Camino Portugues By Bike

this tour takes you along quiet country and coastal roads, with some sections on well-maintained tracks. The terrain includes rolling hills, but e-bike rentals are available for a more relaxed ride. A good level of fitness is recommended, so it's helpful to prepare by cycling a couple of consecutive days beforehand. Along the way, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore historic sites and enjoy local food and wine.

E-bikes can be requested if you would like a little extra boost during your cycling day. Please note we need plenty of time to confirm an e-bike upgrade due to limited availability.

Along the way, you'll encounter a diverse mix of terrain, from sandy beaches and rural countryside villages to winding forest trails and quiet secondary roads. Some sections offer flat, smooth paths, while others feature rolling hills that add a bit of challenge to your journey. The landscape constantly shifts, with occasional ascents and descents that vary in difficulty, making each day unique.

This tour is graded Moderate. The grade reflects the tour as a whole, and individual days may vary in difficulty - especially if you choose to upgrade to an e-bike - so some days may feel a little easier or harder than the overall rating suggests.

Accommodation is mostly small 3-star hotels and guesthouses, with larger 4-star hotels in the bigger cities along the way. During the high season, you might occasionally be booked into an alternative property, always of the same standard or better than the one originally listed.

Additional nights can be added along the way if you'd like to build in a rest day, and extra nights are also available in Porto and Santiago de Compostela at either end of the tour.

Yes, solo travelers are very welcome. There will be a supplement because some costs, like transfers, aren't shared. Or if you'd like to book a single room, just ask. These are available for a supplement.

Solo cyclists are offered a special solo rate, with single-occupancy rooms and a private en-suite bathroom throughout.

Breakfast is included every morning. Lunch and dinner aren't included, so you're free to choose from the many options along the way, whether at your accommodation or nearby. You'll pass through towns and villages where you can pick up picnic supplies for lunch, and since restaurants in Spain often don't serve dinner until 8 or 9pm, you may prefer a hearty late lunch followed by early-evening tapas instead.

You can start this tour any day of the week from the 1st of March to the 31st of October. Spring and autumn are generally the best times to cycle the Camino, while July and August can bring uncomfortably high temperatures as well as the busiest crowds on the trail. If you'd prefer a quieter experience, the shoulder months of March and October are worth considering.

Your bags will be collected from your accommodation each day and moved onto your overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person.

An extra bag can be added for an additional cost, if needed.

You'll be cycling around 90% of the time on the official Camino route, which is well waymarked, so it's relatively easy to find your way.

Navigation is straightforward using our app which has maps, tracks and daily route info. Simply download the information and tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone. Once on the trail you do not need signal for the app to work and follow your progress.

This tour starts in Porto. Porto Airport (OPO) is easy to reach from North America, though you'll likely connect through a major European airport. From the airport, the metro (the purple Line E) runs every 20 to 30 minutes into the city center, or you can take the airport shuttle bus. A taxi rank is also located near the arrivals hall exit, costing around 25 euros for a 20 to 35 minute journey depending on traffic. We can also arrange a private transfer from Porto Airport to your first hotel for an additional fee. Alternatively, you can fly into Lisbon Airport (LIS) and travel on to Porto by high-speed train, taking around 2 hours 45 minutes.

The tour ends in Santiago de Compostela, which has its own airport (SCQ) with connections to Lisbon and other European airports - Bus Line 6A runs from the city center to the airport in around 20 minutes. If you need to fly out of Porto instead, you can return by train (via Vigo, taking around 4.5 hours) or by a daily direct bus (around 3 hours) - both bring you to Porto city center, from where you'll need the metro or a taxi to reach Porto Airport, or we can arrange a private transfer back to the airport for an additional fee. It's also possible to take the train from Santiago to Madrid (around 7 hours), then the metro or a taxi to Madrid Airport (MAD). Train timetables and fares can be checked on the RENFE website.

You'll need your standard cycling gear. Bike hire comes with a pannier rack and bag, a pump, lock, a basic repair kit, and handlebar phone. On booking, our Tour Info will give you a complete packing list.

Since you'll have your bike with you, shortening or skipping sections may not be easy. For the best local advice on transport options for cyclists, please consult your accommodation provider or reach out to our local bike partner, where applicable.

We hire bikes suited to the terrain, including e-bikes for a bit of extra assist, in a range of sizes - just let us know your height when booking so we can get your frame right. If you would like to bring your own bike then, in the majority of cases, this is not a problem – please contact us to talk it through. We encourage all cyclists to wear a helmet, and it is law in many countries across Europe. We recommend bringing your own helmet for hygiene and safety reasons, however on most tours you can hire one.

The following bikes are available:

Included - MTB: Trek Marlin 6 as the default bike. 27.5-inch wheels for size S, 29-inch wheels for M-XL. Shimano Deore M4100 shifter, 10-speed.
On request, included bike: Trek Verve 2 touring bike. 27.5-inch wheel size. Shimano U400 shifter, 9-speed.
Upgrade to e-bike: Trek Powerfly 4 625. 27.5-inch wheels for size S, 29-inch wheels for M-L. Shimano Deore M4100 shifter, 10-speed. Bosch PowerTube 625Wh battery. Bosch Performance CX motor, 250-watt. Weight 23kg.
On request, e-bike: Trek Allant 7+. 27.5-inch wheels. Shimano U400 shifter, 9-speed. Bosch PowerTube 625Wh battery. Bosch Performance CX motor, 250-watt. Weight 25kg.

Brand and model may vary depending on availability. The minimum age for e-bike hire is 16.

Please provide the following information on booking: your height, for bike sizing, and your head circumference, if you'd like to hire a helmet (we recommend bringing your own).

Bike hire includes: a spare inner tube, a helmet (bring your own if you prefer), a repair kit and pump, a pannier bag, one lock, a water bottle holder, an adjustable phone mount on the handlebars, a bell, and a battery charger for e-bike hires.

Many riders choose to upgrade to an e-bike, as the battery-powered assist can be a real help on this route's steeper sections - do note that e-bikes are heavier than standard bicycles.

The pilgrim's passport is issued by the Church of St James and is included in the cost of your tour. You'll need to get it stamped in churches, restaurants and hotels along the way - aim for a minimum of two stamps per day.

At the end of your ride in Santiago de Compostela, you can collect your Compostela Certificate in person at the Pilgrim's Office, open from 9am to 6pm daily. To save time, you can pre-register your details online in advance. The office can get busy, so if you arrive in the afternoon on your final day, it's often easier to collect your certificate first thing the next morning when the office opens - we can also arrange an extra night's accommodation in Santiago to help with this.

We highly recommend that you have travel insurance when you book with Macs Adventure. Your policy should cover medical treatment (including repatriation and emergency evacuation by air ambulance or helicopter), injury, death, third-party liability, and trip cancellation