Day 1
Check in
Before starting this cycling journey towards Santiago de Compostela, it's almost mandatory to explore Porto, classified as a World Heritage and Capital of Culture and Tourism. Join us on a city walking tour and discover part of the heritage this city has to offer. Meet famous and well-known hot spots, such as the bookstore that influenced J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, the magnificent Stock Exchange Market, the blue and white tiles hiding at each corner, and much more. Art, heritage, and traditions are meant to be found and seen during this short city tour. Accommodation, Hotel 4 stars: Porto Trindade Hotel
Day 2
Porto to Esposende - 60km
From our store, based in the “Invicta” city of Porto, we will begin our journey heading to Esposende, a seaside city located to the North. During this day, you will be overwhelmed with seaside landscapes and small “Portuguese rivieras”. A huge variety of fishing villages will meet us, where we can experience ancient traditions linked to fish exploration, as well as taste this famous gastronomy. In Vila do Conde, you’ll know why these Portuguese coastal cities were so important during the “el dorado” of the Portuguese Discoveries. Accommodation, Hotel 3 stars: Suave Mar Hotel
Day 3
Esposende to Caminha - 50km
We’re reaching Viana do Castelo, another sea docking city that was quite important during the Discoveries period. During the XIV-XVth Centuries, it was in this precise city that the ships going to Brazil, India, Africa, and other Portuguese Colonies were developed. Our final destination will be Caminha. This city finds the shore of the river Minho, making it part of an incredible landscape. Caminha is also very well known for its natural and green heritage, like the sightseeing areas, waterfalls, beaches, and camping park. Accommodation, Hotel 4 stars: Portas do Sol Hotel
Day 4
Caminha to Baiona - 40km
You are going to enter Spanish territory, ending in Bayona. It’s a city politically linked to Pontevedra where you can breathe the sea breeze. Away from the sea landscape, you can also get lost in the old city center. Born from the Romans, the city kept growing towards the coast during the Middle Ages, with an influence from the Catholic Church. Curiously, during the XVI Century, Bayona was raided by British ships, led by the great Corsair and explorer Francis Drake who saw an opportunity to establish a commercial and merchant point in this territory. Accommodation, Hotel 4 stars: Parador Baiona Hotel
Day 5
Baiona to Pontevedra - 64km
his day will encompass the stream of Vigo and will end in San Simon's Bay with a watery landscape to feast your eyes on. Always following the coastline, this day will be dedicated to Arcade and its famous oysters. Apart from this delightful cuisine, you will see monuments and sights dedicated to Santiago’s culture, such as the church of Santiago in Arcade (XII-XIII centuries) and roads and paths that will lead to our pilgrimage destination. It’s almost mandatory that, if you are passing by Arcade, you must taste and enjoy the famous oysters produced and harvested in the waters of this region. Curiously, during April’s first week, there is a festival dedicated to this traditional gastronomy – “Fiesta de la Ostra” – where the city is filled with tourists and pilgrims attending this event. Accommodation, Hotel 4 stars: Parador Pontevedra Hotel
Day 6
Pontevedra – Caldas dos Reis - 26km
Heading to a pre-Roman city, Caldas de Reis, a province that belongs to Pontevedra. According to historical archives, the first inhabitants were a pre-Roman community that lived in the hot springs of this territory. The name “Caldas de Reis” is connected to the birthplace of Afonso VII, acting in the Middle Ages as a pilgrimage path to Santiago de Compostela. Apart from the rich cultural heritage, like Arcade, Caldas de Reis holds a peculiar gastronomy, such as the “empanadas” of lamprey and the traditional Spanish bread. Since the hot springs accompanied the evolution of this territory, nowadays it is a hot spot for tourists who seek better healthy treatments for several illnesses. Accommodation, Rural House: Torre do Rio
Day 7
Day 7: Caldas dos Reis – Santiago de Compostela - 40km
You will be met by Santiago de Compostela as your final destination, one of the ultimate pilgrimage cores in Western Europe. Like Rome and Jerusalem, the city of Santiago de Compostela presents us with a unique religious beacon for tourists who find in this cycling journey an act of faith and inner-self. Reach the Square of Obradoiro, where you will witness the majestic baroque cathedral where the remains of the apostles are located. Accommodation, Hotel 4 stars: Compostela Hotel
Day 8
Departure
Departure day... Time to say goodbye, a good flight back home, or else a pleasant stay in Portugal. Transfers to the airport (on request) according to the time of your flight!
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