Overview
Cycling the Camino Portugues Central Way takes eight days on this self-guided itinerary, between Porto and Santiago. The Central Way (Caminho Central) is relatively flat and easy to navigate. Heading inland after Porto, you cycle through eucalyptus and pine woodlands to tranquil rural villages, market towns such as Barcelos and medieval spots like Ponte de Lima.
Cross the natural border of the Miño River into Galicia, the hilltop cathedral town of Tui welcoming you into the next stage of your camino, where the path joins with the Coastal Route at Arcade. From here, the camino continues to the medieval town of Pontevedra, followed by the prettiness (and peppers) of Padrón. With one final push to Santiago de Compostela where, arriving on a bike is cycling heaven. There is an option to rent e-bikes on this tour.
- Porto
- Barcelos
- Ponte das Tábuas
- Pontevedra
- Santiago de Compostela
- Catedral de Santiago
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Porto
Arrive in Porto and meet our local representative at the hotel for a briefing on the tour. If time allows, take the chance to explore the Ribeira District, a UNESCO-designated riverfront area full of brightly-coloured houses and outdoor cafes. Alternatively, visit one of the city’s port wine cellars to sample the fortified wine that Porto is famous for.
- Accommodation: Porto Trindade Hotel or similar in Porto
Day 2: Porto – Barcelos | 54km
After breakfast, leave Porto via cobbled lanes and dirt tracks through a series of villages, surrounded by fields and patches of forest. Along the way, cross several impressive romanesque bridges, including Ponte Medieval de Barcelos, where pilgrims used to bathe before entering the city. Recognised as a UNESCO Creative City for crafts and folk art, Barcelos is known for its weekly market and medieval heritage.
- Cycling for the day: 54km
- Accommodation: Bagoeira Hotel or similar in Barcelos
Day 3: Barcelos – Ponte de Lima | 33km
Cycle through tranquil rural terrain and small villages as far as Ponte das Tábuas, a great rest spot. Continue on through the vineyards, forests, orchards and fields in and around the Minho Valley. On the approach to Ponte de Lima, you get great views of the Padela, Nora and d’Arga mountains, as well as the more distant Corno do Bico. Spend the evening in Ponte de Lima, celebrated as the country’s oldest town and known for its medieval bridge over the River Lima and historic centre.
- Cycling for the day: 33km
- Accommodation: Hotel Imperio do Norte or similar in Ponte de Lima
Day 4: Ponte de Lima to Valença | 35km
Pick up the camino to head out through expansive countryside with ancient bridges, hamlets and woodland waterfalls. Ascend through Serra da Labruja and pause to take in the views before continuing on to the romanesque church and roman milestones at Rubiães. Cross an ancient stone bridge over the River Pedreira before heading to Cossourado. From here, descend through several small villages to the fortress town of Valença.
- Cycling for the day: 35km
- Accommodation: Hotel Lara or similar in Valença
Day 5: Valença – Pontevedra | 56km
Cross International Bridge over the River Minho into Spain to the town of Tui with its fortified cathedral. Once past O Porriño, cycle through a series of villages and Chan das Pipas pine forest. Descend to Redondela where the coastal and central routes of the camino merge. We recommend taking a break to sample the juicy fat oysters in the riverside town of Arcade before following an ancient stone path uphill to the forest. The day comes to a close in Pontevedra where you can admire the medieval architecture as you sip a beer or wine with some tapas in one of the many plazas.
- Cycling for the day: 56km
- Accommodation: Hotel Avenida or similar in Pontevedra
Day 6: Pontevedra – Padrón | 41km
The journey to Padrón is relatively flat, following fields and farmland. Take the chance to bathe your feet in the hot spring in the centre of Caldas de Reis before climbing gradually through a series of hamlets and woodland. Take some time to explore medieval Padrón and learn about its connection to St James, as well as trying its famous speciality, Pimientos de Padrón, fried green peppers that occasionally pack a punch.
- Cycling for the day: 41km
- Accommodation: Casa Antiga do Monte or similar inn Padrón
Day 7: Padrón – Santiago | 25km
The final stage of the camino winds through a series of Galician hamlets with traditional cottages, then past Santuario da Nosa Señora da Escravitude. Continue on the forest trail before heading up to Milladoiro for the first glimpse of Santiago de Compostela and the cathedral towers. Descend the valley to cross the River Sar before one final ascent to the city centre, following the medieval streets to the cathedral, bringing your camino to an end.
- Cycling for the day: 25km
- Accommodation: Hotel Lux Santiago or similar in Santiago de Compostela
Day 8: Departure
Departure after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view our default hotels for this trip
- Hotel Porto Trindade (Porto)
- Bagoeira Hotel (Barcelos)
- Hotel Imperio do Norte (Ponte de Lima)
- Hotel Lara (Valença)
- Hotel Avenida (Pontevedra)
- Casa Antiga do Monte (Padrón)
- Hotel Lux Santiago (Santiago)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available on the route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before.
Difficulty and terrain
This holiday is rated as moderate (read more about difficulty grades). The Central Route generally uses the same route that pilgrims follow on foot, and there is no specific cycle route. The route is a combination of rural paths (asphalt, cobblestones or dirt), forest trails (dirt or gravel, uneven and sometimes rocky), secondary roads and some main roads (both on asphalt). Along the journey, you may sometimes encounter some steep climbs and descents, so good physical preparation is necessary in order to do this trip. It is essential to have experience with mountain bikes and basic bicycle repair knowledge, especially how to change a tyre, as punctures may occur during the Camino.
We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime.
When to go
This trip is available from March until the end of October. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
There is a higher chance for rain in the spring and autumn months, but the temperatures are cooler. For more information, see our blog on the Best time to go to Portugal and Best time to go to Spain.
Compostela/Pilgrim’s Passport
You are provided with one at the start of your walk in the Pilgrim Kit. You need to get your passport stamped in churches, restaurants or hotels along the way. At the end of the walk in Santiago de Compostela, you can obtain your Compostela Certificate.
Please note: due to the large influx of pilgrims during summer, and to avoid long waiting times, the Pilgrim Office in Santiago has installed a numbered ticket system for issuing pilgrim certificates (the Compostela). This new system allows pilgrims to collect their tickets and, using a QR Code, to check the status of the queue and estimated waiting time to obtain the Compostela. However, the number of tickets per day is limited so on days with high numbers of pilgrims arriving, there is a possibility that not all pilgrims will be able to collect their certificate on the day of arrival and will have to return for it on the following morning – this is one of the reasons we’ve included an extra day in Santiago.
Getting there
FCO up-to-date travel advice, here for Portugal and here for Spain
Click to view travel options
By train or bus
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts
- 6 days bike rental, with pannier bags and helmet
- Luggage transfer between accommodations (one bag per person, max 15kg)
- Pilgrim’s Passport
- Detailed route notes (one per room)
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Half board (five dinners)
- Additional nights along the route
- E-bike upgrade
- Private airport transfers
Complimentary bike rental
We offer complimentary standard 29″ hard-tail mountain bikes that are most suitable for the paths you will be riding on. Bikes are equipped with panniers and a helmet. An additional handlebar bag and gel saddle can be ordered on request. Bikes are regularly checked, however basic knowledge of bike maintenance is highly recommended, as you will be cycling by yourself. E-bikes are also available at an additional charge.
