The British press’ growing attention to holiday trends has put Spain back on the radar, this time with a focus on Galicia and, in particular, the Cíes Islands, dubbed the “Galician Caribbean” by several UK newspapers. The region appears as a less popular alternative to the classic destinations sought after by British tourists.
After the Daily Mirror described Cape Verde as the “new Canary Islands of the Atlantic”, it was the Daily Express’s turn to point to an area of Spain that, according to the newspaper, many Brits “had never heard of”.
According to data from the National Statistics Institute of Spain, between June and September 2024 the Spanish destinations most visited by tourists from the United Kingdom were Calviá, Benidorm, Barcelona, Adeje and Arona, which received almost two million British visitors. The preference continues to be the beach, in a constant search for sun and high temperatures.
Escape from massification leads Britons to look for alternatives
The strong tourist pressure in the Canary Islands and the Balearic archipelago has led many Brits to look for less saturated destinations. It is in this context that Galicia begins to gain prominence.
In 2025, the region received 8.8 million tourists, with total spending close to 195 million euros. Although it is not traditionally one of the main destinations in the British market, the combination of cultural richness, milder temperatures and lower tourist density is attracting attention.
Publications like the same source refer to a specific point in the autonomous community as the “Caraíbas Galegas”. The Guardian went further, classifying it as the “Maldives” or the “Seychelles” of Spain.
Islas Cíes, the Spanish “Maldives”
For almost two decades, the Cíes Islands, located off Vigo, have been compared to tropical destinations such as Punta Cana or the Caribbean due to their crystal clear waters and white sand. In 2007, The Guardian declared Rodas beach “the best beach in the world”.
The small archipelago is part of the Parque Nacional de las Islas Atlánticas de Galicia, a protected natural area that is in the process of being nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status. The Cíes Islands are made up of three practically uninhabited islands. There were small agricultural and fishing centers until the 1960s, but access is currently controlled.
Limited access and controlled tourism
In high season, the maximum number of visitors is no more than 2 thousand people per day. In low season, the limit drops to around 450. This restriction aims to preserve the archipelago’s environmental balance.
The British press also warns that anyone visiting the islands should not expect “all inclusive” hotels. There is only one authorized campsite, described as an “impressive campsite overlooking the lagoon and the sea”, where you can reserve different types of tents.
In terms of services, there is only a small supermarket and a few restaurants. Access is exclusively by sea, from the ports of Vigo, Cangas, Sanxenxo, Baiona and Portonovo, with round-trip tickets between 15 and 30 euros, depending on the season.
More than the Cíes: a “Caribbean” along the coast
The so-called “Galician Caribbean” is not limited to the Cíes Islands. The National Park also includes the islands of Ons, Sálvora and Cortegada. According to the Consellería de Medio Ambiente, the park received almost half a million visitors in 2025. Around 66% were concentrated in the Cíes, with more than 323 thousand entries. The Ons islands registered 14,600 visitors, Sálvora almost 15 thousand and Cortegada exceeded 10 thousand tourists.
According to the same source, a large part of the Galician coast can be seen as the “Spanish Caribbean”, mainly due to the blue waters and the light sand, even though the temperature in the Atlantic is very different from that in the tropics.
Virgin beaches and hidden coves
Among the recommended areas is the region of Mariña, in the province of Lugo, where there are little explored beaches such as Praia do Vicedo and Praia de Caolín. Further south, in the province of Pontevedra, the Aldán ria is notable for its more than 20 small coves with fine sand, such as Castiñeira and Menduiña, located in front of the Rías Baixas.
According to , the trend indicates that, given the saturation of traditional destinations, British tourists are increasingly paying attention to regions with less tourist pressure, preserved landscapes and a milder climate, placing Galicia on a new level of international visibility.
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