Atlantic Way to Santiago HISTORICAL COASTAL SUMMER 2018 www.portugalnaturetrails.com info@portugalnaturetrails.com
Atlantic Way to Santiago ADVENTURE NATURE DESCRIPTION Riding on the most interesting and blue way to Santiago The Atlantic Portuguese Way is a Hybrid Cycling route program which links the major city of Porto to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia Spain along the beautiful coast-line of Portugal and Galicia. You will discover and admire the Portuguese way of pilgrimage, away from the crowds and closer to yourself. Follow the Atlantic Ocean and its different sceneries, exploring stunning coastal views and crossing several small towns rich in culture and fill with the camino spirit. Churches, monuments, old crosses will tell the history of this less trodden way until you arrive at Obradoiro Square, just in front of Saint James Cathedral, in the hearth of Santiago of Compostela. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS TRIP INFORMATION ACCOMMODATION Superior DISTANCE 55 Km to 60km/ Day TOUR GRADE FIT ROUTE Half bike lanes and paved surface of cobbled stone. Half with unpaved surface DURATION 7 Days 6 Nights START END Porto Porto PROFILE First days mainly flat with a couple of rolling hills, last days some more height difference Porto, UNESCO Classified town Litoral Norte Natural Park landscapes Ancient architecture and atmosphere Charming hotels and delicious gastronomy Santiago de Compostela, the most famous pilgrim destination
THE ITINERARY DAY 1 ARRIVAL Our Guide will welcome you at pickup point and drive you to the hotel. Plan sometime to enjoy the city, because once you arrive you will understand that Porto is an exciting place. The grey color of the granitic building stones, the narrow streets from the middle ages or the medieval riverside make it a fantastic place to wander. The second biggest city of Portugal, classified by UNESCO as World Heritage site, Porto has a lot to see and will be your home for the first night. ACCOMODATION Hotel Teatro TRANSFER 30 Minutes DAY 2 PORTO to OFIR Let s start our adventure! Leave Porto behind to find for the first time our amazing coastline. The waves of the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean crash into the lovely beaches and along the way you ll certainly find the perfect spot to take a break and breath the fresh air. Many ancient villages, from the time before our country was founded, will be waiting for you to discover them but the city that stoods out is Vila do Conde. With its quaint historic heart, glassy river mouth, luscious beaches, salty past and monuments like the famous Mosteiro de Santa Clara on the hilltop or the surviving segments of a long-legged medieval aqueduct, this is a popular getaway for Porto residents. Finish your day in the hotel in Ofir for a well deserved rest. ACCOMODATION Hotel Axis Ofir Beach Resort BIKE 60km
DAY 3 OFIR to CAMINHA It s wonderful to wake up to all this green and just a few meters from your hotel you have the beach of Ofir, perfect for a little morning walk in the Natural Park of the North Coast. It s time to start your day and ride in the direction of our borders with spain. You ll encounter one of the jewels of this tour half way, when you cross the bridge abouve the charming river Lima and look at Viana do Castelo from above. This is a blessed placed with an appealing medieval centre, rich in palaces emblazoned with coats of arms, churches and monasteries, monumental fountains and water features. In the end of the day arrive to Caminha, a lovely town in the mouth of river Minho and its natural northern border to Spain, and look for a very traditional restaurant because this is your last chance to taste our delicious Portuguese food. ACCOMODATION Design and Wine Hotel BIKE 55km to 60km DAY 4 CAMINHA to VIGO Today you enter the Galicia territory and because the access to the other side of the river is not close by road, this morning you will cross the magnificient river Minho by ferry. A few km away is the city of A Guarda, go to the top of the hill above the city to visit the Iron Setlement of Santa Tegra, the visit is worth it! You can also visit the medieval monastery of Oia before you arrive at Vigo, an historical city and still the biggest fisshing port of Europe. Welcome to Spain! ACCOMODATION NH Collection Hotel BIKE 55km to 60km DAY 5 VIGO to CALDAS DOS REIS We are getting closer and closer, and after leaving Vigo you ll start to enter the more common roads to Santiago. You ll go in the direction of Pontevedra a city not as big as Santiago but still very charming and with a great atmosphere on its plazas and cafes. Short after Pontevedra you ll have a big wetland where you can admire hundreds of plants and bird species, although along the way the beautiful river crossing places and the trail will always impress you. Finally arrive to Caldas de Reis, a natural spa town since the roman times. This is the perfect place to look for a some thermal springs of water or have a more historic walk visiting the many churches of the town. ACCOMODATION Torre do Rio Rural BIKE 60km Balneario Acuña or
DAY 6 CALDAS DOS REIS to SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA This place is so nice! Caldas dos Reis is such a pretty and refreshing place but it is time to leave and arrive to our so expected destination. Pass by viewpoints, rivers and lush vegetation, and by the medieval city of Padron famous for the small green and tasty peppers. After, the trail will be in and out of the national road but soon you ll start to see the top of the cathedral ACCOMODATION Virxe de la Cerca and it will give you the strenght to finnish the final kilometers. Here you are! Finally in Compostela. The Old Town of Santiago de Compostela, together BIKE 40km with the outlying Santa Maria de Conxo Monastery, constitutes an extraordi- nary ensemble of distinguished monuments. The squares and narrow streets of the Old Town contain Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassicist buildings. This town is not only a harmonious and very well preserved historical city, but also a place deeply imbued with faith. Enjoy! DAY 7 SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA to PORTO Transfer from Santiago de Compostela to Porto. This day is free to explore the city and taste some Porto Wine. Enjoy! Follow the departure with a transfer according to your needs. TRANSFER 2 Hours 30 Minutes
All programs are specially designed for adventure lovers. Amazing experiences are guaranteed. We aren t responsible for possible side effects, that may include moments of extreme happiness, sense of freedom and desire to continue with us. Contact us for more information. Portugal Nature Trails is a registered trademark of Caminhos da Natureza Registered Company as RNAVT (National Registry of Travel Agencies and Tourism) and RNAAT (National Registry of Animation Agent and Tourism) Rua 7 de Junho,58, Leceia, 2730-174 BARCARENA PORTUGAL