Being an outdoor enthusiast, I was very excited to set off on a cycling trip with my colleagues on the Camino in October. We were cycling the Portuguese Coastal Way, starting in the beautiful City of Porto.
Cycling the Portuguese Coastal Way is one of the most scenic ways to experience the Camino de Santiago. Starting in Porto and following the Atlantic coastline, this route combines coastal landscapes, charming towns, and a relaxed cycling pace, making it ideal for a cycling holiday with friends.
We were cycling the Portuguese Coastal Way, starting in the beautiful city of Porto, one of the most popular options for those interested in cycling the Camino. We arrived at Porto late in the evening, just in time for dinner. We didn’t have much time to explore the city, but from what we saw, it left a good impression and made me want to come back to Porto and spend more time exploring. Since our first cycling day was the longest of the three, we decided to start as early as possible. That morning, we left our luggage at the reception and set off straight after breakfast.
With the weather forecast looking great all weekend, I expected a sunny start to our first morning; unfortunately, we were greeted by thick, heavy fog. The first step was to leave Porto and head to the coast, but before we did, we had to stop at the Cathedral in Porto to collect our first stamp in our pilgrim passports. This was like a symbol that our journey was about to begin. Although the fog was thick and we couldn’t see more than 3 meters in front of us, it also made the experience more unique, as I don’t normally imagine cycling early in the morning in Portugal in fog. As we continued cycling towards Esposende, we were eventually going towards the sun, leaving the fog behind us. At this stage, we were on the coast, the Atlantic Ocean was on our left, the sun was shining and not a single worry on my mind. I did not have to worry about getting lost as we had the cycling notes and maps to guide us.
Our accommodation was already booked, dinner was included, and our luggage was transferred ahead to the next hotel each day. This meant we only had to focus on cycling and enjoying the journey, without worrying about logistics or carrying extra weight. I guess that would be the main reason why people would choose to travel with us. Everything is done for you, all you need to do is get on the bike and cycle.
After a long day of adventures, we were delighted to finally arrive to our hotel in Esposende. We completed our longest day of 62km in 9 hours, including an hour stop for lunch in Vila do Conde and plenty of stops for pictures.
The next morning, as soon as we got back onto our bikes I realised that I made a good decision when buying that bike seat cover. Although I am used to cycling long distances, if you don’t do it often the hard and narrow bike seats do make your cycling trip slightly uncomfortable.
Our second day started exactly the same as the first one, with thick fog covering the beautiful coastal view, and soon after, it became another wonderful sunny day. My highlight of this day has to be the town of Viana do Costelo and its magical street of umbrellas that we passed along the way.
As we had less kilometres to cycle today, we arrived at our hotel earlier and more time to explore the lovely town of Villa Praia de Ancora. I had over an hour to go until our dinner, therefore I got my camera and went out to wonder around on the beach, which was only 2 minutes from our hotel. This is a true paradise for surfers, therefore if you are into surfing or would like to try it out, this is the right place to spend more time in.
Before we noticed, it was already our last day on the Camino. Although this was another shorter day and we could choose to have a lie in, we decided to leave our hotel early after breakfast to arrive to Baiona early enough so that we can explore the town and have more time to enjoy it. This was also an inspiring day as we had to get a boat into from Spain into Portugal. We all agreed that the boat trip was one of the most memorable experiences of the trip. We knew this was not the first time Mario had transferred people with bikes, as when we told him there were 5 people with bikes who needed to fit into this small boat, he did not blink.
As soon as we crossed the border into Spain, we were cycling on beautiful boardwalks and cycle tracks along the coast until we reached A Guarda. We stopped for our last lunch in Oia and continued on to Baiona for our final point. Once we finally reached Baiona, we went out to explore the town before dinner. One can find many bars and restaurants along the beach, which fill up later in the evening with families and friends.
We finished our journey cycling the Portuguese Coastal Way with some tapas at the local bar and another filling dinner at the nearby restaurant. It’s the memories you make that stay with you after the trip, and this trip was surely full of memorable moments. I cannot wait for my next Camino adventure!
Cycling the Portuguese Coastal Way is a memorable experience, whether you’re travelling with friends or on your own. If this story has inspired you, you can explore our Portuguese Coastal cycling routes or learn more about cycling the Camino with full support and luggage transfers.
FAQ
Q: How long is the Portuguese Coastal Way by bike?
A: The main cycling stages usually take 3 to 4 days, with daily distances that are comfortable for regular cyclists.
Q: Do I need to carry my luggage while cycling?
A: No, luggage is transferred each day to your next hotel, so you can cycle with just a small day bag.
Q: Is the Portuguese Coastal Way suitable for beginners?
A: Yes, it’s ideal for beginner to intermediate cyclists, with mostly flat terrain and good cycling paths along the coast.
Q: What type of bike is best for this route?
A: A hybrid or touring bike is perfect, as the route includes a mix of paved roads, boardwalks, and coastal paths.
Q: When is the best time to cycle the Portuguese Coastal Way?
A: Spring and autumn are ideal, offering mild temperatures, fewer crowds, and great cycling conditions.
