San Simón Island Excursion

Explore the rich heritage of one of the smallest enclaves in the Vigo estuary on this trip to San Simón Island starting from Redondela. Despite its compact size, this isle has numerous stories waiting to be uncovered!

Journey to San Simón Island

We will gather at the specified hour at the Cesantes dock in Redondela, embarking on our adventure to the island of San Simón.

Following a brief 10-minute boat ride across the Vigo estuary, we will reach the island. Upon our arrival, we will pass through the main entrance gate, stepping into the intriguing yet somber history of this currently uninhabited isle.

During our 1.5-hour exploration of the island, we will first take in the view of the Monument to the Troubadours. This significant monument holds great importance in the Rías Baixas. As we proceed, we will uncover the tales of the monks who once inhabited the island, a community that dwindled due to relentless assaults from pirates and privateers, particularly the notorious Sir Francis Drake.

Next, we shall traverse the bridge linking San Simón to the nearby island of San Antón. This isle served as a lazaretto, designated for quarantining individuals from ships suspected of carrying contagious illnesses. We will then visit its cemetery and explore how San Antón transformed into a concentration camp during the Spanish Civil War in the years following the conflict.

After delving into the unsettling history of San Antón, we will return across the bridge to San Simón. On this isle, we will discover the enchanting legend of the lavandeira and its intriguing ties to Jules Verne's novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Our journey around San Simón will culminate at the island's rear, where we will learn why Francisco Franco chose to abandon this location.

Concluding our exploration, we will venture into the Buxos forest. After this visit, you will have around one hour of leisure time to capture photos and navigate the information center at your own rhythm. We will then head back to the San Simón pier, and after a short 5-minute return crossing, we will land back at the Cesantes dock. We will wrap up this enriching experience in Redondela after a total of 2.5 hours.