Day 1
Porto to Espinho - distance 30km
Your ride will start right after you cross the D. Luis I metal bridge to the Douro south bank, where you will have amazing views over Porto and the Ribeira area. Soon you'll reach Afurada, a fishermen’s village between the Douro and the Atlantic. From here you'll cycle mostly through bike lanes along the coast and head south. At Miramar, you can see the impressive Senhor da Pedra chapel built on the ocean rocks. Near Espinho here you can do a 1km walk over a wooden footbridge. Do NOT cycle here, walk for 15 minutes and appreciate the sand dunes, a small brook, and the Atlantic Ocean.
Day 2
Espinho to Aveiro - distance 63km
Exiting Espinho and heading south along the coast you will cycle on a footbridge (this one you can cycle) and pass by an abandoned military air base. Near Esmoriz you'll cross the urban park, Buçaquinho, and then continue along the Pine Tree Forest, always on a bike lane until Furadouro beach. Further, using bike lanes and macadam trails, you'll reach Torreira beach, and then the seven old docks where you can spot the traditional boats, called “Moliceiros”, painted in their typical lively colors. Back on the road you'll cross a bridge and reach Torreira where the only alternative is to ride on the shared national road to São Jacinto. Once in São Jacinto, you'll have to take the ferry boat to Forte da Barra and from there ride to your hotel for the night in the city of Aveiro.
Day 3
Aveiro to Praia de Mira - distance 40km
Today you'll ride inland, parallel to the Aveiro Lagoon and going south to Costa Nova using the recently built bike lane. After Praia da Vagueira it is best to cycle along the macadam trail and passing Praia do Areão you will be back on a bike lane along a Pine Tree forest. First in asphalt, then in gravel, then in asphalt again until you reach Lagoa de Mira, a beautiful and well-preserved lagoon surrounded by a forested area. Further ahead you'll reach Praia de Mira, your final destination. Relax, go to the beach, or just take a funny tour of the inside lake with a rented pedal boat.
Day 4
Praia de Mira to Figueira da Foz - distance 58km
Today's ride leads you through a long section of a forest road with little or no traffic almost all the way, this will definitely be an introspective ride surrounded by pine trees and sand for a few kilometers. After visiting Praia da Tocha you'll pass near two beautiful lagoons, one of them hidden behind the endemic vegetation. After coming down to the ocean again and visiting Praia de Quiaios, you'll pedal the hardest climb of the day: a hilly gravel road (650 meters long) that will take you through an abandoned quarry of cement stone extraction. This is an amazing natural open-air museum, that shows you several rock types and geological formations from the Miocene age. After the lighthouse, you'll start to see the city Figueira-da-Foz, your final destination for the day.
Day 5
Figueira da Foz to São Pedro de Moel - distance 62km
Start your day riding along the Mondego River and its rice fields, with a visit to Montemor-o-Velho’s ancient castle. Crossing the Mondego River and heading south, you will ride through farming areas always using backroads. Right before the only big climb of the day, the route will take you near the abandoned Seiça Monastery. After Marinha das Ondas, you'll pass beneath the N109 road and enter the Leiria National Pine Tree forest where there's you'll ride the longest bike lane in Portugal, 70 km long, which today will take you to Lagoa de Ervedeira, an ancient lagoon surrounded by forest, and finally to Praia do Pedrogão. The next suggested stop will be Praia da Vieira and then São Pedro de Moel, a traditional summer village where your hotel is located. Enjoy here the relaxed atmosphere, the typical architecture of the coastal homes, the public seaside pool of the 1930s to 1960s, and the beach.
Day 6
São Pedro de Moel to Óbidos - distance 67km
Leaving São Pedro de Moel you will ride the cycle path heading south to Sitio da Nazaré and passing the entrances to the beaches of Pedra do Ouro, Vale de Paredes, Vale Furado, and Praia do Norte, the famous beach where in 2012 the Hawaiian Garrett McNamara broke the world record for the biggest wave ever surfed, with 30 meters height. When you reach Sítio da Nazaré, a village perched on top of the cliffs that sit on the northern edge of the Nazaré beach and that has an amazing view over Nazaré, the beach, and the ocean. This section will take you along the top edge of two small sierras giving you great perspectives over the Atlantic Ocean. After exiting Nazaré you'll have to face 2 hilly sections. This first will take up from the rice fields and along the ocean to the old windmill. After going down you will pass by the amazing and sui generis São Martinho do Porto Bay, an ocean lagoon cloistered by cliffs. Then, the second hill which is not as high as the first one will lead you to Foz do Arelho beach and the amazing Óbidos lagoon, here you cycle along the trails that surround it. From the Lagoon, you'll have to head up to the medieval village of Óbidos where your hotel is located and where you can enjoy the medieval atmosphere of this beautifully preserved fortified village.
Day 7
Óbidos to Peniche - distance 52km
Leaving Óbidos you'll cycle along the lagoon gravel trails. Enjoy this flat ride with low traffic along this beautiful lagoon that will take you to Bom Sucesso Beach. Afterward, you'll have to pedal the only hilly road of this section, going past a stone quarry and then leading you to Praia d’El Rei beach resort. From there you cycle on a gravel trail along the farming areas close to the ocean before reaching Baleal beach and its little and unique islet. Your destination is Peniche, where your hotel is located and here you can take some free time to enjoy the city and fort, not forgetting to try the fresh fish and seafood of this coast.
Day 8
Peniche to Ericeira - distance 73km
Leaving Peniche you'll ride along the south coast parallel to the ocean on most probably your toughest day on the bike. Pass many beaches such as Praia da Consolação, Praia do Paimogo with its old fortress, and the famous Areia Branca beach. You'll quickly realize that this area is most infamous for its successive up and downhill sections taking you across the existing valleys and beaches of this part of the coast. In Praia de Porto Dinheiro take time to enjoy the dinosaur tracks and history. Climbing from that beach you'll reach the next point, the famous thermal village of Vimeiro. From here you pedal along a private road parallel to the Alcabrichel River. Next, from Praia de Porto Novo there is a bike lane that takes you to Santa Cruz. From Santa Cruz enjoy the cliffside roads taking you to Praia Azul. At this point, this track takes you inland as there are no Atlantic roads or just too much traffic at N247. This way you can enjoy the backroads small sierras and valley villages on your way to Praia de São Lourenço, a river mouth and cliffy beach. Right before Ericeira, you'll spot Ribeira d’ilhas, a well-known beach for surf competitions. From here there is a bike lane towards Ericeira, where your hotel is located. After the ride takes some time to walk around the village.
Day 9
Ericeira to Sintra - distance 43km
As the previous day, today will be quite a hilly ride thanks to the many valleys and rivers of the coast, often forcing you to go up and down to the beaches. Fortunately, they are all worth visiting. Right after exiting Ericeira, you will pass by Lizandro’s river mouth and beach. Then you'll take N247, a busy road, to tackle the first climb of the day. Reaching the village of Baleia, from here you turn right towards the beautiful São Julião beach and its cliffs. Prepare for the steep climb as you exit São Julião and head towards Magoito beach, a long sandy beach below the high cliffs with a great view over the Roca Cape, the westernmost point of continental Europe. Cross the beach trail that will lead you to the top of the cliff and enjoy the trails and roads that will take you to Praia da Aguda and then Azenhas do Mar, an old and traditional village built on the rocky cliffs, and one of the landmarks of the Sintra region. From here you go into the historical village of Sintra, which will be the last climbing section of the tour. When you reach the charming village center of Sintra, your hotel is just a few meters away from it. Take the rest of the day to visit and explore the village's history and its landmarks, it's well worth it!
Day 10
Sintra to Lisbon - distance 67km
Option to take your transfer to Lisbon or ride to Lisbon warehouse. The latter option is only advisable for experienced cyclists that are at ease with riding on busy shared roads. If you choose to ride to Lisbon, you'll start your day by riding down to Colares along the tram line that takes beachgoers to Praia das Maças. This road takes you along the Sintra Natural Park first to Colares and then up a 5km climb to Aldeia da Serra and the detour to Roca Cape. From here you'll have a long downhill section with the most beautiful views of the coast and Guincho Beach. From Guincho, you'll be oceanside all the way to Lisbon. This 40km ocean road connects Guincho, and goes through the urban coastal towns of Cascais, Estoril, and Oeiras, entering Lisbon in the monuments area of Belém, where you can admire the Tower and Jerónimo's Monastery. You'll then ride past the central riverside area of Cais do Sodré and Baixa with great views of the city and the Tagus River. Once you're past the central area it's just a short ride to the new area of Parque das Nações where you'll drop your bikes at the warehouse.
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