Cycling the Camino de Santiago

The Camino de Santiago is many things. It’s challenging and exciting, spiritual and peaceful. It also comes in various sizes, all of which converge on the sacred city of Santiago de Compostela. And, although it’s more well known as a trekking trail, there are also plenty of options for cycling the Camino de Santiago. We have holidays where you can cycle the Camino Frances, Camino del Norte, Camino Primitivo and the Camino Portugues, some taking on sections and others going for the whole shebang in a saddle. So, if the idea of pootling along rather than plodding along the camino is more appealing, check out our various options. All of which have upgrades to e-bikes.

Cycling the Camino Frances

The Camino Frances is the most popular camino route, between Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the French Pyrenees and Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. Although the cycling version of the Camino Frances starts in Spain, taking you from Roncesvalles all the way to Santiago on a 17 day epic excursion, with Pyrenean passes, La Rioja wine region and an array of ancient towns such as León along the way.

Cycling past Navarrete, in the Rioja region, on the Camino Frances. Like its wine, this trail is bold, earthy and vibrant.

Cycling the Camino Primitivo

Another popular sacred cycling route is on the Camino Primitivo, which is also called the Original Way because it is believed to be the original route taken by pilgrims to Santiago. Although not on a bike, in fairness. It takes you between the cathedral in Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, and Santiago de Compostela, which is approximately 312km. You can do the whole thing in eight or 11 days.

Cycling the Camino Portugues

You can also do some ciclismo on the Camino Portugues, which starts in Portugal and ends in Santiago de Compostela. Portuguese pilgrims have carved out two separate caminos en route to Santiago over the years, one inland (Central Way) and the other clinging to the coast (Coastal Way). On our holidays, they both start in Porto and come to a close in Santiago de Compostela, two fine cities, but with plenty of off the beaten track cycling in between.

The Central Way covers 244km and takes eight days, heading inland after Porto, with trails through eucalyptus and pine-filled woodlands to tranquil rural villages, market towns such as Barcelos and medieval spots like Ponte de Lima. The Coastal Way covers around 273km and, even though it’s longer, it’s also slightly easier and takes nine days. This is, however, littoral treat along Portugal’s northern coast, so you won’t want it to end anyway. The two routes join together in Redondela, in Spain, to continue the route to its finale in Santiago.

The Camino Portugues by bike takes two routes, one inland and one by the coast, and both converge as they enter Spain.

Cycling the Camino del Norte

The Camino del Norte is the coastal camino and a Basque beauty too, covering 800km of Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and then Galicia before heading south to Santiago. It’s not quite as busy as the Camino Frances, but the word is being carried on that sea breeze that north is the new south. You can cycle the Camino del Norte in various ways, the longest being between Bilbao and Santiago, which takes 18 days and covers a lot of the Basque Country, Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia, with a mix of beaches, Picos peaks and Terra Chá (flatlands). The two other cycling options are between Bilbao and Oviedo, which is predominantly coastal, or from Oviedo to Santiago, which has more Galician inland trails included. Both of these take 10 days.

The Camino del Norte is the coastal camino, with ups and downs like this one through Laredo, on the Cantabrian coast.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any more camino queries. We are here to support you along your way, not only to transport your bags and make sure you have a comfy bed for the night but also to help make it as meaningful and mindful as possible. You may also enjoy our blogs, Which of the camino routes is calling you?, Camino de Santiago packing list and The best time to do the Camino de Santiago.