Easy Cycling The Portuguese Coastal Camino
11 days | from 1.280€
Pedal along the stunning Atlantic coastline at a leisurely pace, along a route forged by ancient pilgrims, from the city of Porto to Santiago de Compostela.
Follow the coastline north as you pedal your way along ancient pilgrim trails from Porto to Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Northern Spain.
Enjoy a truly unforgettable ride as you cycle the Portuguese Coastal Way to Santiago. You’ll pass by a series of sandy beaches, villages and market gardens between the historical city of Porto and the low-key resort town of Esposende via Vila do Conde. Head inland to follow quiet country lanes to Caminha, passing through the small, attractive city of Viana do Castelo.
A short but scenic ferry ride takes you across the River Minho to the fishing town of A Guarda in Spain. A glorious stretch of rugged coastline and a small mountain connect you to Baiona, a charming seaside town with bags of history and tapas bars. Then, it’s on to the city of Vigo through the typical rural countryside. Ride on to Redondela, where the coastal and central Caminos become one, accompanied by views of the Ria do Vigo.
Stop for oysters in Arcade before using ancient stone paths to cycle through the forests and villages to Pontevedra, a city full of intriguing squares and buildings. The next town of note is Caldas de Reis, where you can test the temperature of the thermal waters. Pretty Padrón is where St. James is said to have been buried. Try the famous peppers here, then pedal on to your ultimate destination, 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):
Depart Porto and start cycling The Portuguese Coastal Way to Santiago. This route follows the Portuguese coast, using wooden boardwalks and back roads, passing wide sandy beaches, nature reserves and fishing villages to the intriguing 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):
Ride through residential areas to the resort town of Povoa de Varzim. Continue cycling alongside the ocean and beaches, then head inland past agricultural areas, forests and villages to Fão. Cross the River Cávado to reach the low-key, low-rise resort town of Esposende. Much of the day is spent inland as you cycle through a series of villages, countryside and patches of woodland with rivers and mountain views. The approach to Viana do Castelo across the iron bridge over the River Lima affords magnificent views along the valley and estuary. Take some time out to enjoy this small historical 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):
Start the day towards the beachside town of Vila Praia de Âncora, going over a forested hill to get there and continuing with a coastal cycle path connecting you to Moledo and continuing inland to the pretty town of Caminha. Here, you have to take the ferry to across the River Minho, the natural border with Spain. Cycle through the fishing town of A Guarda to follow the Way along scenic coastal trails, forest tracks and tarmac roads. Stop to admire the 12th-century monastery that dominates the small but attractive village of Oia.
Accommodation: 2-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Cycle from Oia to Vigo
Distance: 43 km (26.6 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Your journey continues along the coast, past small fields, occasional houses and villages before crossing a small mountain to reach the pretty resort town of Baiona. As you leave Baiona behind, the scenery becomes more rural, with intermittent villages and occasional forested areas. After a brief period on a busy road, you’ll cycle through yet another set of villages, and the city of Vigo will appear in front of you. Ride through Castrelos Park to avoid the city centre.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Cycle from Vigo to Pontevedra
Distance: 34 km (21.2 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
Cycle along Vigo’s city streets as you head northeast, leaving the urban area behind. Follow the line of the Ria de Vigo estuary for views of floating mussel farms, the Cíes islands and the city and port of Vigo as you ride between villages and through a forest. A steep descent takes you to the town of Redondela, where your Portuguese Coastal Camino merges with the Portuguese Central Camino. Pause for juicy fat oysters in the riverside town of Arcade, and then follow an ancient stone path uphill to the forest. You’ll soon be amid the atmospheric squares of Pontevedra where you can admire the medieval architecture as you sip a beer or wine with some tapas.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Cycle from Pontevedra to Padron
Distance: 41 km (25.5 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
The journey to Padron is relatively hill-free, and you’ll spend the day surrounded by pleasant countryside. Bathe your feet in the hot spring in the centre of Caldas de Reis, then climb gradually through a series of hamlets and a delightful stretch of woodland. Take some time to explore medieval Padrón and discover its deep connection to St. James and its tasty green peppers.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Cycle from Padron to Santiago
Distance: 25 km (15.5 miles)
Elevation (gain/loss):
The final stage of your Camino takes you through a series of Galician hamlets with traditional cottages and barns as well as the imposing sanctuary of Nossa Señora da Escravitute. Enjoy the forest trail, and head up to Milladoiro for your first glimpse of Santiago and the cathedral towers. Drop down to the valley to cross the River Sar, then one last ascent will bring you into the city centre and the medieval streets to the cathedral to end your journey.
Accommodation: 3-star hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9: Departure
After breakfast, prepare for your onward journey. If you have time, explore the old city of Santiago de Compostela before you leave.
End of our services.
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
Cycling The Portuguese Coastal Way to Santiago
GENERAL CONDITIONS
Duration: 8 nights | 7 cycling 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: 1.090euros
> Single room supplement: 370 euros
Mid season: June and September
> In double room occupancy: 1.140 euros
> Single room supplement: 400 euros
High season: July and August
> In double room occupancy: 1.190 euros
> Single room supplement: 450 euros
What’s included?
- 8 Nights of accommodation with breakfast included;
- 7 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): 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
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