Excursión a la isla de San Simón

Delve into the history of one of the smallest enclaves of the Vigo estuary on this excursion to the island of San Simón from Redondela. Despite its small size, it has much to discover!

San Simón Island Excursion

We'll meet at the indicated time at the Cesantes pier in Redondela, where we'll set sail for the island of San Simón.

After a 10-minute cruise along the Vigo estuary, we'll arrive at the island. Once we disembark, we'll pass through the main entrance and enter into the historical context of this uninhabited islet.

First, on our 1.5-hour route around the island, we'll admire the Monument to the Troubadours, significant to the Rías Baixas. We will explore the history of the monks who lived on the island, who gradually left due to attacks from pirates and corsairs, including Sir Francis Drake.

Next, we'll cross the bridge connecting San Simón with the island of San Antón. This islet served as a lazaretto for quarantining sick individuals from ships suspected of carrying contagious diseases. We'll visit its cemetery and learn how San Antón became a concentration camp during the Spanish Civil War.

Afterward, we'll return to San Simón, where we will hear about the legend of the lavandeira and its connection to Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. We will continue the tour to discover reasons for Francisco Franco’s decisions regarding the island.

Finally, we'll visit the Buxos forest and, after the visit, you'll have about 1 hour of free time to take pictures and explore the information center. We'll then return to the San Simón pier, concluding our experience after a short 5-minute crossing back to Cesantes pier, totaling 2.5 hours.