A Illa de Arousa is one of four island habitats on the Iberian Peninsula where the endangered coastal plant Linaria arenaria occurs. In the south of A Illa de Arousa are the Cons, granite rocks shaped by the sea. A Illa de Arousa is also included in the Ruta del Mar de Arousa y Ulla.
Renting a holiday apartment in A Illa de Arousa can be part of planning your stay.
Nature
The O Carreirón peninsula has numerous coves, small beaches and rock formations along its edge. The Mirador O Con do Forno is located at the highest point of A Illa de Arousa, 63 metres above sea level, and offers panoramic views of the Ría de Arousa.
Xidoiro Areoso lies in the centre of the Ría de Arousa, just over one kilometre west of A Illa de Arousa, to which the island belongs. The northern half of Xidoiro Areoso is occupied by an active dune, while in the south, granite outcrops merge with a vegetated dune.
Culture
The Centro de Interpretación da Conserva is located in the former Goday cannery, which is considered a restoration of Galicia's first industrial factory from the 19th century. The Centro de Interpretación da Conserva is accessible to people with reduced mobility and has parking facilities.
The traditional Dorna is a permanent maritime element of the insular way of life on A Illa de Arousa. At As Aceñas stands the Muíño das Mareas, a traditional architectural structure from the 17th century.
About 3,000 years ago, the sea level in the area of Guidoiro Areoso was 5 to 7 metres lower than today, and the coastline was hundreds of metres farther away. As a result, Guidoiro Areoso very probably formed a peninsula connected to Arousa, which explains the transport of the materials used for the megalithic monuments there.
Archaeological sites with dolmens and megalithic burial mounds, built several millennia ago, have been discovered on Xidoiro Areoso, also known as Areoso. A Illa de Arousa also has a centuries-old tradition of octopus fishing, associated with Pulpo á feira.
Activities
Leisure activities in A Illa de Arousa include sports, active and water tourism, fishing, golf, hiking, tourist routes, handicrafts and water sports.
The Ruta dos Cons is a 7-kilometre signposted route along paths made of earth, sand and asphalt. It takes approximately five and a half hours and alternates between natural areas, beaches, viewpoints and various points and capes of the island.
Surroundings
Praia Gradín beach is in the immediate vicinity of Illa de Arousa, as is Praia de Xastelas beach. Playa Aguiuncho beach and Praia Area da Secada beach are also in the immediate vicinity of Illa de Arousa.
The Pazo de Fefiñáns palace is located in the surroundings of Illa de Arousa. Also in the area are the Pazos dos Ulloa palace, the Museo Etnografico del Vino museum and the Mirador de A Pastora viewpoint.
