Our self-guided Portuguese Camino bike tour from Porto takes pilgrims along Portugal’s wild Atlantic Coast and across the border into Spain, discovering the unique history and culture of the Camino de Santiago. The tour allows pilgrims to discover the distinct cultures, landscapes and cuisines of two different countries, cycling across the border from Portugal to Spain. Along the way, you’ll discover picturesque fishing villages, historic medieval monasteries and three separate Protected Denomination of Origin wine regions. You’ll stay in the region’s very best hotels, including a fortress originally constructed to defend against pirates! The Portuguese Camino bike tour from Porto is designed to comply with the minimum cycling distance required to obtain the Compostela certificate, which confirms your official status as a pilgrim once you arrive into Santiago! The Camino begins! The first cycle route of your Portuguese Camino bike tour takes you from Porto all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. You'll cycle along the banks of the Douro River out of the city and into the seaside resort town of Matosinhos. If all that cycling makes you peckish, you’ll find plenty of beachfront grills that will barbecue freshly-caught fish for you to give you energy for the next part of your ride! You’ll spend the night in Vila do Conde, a pretty town built during the Portuguese Golden Age. The town’s skyline is dominated by the imposing Monastery of Santa Clara, as well as the aqueduct that was built in the 18th century to bring water to the monastery and of which nearly 1000 arches still remain. Today’s route continues northwards along the coastline, passing by sand dunes and traditional windmills. At Fao, you’ll cross the bridge over the river Cádavo and into Esposende, where you’ll follow the estuary before turning slightly inland to explore ancient medieval town such as Castelo do Neiva, whose Benedictine monastery dates back to the 11th century, before crossing the Eiffel bridge over the River Lima into Viana do Castelo. You’ll spend tonight in the picturesque town of Viana do Castelo, overlooked by the hilltop Basilica del Sagrado Corazón, which was inspired by the Sacre Coeur in Paris. Today you’ll enjoy fabulous views as you continue to follow the coastline north, passing by ancient monasteries and small popular shrines. Your first stop is the medieval border town of Caminha. Don’t miss the rude gargoyle at the church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção, a symbol of the historic enmity between Portugal and Spain! In Caminha, you’ll take a boat across the River Miño to begin the Spanish portion of your journey in the charming fishing village of A Guarda, where you’ll cycle around the base of the Monte de Santa Tegra to follow a coastak cycle path along one of the wilder portions of Spain’s Atlantic coast towards Baiona. Along the way, you’ll pass by the beautiful beachfront Monastery de Santa María de Oia. Once in Baiona, you can spend some time exploring the city’s atmospheric historic centre and quaint fishing port. The town’s most important historic building is the Castelo de Monterreal, a medieval fortress that still retains the cannons once used to defend the town from pirates, and which offers fabulous views over the bay from the parapet. Nowadays, it is a luxury hotel; your hotel for the night, in fact! Today, the Camino takes you around the bay of Baiona and over the Romanesque bridge into A Ramallosa, and continues inland. It’s well worth stopping in Vigo to admire the many sculptures that decorate the city, including one dedicated to Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and to enjoy the tapas that many bars give out for free to accompany drinks. Leaving Vigo behind, we’ll follow a *vía verde* (disused railway line converted into a traffic-free cycle path) towards Redondela, before following the course of the River Tomenza into Pontevedra. You’ll spend the night in the interesting Camino city of Pontevedra, where we highly recommend a visit to the Santuario de la Virgen Peregrina, dedicated to the patron of the Portuguese Camino and featuring a unique scallop shell floor. Pontevedra is the first city of the *albariño* wine region, so we highly recommend trying some of this light Galicial white wine. Today, you'll head out of Pontevedra and north along quiet forest paths. Your first stop is the spa town of Caldas de Reis, situated at the confluence of the rivers Bermaña and Umia, and well-known for its geothermal hot springs. From here, you’ll continue north along quiet forest paths towards the town of Padrón, famous for the small green peppers of the same name. We highly recommend that you make a quick stop here to try a tapa of freshly fried and salted peppers, but remember the saying: “Padrón peppers, some are hot, and others are not!” Leaving Padrón behind, you’ll face one last climb up to Santiago de Compostela and the end of your journey! Your pilgrimage finishes in front of Santiago Cathedral, where you can celebrate along with the hundreds of pilgrims who arrive into Santiago every day, just as they have been doing for centuries. You can collect your *Compostela* certificate, which certifies your status as a pilgrim, at the Pilgrim’s Office beside the Cathedral. Congratulations – you’ve earned it! Arrival at leisure in Porto, the second biggest and most populated city in Portugal, just after Lisbon. Porto has a range of flight connections with major international airports; alternatively, it is easily accessible from Lisbon by train. Ask your Bike Spain Tours travel consultant for assistance if required. In Porto, you can visit attractions such as the Cathedral, the Tower “de los Clérigos”, Church do Carmo, Plaza de la Libertad and, of course, take a walk along the Douro River. We also recommend a visit to the beautiful Lello Bookshop, said to have inspired JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series. Don’t forget to drop by the Cathedral to pick up your _credencial_: the document that demonstrates your status as a pilgrim. You will need to get this stamped twice a day at hotels, restaurants and anywhere else you might visit in order to be awarded your certificate of pilgrimage once you arrive in Santiago! The average climate in Porto, Portugal shows temperatures ranging from 45.8-54.7°F in January to 65.3-78.4°F in July. Rainfall varies significantly, with 363mm in January and as little as 5.7mm in July. Bike Spain Tours arranged biking the Portuguese Camino (Costal Route) for our group of 8 riders and I feel compelled to write a review even before the trip begins. A successful trip hinges on its organization and Laura, assisted by Aviva at Bike Spain Tours have gone above & beyond for us. Without hesitation they catered to our specific needs and relentlessly advocated for us to obtain the best accommodations when our dates changed on short notice. They are responsive to questions & concerns and are very detailed oriented which is reassuring to us as we approach our trip date. The rest is up to us! This five-star hotel set in the historic Santa Clara Monastery blends timeless architecture with contemporary comfort. Guests can unwind in elegant rooms and spa facilities, and enjoy Michelin-starred dining at Oculto. The Parador de Santiago is a blend of history, art and tradition. It’s a dream accommodation for pilgrims and the perfect place to end your Camino de Santiago bike tour. A mix between a medieval castle and a Galician stately home, the Parador de Baiona offers elegant rooms that are carefully decorated to take you back in time to another age. Outstanding features include the majestic stone stairway in the reception area and a huge garden, equipped with a large swimming pool, from where you can view the entire bay. The Parador, once the residence of the counts of Maceda, is located in the old quarter of the magnificent city of Pontevedra. It combines regal, noble and stately styles with charming rural elements. Perched atop a hill with stunning views over Viana do Castelo, this historic Pousada blends classic charm with modern comfort. Guests arriving by bike should note the climb, but are rewarded with elegant rooms, a welcoming atmosphere, and a perfect base for exploring the surrounding region. Built in 1509 in the Manueline style, Casa Melo Alvim is the oldest manor house in town, carefully converted into a comfortable 4-star hotel. Guests can enjoy breakfast in the cozy bar with live piano music, while a Baroque-style staircase leads to the upper floors and the library. Villa C Boutique Hotel is located on the south bank of the River Ave, in Azurara. This 4-star property features a luxury spa, a gym and a grocery store. Relax at the hotel’s elegant spa, enjoy breathtaking views over Porto from the roopftop bar, or visit the hotel restaurant, Tasca da Memória for a modern take on traditional Portuguese cuisine. 6 nights accommodation in 4/5* hotels, set in beautifully-restored historic buildings. Buffet breakfasts. Daily luggage transfers (one piece of luggage per person). GPX tracks and maps. Roadbook with local information and recommendations. 24 hour assistance during the trip. Exclusive Bike Spain Tours gifts! Covers the minimum cycling distance required to obtain the Compostela pilgrim certificate. Extra night in Porto and full-day Douro Valley river cruise. The best possible way to discover the spectacular landscapes and delicious wines of the Douro River Valley! Enjoy a relaxing cruise up the Douro River, admiring the beautiful terraced vineyards that line the slopes of the valley. Once in Pinhão, you'll disembark for a wine tasting at a local quinta, before returning to Porto by coach. This group excursion includes breakfast and lunch aboard the boat, wine tasting in Pinhão and return journey to Porto. Extra night at Hotel Wine and Books Porto. Extra night in Ponte de Lima. Ponte de Lima is one of the prettiest and most charming towns in Portugal. This village is located to the south of Lima river and it has been the main crossing point ever since the Romans built a bridge back in the year 1 B.C. You'll spend the night at the beautiful hotel Paço Vitorino, a manor house and functioning winery dating back to the 16th century. Extra night in Baiona and daytrip to the Cíes Islands. Enjoy a boat trip to the beautiful Cies Islands, often called the “Galician Caribbean” due to their pristine white sand beaches. These islands, a refuge for pirates back in the day, are currently an uninhabited paradise. There are no cars, no hotels, and the number of visitors each day is restricted. Public ferry available from mid-July to mid-September. Chartered boats available year-round. Extra night at the Parador de Baiona. Extra night in Santiago and day trip to the Finisterre Peninsula (self-guided tours). Known to the Romans as the "end of the world", the windswept Finisterre peninsula is the western-most point of the Iberian peninsula, and boasts one of its most spectacular landscapes! Traditionally, pilgrims would finish the Camino at the Finisterre lighthouse, and burn their dirty clothes on the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Available as a full-day private taxi tour. Extra night at the Parador de Santiago de Compostela. Portuguese Camino: Shorter stages. If you've got an extra day available, we can split the challenging final two stages into three shorter stages of approximately 45 km/28 miles each. ORBEA Orca M30 bike rental: Frame – Orbea Orca carbon OMR 2024. Crankset – Shimano 105 R7100 34x50t. From: 330.00€ TREK Powerfly FS+ 4 bike rental: The Powerfly FS+ 4 Equipped is a high-powered full-suspension electric mountain bike. From: 440.00€
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