Camino de Santiago: From Porto to Santiago de Compostela

4.6/5 (7)
7 nights
28 miles/day
Guided from EUR € 2390
Self guided from EUR € 1950
Bike tour in Portugal and Spain
Rider Level: Active Electric bike tours

Camino de Santiago: From Porto to Santiago de Compostela

4.6/5 (7)

Rider Level: Active Electric bike tours

7 nights
28 miles/day

Guided from EUR € 2390
Self guided from EUR € 1950
Bike tour in Portugal and Spain

Tap above to jump to different sections of this tour

  • Pedal the Portuguese Camino de Santiago on an unmissable cycling adventure

    This coastal variation of the Portuguese Camino will take you from Porto to Santiago de Compostela via the romantic medieval cities north of Portugal and Galiza. Accompanied by awesome ocean views, this tour offers an exciting and convenient way to discover the medieval Camino's history as a pilgrimage route, surrounded by truly sensational natural landscapes.

    You'll learn how the first pilgrims took to the Camino in the 9th century after learning of the discovery of the remains of St. James in Galiza. In 1325, royalty graced the route as Queen Isabel of Portugal made the pilgrimage following a very similar trail, crossing the Barcelos Bridge.

    Now it's your turn to immerse yourself in the breathtaking experiences that characterize the Way of St. James!

    • Portuguese treats! Katie Luka, Unsplash
    • Porto, Portugal. Royaann Miller, Unsplash
    • Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage Route Bike Tour
    • Great Spanish cuisine. Michael Behrens, Flickr
    • Porto, Portugal. Daniel Sebler, Unsplash
    • Portuguese wine! Bruno Ferreira, Unsplash
    • Fresh fish in Portugal. Alex Teixeira, Unsplash
    • Porto, Portugal. Eugene Zhyvchik, Unsplash

    View more photos

    Highlights

    • Historic Camino de Santiago, the Way of St. James
    • Porto, UNESCO World Heritage City with Roman origins dating back to the 4th century
    • Medieval villages like Ponte de Lima, Barcelos, and Valença
    • Stunning scenery of Minho and Galicia
    • Roads and trails through woodland areas, small villages, and timeless 'pueblos'
    • Taste port and 'green' wines
    • Santiago de Compostela, designated UNESCO World Heritage Site home to the shrine of St. James The Great

    Learn More

    Not sure which type of tour to book? Learn about the differences between guided and self-guided tours.

    Interested in adding to your itinerary? Take a look at our cycling day tours in Porto.

  • Traveler photos

    • Photo 1 (photo by Petey)
    • Photo 2 (photo by Petey)
    • Photo 3 (photo by Petey)
    • Screen shot of phone app provided , works with gps. (photo by Petey)

    Camino de Santiago

     Tour Description Daily Program 

  • Daily program

    Day 1: Arrival and transfer from Porto Airport
    You'll be picked up from Porto Airport and transferred to the Ipanema Park Hotel or riverside Pestana World Heritage Hotel ('Premium' option), located in the Ribeira. You'll have the afternoon free to explore the sensational city of Porto, brimming with fascinating history and staggering monuments like the Clérigos Tower and D. Luis Bridge. Venture into the old quarter of Baixa, with its local boutiques, restaurants, and pastry shops selling mouthwatering pasteis de nata.

    Ribeira, the quarter in which you're staying, sits by the River Douro, facing the wine cellars famous for producing world-renowned port. For a spot of shopping, wander into Santa Catarina or along Aliados Avenue. The restaurants dotted around town serve up some of the most sumptuous food in the country.

    Day 2: Porto – Ofir (40 miles/65km)
    After breakfast, board the transfer from your hotel to Porto Cathedral. From this incredible landmark, you'll begin your pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela via the world-famous Camino. Along the way, stop by Sé Cathedral to pick up your Pilgrim Passport - you can ask for this lovely momento to be stamped in several hotels and restaurants along the Camino!

    From Sé, you’ll start your adventure through the city, descending Sé Velha and Mouzinho da Silveira Street to Porto’s riverside, biking on the cycle paths alongside the Douro river, then reaching Leça da Palmeira. From here on, you'll start following the yellow arrows north along Portugal's coastline.

    From Leça da Palmeira, the Camino will be a mix of cycle paths, paved roads, and walkways all the way to the historical city of Vila do Conde and the beach resort of Póvoa do Varzim, both of which offer good stops for lunch, especially Póvoa do Varzim thanks to its heritage as a fishing town. You'll ride through a number of other small fishing villages on the way to Fão, where you'll turn left towards the ocean and the fragrant pine forests of Ofir.

    Day 3: Ofir – Caminha (37 miles/59km)
    After breakfast at the hotel, start your day by riding north, crossing the river to Esposende, and riding alongside the Cávado river. From here, you'll turn inland, journeying through the charming villages of northern Portugal.

    At the 15th km mark, you'll start climbing, entering a more technical trail (you can push your bike if you'd prefer) until you cross a very narrow bridge over the Neiva river. Another climb follows until you reach Viana do Castelo, watched over by the pretty 'Santa Luzia' church atop a nearby sierra. Viana do Castelo's historic center provides a scenic stop for lunch.

    After Viana, you'll continue riding north and inland, passing by the Sierra following ancient paved roads until you reach Vila Praia de Âncora. From here, you'll ride by the Ecopista (the shoreline) until you reach your hotel.

    Day 4: Caminha – Baiona (24 miles/39km)
    You'll leave Caminha by ferry boat (every hour, except on Mondays), journeying towards 'A Guarda' in Spain. The initial section of today's cycling promises no big climbs, just a few ups and downs until you reach Bayona, a beautiful coastal town. En route, enjoy the atmosphere of the medieval villages that nestle along the Galician coastline, tasting some wonderful tapas and seafood if you'd like. You'll stop in Bayona for lunch and to admire this stunning city.

    Day 5: Baiona – Vigo – Pontevedra (39 miles/62km)
    This might just be the toughest day of your Camino! After breakfast, resume your ride towards Vigo (25 km away), tackling a short but steep climb to reach Saigráns and experience one of the most spectacular views in the region - Vigo's 'Ria', where the sea water mixes with the river, 'bateas' (mussel preparing sites) dot the view, and the Ciés Islands grace the horizon. These islands form a natural park out in the Atlantic Ocean.

    Descend into the busy city of Vigo before climbing back up towards a mountain range overlooking the Ria de Vigo - 12 km of macadam trails overlooking the Ria. This will be followed by a descent towards Redondela, where the Central Camino and Coastal Camino become one. There'll be another climb near Cessantes, followed by a descent to the crossing of the Verdugo river over the romantic bridge of Ponte Sampaio.

    One final push today before the long descent into Pontevedra and its beautiful Parador standing proudly in the middle of the historic center. Take your time to explore Pontevedra's center on a nighttime stroll through the Galician plazas of Ourense and Ferraria, home to the city's basilica and chapel.

    Day 6: Pontevedra – Padrón (25 miles/41km)
    After breakfast, you'll continue your pilgrimage with the exciting feeling that you're closing in on Santiago. You'll notice another change in the landscape as you leave the coast and return inland to Galicia, with its lush green fields and forested areas. Today's hotel is located in Padrón, a village regarded as the cradle of Galicia and well known for its green Padrón Peppers. Explore the village, climb to the Santiaguiño do Monte lookout point, visit the botanical gardens, gaze at the Toxa Waterfall, or taste some sumptuos local food. If you're feeling adventurous and it's in season, try the Lamprea!

    Day 7: Padrón – Santiago de Compostela (16 miles/26km)
    Today you'll set out on the last stage of your journey along the Way of St. James. The route starts going uphill almost instantly, so fill up on the calories at breakfast! You'll venture through small villages home to quaint churches - signs that the end of the Way is approaching. When you arrive in spectacular Santiago, journey to the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, the end point of your pilgrimage.

    Santiago de Compostela is a thriving, dynamic city with myriad monuments worthy of a visit, including the plazas in the central area of the old town, the narrow streets, and the traditional markets. Check in at your hotel, then dedicate the rest of your afternoon to visiting the Pilgrims' Office and discovering the traditions, culture, and heritage of this magical medieval city.

    Day 8: Departure
    Breakfast at your hotel, followed by check out. At the scheduled time, transfer from Santiago de Compostela back to Porto Airport or another hotel is available.

    Don't want the adventure to end? Take a look at our cycling day tours in Porto.

    Surface and terrain

    You'll face beautiful but mountainous terrain on this tour. Cycling the Camino, you'll experience a mix of macadam trails, forested areas, mountain roads and Roman stone pavements (only about ~5% of the trail).

    Mountain stages: Mountainous area from to Baiona to Pontevedra.

    Hilly stages: Most of the Way of St. James is hilly while crossing the Minho and Galicia.


    Hotels

    These are sample hotels and may vary by availability.

    Premium hotels: 5-star hotels (or best possible a each location)

    Pestana Heritage, Porto

    Axis Ofir Hotel, Ofir

    Design & Wine, Caminha

    Parador de Baiona, Baiona

    Parador de Pontevedra, Pontevedra

    Os Lambrans, Padrón

    Parador de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela


    Standard hotels: 4-star or charm hotels

    Ipanema Park Hotel, Porto

    Hotel Suave Mar, Esposende

    Hotel Portas do Sol, Caminha

    Parador de Baiona, Baiona

    Parador de Pontevedra, Pontevedra

    Hotel Pazo de Lestrove, Padrón

    Virxe de La Cerca, Santiago de Compostela

    Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.


    How to get there

    Tour start and end
    Nearest airport: Porto Airport
    Nearest train station: Porto airport station

    Upon your arrival in Porto, you will be transported from the airport to the tour start. At the end of the tour, you will be transported back to Porto Airport.

    Tips on getting to and from your tour.


    Camino de Santiago

     Tour Photos Dates & Prices 

  • Dates

    Self-guided - Daily, upon request: Apr 1-Oct 31, 2024 (minimum of 2 participants)
    Privately Guided - Daily, upon request: Apr 1-Oct 31, 2024 (minimum of 4 participants)
    Group Guided - Apr 09, Jul 02, Sep 03, 2024

    Low season: Apr 01, 2024 - Apr 06, 2024, Apr 11, 2024 - Apr 30, 2024

    High season: April 07, 2024 - April 10, 2024, May 01, 2024 - Oct 31, 2024

    Prices

    • 5-star hotel package

      Low season High season
      Per person, double occupancy €2400 €2700
      Single use room (1 person/1 room) €2950 €3250

      4-star hotel package

      Low season High season
      Per person, double occupancy €1750 €2050
      Single use room (1 person/1 room) €2300 €2600
    • 5-star hotel package

      Low season High season
      Per person, double occupancy €2790 €3090
      Single use room (1 person/1 room) €3340 €3640

      4-star hotel package

      Low season High season
      Per person, double occupancy €2140 €2440
      Single use room (1 person/1 room) €2690 €2990
    • Premium package (5-star hotels plus additional services)

      Low season High season
      Per person, double occupancy €3990 €4540
      Single use room (1 person/1 room) €4790 €5340

    Bike Rentals

    Electrically assisted bike €350

    Additional Services

    Dinner package €350

    Discounts

    Child, ages 0-10 (on base package price) 35%
    Child, ages 11-14 (on base package price) 25%
    Child, ages 15-17 (on base package price) 20%

    Included services

      • 7 nights accommodation in selected hotel category
      • Breakfast each day
      • Luggage transfer
      • Transfer from Porto airport to tour start and from tour end back to Porto airport
      • Access to App to navigate and explore restaurants, museums, and sightseeing
      • Garmin GPS, with preloaded daily tracks for your navigation and power bank
      • Detailed briefing and route book provided on the starting date of the tour
      • Rental of a Scott Touring or Mountain bike with helmet and spares
      • Accident insurance during the ride
      • If the dinner package is booked, these will be in your hotel
      • 7 nights accommodation in selected hotel category
      • Breakfast each day
      • Luggage transfer
      • Private guide accompanying your group, providing daily guided cyling tours, restaurant reservations, booking of local experiences and all passenger transfers throughout the tour
      • Support vehicle (SAG Wagon) and mechanical support throughout all the rides
      • Transfer from Porto airport to tour start and from tour end back to Porto airport and during the tour as needed
      • Access to App to navigate and explore restaurants, museums, and sightseeing
      • Garmin GPS, with preloaded daily tracks for your navigation and power bank
      • Rental of a Scott Touring or Mountain bike with helmet and spares
      • Detailed briefing and routebook provided on the starting date of the tou
      • Accident insurance during the ride
      • Nutrition and hydration during the rides
      • Jersey
      • 7 nights accommodation in 5-star accommodations
      • Breakfast each day
      • Luggage transfer
      • Private guide accompanying your group, providing daily guided cyling tours, restaurant reservations, booking of local experiences and all passenger transfers throughout the tour
      • Support vehicle (SAG Wagon) and mechanical support throughout all the rides
      • Transfer from Porto airport to tour start and from tour end back to Porto airport and during the tour as needed
      • Access to App to navigate and explore restaurants, museums, and sightseeing
      • Garmin GPS, with preloaded daily tracks for your navigation and power bank
      • Rental of a Scott Touring or Mountain bike with helmet and spares
      • Detailed briefing and routebook provided on the starting date of the tou
      • Accident insurance during the ride
      • Nutrition and hydration during the rides
      • Jersey
      • 7 dinners and 6 lunches at selected restaurants
      • A second guide, cycling with your group, for upgraded service throughout the tour
      • Entrance in museums, wineries and other selected experiences
      • Bib shorts and cycling cap (in addition to the jersey)

    Bike rentals

    Bikes available on this tour and included in the tour cost (must be reserved in advance at the time of booking):

    • Mountain or touring bikes (Scott Aspect 29")

    Bikes available to rent for an additional fee (must be reserved in advance at the time of booking):

    • Electrically assisted bikes (available upon request)*

    *More about electrically-assisted bikes >

    Mountain bikes are the safest and most comfortable bike for this route.

    Pedals:
    The bikes will have flat pedals, but mountain bike pedals are also available (SPD, SPD-SL, Look, etc). If you want to bring your own shoes that require a specific pedal, please reserve them in advance at the time of booking and make sure you bring the correct shoes and cleats for those pedals.

    Helmets:
    Helmets are available on this tour; however, we recommend that you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene purposes.


    Tour Company


    Camino de Santiago

     Daily program Route Map 

  • Route Map

    Maps are for information purposes only and reflect typical routes between overnight locations. They may not reflect your actual route.


    Camino de Santiago

     Dates & Prices Tour Reviews 

    • AMY Nathan 7 months ago

      Great trip!

      Loved this trip along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage trail. We did the self guided tour.The terrain was not exactly what we expected, but enjoyed the challenge- harder than we expected because of the terrain. Along the coast for the first two days, boardwalks, sand dunes, cobblestones, bike paths, trails in the woods, boulders, dirt paths and roads. The App to follow was wonderful and accurate. They gave us restaurant suggestions for both along the way and once we reached our daily destination-all spot on. I recommend the 4 star hotel option and maybe splurge for one 5 star. Parador Hotel in Baiona was fantastic.

      What was the date of your tour?
      July 2023
      How many tours have you completed?
      1st one
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
    • Chris Moolman September 26, 2022

      Fabulous trip!

      We really enjoyed the entire trip. Everything was arranged and organized just as it was promised: we were picked up and dropped off at airports - just as we had hoped for, the equipment was in good condition, our luggage was on time every time and in good condition - all in all just a fabulous experience. Some hotels were fabulous (and some nearly). Thank you so much, Biketours, for a fabulous experience - great memories that will remain with us.

    • Petey September 23, 2019

      Can’t wait to do it again

      We did the coastal route self guided. We stayed in the “moderate price” lodging option without dinner plan.

      The bike were in very good condition. We went in September when it was dry and did well with hybrid tires. We were outfitted with 2 new Garmin gps’s loaded with the daily routes. They were helpful especially when I got up to speed on using them.

      We also had the smart phone app that the tour operator provides. That was super helpful.

      I thought the accommodations were terrific. Breakfasts were good and included daily. Our baggage was transferred without any problems.

      This is a combination ride of trail and mountain biking. The single track mountain portion is not extensive and detours for them could probably be worked out if you wanted to. We noticed that some of the guided tours do that. We train on road bikes and are in our late 60’s, so it was a great feeling of accomplishment though challenging.

      The orientation we got from Pedro was complete and detailed. He kept up with us along the way via email and had some good suggestions.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 3 - 9, 2019
      How many tours have you completed?
      5
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • Photo 1 (photo by Petey)
      • Photo 2 (photo by Petey)
      • Photo 3 (photo by Petey)
      • Screen shot of phone app provided , works with gps. (photo by Petey)
      • 5/5 Value
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Lorenepyt June 20, 2018

      The Portuguese Coastal Route of the Camino

      This self guided tour was perfect. We loved every minute of it from the actual routes to the hotels to the food to the amazing pilgrimage experience. Our guides were very attentive and always answered us promptly. Our luggage was always on time at the correct hotel. It was the trip of a lifetime! And a perfect way to bond with our young daughter after her graduation from college!

      What was the date of your tour?
      june 2, 2018
      How many tours have you completed?
      many
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 5/5 Value
      • 4/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 5/5 Route selection
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)
    • Cathy62 October 27, 2017

      Hardest bike trip I've ever done. Proud to have finished.

      I think this trip is a level 4 rather than a level 3 ride. It had some very difficult terrain that resulted in several in our group doing a fair amount of walking with their bikes. An electrical bike would have made the trip even more difficult.

      Because of the difficulty of the terrain I missed seeing a lot of scenery. Keeping my eyes on the off-road trails to navigate the loose rocks meant I couldn't look around.

      The Live, Love, Ride contact was great and responded in a timely manner to our needs. We did have one flat tire for which the incorrect sized tube was loaded on that bike. We did find the correct size on another bike in the group.

      What was the date of your tour?
      10/7 to 10/13
      How many tours have you completed?
      7
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Do you recommend this tour?
      No
      • 4/5 Value
      • 5/5 Included meals
      • 4/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 4/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Cari October 21, 2017

      What was the date of your tour?
      October 7, 2016 - October 13, 2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      6
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Much harder
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 3/5 Value
      • 3/5 Included meals
      • 2/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 5/5 Hotels or boat
      • 5/5 Scenery
      • 5/5 Ease of navigation
      • 5/5 Tour documents
      • 3/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
    • Silvia September 24, 2017

      Very good overall experience

      We enjoyed the bike rides. It was a great idea to upgrade to e-bikes! The terrain was challenging at times. Pedro the tour coordinator was very helpful, he was easy to reach and pleasant !
      Overall the hotels were good, but the ones in Spain were much nicer and had better meals . We don't recommend to include the dinners in the package, we had some very poor dinners , particularly in Portugal.
      The length of the biking trips were perfect, for most part good scenery although there was a day with too many roads through industrial areas.

      What was the date of your tour?
      September 16 to 22,2017
      How many tours have you completed?
      4
      Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
      Somewhat harder
      Who is this tour suitable for?
      Solo travelers, Families with teens
      Do you recommend this tour?
      Yes
      • 4/5 Value
      • 2/5 Included meals
      • 5/5 Bikes + equipment
      • 4/5 Hotels or boat
      • 4/5 Scenery
      • 4/5 Ease of navigation
      • 3/5 Tour documents
      • 5/5 Local tour company services
      • 4/5 Route selection
      • 5/5 Guides (if applicable)

    Camino de Santiago

     Route Map Book This Tour 

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