Tips to do the Camino
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The Camino Portugués is the Camino route that has seen the most growth in recent years. Although it was already used in the Middle Ages, more and more pilgrims are choosing to travel it, whether on foot or by bicycle. In fact, today it is the second most popular route, second only to the Camino Francés.
Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is the official starting point of this pilgrimage route. It spans approximately 600 kilometers along trails, paths, and paved roads. This makes it a highly bike-friendly route, ideal for cycling pilgrims, who can enjoy the pilgrimage experience and beautiful scenery without having to push their bikes too much.
In addition to this historic route—sometimes called the Camino Portugués central—there are other routes and variations. The most popular is the Camino Portugués de la costa, which runs along the coast from Porto. But there are others, such as the Braga variation or the route that begins in Faro, the capital of the Algarve, which crosses the country from south to north.
Although Lisbon is the route’s starting point, the most popular places to begin the Camino are Tui (120 km) and Porto (about 250 km).
Stages of the Camino Portugués by Bike
Choosing to travel the Camino de Santiago by bike allows pilgrims to cover more kilometers in fewer days than on foot. The Portuguese Way by bike can be completed in 10 stages, starting from Lisbon.
Porto is, without a doubt, the most popular starting point for the Portuguese Way. And it can also be enjoyed by bike, whether you choose the inland route or prefer the Portuguese Coastal Way. In both cases, the journey takes about 4 days.
Below is a suggested breakdown of the stages of the Portuguese Way by bike:
- Stage 1. Lisboa- Santarem. 91km (+552m).
- Stage 2. Santarem – Tomar. 60km. (+460m).
- Stage 3. Tomar – Ansiao. 44km. (+921m).
- Stage 4. Ansiao – Coimbra. 46km. (+733m).
- Stage 5. Coímbra – Albergaria a Velha. 64km. (+699m).
- Stage 6. Albergaria a Velha – Oporto. 64km (+1.135m).
As we mentioned earlier, pilgrims have two options upon arriving in Porto: continue inland or take the coastal route. Here’s a possible breakdown of both routes into four stages:
Stages of the Camino Portugués by bike from Porto via the inland route (Camino Portugués central):
- Oporto – Barcelos. 51km (+766m).
- Barcelos – Tui. 71km (+1.458m).
- Tui – Pontevedra. 52 km (+935m).
- Pontevedra – Santiago. 64km (+1061m).
Stages of the Portuguese Way by bike from Porto along the coast (Camino Portugués de la costa:
- Oporto – Viana do Castelo. 82km (+925m).
- Viana do Castelo – Baiona. 65km (+850m).
- Baiona – Pontevedra. 60km (1.101m).
- Pontevedra – Santiago. 64km (+1061m).
This is simply a rough guide. The Portuguese Way can be adapted to the needs of each cyclist and divided into more or fewer stages.
Signage and Accommodations on the Camino Portugués
The Portuguese Way has a good network of services and is well-marked.
Yellow arrows will guide pilgrims along the entire route, accompanied on many sections by blue arrows that—in the opposite direction from Santiago—lead pilgrims to the Shrine of Fátima.
The greatest challenges are found at the entrances and exits of major cities, especially Lisbon and Porto.
In addition, the route passes through numerous towns, some of which are densely populated, so pilgrims will have no trouble finding places to sleep, eat, shop, or deal with any unexpected issues, such as a flat tire.
How to ship my kike back after completing the Camino Portugués?
If you’re planning to bike the Camino Portugués, one of the most common questions is how to get your bike to the starting point. Correos’ Paq Bicicleta service doesn’t operate in Portugal, but we can ship your bike to the starting point of the Camino Portugués within Spain—which is Tui if you’re doing the Central Route and A Guarda if you’re doing the Coastal Route.
How do I ship my bike back home after completing the Portuguese Way? You can book online the Paq Bicicleta service to ship your bike from the Main Post Office in Santiago (Rúa do Franco, 4) to your local post office. Remember that this post office is open every day (including Sundays and holidays). Your bike will be shipped in a specially designed box (170 cm long, 30 cm wide, and 90 cm high). Here are some simple tips for properly disassembling your bike.
What if I finish the Portuguese Way in Fisterra? You can also ship your bike from the Fisterra Post Office (Rúa da Coruña, s/n) using our Paq Bicicleta service.
Correos Services on the Portuguese Way
Our Paq Mochila, the service for transporting luggage from stage to stage, is available in Portugal. This means you can book your Paq Mochila from Porto, whether you’re planning to walk the Central Portuguese Way or the Coastal Portuguese Way.
If you’d like to send your luggage directly from Porto to Santiago, we offer the Paq Mochila Directo service. We’ll pick up your luggage from the hostel, guesthouse, or hotel you specify in Porto and transport it directly to Santiago. Your suitcase will be waiting for you at the end of your journey at the Santiago Post Office.
And when you arrive in Santiago, our luggage storage service is available, open every day of the week, including holidays.
We hope you find this information useful as you plan your Camino Portugués bike trip. Buen Camino!
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