Overview
A nine day adventure, cycling the Camino Portugues’ complete Coastal Route, also known as the Caminho da Costa. It covers 273km and follows the rugged Atlantic coastline from Porto, past Northern Portugal’s dune-rich and sandy beaches such as Povoa de Varzim or Vila Praia de Âncora. A short ferry ride takes you across the River Minho into Galicia in Spain, with more rugged coastal terrain as far as Baiona, where there’s no shortage of seafood restaurants. After the port city of Vigo, the Coastal Route continues to the medieval and architecturally elegant 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.
- Porto
- Vila do Conde
- Vigo
- 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
- Upgraded accommodation: Hotel Vila Galé Porto Ribeira or similar in Porto
Day 2: Porto – Vila do Conde | 35km
Follow the coastline along wooden boardwalks, riding alongside a series of wide sandy beaches used by local fishermen. Continue along the trail to reach the historical seaside town of Vila do Conde. Spend the evening wandering around the harbour of one of the oldest settlements in northern Portugal, or take in the Aqueduto de Vila do Conde, one of the longest aqueducts in the country.
- Cycling for the day: 35km
- Accommodation: Hotel Brazão or similar in Vila do Conde
- Upgraded accommodation: Vila C Boutique Hotel or similar in Vila do Conde
Day 3: Vila do Conde – Viana do Castelo | 49km
Head out through urban areas between Vila do Conde and the coastal resort town of Povoa de Varzim to continue along the coast. Cross beaches before heading inland through market gardens, woodland and villages. Take in the views crossing Cávado River to enter Esposende. End the day by crossing the Eiffel Bridge over Lima River, with views opening up along the valley and estuary. Viana do Castelo, your final destination for the evening is known for its rich maritime heritage, stunning 17th-century architecture, and the iconic Santuário de Santa Luzia.
- Cycling for the day: 49km
- Accommodation: Hotel Laranjeira or similar in Viana do Castelo
- Upgraded accommodation: Hotel AP Dona Aninhas or similar in Viana do Castelo
Day 4: Viana do Castelo – Oia | 46km
Climb steadily away from the town before descending to the seaside town of Vila Praia de Âncora. Follow the coastal path between Âncora and Moledo to head to Caminha. A short scenic ferry journey (payable locally) takes you across the Minho River to the fishing town of A Guarda in Spain. Continue along the way, following coastal pathways, forested tracks and tarmac roads to Oia, a beachfront village with a 12th-century monastery.
- Cycling for the day: 46km
- Accommodation: Hotel A Raiña or similar in Oia
- Upgraded accommodation: Hotel Restaurante Glasgow or similar in Oia
Day 5: Oia – Vigo | 43km
Start cycling through along a rural landscape of small fields, scattered houses and a few villages before cutting across the mountains towards Baiona. This rugged uphill section offers a change of scenery and terrain before the final descent into Baiona. Follow the route into residential outskirts of Baiona which then gives way to more rural terrain, with villages interspersed with patches of woodland. Finally, cut through Castrelos Park to skirt around the edge of the city to end the day in Vigo. We recommend visiting the Old Town or Casco Vello to take in Praza da Constitución, A Pedra market and plenty of traditional Galician architecture, whilst sampling some local seafood.
- Cycling for the day: 43km
- Accommodation: Hotel OCA Ipanema or similar in Vigo
- Upgraded accommodation: Agua de Mar Hotel Boutique or similar in Vigo
Day 6: Vigo – Pontevedra | 34km
Head north-east out of the city to follow the Ria de Vigo estuary, taking in views of floating mussel farms, the Cíes Islands as well as Vigo port. 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: 34km
- Accommodation: Hotel Avenida or similar in Pontevedra
- Upgraded accommodation: Parador de Pontevedra or similar in Pontevedra
Day 7: 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: A Casa Antiga do Monte or similar in Padrón
- Upgraded accommodation: Hotel Monumento Pazo de Lestrove or similar in Padrón
Day 8: Padrón – Santiago de Compostela | 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 to end your camino.
- Cycling for the day: 25km
- Accommodation: Hotel Lux Santiago or similar in Santiago de Compostela
- Upgraded accommodation: Hotel Palacio del Carmen or similar in Santiago de Compostela
Day 9: 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
- Porto Trindade Hotel (Porto)
- Hotel Brazão (Vila do Conde)
- Hotel Laranjeira (Viana do Castelo)
- Hotel A Raiña (Oia)
- Hotel OCA Ipanema (Vigo)
- Hotel Avenida (Pontevedra)
- A 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.
Click to view our upgraded hotels for this trip
- Hotel Vila Galé Porto Ribeira (Porto)
- Vila C Boutique Hotel (Vila do Conde)
- Hotel AP Dona Aninhas (Viana do Castelo)
- Hotel Restaurante Glasgow (Oia)
- Agua de Mar Hotel Boutique (Vigo)
- Parador de Pontevedra (Pontevedra)
- Hotel Monumento Pazo de Lestrove (Padrón)
- Hotel Palacio del Carmen (Santiago de Compostela)
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 coastal 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 and route planner
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Porto Airport (OPO).
By train or bus
Inclusions
Included
- 8 nights accommodation
- 8 breakfasts
- 7 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)
- Welcome meeting
- 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 (six 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.
