Porto to Santiago Cycling Holiday

This variation of the traditional Portuguese Camino Route to Santiago is a seafood lovers delight as it follows the Atlantic Coast, taking in traditional fishing villages, sandy beaches, rocky coves and ancient towns along the way.

Your tours starts with a night in Porto, a beautiful old city at the mouth of the Douro River. Stroll around the winding narrow streets of Ribeira, the old town, perhaps taking a seat at one of the riverside restaurants for some fresh seafood. Of course, a trip to Porto would not be complete without sampling some of it's most famous product and a tasting session at a Port wine cellar is recommended.

Porto to Santiago Cycling HolidayCycling beside the Vigo River

The following morning your adventure begins as you cycle out of the city and start to follow the glorious Atlantic Coast northwards. For the next six days you will cover between 30 and 68 kms per day on flat or gently undulating terrain as you follow the coastline north. Each day brings new and exciting experiences. The historic old ship building town of Viana do Castello is one such example and boasts a fascinating medieval centre. On most days you will also pass delightful coves and fabulous sandy beaches so we highly recommend packing some beachwear in your pannier in case you fancy a dip.

Each night you will stop in small towns and villages along the way. The seafood in these parts is amongst the best in Europe and the local restaurants pride themselves on the quality and freshness of their mouth-watering dishes.

Finally, the route delivers you to Santiago de Compostela, the goal of pilgrims from all over Europe for over a thousand years. Sit in the main square in front of the cathedral, toast your own success and watch tired but euphoric pilgrims arrive at the end of their long journey's from all over Europe. The route is mainly on paved roads and bikes lanes and a few sections on dirt roads.

Porto to Santiago Cycling Holiday

This variation of the traditional Portuguese Camino Route to Santiago is a seafood lovers delight as it follows the Atlantic Coast, taking in traditional fishing villages, sandy beaches, rocky coves and ancient towns along the way.

Your tours starts with a night in Porto, a beautiful old city at the mouth of the Douro River. Stroll around the winding narrow streets of Ribeira, the old town, perhaps taking a seat at one of the riverside restaurants for some fresh seafood. Of course, a trip to Porto would not be complete without sampling some of it's most famous product and a tasting session at a Port wine cellar is recommended.

Porto to Santiago Cycling HolidayCycling beside the Vigo River

The following morning your adventure begins as you cycle out of the city and start to follow the glorious Atlantic Coast northwards. For the next six days you will cover between 30 and 68 kms per day on flat or gently undulating terrain as you follow the coastline north. Each day brings new and exciting experiences. The historic old ship building town of Viana do Castello is one such example and boasts a fascinating medieval centre. On most days you will also pass delightful coves and fabulous sandy beaches so we highly recommend packing some beachwear in your pannier in case you fancy a dip.

Each night you will stop in small towns and villages along the way. The seafood in these parts is amongst the best in Europe and the local restaurants pride themselves on the quality and freshness of their mouth-watering dishes.

Finally, the route delivers you to Santiago de Compostela, the goal of pilgrims from all over Europe for over a thousand years. Sit in the main square in front of the cathedral, toast your own success and watch tired but euphoric pilgrims arrive at the end of their long journey's from all over Europe. The route is mainly on paved roads and bikes lanes and a few sections on dirt roads.

Itinerary

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Day 1 : Arrive Porto

You will be picked up from Porto Airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore this fascinating historic city. You may like to visit one of the famous Port Lodges in Porto to sample the product and learn more about how it is produced ( see below). A stroll through the historic Ribeira neighbourhood, adjacent to the Douro River should also be on your schedule, the quayside here also provides a fantastic view of the famous Dom Luis Bridge.

Day 2 : Porto - Esposende
40 miles/64 kms

After breakfast your adventure really begins as you cycle out of the city and start to follow the incredible coast north. Atlantic rollers crash onto gorgeous sandy beaches and the salt air fill your nostrils. Along the way you'll pass some old historic villages and Vila do Conde is a good example. Maybe take a break here to explore the narrow streets of the old town as well as the surviving, long-legged segments of the medieval aquaduct. You then carry on, past more glorious beaches to today's destination, the small town of Esposende at the mouth of the river Cávado.

Day 3 : Esposende - Caminha
34 miles/55 kms

Today's lovely route leads you through pine forest and alongside a beautiful sandy beach to the Limia river mouth. Crossing the bridge delivers you into the heart of Viana do Castello, a busy harbour town that has been a strategic port since Roman times. From here you follow an idyllic coastal path north to Afife beach, if you are a beach lover you might want to allow some time to relax on this beautiful sandy beach where surfers ride the waves. Further up the coast you arrive in the small fishing village of Vila Praia de Ancora, that occupies an enviable spot at the mouth of the river Ancora. A little further on you stop for the night the night in the medieval town of Caminha, overlooking the estuary of the Minho River

Day 4 : Caminha - Baiona
24 miles/39 kms

The Minho River marks the border between Portugal and Spain so when you alight from the ferry (not included) on the northern bank this morning you have arrived in Spain. A charming coastal boardwalk guides you along the coast to the fishing port of A Guarda. The route then leads you around the pretty harbour before heading north once more. In the charming little hamlet of Oia you can visit the beautiful former Cistercian Monastery of Santa Maria. Further up the coast the Cabo Silleiro Lighthouse stands proudly above your route. Nearby we recommend a stop at the Miradouro das Ilhas Cíes, a viewpoint offering stunning panoramas of the Cíes Islands, where turquoise waters and distant islands create a picturesque scene. Your destination today is the lively little village of Baiona, famous for its fresh fish and seafood. In the evening take a wander around the winding streets of the old town where you will be spoilt for choice for places to eat and drink

Day 5 : Baiona - Pontevedra
40 miles/65 kms

Today's lovely and varied route starts alongside the Vigo Estuary. Before long you reach San Pedro da Ramallosa where you can admire the ancient, stone bridge that is a testament to the Romans' incredible engineering skills. A little further along, the well-preserved Roman Villa de Torana is also worth a visit. After passing the town of Vigo the route ascends to the Miradoiro do Campo da Rata, a stunning vantage point offering sweeping views of the estuary and countryside. At the end of the estuary you pass through the village of Arcade, the oyster capital of Galicia, before crossing the medieval stone bridge and climbing a woodland trail over to the next valley. Now you begin to encounter more pilgrims as your route merges with other long distance routes, all headed for Santiago de Compostela. Your destination today is the beautiful old town of Pontevedra where you will overnight. Check in to your hotel and then take stroll or ride through the pedestrianised streets of this riverside town where you will find a good choice of restaurants, cafes and vibrant tapas bars.

Day 6 : Pontevedra - Padrón
30 miles/48 kms

Shortly after leaving Pontevedra you will start to cycle past extensive wetlands , a haven for plants and wildlife, especially birds. Thereafter the route flirts with the Barossa river and you will cross and recross the river using lovely old stone bridges. There's a lovely waterfall spot along the river which is an ideal place to stop for some lunch. Later you pass through Caldas de Reis, an old Roman spa town and after more idyllic cycling up the valley you arrive in the lovely old pilgrims' town of Padrón where you will spend the night.

Day 7 : Padron - Santiago de Compostela
19 miles/30 kms

Santiago is not far away now and on the final few kilometres you will be surrounded by tired but ecstatic pilgrims who, like you are approaching their goal. At Milladoiro, you catch your first glimpse of the stunning cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, within which the tomb of the Apostle St. James is located. On reaching your goal, the afternoon will be free to explore this fascinating city. Our top tip is to take time to explore the interesting and unique pedestrianised plazas that surround the cathedral. We also highly recommend chatting to some of the pilgrims about their journeys as some will have walked across Europe to get here and their stories are often astonishing and entertaining. You will spend the night in this magical city.

Day 8 : Santiago de Compostela - end of trip

After breakfast it's time to head for home or your next adventure. Your package includes a transfer back to Porto airport.


Bikes

On this tour you can choose between a regular trekking bike or an e-bike.

Regular bike: A great quality Shimano rear derailleur, SR Suntour suspensions, a softer saddle, and ergonomic non-slip rubber handles provide a smooth and comfortable ride on every surface. Schwalbe tires, ensuring grip and enhanced resistance to punctures, good Shimano brakes, and a stiff aluminum frame, will assure a safe and worry-free journey.

Gravel bike: This capable bike combines innovation, strength, and style for demanding cyclists like you. Equipped with the Shimano GRX 1×12 groupset, this bike offers a precise and smooth transmission, ideal for tackling any type of terrain with efficiency and confidence. The high-quality carbon frame provides a perfect combination of lightness and durability, guaranteeing superior performance on all your adventures.

E-bike: A great quality Shimano rear derailleur, SR Suntour suspensions, a softer saddle, and ergonomic non-slip rubber handles provide a smooth and comfortable ride on every surface. Schwalbe tires, ensuring grip and enhanced resistance to punctures, good hydraulic Shimano brakes, and a stiff aluminium frame, will assure a safe and worry-free journey. Yamaha or Bosch Power Tube 500Wh battery will be the boost you’ll need to get the most out of your tour.

All bikes come with helmet, handlebar bag, rear rack and bag.

Accommodation

On this holiday you will stay in beautiful 3 and 4 star properties (superior category). Those typically used are shown below. If these are not available then hotels of a similar standard will be used.

Superior Category

Porto: NH Porto Jardim

Esposende: Suave Mar

Caminha: Hotel Porta do Sol

Baiona: Parador de Baiona

Pontevedra: Parador de Pontevedra

Padrón: Pazo Lestrove

Santiago de Compostela: Parador Santiago de Compostela

Getting there

Fly to and from Porto Airport. Your package includes a transfer from the airport to your first hotel in Porto. A return transfer to Porto airport at the end of the trip is available for a supplement. You can also fly back from Santiago Airport for a supplement.

Research flights from UK here.

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