Easy/Medium route, along the Atlantic coast and through forests and fields, from Porto to Santiago. Opportunity to taste traditional dishes, where seafood is a regular presence, accompanied by good wines from the region.
Easy/Medium Ride along the Atlantic coast from Porto to Baiona on the famed Camino de Santiago staying in charming hotels with amazing sea views. Then get inland to continue the ancient pilgrimage route through wood forests and pathways along rivers with beautiful waterfalls, until you reach Santiago. Taste the local wine with fresh seafood and traditional dishes.
This is a journey of faith and hope: the Camino de Santiago. During medieval times, it was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages. Nowadays is still undertaken by thousands of pilgrims every year, on foot, bicycle and sometimes on a horse!
A land of Celts and Romans, of white sand beaches, small villages and beautiful countryside backroads.
The guided week-long adventure will have you cycling along picturesque landscapes of Portugal and Galicia and before you know it, you’ll have 200 km under your belt, and lots of stories to share!
Small group up to 12 pax. Price is per person in a shared rooms with private bathroom, in euros. Accommodation may vary based on departure date.
Transfer from Porto airport to your hotel.
Team meeting before dinner to give information about the program and answer all the questions. Time to test and set up your bike and equipment. Welcome dinner in a nearby restaurant.
Hotel accommodation in Porto: Sé Catedral Hotel Porto Tapestry Collection by Hilton (****). Original space with a relaxed, modern and fun environment. Located in the city center of Porto, it offers great proximity to the main sights of the city.
After breakfast we will start our bike journey at the Porto Cathedral. We will ride along the river exploring the world heritage Porto old town. Leaving Porto, we will head north along the Atlantic coastline through small fishing villages and golden sandy beaches. After crossing the Ave River with a majestic view of the old monastery and the shipyards we arrive in Vila do Conde. From there, we continue along the coast till we reach Esposende, a fish town, where we will spend the night.
This is a day of adaptation to the bikes and the GPS, as well as to the orientation and navigation. Therefore, the participants have the constant presence of the support team, who accompanies the group on bike and at strategic points with van.
Hotel accommodation in Esposende: Hotel Suave Mar (***).Located in the city of Esposende, next to the Foz do Rio Cávado, harmoniously integrated in a natural environment, it is the perfect place for a well-deserved rest after a day cycling the Camino.
Today we will cross the Lima River through the old Eiffel bridge to reach Viana do Castelo, an old ancient town that was one of the main ports of departure and arrival of the Portuguese explorers and navigators who sailed across the oceans in the 15th and 16th centuries. Going north you will witness the charming windmills that are reminders of the past and the stunning wild beaches that offer an amazing view of the sea while approaching the Minho River estuary and the Caminha town.
Hotel accommodation in Caminha: Hotel Porta do Sol Conference Center & Spa (****). Considered one of the best hotels on the Minho coast, it is located on the River Minho riverbank, between the mountains and with stunning views over the river and the sea.
The day will start with a memorable experience of crossing the Minho River by boat. The river forms the natural border between Portugal and Spain. We will then continue along the coastline with breathtaking scenic sea views. We will stop for lunch at Oia fish village, known for its Royal Monastery of Santa María de Oia that is a former Cistercian monastery founded in 1137. As we approach Baiona, we will see the Cíes Islands on our horizon, a world natural biosphere reserve site. Baiona is a medieval town with a stunning fortress and castle where we will stay for the night.
Hotel accommodation in Baiona: Parador de Baiona (****). A mix between a medieval castle and a Galician stately home, the Parador offers regal and elegant rooms carefully decorated that will take you back in time to another age. Outstanding features include the majestic stone stairway in the reception area and a huge garden, from where you can view the entire bay.
This will be the longest and most challenging day of the entire journey. From Baiona we will follow a bike path along the coast while we will approach Vigo. The city of Vigo is a modern and dynamic city, with a rich history and culture, as well as the largest city and the economic and industrial center of Galicia. The next town will be Redondela where our Camino joins other Camino routes towards Santiago so the number of pilgrims will increase. Our day destination is Pontevedra, a charming and historic city that boasts one of the most beautiful and well-preserved old towns in the country, as well as a lively and pedestrian-friendly urban environment.
After the longest day, we will have the shortest one! Today we will have plenty of time to relax and explore the trail along the way. We will make a stop at Rio Barosa waterfalls where you can enjoy a magical walk through a series of 17 water mills arranged along the cascading waters, offering a unique and picturesque setting. Our day journey ends at Caldas de Reis, an ancient thermal town with a fountain of hot water that flows from the ground and is used by pilgrims and tourists to relax and heal their feet and soul.
Hotel accommodation in Caldas de Reis: Torre do rio, turismo rural (****). Torre do Rio is a renovated textile complex dating from the 18th century, bathed by a meander of the Umia river, in the heart of nature in the purest Galician style. Everything seems to be designed to savour the tranquillity and harmony of a environment almost magic. The exterior of the house has a unique and charming environment.
Today we will have long wood forest trails until we approach Santiago. The last town before Santiago is Padrón. Padrón is the town where, according to legend, the boat that carried the body of the Apostle Santiago from Palestine to Galicia was moored to a large rock, known as the Pedron. As we leave Padron behind, we are only 24 km (14 miles) away from Santiago, our destination. We can feel the excitement and emotion of getting closer to our goal. The first glimpse of the cathedral will be at Milladoiro Capella da Magdalena where we can get our last stamp.
And finally, Santiago! Being in Santiago cathedral after ending our pilgrimage is an indescribable and unforgettable experience. It is a moment of joy and gratitude, of relief and accomplishment, of emotion and spirituality. It is the culmination of a long and challenging journey, that has tested our physical and mental endurance, that has enriched our personal and cultural knowledge, that has transformed our inner and outer selves. It is the celebration of a shared and unique adventure that has connected us with nature and history, with ourselves and others, with God and humanity. It is the realization of a dream and a goal, that has inspired us to overcome obstacles and difficulties, that has motivated us to discover new horizons and perspectives, that has moved us to grow and change. Being in Santiago cathedral square after ending our pilgrimage is a feeling that we will always remember and cherish.
This is the time for a toast and time to take photos to remember later. We will have our lunch at a local restaurant, and we will have the rest of the day to explore Santiago.
Hotel accommodation in Santiago: NH Collection Santiago de Compostela (*****).
Surrounded by green parkland near a peaceful lake is the NH Collection Santiago de Compostela, a distinctive, modern retreat in its own beautiful grounds. It is only minutes on foot from the UNESCO World Heritage Santiago Old Town and its soaring cathedral.
Transfer from Santiago to Vigo or Porto.
After breakfast it’s time to pack your luggage and return to Porto. With lots of memories, photos and stories to tell!
22 – 29 March 2024 (regular season) – 2090 € per person
20 -27 April 2024 (regular season) – 2090 € per person
6 – 13 July 2024 (summer season) – 2190 € per person
21 – 28 September 2024 (high season) – 2290 € per person