Cycling the Historic Camino de Santiago

Once you land in Santiago de Compostela airport, you will be picked up and transferred to your first hotel (2-hour drive) in Ponferrada. Before heading out to dinner, you’ll go and pick up your Pilgrim passport with your guide and your team—it will be stamped and confirm your Camino completion. Enjoy the charming Ponferrada, visit the 12th-century Castillo de los Templarios castle, or stroll through the old part of town, where the city’s folks take their paseo (promenade) in the evening before settling on their terraces for some refreshments. Get some rest—cycling starts tomorrow!

Accommodation: Hotel in Ponferrada

Set off on an exciting journey with Santiago in the distant sight! Take a fun ride along the Rio Sil before heading out of Ponferrada through vast fields and vines and arriving at the village of Columbrianos. From here, take a picturesque route, meandering through more vineyards and villages, the views of the monumental Las Ancares mountains in the distance. Following a descent on a fast trail, you’ll find yourself entering the beautiful town of Villafranca del Bierzo, a wonderful spot for lunch. As you head towards Vega de Valcarce, the valley opens up into a beautiful glaciated valley of meadows and tiny hamlets and villages.

Accommodation: Hotel in Vega de Valcarce
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Cycling: 27 miles / 43 km
Elevation: +611 m / +2,000 ft

Today’s route might be one of the more challenging ones, but the rewards are immense. First you’ll cruise deeper into the Valcarce Valley passing Herrerias, a village whose iron and steel industry goes back to the Middle Ages. Climbing begins here, up to O’Cebriero, which is on a well-surfaced path with some steeper sections, taking you past El Bierzo. The panoramas and views will take your mind off climbing! Once you reach O’Cebreiro, get some rest and celebrate your achievement before beginning a 10-km (6-mile) descent to the valley. Follow the Rio Ouribio through a valley wedged in by mountains, until you take the last descent to the bottom of the valley, entering the village of Samos (home to the great monastery of Los Santos Julian y Basilica de Samos). On hot days the river at Samos is an ideal place for a refreshing dip!

Accommodation: Hotel in Samos
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Cycling: 25 miles / 40 km
Elevation: +1,000 m / 3,280 ft

Cycle deep into the mysterious Galicia, rich with legends and stories of Brujeria (witchcraft) and mythology. Pedal though tiny, granite hamlets and farmsteads, which allows you to savor the region’s beauty. Upon reaching Sarria, the only sizable place enroute, you’ll climb up to the hill town—in Galicia the Camino is well-surfaced for cycling so you’ll enjoy today’s journey! Passing Barbadelo (and its 12th-century Romanesque church), pick up a long Corredoira taking you past the half-way point, meaning that there’s 100 km (60 miles) left to go! You’ll reach Mogarde and notice that the Camino gets a bit busier, as 100 km is the minimum distance which pilgrims need to pass to get their passport. Today’s destination is Portomarin, sitting high on the right-hand bank of the river, where the most important monuments of the town were moved stone by stone.

Accommodation: Hotel in Portomarin
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Cycling: 23 miles / 37 km
Elevation: +581 m / +1,906 ft

Head out for your first obstacle of the day: the climb up and past Monte de San Antonio, to the villages of Gonzar and Castromaior. The cycling is incredible as you follow the pretty Torres stream through glades of oak and pine, over softly-undulating countryside that is typical of this part of Galicia. Following a 11-km (7-mile) stretch of lane, climb gently through the lush Sierra de Ligonde, passing many villages boasting plenty of refreshments. The trail continues through oak woods and eucalyptus plantations, bringing you to the first village in the La Coruna province, Cornixa, from where you’ll follow a well-restored ancient medieval trail. A short steady climb takes you to Melide, your base for the night.

Accommodation: Hotel in Sedor
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Cycling: 30 miles / 49 km
Elevation: +1,000 m / +3,280 ft

The grand finale! A steady climb takes you to the artisan’s town of Arzua, where, according to legend, a local woman who denied a tired, hungry pilgrim a piece of bread had her bread turned to stone! With sharing in mind, you’ll stop in Santa Irene for some rest and lunch, refueling for the final pedal to Santiago. After riding through Lavacolla, take on the last climb of the Camino as you head up on paved roads and along to Monte del Gozo (Mount Joy), which is where the long-awaited Santiago comes into view for the first time! It’s a downhill ride now all the way to Santiago de Compostela, a World Heritage Site. Reach Plaza de Obradoiro, Santiago’s impressive cathedral square, where you’ll celebrate the end of a truly memorable and life-changing ride with your team.

Accommodation: Hotel in Santiago de Compostela
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Cycling: 29 miles / 46 km
Elevation: +890 m / +2,920 ft

After a relaxing breakfast, it’s time to pack up and get transferred to Santiago de Compostela Airport (a 30-minute drive). If you’d like to stay longer, just ask your guides for some recommendations—Santiago de Compostela is a beautiful city to explore at your own pace! The cathedral is always a delight, especially the incense-bearing Botafumeiro. Other sights include Convento de San Paio de Antelares, which houses the Museo de Arte Sacro, the Plaza de la Azabachería, and Museo do Pobo Galego. The Hospital Real (now a luxury hotel) is worth a visit, or you can just relax at the world-famous plaza.

Meals: Breakfast