Make the Camino Primitivo by bicycle from Oviedo is a challenge of personal improvement recommended only to the most experienced cyclists. This is a solitary route that runs through the western Asturian mountains until it enters Galician lands in the province of Lugo. The main difficulty of the route is the orography of the terrain, with long and very steep slopes for almost the entire route, a factor that together with the poor condition of the trails can become an adventure for cyclists. But nothing is impossible, and the spectacular scenery you’ll be surrounded by will more than make up for the effort.

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Travel Itinerary

The beautiful old town of Oviedo will transport you to the Asturian Middle Ages. It is a small city, designed for the enjoyment of the pedestrian, thanks to its pedestrian streets in which every corner holds a special charm. You can’t start your Camino Primitivo by bike from Oviedo without visiting the Cathedral of San Salvador, the Fontán market and getting lost in its squares tasting cider in its many tascas and chigres (cider bars).

You will start the first day of your Camino Primitivo by bike from Oviedo with a beautiful route full of breathtaking landscapes that alternates paved stretches with wooded trails. The main difficulty of this day will be to crown two steep slopes, the Alto del Escamplero and the Alto del Fresno, the latter both uphill and downhill.

Practically the whole route can be done following the original route. You will discover picturesque villages, forests, meadows, bridges, small hermitages and countless granaries so characteristic of western Asturias.

Salas is a medieval village in inland Asturias, which currently retains important heritage elements. Among other things, you can visit the Medieval Tower, the Valdés Salas Palace and the Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor. Of course, as in any corner of Asturias, you will be able to enjoy an unbeatable gastronomy.

Yesterday’s stage will be a walk in the park compared to today. You will enter high altitude mountain areas where; in the rainy season the roads can become impracticable, especially if you travel with panniers. So if you have any doubts, it is better to do this stage by road.

You are facing the hardest stage of the whole route, so it is important to measure your strength and make the stops that your body asks for. It is a succession of long climbs and descents, some of them very steep, such as the ascent to La Espina or the ascent to Alto de La Guardia. You will cross villages like La Espina and Tineo, where you will have places to stock up and rest your legs.

The last challenge of the day is the ascent to the Alto de Lavadoira. Once you have reached the top, you will descend to the end of the stage, Pola de Allande.

The third stage of the Primitive Way by bike goes into the high mountains of Asturias, so the slopes will continue to be the dominant tone. Again, the trails are not very cycleable and require a lot of technique, so we recommend to do this section by road as well.

The route leaves from Pola de Allande in the direction of the feared ascent of the Puerto del Palo. Once you have reached the village of Lago, the road turns off onto a very difficult path that climbs up to the pass; less experienced cyclists will have to climb up the road to avoid getting off the bike. There are 10 kilometres of continuous ascent.

After a long descent, you will enjoy spectacular views of the Asturian mountains and the reservoir of Grandas de Salime, whose village will be your longed-for end of the stage.

Short and necessary stage that you can take as a rest day after all the previous stages. But if you thought you were getting out of promotions, my friend, we’re sorry to hear the bad news. The first part of the stage starts following the road all the time, alternating with some paths and dirt tracks, all of them well signposted. On the way up to the Puerto del Acebo you will find the village of Bustelo del Camín, the last Asturian village before reaching the 1,300 metres of the pass. The Autonomous Community of Galicia begins just as you start to descend from the Alto de O Acevo. After reaching the top of the pass, we recommend that you follow the original route to A Fonsagrada and finish the stage.

Attention, bear in mind that when we enter Galicia, we not only change the community but also the indications. In Asturias, the famous scallops or shells used to indicate the way to follow by their narrow part, while in the lands of the apostle you must be guided by the open part of them.

You will start pedalling from Fonsagrada following the original route to enjoy the impressive landscapes that this part of Galicia has to offer. In case you are very tired, you can also follow the route of the road. The most difficult part of the day is the Alto de A Fontaneira. From the town of Castroverde, the route will turn into a pleasant walk until you reach the city of Lugo and end the day.

After so many days in virtually unserviced locations, we’re sure you’ll appreciate the lively atmosphere of a city. If you still have some energy left, we encourage you to walk around the old part of the city and get lost in its taverns tasting delicious tapas and pinchos washed down with a good mencía wine.

After all you’ve been through in the previous days, you’ll be grateful for a stage like this. The only difficulty to highlight will be the ascent to the Sierra del Careón, which is not too difficult. You will ride through beautiful rural surroundings dotted with small villages until you reach Melide.

In this town the Primitive Way joins the French Way. From here the route has a better infrastructure and services, as well as a considerable increase in the number of pilgrims. The moments of loneliness are over until we reach Santiago de Compostela!

Today we recommend you to rest and get up early to arrive early to Santiago de Compostela.

Finally the day arrived, with our minds already focused on getting to Compostela. Today you say goodbye, we don’t know if with joy or sadness, to the Primitive Way that you started a few days ago from Oviedo, to pedal along the French Way until you reach Arzúa, where the North Way also joins.

You should take special care with pilgrims on foot, especially in high season you will find numerous groups that occupy the entire trail.

Today the rural landscape will disappear, becoming much more urbanized as you get closer to the Galician capital. After riding around the vicinity of Santiago airport, the last climb of the route will be in San Marcos, the broadcasting centre of the Galician television. When you arrive at Monte do Gozo, we invite you to stop and contemplate the views, we assure you that you will understand the reason for the name of this place. Santiago is getting closer and closer!

You are in Santiago! Feel happy and proud to have completed your Camino Primitivo by bike. Now we just need to pick up the Compostela certificate and enjoy an incredible day getting to know the Galician capital.

Congratulations! You have completed your Camino Primitivo by bicycle from Oviedo. This last day you are in charge, you can go back home or enjoy one more day in Santiago resting your legs after so much pedaling. And how beautiful is Compostela.

Did you know that all roads end in Finisterre? If you have been left with the desire to pedal and you have a few days more, we encourage you to complete the 90 kilometres separating Santiago from Finisterre. The most magical and spiritual route that hides real treasures such as Ponte Maceira, one of the most beautiful villages in Spain or the extraordinary sunset of the Finisterre lighthouse.

Map of the Way

Type of accommodation

Detalles

Services included

9 days / 8 nights accommodation9 days / 8 nights accommodation
Luggage transfer during the stagesLuggage transfer during the stages
Complete documentationComplete documentation
Pilgrim’s CredentialPilgrim’s Credential
On-the-road emergency telephone assistanceOn-the-road emergency telephone assistance
Travel insuranceTravel insurance

Optional Services

ServiceIn hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from OviedoIn private hostels from Oviedo
BreakfastBreakfast70€ per personNot available
MP (Breakfast and dinner)MP (Breakfast and dinner)195€ per personNot available
Supplement for single roomSupplement for single room195€ per single roomNot available
Extra night in Santiago de CompostelaExtra night in Santiago de Compostela95€ (sing. room) / 145€ (doub. room)25€ per person
Alquiler bicicleta (aluminio)Alquiler bicicleta (aluminio)290€ per bicycle290€ per bicycle
Alquiler bicicleta (carbono)Alquiler bicicleta (carbono)400€ per bicycle400€ per bicycle
Electric bike rentalElectric bike rental440€ per bicycle440€ per bicycle
Breakfast Breakfast
In hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from Oviedo 70€ per person
In private hostels from Oviedo Not available
MP (Breakfast and dinner) MP (Breakfast and dinner)
In hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from Oviedo 195€ per person
In private hostels from Oviedo Not available
Supplement for single room Supplement for single room
In hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from Oviedo 195€ per single room
In private hostels from Oviedo Not available
Extra night in Santiago de Compostela Extra night in Santiago de Compostela
In hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from Oviedo 95€ (sing. room) / 145€ (doub. room)
In private hostels from Oviedo 25€ per person
Alquiler bicicleta (aluminio) Alquiler bicicleta (aluminio)
In hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from Oviedo 290€ per bicycle
In private hostels from Oviedo 290€ per bicycle
Alquiler bicicleta (carbono) Alquiler bicicleta (carbono)
In hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from Oviedo 400€ per bicycle
In private hostels from Oviedo 400€ per bicycle
Electric bike rental Electric bike rental
In hotels, guesthouses and rural houses from Oviedo 440€ per bicycle
In private hostels from Oviedo 440€ per bicycle

Photos

Frequently Asked Questions

The Camino de Santiago by bike includes the following services:

  • Accommodation
  • Luggage transport
  • Dossier with information about the stages
  • Pilgrim's credential
  • On-the-road helpline
  • Travel insurance

In addition, you can customize your trip by adding the following optional services:

  • Breakfast or half board
  • Extra night at the beginning or end of the stage
  • Bicycle rental

Unlike the group trips, no bus service, guide or support vehicle is included between stages. But you will have a 24-hour hotline where you can contact us in case of any problem or unforeseen event, which we will solve quickly.

Yes, you will have total freedom to choose your departure date. However, if you want to do your Camino de Santiago in the months of December, January and February, we recommend that you check availability before making your reservation. At this time of year most accommodation is closed and many services may not be available.
In your travel documents, you will find the names of the accommodations assigned to you, as well as their contact telephone number and location.   As a general rule, all accommodation is located in the centre of the different towns along the Pilgrims' Route to Santiago de Compostela, without the need to deviate too far from the route. But sometimes, due to lack of availability, it is possible that some accommodation may be a little far from the village or even in neighbouring towns.   For all the accommodations that are at a considerable distance from the route of the Camino, we will provide you with a free taxi service that you can use to get to your accommodation and return to the Camino the next morning.   In any case, these are exceptions that we will inform you at the time of booking.
Luggage transport service by default is included in all our trips and it is not necessary to request it. You will be able to do the Camino de Santiago without your luggage on your back with the peace of mind that your suitcase will be at your next accommodation on your arrival.   Along with your credential you will also receive stickers, which you must cover with the requested information and stick it in a visible place on your suitcase.   Once you have arrived at your accommodation, we recommend that you ask at reception where you can leave your luggage. You will have to leave your luggage at the indicated place first thing in the morning for our carrier to pick it up. This way, when you arrive at your next accommodation your luggage will already be there.
Yes, we make sure that all assigned accommodations have a place where you can leave your bike safe and sound.

We have high quality mountain bikes and electric bikes that you can rent during the whole Camino. Check the details here.

We include a compulsory insurance with each trip that will cover you for any inconveniences that may arise during the Camino de Santiago. We will send you the insurance policy together with your travel documents.
The basic travel insurance included in our packages has a wide coverage against unforeseen events, with which you will also have guaranteed medical assistance and numerous benefits that you can consult in the General Conditions of Travel Insurance.

In your travel documents you will find an emergency telephone number where we we are available on the road when you need us. This way you will travel with peace of mind knowing that one of our companions will help you to quickly solve any problem, incident or doubt that you may have along your Camino de Santiago.

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