Cycling the Camino de Santiago Self-Guided

Cycling The Camino de Santiago Self-Guided

Hybrid 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 Vila do Conde (Porto region) 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!

To cycle The Camino de Santiago, you should use wider tires on your bicycle! 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 or rough trails. Thicker tires have better grip and they 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 2.6, 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!

From

Euro 2430

Self-Guided

Tour

7

Days

Level 3 (2.6)

Intermediate

Distance

235km/146mi
47km/29mi day

Hotels

Signature, Monument and Historic

Trails

70% asphalt + 30% dirt roads and bike lanes

Start | End

Vila do Conde (Porto region) | Santiago de Compostela

Dates

Start-End

Availability

Booking

Price

Per Person

16 to 30 April, 2023

Available

Euro 2430

May, 2023

Available

Euro 2600

08 May – 14 May, 2023

Confirmed

Euro 2600

01 to 15 June, 2023

Available

Euro 2610

16 to 30 June, 2023

Available

Euro 2500

July, 2023

Available

Euro 2500

August, 2023

Available

Euro 2500

01 to 16 September, 2023

Available

Euro 2500

17 to 30 September, 2023

Available

Euro 2600

01 to 14 October, 2023

Available

Euro 2560

Available: You can sign up any date for a self-guided bike tour, but you must wait for our confirmation.

Confirmed: This date is already confirmed and you can also sign up.

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(Your booking will be confirmed when our specialist contacts you.)

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Minimum number of people: 2

Location: Porto and the North

Price per person:

Single room supplement:

WHAT’S INCLUDED

7 days / 6 nights / 5 days cycling

Support Level

Initial briefing providing all the necessary details
A Garmin GPS computer with all traks recorded
Our comfortable transfer vehicle van with air conditioning
All transportation from airport pick-up to drop-off
All baggage transportation by taxi
Documentation booklet about PortugalBike Tour
Personal Accident Insurance and Liability Insurance
Pilgrim’s Credential

Accommodations

One Pousada – Charming Hotel (located in a 13th century Fortress)
One Parador – Historic Hotel (16th century former Palace), or a 4* Hotel
One 4* Historic Hotel (16th century Monument Hotel)
One 4* Historic Hotel (16th century former Manor House)
One 4* Historic Monument Hotel (13th century former Convent)
One 4* Boutique Hotel

Meals

6 Breakfasts

Gear

Superior quality hybrid bicycles with disc brakes and 30 speeds, tailored to your height and specifications
PortugalBike cycling jersey to keep
PortugalBike water bottles to keep
Specialized helmets (optional)

Please note:

Prices are based on a double bedroom occupancy (hotels may be different depending on availability) | Self-Guided version: We require a minimum of 2 people to confirm a Self-Guided departure | Groups: Discount for Groups of 4 or more people | E-Bike rental: + Euro 300 | On Self-Guided tours we can offer you any date, depending on our availability. If the tour starts and ends in different months/fortnight the price will be adjusted accordingly, depending on how many days in each month/fortnight. The price of festivity dates will be adjusted accordingly.

DAY BY DAY

Day

1

Arrival

Welcome at Porto or Lisbon airport. Transfer to a hotel in Vila do Conde (20-min near Porto or Porto airport, or 3-hour from Lisbon airport). Briefing about the tour. Lodging in a 4* Boutique Hotel in the city. Lodging in Villa C Boutique Hotel.

Day

2

Riding to the historic town on the coast

52km (32mi), 250m total climbing (820ft), level 2 (2.0). After breakfast you leave the ancient city following the ways covered by the pilgrims until you get to the historic town on the coast. Lodging in 4* hotel, a historic building from 16th century, in the historic center of this small town. Lodging in Casa Melo Alvim Hotel.

Day

3

Riding to the border, always following the Way

58km (36mi), 410m total climbing (1350ft), level 3 (2.8). After breakfast you continue riding along the Portuguese coast towards the Spanish border, but you spend the night in Portugal, in a beautiful medieval town near the border, which is protected by a fortress with double walls. Lodging in a Pousada which is set on the highest place of the old fortified area of this town, a 13th century Fortress, with a great view over Spain. Lodging in Pousada de Valença, Charming Hotel.

Day

4

Crossing the border to Spain

58km (36mi), 970m total climbing (3180ft), level 4 (3.8). After breakfast we finally cross the border. We continue along The Way and we will ride on some medieval paths until getting to the next town. Lodging in a Parador, a 16th century palace, near the historical and commercial center of the town. Lodging in Parador de Pontevedra (or in Galicia Palace hotel).

Day

5

The luxuriant vegetation and the mysticism of the Way

41km (25mi), 600m total climbing (1970ft), level 3 (2.6). Breakfast. Before you get the next Spanish town you cross the thick woods with a luxuriant vegetation. Lodging in a 4* hotel with a swimming-pool; the building was built in the 16th century and it was the vacation house for the archbishops from Compostela. Lodging in Pazo de Lestrove, Monument Hotel.

Day

6

Mixed emotions when we arrive to Santiago de Compostela

26km (16mi), 560m total climbing (1840ft), level 2 (2.0). Breakfast. Finally, we get to Santiago de Compostela and we feel we accomplished our “mission”. Free afternoon to wander around this mystic city and do some shopping. Lodging in a beautiful 4* Historic Monument hotel, a former Convent from 13th Century, ideal to rest after this long ride and in the historical center of Santiago de Compostela. Lodging in San Francisco Monument Hotel.

Day

7

Departure

After breakfast transfer to Porto (2-hours and 30min) or Lisbon airport (5-hours and 30 min).

Total distance 235km (146mi) | Average 47km/day (29mi/day) | 70% asphalt + 30% dirt roads and bike lanes

SEE CLIMBING PROFILE

ACCOMMODATIONS

Accommodations for this tour include Signature Hotels (the best charming Hotel of the region, usually stylish 4-star hotels or 5-star properties), as well as Monument and Historic Hotels (gorgeous Castles, Palaces, Monasteries and Convents once inhabited by the clergy or the Queens and Kings and now converted into exquisite lodgings)

cycling camino santiago portugal bike tour luxury hotel room

cycling camino santiago portugal bike tour luxury hotel lobby

cycling the camino santiago portugal bike tour accommodations

“Great outfitter for self-led tours: We used the wonderful people at Portugal Bike to ride the Camino route from Porto, Portugal to Santiago, Spain. They did an excellent job outfitting us with great equipment, advice, trail guidance, and hotels on our route. I highly recommend them and I expect I will use their excellent services again.”

William Helfand, 54 – Texas, United States

“My wife and I did the northern mountain bike trip to Santiago a couple of weeks ago. We had an AWESOME time. Here’s a quick rundown:
1) Jose and Cristina are really the perfect guides. Both very friendly and very professional. Very knowledgeable about Portuguese history, culture etc… And Jose is a hell of a cyclist, to boot!
2) Really cool hotels. Obviously, these vary depending on the trip, but we stayed in 3 historic “pousadas,” which were amazing. We also had one awesome new, modern hotel along the way.
3) Some wonderful food. With one exception, all the restaurants they selected were excellent. We had a lot of authentic, tasty Portuguese dishes.
4) Beautiful, challenging, rewarding biking. My wife and I are both in good shape, but neither of us is an experienced cyclist. Jose did a great job of encouraging us and helping us out without being condescending or unnecessarily demanding. We both felt exhilarated at the end of our 220+ km journey!
All in all, this was a splurge for us, but one that we will absolutely remember for the rest of our lives! “

Spin – Denver CO, United States

“We did the tour Camino de Santiago de Compostela. This was an excellent adventure that took us along trails with an unimaginable history for those that come from tropical lands. The landscape is completely different from what we can see in Brazil. We were able to experience some of the situations described in the pilgrims’ reports. The pleasant company of the gods, the amazing discovery of the cultural “differences and similarities” between Brazil and Portugal, softened the weariness, the heat during the climbs and the rocks along the way. Everything was very well organized, first class equipment and car, very comfortable hotels; we enjoyed the ride, the food, the landscape and the historic monuments. We thank PortugalBike Team very much.”

Eduardo Preto, 57 – São Paulo, Brazil

“Cycling to Santiago de Compostela was a unique experience. These 2 Brazilian women that were not very well prepared for such a big adventure got to the end with a great satisfaction. The tour was very well organized, with gorgeous views, and wonderful food showing a very rich gastronomy. The guides were very thoughtful, nice and competent conveying a great feeling of safety. We highly recommend this tour and we plan to come back and do other tours with Portugal Bike tours.”

Lucia Miranda, 53 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

See detailed reviews

TOUR GEAR

On this tour you can ride with one of these bicycles

SCOTT SPORTSTER

COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE

Sporster 20 Solution emphasizes comfort and convenience for touring and transportation. Equipped with a lockout fork and Syncros components, the Sportster is set up perfectly for your excursions with a more vertical and comfortable position. On this mixed surfaces bike tour you will ride with wider tires (28″x 2.15).

portugal bike tours electric bicycle Bosch

BOSCH SYSTEM

E-BIKE

Now you don’t have any excuse for not participating on a Portugal Bike Tour! Don’t be afraid of not being able to keep up with the group. Now you can ride an e-bike without feeling too exhausted! The more you pedal, the more electric assistance you have. On this mixed surfaces bike tour you will ride with wider tires (28″x 2.15).

From Our Blog

by José Neves

Cycling the Camino de Santiago, one of the World's oldest pilgrimage routes

There are many Camino de Santiago: there is the Portuguese Way, the English Way, the French Way, the Finisterra Way, the North Way, the Sanabria Way, the Silver Way and the Primitive Way.