Get ready to turn your Camino dreams into reality, but with a twist! While everyone’s raving about the classic Camino Frances, we’re here to shine a spotlight on its coastal cousin—the Camino Portugués. Trust us, it’s a game-changer! As a crew of local trip planners, we’ve cooked up the ultimate self-guided cycling adventure along the last 170 miles of this hidden gem, from Porto to Santiago de Compostela. Say goodbye to endless prep work because we’ve got all the logistics covered. Get ready to pedal your way beside Atlantic waves, along rugged coastlines, and between medieval towns bursting with centuries of history and mouthwatering seafood. It’s a journey that’ll make you dive deep into the vibrant cultures of northern Portugal and Spain as you draw closer to the City of the Apostle.
Get ready for a 7-day cycling adventure along the scenic Camino Portugués, from Porto to Santiago de Compostela. Cycle through charming villages, along sandy beaches, and coastal boardwalks, experiencing the beauty of northern Portugal and Spain. Explore historic towns like Pontevedra and Baiona, savoring local cuisine and culture along the way. Conclude your journey in Santiago de Compostela, where you can visit the magnificent Cathedral and stroll through the historic center. Enjoy comfortable accommodations, hearty breakfasts, and seamless luggage transfers throughout this unique pilgrimage.
Upon your arrival in Porto, check into your accommodation and start exploring the city. The entire old city of Porto became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996 and there’s plenty going on here. Set on the bank of the Douro River near the Atlantic Ocean, the city is perhaps best known internationally for its famous Port wine. A wine that goes down very well on the countless terraces and restaurants in Porto!
After breakfast, it’s time for your coastal Camino de Santiago cycling adventure to start! From the city center of Porto, you will head out along the Douro River to the Atlantic coastline which you will follow north. Passing by beach resorts, you may be tempted more than once to dip your toes in the sea today. To shorten the day you can take the metro to the coast to start from there. The end of Day 2 will have you in the linked coastal villages of Vila do Conde and Póvoa de Varzim, where your accommodation is located.
Meals: Breakfast
Distance: 23 miles (37 km)
Enjoy another delicious breakfast and get ready for another day of cycling the Camino Portugues! As you make your way to the market town of Barcelos for your last night in Portugal, enjoy the change of scenery from beach to quiet country lanes, screened by eucalyptus and pine woods. Once there, you can have a picnic or even a swim in the Rio Este and visit a parish church dedicated to St Peter and reputedly ordered by St James himself on his evangelisation of the peninsula.
Meals: Breakfast
Distance: 29 miles (46 km)
After breakfast you’ll continue along the coast of Portugal. You’ll be following a boardwalk for a while before cycling parallel to the coast road on a very safe cycling path. Take advantage of the small villages you are crossing as well as the viewpoints. Sto somewhere along the way to have something to eat or simply relax. You will cross the border to Spain on a ferry and arrive in Baiona via the cycle path again. Baiona is a jewel of a town. Small enough to be quiet yet big enough to have plenty to do and see.
Meals: Breakfast
Distance: 39 miles (63 km)
Leaving Baiona, the first part of the day is again marvelous, with wild coast cycling along a cycle path. You will be passing through Vigo, the largest town of the region and while the busy roads will provide a contrast to the previous days. It will take you around 1.5 hours to cross the city and head back to the classic Camino Portugues. Day 5 ends in the lovely town of Pontevedra. There is a great historical center and a vibrant atmosphere waiting for you.
Meals: Breakfast
Distance: 37 miles (60 km)
Your final day of cycling on this section of the Camino will take you through chestnut groves and pine and eucalyptus woods. A statue of Saint James in Ponte Cabras with his staff will show you the way. Stop in Caldas do Rei for a dip in its hot springs and visit the ruins of the Castro Lupario fort. Along your journey, you will see some of the oldest wayside crosses of Galicia. And as you make your way towards Agro des Monteiros, you will be able to see the spires of the cathedral in Compostela. In the afternoon, arrive in the City of the Apostle, where you can complete your journey with a visit to the Cathedral, a stroll around the old town, and tapas in one of its bustling bars.
Meals: Breakfast
Distance: 40 miles (65 km)
After breakfast, your Camino Portugues bike tour will have come to an end. If you wish to stay in the area, we recommend that you take your time and visit the magnificent historic center or explore some other nearby locations.
Meals: Breakfast
Please note that accommodations are subject to availability and it may not be possible to book the exact accommodations listed day-by-day in the itinerary (in case there is a detailed list).
Also note that your chosen dates for the tour are not guaranteed until confirmed by the guide. If the guide is unable to secure your preferred dates/accommodation, you’ll get a full refund!
We cycled the Camino from Porto to Santiago de Compostela. Our trip was perfectly organized by Marie who fulfilled all our wishes (additional days for sight-seeing, excursions, etc.) Everything went smoothly as planned, the hotels were nice, the staff was very friendly and helpful, the included meals were great. On the last day there was a problem with the delivery of our luggage, but Marie solved it in few minutes. It was an unforgettable trip, thank you Marie and Follow the Camino!
We had 8 marvelous days, We did 5 days cycling the Portuguese coastal way no guided tour from Porto to Santiago. Most of the hotels were very good ones, and all of them in excellent locations. I traveled with my younger son and had a lifetime experience.
Included:
Not included:
*Please note that accommodations are subject to availability and it may not be possible to book the exact accommodations listed day-by-day in the itinerary (in case there is a detailed list).
*Please note that refrigerators are not guaranteed in the accommodations
Cycling the Camino Portugués requires great fitness and stamina. You’ll be cycling between 23 and 40 miles (37-65 km) per day, sometimes on long and steep climbs. Keep in mind that the adventure includes 5 consecutive cycling days. Expect varying terrain, with some sections being uneven, unpaved, or on loose ground. This trip is ideal for those who cycle regularly, and it’s even better if you have experience of riding on uneven/unpaved terrain. If you’re joining this cycling tour, we expect you to be fit and healthy, ready to take on an achievable challenge!
The terrain for the last 170 miles (270 km) of the Camino Portugués varies, offering a mix of flat sections, gentle slopes, and occasional challenging climbs. As you approach Santiago de Compostela, you’ll encounter a diverse landscape, including rural paths, paved roads, forest trails, and cobblestone streets through quaint villages and historic towns. While some parts may be relatively easy to cycle, others might require more effort, especially if there are steep ascents or rough terrain. Overall, you can expect a rewarding but occasionally demanding journey as you pedal their way to the final destination.
Here’s what you’ll need:
Mountain bikes are included in the price of the tour, but you can bring your own if you prefer. Bring comfortable clothes appropriate for the season and for different weather conditions. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
By going on a self-guided Camino Portugues bike tour, you’re able to cycle at your own pace and enjoy the journey without worrying about the logistics of it all. The guiding company who put this all together is Follow the Camino. They’ve been leading pilgrims along their journey since 2007 and they were the first ever operator to organize tours along Camino de Santiago.
There are many perks of choosing a self-guided tour. Apart from not having to adjust to the group, you’ll have the accommodation, breakfasts, luggage transfer, and route instructions sorted. You’ll be staying in carefully-selected 2-3* hotels and guesthouses and there’s no need to print out anything upon checking-in—your guides booked and arranged everything for you, all you have to do is show your I.D.
This is a hassle-free trip so if you want to focus on enjoying your cycling pilgrimage in the Spanish bucolic countryside, these self-guided tours are the perfect match.
Your guides will send you a pre-departure pack by post. The pack contains your pilgrim passport, luggage tag, route notes or guidebook if you’ve requested a hard copy. In case there are certain complications with receiving the pre-departure pack, it will wait for you at your first accommodation.
You’ll have to download the route notes and vouchers yourself. The cycling route notes are here to assist you. We recommend that you always familiarize yourself with the daily journey ahead. You’ll also download the vouchers yourself. These vouchers contain all the information about your confirmed accommodation—there will be an address, their phone number, any special instructions on how to get there, and a small map.
You will find a 24/7 support phone number on the bottom of each voucher. Keep in mind that there’s no need to print out the vouchers, as your reservations will be confirmed.
Pricing is based on double occupancy. Still, a solo traveler can certainly sign up, but please note there will be an additional single supplement fee.
The luggage transfer is limited to 1 bag per person with a maximum weight of 15 kg per bag. The size of the bag doesn’t matter. Additional bags can be transferred for an extra €10 per bag per transfer. Please note that boots or smaller bags attached to the main bag count as an extra bag and will be charged accordingly.
If you’re moving onto different accommodation, we ask you to have the luggage ready by 8am at the reception. Make sure to use your luggage tags—ideally, write your trip reference and your mobile phone number if you wish. Your luggage should be at the next hotel by 6pm at the latest.
Group sizes and prices:
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
Your adventure starts in Porto, the second largest city in Portugal. To get there, most people fly into Porto Airport. Alternatively, you can fly into Lisbon Airport and take a train or a bus ride to Poto. Once there, get to your accommodation, do a check in, and collect your bike.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations. Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!
To secure your spot, a deposit in the amount of 30% is required at the time of booking. The remaining amount must be paid 90 calendar days prior to the trip departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies. If you cancel the booking…
Client can transfer their booking to a person who satisfies all the requirements, having first given the Guide reasonable notice in writing to do so before the departure date (such notice must be given more than 21 days prior to the date of departure). Client who transfers the Booking shall be jointly and severally liable with the transferee to the Guide for the payment of any balance due in respect of the holiday and for a substitution fee of €30.00 per person substituted, subject to a maximum of €120.00 per booking (or such other greater sum as may be authorized).
Please note that booking fees are non-refundable in all cases and will be deducted from the refund amount.
Just returned from cycling the Portuguese Camino from Porto to Santiago del Compostelo. Wonderful experience and made easier by Follow the Camino who organised the whole thing including hotels, carriage of luggage and cycle hire. They were easy to contact and responsive to any queries both before the event and during the holiday. Would highly recommend.