Bike tour Portuguese "Central Camino" - Porto to Santiago de Compostela

Ride by the “Camino”, the Way of St. James, in an epic journey towards Santiago de Compostela, and discover the history, culture and gastronomy of the north of Portugal and Spain – Minho and Galiza. Ride by Ponte de Lima, Valença, Tui, Pontevedra, quiet forests and villages in this car-free trails, suited for every rider, where you’ll have the time to enjoy this peaceful and spiritual paths of the way of St. James.
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Duration

6 Days
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Level

Intermediate to Advanced
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Bike Type

Mountain, Hybrid or E-Bike
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Daily Distance

45km to 60km
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Daily Altimetry

600m to 900m

Highlights

We'll meet you at our local shop in Porto to provide you with a private briefing, before the start of your experience, in which we'll hand you a Garmin Edge GPS with the preloaded tracks for this tour and a detailed routebook for the experience! You will start riding north by the “Camino” in Porto, from Sé, on the same day.

The following days you will be riding by the North of Portugal, in the “Minho” region, and visit historical places like Ponte de Lima, Valença, ride by forests with other travelers in the “Camino” up to Galiza. You will pass by the Minho river, visit Tui, Pontevedra and get to experience the gastronomy, culture and nature of this epic journey. Arriving in Santiago after 6 riding days, you will end your adventure visiting the Cathedral and the historical city center at the end of this pilgrimage in the Way of St. James.

Gallery

  • llr santiago 20 1920x1080[1]
  • llr santiago 20 1920x1080[1]
  • llr santiago 20 1920x1080[1]

Itinerary

Day 0: Private briefing and bike fit at our local shop in Porto;

Private briefing and bike fit at our Porto bike station on the day before (other dates can be arranged);

Day 1: Porto to Barcelos - 61km ride

You'll start riding from Sé, Porto’s cathedral or straight from our shop, which is in the Camino. From Sé, you’ll start your adventure riding by central Porto until you reach Vairão, from where you'll start cycling in trails and small backroads, crossing the Ave river until you reach Rates and, from then on, Barcelos. After checking in to your hotel, take your time to relax and walk in Barcelos city center and discover the local heritage, the “Barcelos cock”, medieval tower and city center.

Hotel for the day: Bagoeira, Barcelos

Day 2: Barcelos to Ponte de Lima - 35km ride

After breakfast at your hotel, start your day riding by the beautiful Barcelos village, and then tackle the first uphill section of the day, towards São Pedro de Fins, after which you’ll start your long descent onto the Lima river, where you’ll find the beautiful city of “Ponte de Lima”, with its very well preserved medieval center and bridge. Throughout the way, you’ll witness the beautiful Minho rural landscape. Ride along the river on the cycling path toward's your hotel, INLIMA. After checking in to your hotel, take your time to relax and visit Ponte de Lima and have dinner in a local restaurant downtown.

Hotel for the day: Inlima, Ponte de Lima

Day 3: Ponte de Lima to Tui - 45km ride;

After breakfast at your hotel, leave Ponte de Lima crossing the beautiful medieval bridge and take on the trails by the river side – once you reach Arcozelo (around km 87), it’s all uphill up to the top of Labruja – the Camino’s toughest uphill. After Labruja, it’s all downhill towards Rubiães, and then Valença, the last Portuguese city you’ll encounter, on the bank of Minho river, renowned by its fortress. Cross the river into Spain, towards the city of Tui. Check in at your hotel and take the rest of the day and night to explore the small but beautiful center of Tui.

Hotel for the day: Torre do Xudeu, Tui

Day 4: Tui/Valença to Pontevedra - 50km ride;

After breakfast at the hotel, your day will start with a beautiful ride through the woods outside of Tui. Near redondela, you'll tackle the steepest climb of the day, after which you’ll once again hit the back roads until you reach Pontevedra’s train station and city center. Check in at your hotel, and take your time to visit Pontevedra’s Real Basilica and city center.

Hotel for the day: Hotel da Barca, Pontevedra

Day 5: Pontevedra to Padrón - 35km ride;

Start your ride by crossing Rio Lérez and riding north, on the trails alongside the train tracks. Narrow paths of ancient roman pathways and backroads will follow until you reach “Caldas de Reis”, renowned as a thermal resort. Then, keep riding by the trails and back roads until you reach Padrón. In Padrón , turn left at the bridge towards Convento del Carmo, and then left again to reach your hotel for the day, “Pazo de Lestrove”, that ill appear on the left side of the road.

Hotel for the day: Pazo de Lestrove, Padrón

Day 6: Padrón to Santiago - 28km ride;

After breakfast, you’ll start your cycling day climbing just outside of Padrón. More and more pilgrims will appear at this stage, as Santiago is nearby - don’t forget to wish a “Bom Caminho” to all pilgrims you see along the way! After climbing the more urbanized area of Santiago, you’ll enter the historical center and reach the Santiago Cathedral – the end of this epic journey! Take time to visit the city and the Cathedral and make sure to attend the Pilgrim Mass, in which you may be able to see the famous Santiago Cathedral’s “Smoke Spreader”.

What's included

  • 5 nights in three star hotels in the north of Portugal and Spain, in Galiza, breakfast included, in shared double accommodation;
  • Mountain or touring bike rental for 6 days;
  • Private briefing upon your arrival at our local shop in Porto;
  • Road book with suggestions of restaurants and attractions during your tour;
  • 1 Garmin GPS with previously loaded tracks, adapted to your riding experience (1 GPS per group);
  • Bike helmet and other gear (tire levers, spares, air pump);
  • 24hour remote assistance and contact with our local guides;
  • Rear rack and 2X 20L waterproof saddle bags for you to carry your luggage;
  • Ride insurance (for accidents only);
  • Luggage storage on our Porto warehouse throughout all the tour

Optional

  • E-bike supplement: 6 day e-bike rental: 210EUR per bike/person;
  • Passenger transfer back to Porto on final day: on demand;
  • Daily luggage transfer: on demand;

Price

  • 940 EUR per person (minimum booking of 2 pax)
  • Single supplement: 400EUR/guest
  • High season supplement ( from May to October): 150EUR/guest

Booking

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Faq

Yes, you can, as these are private self-guide tours, for you and your group only. These are subject to availability, as we need to check hotel and bike availability for your preferred dates.
We accept bookings for a minimum of 2 guests on our self-guided bike tours.
We require a down payment of 50% of the value of the tour upon booking. The remaining value us due 30 days before the start date of your tour.
No, we specialized in Self-guided tours, where we provide all that is required for you to complete the tour on your own.
Yes, you can. However, if you choose to do so, you must be responsible for the logistics of carrying your own luggage with your bike, as the luggage carrying systems that we use on our bikes might not be able to fit yours.
If you choose to rent one of our bikes, we'll equip them with 2x20litter rear panniers so you can carry your luggage with you from hotel to hotel, as well as a 2.5litter handlebar bag. We do not operate external luggage transfers services, but we can recommend companies that do that.
The briefing, bike fit and handing over all the information and gear for the tour is done at our Bike Stations in Porto and Lisbon. Our guides will meet you and provide you with a detailed routebook, suggestions and all you need to complete your tour. This briefing can be scheduled for the day before you start the tour (this is our recommendation) or even in the same day that you want to start your ride.
We accept payment via Paypal and any other major credit/debit cards. Payment for all tours and rentals are made entirely upon booking, and online.
If you need to cancel or change your bike tour to unexpected circumstances, our cancellation policy follows below:

Bike tour cancellation requested 120 days before tour:
100% of the value payed is refunded;

Bike tour cancellation requested between 119 to 90 days:
60% of the value payed is refunded;

Bike tour cancellation requested between 89 to 30 days:
50% of the value payed is refunded;

Bike tour cancellation requested 29 days, or less, before the tour:
No refunds;

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European Offices

Monday to Friday
09AM to 06PM GMT
Telephone: +351 969 154 589
(Call to the Portuguese national fixed network)

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