Cycling the Camino de Santiago Self-Guided

Mountain Bike | Self-Guided | Historic

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The Camino de Santiago, also known as “The way of St James”, is one of the World’s oldest pilgrimage routes. It is a way covered by thousands of pilgrims since the 9th century, when Saint James’ remains were rediscovered in the place known today as Santiago de Compostela by the hermit Pelagius.

There is more than “one” way (“camino”) to Santiago because over the centuries different ways were covered by pilgrims whose aim was to get to Saint James’ resting place. We follow the Portuguese Way. This also has some variations, such as: the Coastal Way, the Medieval Way, the Central Way and the Royal Way. We follow the Coastal Way with the Medieval Way, because it is the most scenic and beautiful of the Portuguese Ways.

Cycling the Camino de Santiago is a 7-day stunning tour from Porto (Oporto – known by its famous Port Wine) through seaside Atlantic villages and sandy beaches until we get to the Spanish border. Then we continue along the Medieval Way, through ancient Roman roads, medieval towns, dense woods and centuries old pilgrims’ footpaths en route to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Santiago de Compostela.

As the day comes to an end, relax at gorgeous and magnificent Castles, Palaces, Monasteries and Convents that were once inhabited by the clergy or the Queens and Kings and now are converted into exquisite lodgings.

To complete this adventure (for religious reasons or not) you should previously get the Pilgrim’s Credential (Portugal Bike Tours will get this for you in advance). A pilgrim must get at least two stamps per day; you collect the stamps along the way at the hotels, restaurants and churches.

When you get to Santiago you go to the Pilgrim’s Office and show your Credential with all the stamps to prove that you did cycle The Camino (minimum of 200km biking). You are then awarded the Compostela, a document with your name written in Latin that certifies that you completed the Camino!

If you wish to cycle The Camino de Santiago, you should use a mountain bike! We will ride sometimes on asphalt, other times on bike lanes, wood lanes along the beaches and some dirt roads, or even some single tracks and rough trails. The mountain bike’s thicker tires and better grip will help you to get the necessary comfort and balance when you have to cross Roman bridges that are more than 2000 years old.

The overall difficulty level of this tour is 3, Intermediate (more precisely, level 3.2 between 1~5). It is recommended for “bikers” and “cyclists”. It is supposed that you are in good shape.

There is a well-known sentence that helps us to understand what really is The Camino de Santiago and it says something like this: “It is the Way itself that changes our lives, not the goal”, i.e. it is by cycling  The Camino and overcoming the daily difficulties that our inner self is changed, and not the fact that you get to Santiago de Compostela.

Cycling the Camino is giving a bit of yourself! …It is something different, …it is really an experience!