Attention: Route not available for walking between November 1 and January 15
On this trip, you will cycle with your bicycle along the Portuguese Way inland, starting in the bohemian city of Porto. 250 kilometers during which you will discover interesting Portuguese towns such as Arcos, Barcelos, Ponte de Lima, or Valença do Minho, until you cross the border and enter Galician territory through the town of Tui. Once in Galicia, the Portuguese Way inland merges with its coastal counterpart in the town of Redondela. A route that will gift you stunning landscapes of pastures, fields, beaches, and rivers. And as if that were not enough, the best reward will be found at the end of each stage in the form of abundant dishes of typical Galician food.
Photos
Accommodations
- Most popular
Hostels, guesthouses, and rural houses
Hostels, Guesthouses, and Rural Houses are ideal in the towns of the Camino de Santiago. Simple and charming accommodations with private bathroom, TV, and impeccable cleanliness. Perfect for resting and enjoying the rural essence and tranquility at each stage.
Services
Included in all our routes
- Accommodation
7 days / 6 nights
- 7 days / 6 nights accommodation
- Complete documentation (Dossier and material for the Camino)
- Luggage transfer during the stages. (1 piece per person max 15 kgs)
- On-the-road emergency telephone assistance
- Pilgrim's Credential
- Travel insurance
Optional
- Electric bike rental
- Bicycle rental (Max Comfort)
- Supplement for single room
- Extra night in Santiago de Compostela
- Breakfast
- Bicycle rental (Basic)
- Cancellation Insurance
Map of the Portuguese Way by bike from Oporto - Interior
Stages
- day 1
Arrival at Oporto
You will start the inland variant of the Portuguese Way by bike from the bohemian and beautiful city of Porto, which is home to a large number of heritage sites and cultural legacies of Portuguese history. We recommend you to arrive in the city in the morning, leave your things in your accommodation and go out. You can start your visit at the Avenida de los Aliados, the heart of the city, a flagship for the locals and a meeting place for a multitude of cultural events. Drop by Praza da Liberdade and stroll to the famous and beautiful Lello e Irmão bookshop. Afterwards, and immediately next door, you must visit the Torre de los Clérigos. The town of Oporto is, in short, a magnificent start for the Portuguese Way by bicycle. For a snack we recommend you to try the famous francesiñas and for dessert, a cream cake. After lunch you can walk down to the Ribeira, passing by the São Bento station and the Cathedral. Porto is a wonderful city to get lost in the streets of its monumental area… cobblestones, tiles, colours, wine, culture and tradition come together in its narrow streets. - day 2
Stage 1. Oporto - Barcelos (53 km)
First day as a bicigrino on the Portuguese Way by bike from Oporto through the interior. Here we go! You will start pedalling following the signs to get out of the city of Porto, which will be long and tedious because the surrounding villages are practically annexed to the city. During the first 20 kilometres, the landscape will not be very scenic, due to the presence of warehouses and industrial estates. But not to worry, the good things are yet to come. After passing the Vairão Monastery, you will enjoy a beautiful descent to the Ave River, after crossing the stone bridge you will be at the lowest point of the whole route. Now it’s time to climb the sprockets to face the demanding slope that will take you to the village of Sao Mamede. On the way down, you will come across the beautiful church of Arcos, where you can stop to rest your legs. Shortly before leaving the district of Oporto, you will come across the village of Sao Pedro de Rates, where you can stop to get your credential stamped. After 40 kilometres, you will continue ascending until you reach the church of Pedra Furada and then descend along a path that will take you directly to the entrance of Barcelos. - day 3
Stage 2. Barcelos - Tui (70 km)
You are facing the hardest stage of your entire Portuguese Way. After passing through Ponte de Lima, where you can make your first stop of the day, you will face the ascent of the Labruja pass; a particularly tough stretch for cyclists due to the complexity of the terrain. If you don’t want to push your bike uphill, you can take a road variant that climbs the pass on asphalt and will make the ride much more bearable. After passing the main challenge of the day you will reach Rubiaes, a small village where we recommend you to stop at the Café São Sebastião to get your strength back. From here only 20 kilometres separate you from the end of the stage. You can make the last stop of the day in Valença do Miño before crossing the Spanish-Portuguese border and arriving in Tui, the end of the stage. We are aware that this stage can be a bit long for less experienced pilgrims. That’s why you have the option of splitting it by adding an extra night to your trip and staying overnight in the beautiful town of Ponte de Lima; making the mileage much more affordable. Contact us without obligation! - day 4
Stage 3. Tui - Arcade (38 km)
After yesterday, this will be a nice bike ride through Galician lands. You will say goodbye to Tui through the natural area of As Gándaras and the Louro River in the parish of Ribadelouro. We recommend you to do this section of the route to O Porriño by the natural route of Louro, as the other option runs through an industrial estate. After crossing the municipality of O Porriño, you will face the hardest climb of the day that leads to the chapel of Santiaguiño in Mos. A few more kilometres will take you to Redondela, a village where you will find all the services and where, if the weather is good, you can take a dip in the beach of Cesantes. From the beach the path continues following the route of the Royal Road until you reach Arcade, the capital of oysters. Let’s eat! - day 5
Stage 4. Arcade - Caldas de Reis (48 km)
Shortly after saying goodbye to Arcade, you will enjoy one of the most iconic sceneries of the entire Portuguese Way, Ponte Sampaio. It is a colossal stone bridge that spans the river Verdugo and where, during the War of Independence, a battle was fought that led to the withdrawal of French troops in Galicia. After crossing the bridge you will pedal past pazos, hórreos and cruceiros and small villages until you reach Pontevedra, where you can make the first stop of the day. After crossing the river Lérez, the road leaves Pontevedra and takes you to the Marismas de Alba observatory, a large wetland of 80 hectares that is home to hundreds of plant species and 123 species of birds. The route runs along roads where there are many crossroads and level crossings, so you should take extreme caution. Once you get to Briallos, we recommend you take a detour of half a kilometre to visit the Cascadas del Barosa, a natural site of extraordinary beauty, with a beautiful sixty-metre waterfall and fourteen mills arranged along the waterfalls. At the end of your stage, Caldas de Reis, the water is still the protagonist as it is one of the most important thermal villages in Galicia. - day 6
Stage 5. Caldas de Reis - Santiago de Compostela (44 km)
Today we recommend you to leave early to get to Santiago de Compostela as soon as possible and make the most of the day in the city. This is a beautiful route that follows the original route, so you should be careful with pilgrims on foot, especially in summer. The key point of the day is in Padrón, where you can’t leave without tasting its famous peppers and discovering if they are as hot as they say… or not. In Padrón you can also find the famous “Pedrón”, the stone with which they moored the boat that carried the remains of the Apostle Santiago. The last stretch goes through forests, crosses, bridges and old churches until it reaches the parishes of Teo and Ames, the anteroom to Santiago de Compostela. All that remains is to savour the last few kilometres and stroll through the old town of Compostela until you make your triumphal entry into the Plaza del Obradoiro. You are in Santiago! Feel happy and proud to have completed your Portuguese Way by bike. Now we just need to pick up the Compostela certificate and enjoy an incredible day getting to know the Galician capital. - day 7
End of the Camino
After arriving... End of the Camino
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do all accommodations have a lockable place to store my bike?
Yes, we make sure that all assigned accommodations have a place where you can leave your bike safe and sound. -
What services are included in the Camino de Santiago by bike?
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 guide or support vehicle is included between stages. However, 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.
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What is on-the-road telephone assistance?
In your travel documents, you'll find an emergency telephone number where we're accessible while you're on the road. This ensures you'll journey with peace of mind, knowin our team members will assist you with any problems, incidents, or questions you encounter along your Camino de Santiago.
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What is travel insurance?
It is the guarantee that you can enjoy your Camino in a safe way. In our trips you already have an insurance included with your trip to be protected during the Camino de Santiago. We will send you the insurance policy along with all the documentation of your trip, so you will have everything you need to enjoy the Camino with peace of mind. Walk without worries! -
Where are the accommodations located?
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 are 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. -
What coverage does the travel insurance have?
The basic travel insurance included in our packages offers extensive coverage against unforeseen events, ensuring you'll receive guaranteed medical assistance and numerous benefits. You can review the specifics in the General Conditions of Travel Insurance.
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What kind of bicycles can I rent to do the Camino de Santiago?
We have high quality mountain bikes and electric bikes that you can rent during the whole Camino. Check the details here.
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How do I make a reservation?
To make a reservation, you can follow these steps:
- Through our website: Select the route you want and follow the steps indicated in the form. Provide your personal information and that of your companions, choose the type of accommodation, room distribution, meals, transfers, bike rental, etc.
- By email: If you prefer to make the reservation by email or need a personalized trip, you can send us an email to info@viajecaminodesantiago.com. We will provide you with the necessary information to complete the reservation via email.
It is important to note that if the routes or services available on the website do not meet your specific needs, you can request a personalized quote by sending an email to info@viajescaminodesantiago.com.
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Can I choose the dates I want?
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. -
What is luggage transport and how does it work?
Luggage transport service by default is included in all our trips and it is not necessary to request it. You can enjoy the Camino de Santiago without the burden of carrying your luggage on your back, knowing that your suitcase will be waiting for you at your next accommodation upon your arrival. Along with your credential, you'll also receive stickers. Cover these stickers with the requested information and stick them in a visible place on your suitcase. Upon arrival at your accommodation, we suggest asking at the reception where you can leave your luggage. You'll need to leave your luggage at the designated spot early in the morning for our carrier to pick it up. This ensures that when you arrive at your next accommodation, your luggage will already be waiting for you.
Reviews
Iván Herrera Ruiz
Marta Pérez León
Andrés Molina Castro
Laura Sánchez Gil
Raúl Domínguez Pérez