Camino Portugues by Bike

8 Days & 7 Nights

Cycle the classic Camino Portugués Central Way
Discover rural villages, medieval towns and historic cities
The historic UNESCO city of Porto and its renowned Port wines
Enjoy local cheeses, cured meats, fresh fish and vinho verde wines
Cross the international bridge of the Minho River into Spain

Cycle the classic Camino Portuguese from Porto to Santiago de Compostela, taking the central route to see the best of Portugal's Minho region before reaching Spain, where the central and coastal routes merge. Lying 30km/18.5mi inland from the coastal route, uncover the historical and cultural depth of the Minho region, one of Portugal's most famous wine regions, sampling its finest vinho verde wines. Starting in the vibrant UNESCO city of Porto, the home of Port wine, ride through lush valleys, pretty woodland, small hamlets and historic towns and cities. Ride along the Camino's ancient pilgrim trails, visiting the beautifully preserved historical centers of Ponte de Lima, Tui, Pontevedra and Padrón. To refuel along the way, enjoy regional dishes and local wines throughout your journey and sense the change as you move from one country to another, before finishing at the wonderful cathedral in the city of Santiago de Compestela, where pilgrims from all around the world congregate.

From $1,400.00

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Itinerary

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Day 1 Arrive Porto, Portugal Day 2 Cycle from Porto to Barcelos 33.5 miles / 54 km Day 3 Cycle from Barcelos to Ponte de Lima 20.5 miles / 33 km Day 4 Cycle from Ponte de Lima to Valenca 22 miles / 36 km Day 5 Cycle from Valenca to Pontevedra 34.7 miles / 56 km Day 6 Cycle from Pontevedra to Padron 25.4 miles / 41 km Day 7 Cycle from Padron to Santiago de Compostela 15.5 miles / 25 km Day 8 Departure

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Other Information

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Is it for me?

The Camino Portugues combines the lush countryside of northern Portugal and northern Spain, starting in the charismatic UNESCO city of Porto and finishing at Santiago de Compostela's cathedral. The region is renowned for its excellent wines and cuisine, and you'll see the gradual change as you journey from Portugal into Spain. Stay in a mix of 3 and 4-star hotels along the way, used regularly by those completing the Camino. This trip is suitable for relatively fit regular cyclists seeking an active vacation and those interested in upgrading to an e-bike (for an additional fee).

Tour Type:

Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!

Activity:

Leisure Cycling | Leisure Cycling

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Foodie, Wine, Long-Distance Trails, E-Bike

The minimum age for this tour is: 16 Years

Activity Level & Terrain

This cycling tour is graded as moderate. The grade is determined on the basis of the entire trip. Individual days may vary in terms of difficulty, especially if you have chosen to upgrade to an e-bike (for an additonal fee), i.e. some rides may be slightly more difficult or easier than the overall grade. Pedal on a mix of woodland and farmland tracks (dirt or gravel and sometimes rocky), cobblestones and some roads (secondary and main) closer to the bigger cities and towns. You will encounter some steep climbs along the way, and during wetter weather, you must be prepared for some wet, muddy tracks. The trip follows the Portuguese Camino for 90% of the official pilgrim route, but the remaining sections of the Camino are not safe for bikes (since it was created for pedestrians), so you will be diverted via small roads for the remaining sections where rocky and muddy mountain trails are not suitable for bikes. The Camino is well-marked and easy to follow.

Experience & Fitness

This cycling tour is suitable for relatively fit regular cyclists seeking an active vacation, spending much of the day in the saddle to discover a region and its variety over longer daily distances. Distances of the stages vary between 25km to 56km (15.5mi to 35mi), with total daily elevations ranging from 317m to 656m (1,040ft to 2,152ft). Due to some of this route being off-road, you must be comfortable with riding a mountain bike and handling off-road terrain, and please note that e-bikes typically weigh more than 60lbs and are not suitable for those under 5ft tall or less than 16 years old.

Accommodation & Meals What's Included When to go Travel & Transfers

Getting to the Start

Porto Airport (OPO) is easily accessible from North American, however you will likley need to connect through one of the major European airports. Upon arrival, take the metro from the Porto airport (the purple Line E) to the city center; it runs every 20 or 30 minutes. Alternatively, there's an airport shuttle bus you can take. Or if you'd prefer, the Taxi rank (stand) is located near the exit of the arrivals hall and costs approx. 25 EUR with a journey time of 20-35 mins (depending on traffic). We can also arrange a private transfer from Porto Airport to your first hotel (for an additional fee).

Alternatively, you can fly to Lisbon Airport (LIS) and make your way to Porto from there. Porto is one of the main railway hubs in northern Portugal, and is easily reachable by high-speed train. It takes approx. 2 hrs 45 mins by train from Lisbon to Porto.

Getting from the End

You can fly from Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport (SCQ) to Lisbon and other European airports outside of Portugal. Bus Line 6A takes you from Santiago's city center to itsairport in approx. 20 mins.

Alternatively, if you need to fly out of Porto, you can return by train (via Vigo, taking approx. 4.5hrs) or catch a bus direct to Porto which runs daily (journey time approx. 3hrs). Please note these options will take you to Porto city center and then you'll need to either take the metro or a taxi to the Porto airport (OPO). If you'd prefer, we can arrange a private transfer back to Porto Airport (for an additional fee) should you wish to book return flights out of Porto.

It is also possible to take the train from Santiago to Madrid (approx 7hrs), then either take the metro or a taxi from Madrid's city center to the airport (MAD).

Train timetables and fares can be viewed at RENFE.

Luggage Transfer

Luggage transfers between overnight locations are included in the tour. We request that you have only one piece of luggage per person, it should weigh approximately 15kg/33lbs. An extra bag can be added for an additional cost.

Info & FAQ

Equipment

Bike & E-Bike Hire

Hire of a Mountain Bike is included as standard (Mountain Bike TREK Marlin 6 with either 27.5” or 29” wheels). Sizes range from XS to XL.

Included with bike hire is a pannier rack, panniers, phone holder, bottle cage, toolkit, puncture repair kit, and use of a helmet. We recommend that you bring your own helmet for your own comfort.

For some battery-powered assistance on longer days, and to ease ascents, we recommend hiring an e-bike. We can arrange hire of high quality E-bikes at an extra cost (TREK Powerfly 4-625 Gen 3). The rechargeable battery on your bike will be your reliable riding partner, getting you to the top of hills or to your final destination with more energy in the tank for an afternoon swim or simply for exploring. E-bikes are growing rapidly in popularity so please make sure to request one at the time of booking so we can secure availability for your trip and avoid disappointment.

Minimum age for e-bike hire is 16yrs.

Travel Insurance

It is strongly recommended that you secure adequate travel insurance.