seeing this place. I visited it the first time that I went when I was very young, and now every time that I come here I go there because I find it incredible.

Later, we began walking to the Ons Fort. We didn't follow any kind of hiking route, which of course, all of them are signposted with different colours on the posts. We preferred to walk with our intuition because we had already been to the island many times, which I am sure that it wasn't hard for us to get there. It is quite a "high" point on the island.... so there are interesting views. We took some photos and we stayed there watching the sun sent, looking out in case some aggressive seagull wanted to attack us. After, we went back to the campsite for dinner, to listen to music and then finally go to sleep. This photos is one of my favourite ones bnecause it perfectly reflects what it was like to be on the island with my friends.

The next day we went to the other part of the island, which we still hadn't been around. The scenery is always similar but it will never disappoint, the Galician coast doesn't bore anyone. If it is your first time visiting the island, you should know that right when arrive, at the port, there is a small tourist office where you can get maps and ask for information, to get the most out of your trip. If you want, I think you can do a trip where you go diving and get to know the island in a completely different way, which must be amazing. Near to there there is an area with all the restaurants and shops; there are also little stands in the street with shell necklaces, bracelets and anklets. I bought one which I always wear in summer. It is simple, with a white shell which looks great when you are tanned.

To eat

It was 12.30pm and we got hungry so we went to Casa Checho and thank god that we got there early and got a table. Half an hour later all the tourists started coming and the restaurant was packed. We were wary because if not, we would have had to wait for ages. So my advice is that you go there early, as it literally fills up. We ate Spanish potato tortilla (which was really well made, how I like it), an empanadilla and a salad. Everything was really good and the portions were big. In fact, we didn't all manage to finish off our food. After, we went back to the campsite, packed up everything (the worst part) and went down to the beach that was next to the port, sunbathing whilst waiting for the boat.

So as a form of conclusion, I'll say that I wish that I could go to Ons every summer, since it is a paradise of recluse and peace and it is practically next door. Paradisaical landscapes with clear water, white sand and fresh air, far from the pollution of the city. Without a doubt, each time I go the there the phrase "you don't need to go very far" to find incredible places becomes more true.

And that is my post for today, written with lots of love! I hope that you have enjoyed it, it is very special place to me which reminds me a lot of my childhood, I love visiting it each year. You can tell me in the comments what your favourite places are or if you know some secret hidden spot which is worthwhile seeing. Thank you for reading and we shall see each other again soon.

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