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Route:
Technical Characteristics:
Tour Profile: Hard. Terrain is 40% asphalt and 60% dirt roads or unpaved roads, some narrow at times. We recommend cycling the Camino only if you have some cycling experience and essential bike maintenance knowledge.
Distance: 259 km
Travel Season: Daily departures from March 1 to October 31, 2023
Low Season: March, April, May and October
Mid-Season: June and September
High Season: July and August
Accommodation:
3* hotels with private washrooms
Cycling the Portuguese Coastal Way to St. James (Santiago) is a sensational and unforgettable adventure. It is an invitation to discover the Atlantic’s sandy beaches, ancient customs and welcoming people. From plateaus to mountains, from fields to coasts, monumental sites, works of art in the way of cathedrals, bridges, roads and monasteries, the route is full of pleasant surprises. The Coastal Way to Santiago is a route habitually taken by pilgrims coming from Portugal and by those choosing to cross the River Miño through A Guarda. The route, which heads northwards very close to the riverbanks, connects to the classic route that comes from Tui in Redondela.
Itineraries
Day 1
Arrival to Porto
Free day in Oporto.
Day 2
Porto - Vila do Conde 35 km
Follow the coastline on wooden boardwalks and pavements where you’ll encounter a series of wide sandy beaches and local fishermen at work before you reach the historical seaside town of Vila do Conde.
Day 3
Vila do Conde – Viana do Castelo 49 km
Cut through the urban areas between Vila do Conde and the coastal resort town of Povoa de Varzim. Then cycle beside the coast and across beaches before heading inland through market gardens, woodland and villages. Admire the views as you cross the Cavado River to enter Esposende. This day offers a series of villages interspersed with delightful patches of forest and rivers with views of distant mountain ranges. The Eiffel Bridge over the Lima River offers spectacular views along the valley and estuary and the attractive historical and contemporary architecture of Viana do Castelo.
Day 4
Viana do Castelo - Oia 46 km
Leaving Viana do Castelo there’s a steady climb up one mostly forested hill before the descent to the seaside town of Vila Praia de Ancora. Follow the coastal path between Ancora and Moledo and then continue to the pretty town of Caminha. A short, scenic ferry journey takes you across the Minho River to the fishing town of A Guarda in Spain. Then follow the Way along coastal pathways, forest tracks and tarmac roads to the small but attractive beachfront village of Oia with its 12th century monastery.
Day 5
Oia – Vigo 43 km
Continue cycling through a rural coastal landscape of small fields, scattered houses and a few villages then cut across the mountains towards Baiona. This rugged uphill section offers a change of scenery and terrain before the final descent into the pretty resort town of Baiona. The residential outskirts of Baiona gradually lead to more rural terrain and scattered villages interspersed with patches of woodland. A stint on a busy road ends with another series of villages before you reach Vigo where you’ll cut through Castrelos Park to skirt around the edge of the city.
Day 6
Vigo – Pontevedra 34 km
Leave Vigo via its main shopping street and follow one long road through a string of quiet hillside villages. After several kilometers you’ll swap houses for trees and views of floating mussel farms, the Cies islands and the city and port of Vigo before the descent into the town of Redondela. Cycle uphill through a forest then down to the riverside town of Arcade, renowned for its oysters. Ancient stone paths lead up through the woods and a scenic detour takes you along the River Tomeza. Pontevedra’s historical city center is a maze of atmospheric squares filled with tapas bars.
Day 7
Pontevedra – Padron 41 km
Although fairly long, the journey to Padron is not difficult and is mostly through pleasant countryside including an attractive section of woodland. Bathe your feet in one of Caldas de Reis’ thermal springs and continue for a gentle climb through a series of hamlets and the charming woodlands of Valga. You’ll see several attractive churches and stone crosses on the way to Padron, where St. James is originally said to have been buried.
Day 8
Padron - Santiago 25 km
Leave Padron for the final stage of your Camino. Pass through a series of Galician villages and the magnificent sanctuary of Nossa Senora da Escravitute. After a delightful wooded area you’ll begin to wind you way through the outskirts of Santiago and into the city center. Enter the medieval streets that lead to Santiago Cathedral where your journey ends.
Day 9
Departure
After breakfast - end of our services
Prices
Included:
- 8 Nights of accommodation with breakfast
- 7 days bike rental (20 speed bike with 29” wheels + panniers)
- Luggage transfer between hotels (1 bag per person – maximum 15 kg/bag)
- Pilgrim kit: pilgrim passport and shell
- Road book of the way with tips, maps and detailed information (in English)
- 24 hour emergency support
- Journey documentation
Not Included:
- International flights
- Arrival and departure transfers
- Meals (where not listed as included in the itinerary)
- Optional additional tours or activities during free time
- Tips and items of a personal nature
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