Combine the thrills of cycling along the Portuguese and Galician coast with the slow travel benefits of completing your Camino on foot.
If you’re torn between doing the Coastal Camino on foot or by bike, this programme solves your dilemma. It enables you to experience both ways of travelling and complete the journey in just 9 days.
Starting from the vibrant, UNESCO World Heritage city of Porto, you’ll pedal north alongside sandy beaches and rocky coastline dotted with fortresses, windmills and fishing villages. At times, the route will lead you away from the coast to cross rivers, via forests, country lanes, market gardens and historical towns and villages.
Overnight stops in picturesque medieval towns like Vila do Conde and Viana do Castelo offer opportunities to explore the local history, culture and gastronomy, as well as the gorgeous beaches in between.
Cross the River Minho by boat to reach A Guarda, a Spanish fishing town, and ride along a dramatic stretch of rugged coastline to the coastal village of Oia. Between here and the vibrant city of Vigo lies Baiona, a charming seaside town full of history and tempting tapas bars.
You’ll leave the bikes behind in Vigo and continue on foot towards Santiago de Compostela. This route traverses the verdant Galician countryside along ancient paths through forests, farmland, rivers and hamlets. You’ll overnight in picturesque towns such as Arcade, famous for its oysters; Pontevedra, full of attractive squares and wonderful architecture; the riverside spa town of Caldas de Reis; Padron, which is where the boat bearing the remains of St. James is said to have washed ashore. Your final stop is, of course, the magnificent cathedral and square in Santiago de Compostela.
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival in Porto
A member of our team will meet you at the hotel, where you’ll receive a personal welcome briefing and all the necessary documentation. They will also ensure your bike is correctly set up for you.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Day 2: Cycle from Porto to Vila do Conde
Distance: 35 km (21.7 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Set off from Porto and begin your journey along the Portuguese Coastal Way to Santiago de Compostela. This scenic route takes you along the coastline via wooden boardwalks and quiet back roads, passing expansive sandy beaches, nature reserves, and charming fishing villages before reaching the historical seafaring town of Vila do Conde.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Cycle from Vila do Conde to Viana do Castelo
Distance: 49 km (30.4 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Cycle past Póvoa de Varzim, following the ocean and beaches before heading inland past forests, market gardens and villages to Fão. Cross the River Cávado to reach the relaxed resort town, nature reserves and beaches of Esposende.
The route continues inland through scenic countryside and woodlands. As you approach Viana do Castelo, cross the iron bridge for stunning views of the River Lima. Allow time to explore this historic city.
Accommodation: 2/3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Cycle from Viana do Castelo to Oia
Distance: 46 km (28.5 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Begin your day cycling beside the coast towards the beachside town of Vila Praia de Âncora and on to Moledo beach before heading inland to the charming town of Caminha. Take a boat across the River Minho, the natural border with Spain, then ride through the fishing town of A Guarda. Between here and Oia, the coastline is wild and ruggedly beautiful.
Accommodation: 2-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Cycle from Oia to Vigo
Distance: 43 km (26.6 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Continue your journey along the coast, passing small fields, villages, and scattered houses before rounding the headland to reach the charming resort town of Baiona. Beyond Baiona, the landscape becomes more rural, with scattered villages, pockets of forest and a couple of beautiful beaches just before you hit the city of Vigo.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Walk from Vigo to Arcade
Distance: 22 km (13.5 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Walk through central Vigo before leaving the city via a long road that winds through quiet hillside villages, offering views of the city, estuary, and port. Midway, the scenery shifts from houses to woodland before a steep descent into Redondela. From there, climb through the forest and descend into Arcade, a charming riverside town renowned for its oysters.
Accommodation: 2-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Walk from Arcade to Pontevedra
Distance: 13 km (8 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Depart Arcade via its iconic bridge and climb ancient stone paths through a forest. If the weather conditions permit, take a picturesque detour along the River Tomeza, arriving in Pontevedra surrounded by peaceful greenery and birdsong rather than traffic. Take time to explore the historic city centre, with its charming squares and inviting tapas bars.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Walk from Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis
Distance: 22 km (13.6 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Today’s walk leads you through scenic countryside and a stretch of forest to the riverside spa town of Caldas de Reis. Upon arrival, soothe your tired feet in the thermal spring at the main square before drinking wine from a traditional ceramic bowl at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: 2-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9: Walk from Caldas de Reis to Padron
Distance: 19 km (11.5 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Start the day with a gentle ascent through small villages and the charming Valga Forest. Along the way, pass several notable churches and stone crosses before reaching Padrón, the riverside town where the boat carrying St. James’s body is believed to have landed.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10: Walk from Padron to Santiago de Compostela
Distance: 25 km (15.5 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
The final stage of the Camino takes you through peaceful countryside, including a lovely woodland area, with the last few kilometers passing through bustling urban areas. As you enter the narrow, historic streets of Santiago de Compostela’s medieval centre, the atmosphere shifts as you get closer to the iconic Praza do Obradoiro, the main square in front of the cathedral where pilgrims celebrate the end of their epic journey.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11: Departure
After breakfast, prepare for your onward journey. If you have time, explore the old city of Santiago de Compostela before you leave.
Meals: Breakfast
Like what you see but it’s not quite a perfect fit?
Simply get in touch to tell us what you’re looking for. We’re happy to make changes to create your ideal holiday.
For more itinerary suggestions, please consult our specialist Portuguese Camino de Santiago site: www.waytosantiago.com
Map
Combined Biking & Hiking Coastal Camino
GENERAL CONDITIONS
Duration: 10 nights | 4 cycling days + 5 walking days
Tour type: Self-guided
Nº of people: From 2
Cycling grade: Moderate
Total cycling distance: 259 km | 161 miles
Region: Minho and Galicia
Highlights: Historical cities, ancient pilgrim trails, coastal trails, gorgeous and varied beaches, rivers, valleys, iconic bridges, beautiful churches, chapels and roadside shrines, forests, farmland, authentic villages, rural lifestyles, regional dishes, spa town, comfortable accommodations close to Camino trail, fantastic seafood, great local wines.
Available: From 1st March to 31st October
Price per person
Low season: March, April, May and October
> In double room occupancy: 1.160euros
> Single room supplement: 460 euros
Mid season: June and September
> In double room occupancy: 1.190 euros
> Single room supplement: 480 euros
High season: July and August
> In double room occupancy: 1.240 euros
> Single room supplement: 520 euros
What’s included?
- 10 Nights of accommodation with breakfast included;
- 4 Days bike rental (MTB TREK Marlin 6 with 29” wheels + panniers + helmet);
- Luggage transfer between accommodations (1 bag per person – maximum 15 kg/bag);
- Roadbook with tips, maps and detailed information on the way (in English);
- Pilgrim Kit: Credencial (passport) and Vieira (shell);
- Journey documentation;
- In-person welcome briefing;
- 24/7 Emergency support.
What’s not included?
- Transfers from and to Porto airport; Lunches and dinners; Insurance; Tourist taxes; Personal equipment; Other personal expenses; All items not mentioned in the “Included”.
Important notes:
- The Coastal Camino de Santiago by bicycle programme generally uses the same route that pilgrims follow on foot and there is no specific cycle route. The route is a combination of rural paths (asphalt, cobblestones or dirt), forest trails (dirt or gravel, uneven and sometimes rocky), secondary roads and some main roads (both on asphalt).
- Along the journey, you may sometimes encounter some steep climbs and descents, so good advanced physical preparation is necessary in order to do this trip.
- Clients must have experience with mountain bikes and basic bicycle repair knowledge, especially how to change a tire as punctures may occur during the Camino.
Optional extra services:
- Upgrade to E-bike TREK Powerfly 4 625 (or similar): 150 euros/E-bike
- Extra nights in Porto (3-star hotel): On request.
- Extra nights in Santiago (3-star hotel): On request.
- Upgrade for 4-star and 5-star hotels and Paradores: On request.
- Transfer from hotel to airport in Santiago de Compostela: 55 euros for up to 3 people; 80 euros for 4 to 7 people.
- Transfer from Santiago de Compostela to Porto city/airport: 360 euros for up to 3 people; 420 euros for 4 to 7 people.
- Transfer from hotel to airport in Porto: 50 euros for up to 3 people; 80 euros for 4 to 7 people.
OUR BIKES
Because we’ve carefully created this programme ourselves, we selected the most appropriated bikes for this route. Each bike has a full service between trips, replacing any parts as needed. Plus, we always ensure the brake pads are changed, delivering the bike as new to our guests.
All our bikes are high-quality Trek bikes, chosen for reliability and performance. We have different sizes and use the Trek size guide to pick the best one for you. When you book a cycling holiday with us, we’ll ask for your height so we can reserve your bike.
We also have some e-bikes in our fleet, which can help give you a boost on the hills, that we offer as an optional upgrade.
MTB: Trek Marlin 6
This 29-inch hardtail mountain bike (27.5-inch for smaller sizes) is the standard bike for most of our cycling holidays. The geometry and front suspension make it a comfortable ride and it’s perfect for off-road trails. The medium width tyres roll well on asphalt, gravel, and cobbles.
Electric MTB: Trek PowerFly 4 – 625
This 29-inch hardtail e-mountain bike (27.5-inch for smaller sizes) has all the features of our regular mountain bike, plus a battery for extra power. It’s great for riding with a stronger partner or if you want to cover longer distances. The design makes it perfect for gravel, cobbles, and steep paths. We use this bike on our Camino Portuguese tours and offer it as an option on other tours for those who prefer to ride an electric mountain bike.
Electric hybrid bike: Trek Allant+ 7
This 27.5-inch electric bike was named the Dutch e-bike of the year in 2020. The faster rolling tyres, more upright design, and front suspension, make it comfortable on smooth surfaces. It’s perfect for longer distances on roads, and the electric motor means you can still enjoy the ride when the hills get steeper.
What’s provided with our bikes?
Relax and enjoy your cycling holiday, knowing we’ve got everything covered for you:
- Rear pannier rack and bag
- Bottle cage and brand new Portugal Green Walks water bottle
- Helmet
- Adjustable phone mount on the handlebars
- Bell
- Bike lock
- Battery charger (where applicable)
- Small repair kit per group. This includes spare inner tubes (Schrader valve), tyre levers, bike pump, chain oil, chain link, disposable gloves, and multi-tool.
DIGITAL DETAILED ITINERARY
Click on the button below to download the itinerary with day-by-day details, highlights, prices and the respective general conditions.