Cycle the scenic Coastal Way to Santiago on this exciting self-guided cycling tour
This exciting 9-day bike tour takes you cycling along the Portuguese Coastal Way tour to Santiago. This bike tour covers two countries, beginning with northern Portugal and culminating in northwestern Spain.
Discover the charm of Portugal and Spain’s coastal towns and villages from the vantage of your bike as you pedal up the Atlantic coast from UNESCO-protected Porto to celebrated Santiago de Compostela.
Relive the past at your own pace as you cover the Coastal Way alongside fellow “bicigrinos,” stopping to check out cultural and historical points of interest as well as relaxing with a swim in the Atlantic.
You’ll ride through the Parque Natural do Litoral Norte, visit the Museo de la Carabela Pinta to see the first ship to arrive with news of the Americas, and cross the river Verdugo at Ponte Sampaio to uncover the history of the 1809 Peninsular War. Challenge yourself with this exhilarating Cycling the Portuguese Coastal Way tour and book yourself in for a pilgrimage of a lifetime.
Highlights Of Cycling the Portuguese Camino Coastal Route
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Cycling the Portuguese Camino Coastal Route Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Porto
Welcome to Portugal! Transfer from the Francisco Sá Carneiro airport to your accommodation in downtown Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage city. Stroll its historic streets and taste its gastronomy before getting a good night’s rest for the cycling journey that awaits you in the coming days.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Porto
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Cycle to Esposende
Set out from Porto to cycle the Camion Portugues along the Coastal Way. You’ll follow the Atlantic Ocean north toward Esposende, breaking up the route with a stop in the medieval town and picturesque port of Póvoa de Varzim. It’s an excellent idea to make your way to the top of the Convent of Santa Clara for the best views of the city and the beach-lined coast.
From here, you’ll then continue to ride through the Parque Natural do Litoral Norte before you cross the Cávado River to Esposende.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Esposende
Distance: 51 km
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 3 Cycle to Vila Praia de Ancora
Enjoy the stunning scenery of the seaside villages from today’s quiet route along the coast as you make your way to Vila Praia de Ancora.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Vila Praia de Ancora
Distance: 43 km
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 4 Cycle to Baiona
Today you’ll cross into Spain. Following the Portuguese coastline, the picture-perfect views continue to spur you forward toward the Spanish border where you’ll cross the Miño River (Minho in Portuguese), the natural border between Spain and Portugal. Here you’ll enter and ride through Galician territory to Baiona.
Once in Baiona, be sure to visit the Museo de la Carabela Pinta to see the first ship to arrive to the European continent that brought the news of the discovery of the Americas.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Baiona
Distance: 43 km
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 5 Cycle to Vigo
Today is another great ride on the Camino Portugues. Take pleasure in another coastal ride to Vigo by way of Nigrán where the views of the magnificent Cíes Islands in the distance will not leave you disappointed. Before arriving in Vigo, it’s an idea to take advantage of the shorter route today to indulge in a swim at Playa América in Nigrán.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Vigo
Distance: 26 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Cycle to Pontevedra
Today’s 35 km will not be too difficult, allowing time for you to discover a historically important site of the area: the Battle of Puente Sanpayo. Crossing the river Verdugo at Ponte Sampaio, you will discover where the French navy was defeated in the 1809 Peninsular War.
Arriving in Pontevedra, tucked alongside the Lérez River, take a late afternoon stroll to discover the city’s charm, a perfect way to end the day.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Pontevedra
Distance: 35 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Cycle to Padrón
Leaving Pontevedra behind, you’ll pedal past the wonderful Natural Park of the Barosa River where you can pull over to check out the mills and waterfalls set amid the lush Galician nature. Restore the senses here before continuing the pilgrimage to your hotel in Padrón, known as the birthplace of great writers of Galician literature and for its green peppers.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Padrón
Distance: 39 km
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 8 Cycle to Santiago de Compostela
Today’s final segment of the Coastal Way is known to be the longest stage for traditional pilgrims (those who choose to walk), but it won’t be so difficult for cyclists!
Leaving the village of Padrón, you’ll complete your cycling pilgrimage in Santiago de Compostela where you’ll enjoy the city at your leisure. Don’t forget to collect your Compostelana (certificate of completing the pilgrimage) from the Pilgrim’s Office!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Santiago
Distance: 25 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 Depart Santiago de Compostela
Take the morning to see the sights you may have missed the night before and complete any last-minute souvenir and gift shopping before it’s time to check out and begin your homeward journey.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
This self-guided tour is always run as a private tour for your group only.
- Sharing a double room: from $1,250 USD*
*-Pricing for this tour depends on the dates of your trip and all the prices are per person. Please click the booking button below to get the exact pricing for your trip dates.
Book NowAccommodation on Portuguese Camino Coastal Route
This tour is based in 2 and 3-star hotels and offer modern conveniences. Rooms are double occupancy, and single travelers will pay a supplement.
In some cases, accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other, comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel. Contact us and we can try and match single travelers up, where possible.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Hotel da Bolsa in Porto
Close to some of Porto’s popular landmarks and restaurants, Hotel da Bolsa also provides modern amenities (flat screen TV and air conditioning).
Hotel Suave Mar in Esposende ★★★
Facing the Cávado River and steps away from the ocean, this comfortable hotel is perfectly situated. Take advantage of the pool and tennis courts.
Hotel Meira in Vila Praia de Ancora
4-star, family-run hotel with colorful, modern rooms, a pool, and restaurant, all of which is a few steps away from the beach.
Hotel Anunciada in Baiona
Centrally located hotel within short walking distance to Baiona’s most popular attractions.
Hotel Compostela Vigo in Vigo
Situated in the historic center of Vigo and close to the marina, the staff are friendly, speak English, and the rooms are bright and cozy.
Hotel Boa Vila in Pontevedra
A quiet hotel conveniently located right off the Camino and close to the heart of Old Town as well as restaurants with mouth-watering menus.
Hotel Scala in Padrón
Quiet hotel on the outskirts of Padrón provides visitors with modern and convenient amenities and includes an onsite restaurant and pool.
Hospedería San Martín Pinario in Santiago de Compostela
Perfectly located near Praza do Obradoiro and other notable attractions, as well as a host of restaurants, enjoy your stay in this historic building.
What’s included in the Portuguese Camino Coastal Route?
Meals
8 breakfasts and 3 dinners are included.
Accommodations
The accommodation for 8 nights along the tour is included.
Transportation during the Tour
This tour includes luggage transfers only.
Also Included
- Bike rental
- Saddlebags and helmet rental
- 24/7 phone assistance
- Pilgrim Passport
- Walking notes
Not included
- Guide services
- Insurance
- Personal expenses
- Transportation
- Anything not listed as ‘included’
- Extra accommodation charge for arriving to Santiago one night before St. James Day (July 25th)
Optional Extras
- Extra night before or after the tour
- Airport transfers
- Extending the tour by splitting one of the days to two
Frequently Asked Questions about Cycling the Portuguese Camino Coastal Route
Galiwonders is a specialist tour operator, focusing on pilgrimages along the Camino de Santiago in Spain and Portugal as well as the Via Francigena in Italy. They offer adaptable tours to suit a variety of client needs and focus on truly taking care of their guests.
The tour guides are local experts, living and working right along the Camino. They have visited each hotel and restaurant they recommend, ensuring each is up to standard.
Galiwonders offers constant contact with their guests, ensuring all concerns or questions are addressed immediately so you can relax and enjoy your trip.
Learn MoreCycling the Portuguese Camino Coastal Route Map
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Margot is a new guide with Galiwonders, and loves sharing her pride in her home region of Galicia with visitors. She enjoys sharing the history, stories, legends, and unknown information with tourists to connect them deeply with the region they’re in.
- Q: What is your favourite trip to lead and why?
- A: Any trip around Galicia. Fortunately, I have had the chance to travel far and wide, I’ve visited many counties, many cities, all beautiful and with something special, but I guess the saying "the heart is where home is" is applicable to me.
- Q: What are guests most surprised about in visiting your country?
- A: Tourists usually have a preconceived idea of what Spain is like, and when they are here they are surprised to see that how they thought it was had no similarity to that notion. I find this is especially true with Galicia. The most common ide they have is that it’s all Flamenco, bulls and polka dot dresses. That is just in Andalucia, and in Madrid, for tourists. Each region has its own unique traditions and folk culture.
- Q: What is one experience anybody visiting your country should do?
- A: El Camino de Santiago. It does not matter what religion you belong to. It is the sentiment, the relaxation, the feeling of wholeness one senses while on the Way. It’s the goal of accomplishing a pilgrimage for whatever the reason one may have, reaching the end of the road where all roads meet. Along the way you make friends with people from all over the world, the group gets larger and larger, some speak Spanish, others French, others English, even Chinese. It’s a wonderful multiracial group, and once you all reach Plaza do Obradoiro in Santiago de Compostela, you all embrace. Everyone’s jumping and laughing with sore, bruised feet and sweaty clothes for having accomplished the challenge, feeling so good and wondering why the rest of the world does not embrace this experience.