Our history

Our story began long before the first backpacker ever arrived. It goes back to the 1940s, when the Fernández Monzonís family first came to the Cíes Islands and fell in love with the wild beauty of Faro Island. They chose to put down roots in this corner of the world and opened a small, family-run eatery called O Eido do Lago, a simple place where food was prepared with care for fishermen, sailors and the first summer visitors.

The family’s children grew up surrounded by the sound of the sea, coastal paths and the constant rhythm of the kitchen. In 1970, one of them, Emilio, decided to take the next step. Driven by enthusiasm and a desire to share this special place, he founded Camping Illas Cíes, keeping alive the close, family spirit that had always defined them.

In those early years, the campsite was a quiet, unspoilt retreat, where families from Vigo, Cangas or Baiona came to spend their summers. Tents were pitched by the lake, days were filled with swims and long walks, and nights were spent outdoors, with very little needed beyond the simple pleasure of being there.

The campsite has evolved over the years. Today, we offer fully equipped rental tents with beds for extra comfort, updated facilities, and a clear commitment to sustainability and the care of the natural environment.

But there is one thing that has never changed since that first summer: the essence.

We still believe that what truly matters is found in the simple things — a hot shower after the beach, an unhurried conversation, the sound of the sea as night falls, or a sky full of stars that invites you to pause and stay silent.

Because camping here is not just about sleeping surrounded by nature.
It is about slowing down. Sharing. Stepping away from the usual pace of life.
It is about feeling part — even if only for a few days — of something truly special.

A place where everything happens a little more slowly.
And sometimes, that is exactly what we need.