Cycling The Portuguese Coastal Way to Santiago
9 days | from 1.090€
See the best of northern Portugal and Galicia as you cycle the Portuguese Coastal Way to Santiago along the coast.
Cycle the Camino on a historical and spiritual trail through forests, farmland, historical towns and cities from Porto to Santiago de Compostela.
Cycling the Portuguese Camino de Santiago allows you to appreciate the beauty of Portugal’s Minho region and Galicia in Spain. The scenery is a glorious blend of greenery with woodland, rivers, valleys, vineyards, fields and traditional villages with their architecture and age-old rural farming practices.
Sections of the Portuguese Camino share the ancient Roman road, and you’ll cross many Roman bridges on your journey. You’ll also discover attractive towns and cities with stunning ancient architecture and fascinating histories. To keep your energy levels up along the Way, tuck into Portuguese and Spanish cheeses, traditional cured meats, the freshest fish and seafood, and vinho verde wines.
Begin your incredible journey in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Porto. Learn how St. James and a cockerel saved a pilgrim’s life in Barcelos, why Roman soldiers were terrified of crossing the river at Ponte de Lima and appreciate the significant part Valença’s fortress played in defending Portugal’s borders.
On the other side of the River Minho, the stunning Tui Cathedral awaits, as do Redondela’s viaducts and the medieval centre of Pontevedra. Riverside Caldas de Reis is famous for its soothing thermal waters, while Padrón claims St. James’ first burial spot. His remains have since been relocated to what is now a monumental cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.
To make the experience of Cycling the Portuguese Camino de Santiago enjoyable, you need to know your way around a bike in essential maintenance and be adept at riding rugged terrains.
SUGGESTED ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival in Porto
One member of our team will meet you at the hotel to welcome you, provide a full briefing, deliver the bikes, and provide all the documentation you’ll need.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Day 2: Cycle from Porto to Barcelos
Distance: 54 km (33.5 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Depart from Porto and cycle along cobbled lanes and dirt tracks through a series of villages surrounded by fields and patches of forest. Today, you’ll pass several impressive Romanesque bridges, including the one in Barcelinhos, where pilgrims used to bathe before entering historical Barcelos. Spend some time exploring this charming small city’s medieval streets and squares.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3: Cycle from Barcelos to Ponte de Lima
Distance: 33 km (20.6 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Leave Barcelos to enter a more rural and picturesque landscape punctuated with small villages that allow you to observe traditional agricultural practices. The 12th-century Ponte das Tábuas offers an attractive rest spot, although you have plenty of lovely places to choose from as you make your way through the vineyards, forests, orchards and fields of the Minho region. On the approach to the exceedingly pretty town of Ponte de Lima, you’ll see the Padela, Nora and d’Arga mountains as well as the more distant Corno do Bico.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4: Cycle from Ponte de Lima to Valença
Distance: 35 km (21.5 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Today’s ride is filled with yet more beautiful countryside with ancient bridges, hamlets and woodland waterfalls. You have a steep mountain to negotiate, but the views offer ample reward. See the Romanesque church and Roman milestones at Rubiães, then cross an ancient stone bridge over the River Pedreira before heading to Cossourado. From here, it’s downhill, through several small villages and a patch of attractive forest, to the fortress town of Valença.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Cycle from Valença to Pontevedra
Distance: 56 km (34.5 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
The International Bridge takes you across the River Minho into Spain to the atmospheric town of Tui with its fortified cathedral. Once past the rather industrial town of O Porriño, cycle through a series of villages and the Chan das Pipas pine forest. The downhill approach to Redondela offers glimpses of the Ria de Vigo estuary. Merge with the Central Camino de Santiago in the centre of Redondela and head through the riverside town of Arcade, stopping for fresh oysters. An ancient stone road takes you up through the forest before you hit the tarmac again as you ride into the centre of Pontevedra. Choose from the many bustling squares and tuck into tasty tapas and local wines.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Cycle from Pontevedra to Padron
Distance: 41 km (26.7 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
The ride to Caldas to Reis is mostly through attractive countryside, including a pleasant patch of forest. Follow the pilgrim tradition of bathing your feet in the hot springs at Caldas de Reis. Continue gently uphill through a string of tiny villages and the forest at Valga. Take some time to explore Padrón’s strong connection with St. James and its medieval centre before cycling the last few kilometres to your hotel.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Cycle from Padron to Santiago
Distance: 25 km (15.5 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Your last ride is relatively short and surprisingly scenic, with welcome shade in the pretty woodland area. Once you reach Milladoiro, you’ll be able to see Santiago on the opposite hill. Head downhill through more villages, cross the river, and then up through the city into its historical heart. Your journey ends at Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: 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 website: www.portugueseway.com
Map
Cycling the Portuguese Camino
GENERAL CONDITIONS
Duration: 7 nights | 6 cycling days
Tour type: Self-guided
Nº of people: From 2
Cycling grade: Moderate
Total cycling distance: 244 km | 151 miles
Region: Minho and Galicia
Highlights: Historical cities, ancient pilgrim trails, Roman roads, 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.
Available: From 1st March to 31st October
Price per person
Low season: 01st March to 30th June | 16th September to 31st October
> In double room occupancy: 990 euros
> Single room supplement: 320 euros
High season: 1st July to 15th September
> In double room occupancy: 1.040 euros
> Single room supplement: 340 euros
What’s included?
- 7 Nights of accommodation with breakfast included;
- 6 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 of 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 Camino de Santiago by bicycle programme generally follows the same route that pilgrims follow on foot; 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 steep climbs and descents, so good advance physical preparation is necessary for 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): 200 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.
