30 - 66 km
300 - 900 m
8 Days & 7 Nights
Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Tour Grade
- Distance
30 – 65 km / day
- Profile
Flat and moderately hilly on the beginning; hilly at the end
- Route
50% paved road; 25% bike lanes and wooden walkways; 20% dirt roads; some cobblestone and rough dirt roads
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Itinerary
Arrival in Porto
Welcome to Porto! Our guide will pick you up at the airport and drive you to your hotel in the center of Porto.
Make sure you take some time to explore and enjoy this exciting city. There are many interesting things to see such as the granitic building stones, the narrow streets from the middle ages and the beautiful riverside making it a great place to wander. It is the second biggest city of Portugal and is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. This city has a lot to see and offer and will be your home for the first night.
Bike from Porto to Esposende
Let the adventure begin!
Leave Porto behind to encounter Portugal's amazing coastline for the first time. Watch as the cold Atlantic water waves crash into the lovely beaches along the way and make sure you find a nice spot to pause for a second and breath the fresh air. Along the way you will find many interesting ancient villages, with Vila do Conde being the standout one. Its historic heart, glassy river mouth, luscious beaches and monuments such as the Mosteiro de Santa Clara and the surviving segments of a long legged medieval aqueduct makes this village into the special gem that it is.
Bike from Esposende to Caminha
Today, you will ride in the direction of Portugal's border with Spain.
Halfway through the day, you will have the privilege of encountering yet another gem of this tour. As you cross the charming Lima River on a bridge, you will be able to see Viana do Castelo from above. This is a blessed town with an appealing medieval center filled with churches, monasteries, palaces decorated with coats of arms and monumental fountains with interesting water features. At the end of the day, you will arrive at Caminha, a lovely town that sits at the mouth of the Minho River, which creates the natural northern border with Spain. While you are here, make sure to look for a very traditional restaurant, since this will be your last chance to taste the delicious Portuguese food.
Bike from Caminha to Vigo
Today you will enter Galicia by crossing the magnificent Minho River by ferry.
Once you make it to the other side of the river, you will make your way to the city of Guarda. Once you are there, go to the top of its hill so you can visit the Iron Settlement of Santa Tegra, which is well worth the while! Along the way, you can also visit the medieval monastery of Oia which is located right on the coast. Finally, arrive at Vigo, a historical city and one of the biggest fishing ports of Europe. Welcome to Spain!
Bike from Vigo to Pontevedra
We are getting closer and closer!
After leaving Vigo you will start to enter the more common roads to Santiago, that go along the Ria de Vigo. A small typical Spanish town will lead you in the direction of Pontevedra, a city that is not as big as Santiago but still very charming and with a great atmosphere arounds its plazas and cafés.
Bike from Pontevedra to Padrón
There is something special reserved for you today!
After leaving Pontevedra, admire the big wetlands where you can find hundreds of plants and bird species. Throughout the route, you will find beautiful river crossings which are highlighted by the waterfalls of the Barosa River. A gorgeous place perfect to stop and have lunch. Continuing on, you will pass by Caldas de Reis, a natural spa town that has existed since the Roman times. Rivers and lush vegetation will take you to your destination, the medieval city of Padrón, famous for the its green, small and tasty peppers.
Bike from Padrón to Santiago de Compostela
One last push and you are there!
Today's trail will be the easiest one. As you start to see the top of the cathedral in the distance it will give you the the strength to do the final kilometers. Here you are! Finally in Compostela. The old town of Santiago, together with the outlying Santa Maria de Conxo Monastery, constitutes an extraordinary ensemble of distinguished monuments. The squares and narrow streets of the old town contain Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassicist buildings. This town is not only a harmonious and very well preserved historical city, but also a place deeply imbued with faith. Enjoy!
Departure
This is it! It went by so fast.
The time has come to put all the incredible memories in your luggage and say one last goodbye. It has been a great adventure for sure and we truly want you to come back and discover more of Portugal's Nature Trails.
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