Cycling in Portugal: From the Mountains to the Sea
Starting from the Geres National Park, you cycle downhill through small villages and extensive vineyards, following the River Minho towards the Atlantic Ocean. The scenery is a stunning combination of high mountains, rolling river scenes, historic towns and dramatic coastal landscape.
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Vacation Style Holiday Type
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Cycling
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Self Guided
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Activity Level Moderate
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In the far north of Portugal, on the border with Spain, lies the Minho region: a wild, rugged area of historical and cultural significance. Starting from the Geres National Park, you cycle downhill through small villages and extensive vineyards, following the River Minho towards the Atlantic Ocean. The scenery is a stunning combination of high mountains, rolling river scenes, historic towns and dramatic coastal landscape. You will stay in authentic accommodation offering friendly Portuguese hospitality and delicious regional cuisine. There is plenty of opportunity to relax and enjoy the golden stretches of beach you cycle past, maybe accompanied by a glass of the local Vinho Verde (white wine) for which the region is well known. The ride finishes in Porto, named best European City Destination in 2013, 2014, and again for 2017.
Eating and Drinking
A typical hotel breakfast consists of: toast/bread with jam,or honey, cheese and ham, served with coffee, tea, milk, orange juice, fruit, cake and yoghurt.
Portuguese people are very proud of their cuisine, and the deliciously fresh seafood is a real highlight. You will find fresh fish on most menus, usually sardines, sea bream, hake, sea bass and sole, cooked in a variety of ways. Bacalhau (cured codfish) is a national dish although it can vary depending on the region – there are up to 365 recipes to cook it! Caldo Verde (green soup) is made with potatoes, olive oil and salt, sometimes with garlic and onion, and is typical in the northern region of Portugal. For meat lovers the barrosa meat (steak) is often served grilled and roasted just to it’s naturally delicious flavour. There are also several stew dishes to sample, delicacies being Tripas a Moda do Porto (tripe white bean stew) and Rojoes a Minhota (chunks of pork usually cooked with potatoes). ‘Francesinha’ is an iconic dish originating from Porto and involves layers of different meats (usually beef, ham, grilled pork, linguica (smoke cured pork sausage) and sausage), between two slices of bread, covered by melted cheese and immersed in a spicy beer tomato sauce, often topped with a fried egg and surrounded by chips. It is not for the faint hearted!
To drink you will find plenty of the local Sagres and Superbock beer. Vinho Verde is available from the supermarket and directly from the producers. It is a young, medium alcohol white wine with an almost carbonated quality. Port needs no introduction and a glass (or two) of the fortified wine will generally follow a hearty Portuguese meal!
Weather
Porto has a temperate maritime climate with a strong Mediterranean influence. The climate here is long, warm summers and mild winters, with most rain falling in the winter months, but possible in all other months. Seasons are marked, with pleasant temperatures in the spring, in the summer and in the autumn. Heat waves can push up temperatures occasionally. Summers are warmer and drier in the interior and moderated by the sea, as winters are cooler inland and mild by the sea. At Porto, the average maximum temperatures in August -the hottest month – is 25 degrees Celsius, and the average maximum temperatures in January -the coolest month – is 14 degrees Celsius. May and October have an average midday temperatures of 20 Celsius, and even April and November have an average midday temperatures around 17 and 18 Celsius.
- Day 1 Day 1 Arrive Castro Laboreiro
- Day 2 Day 2 To Moncao 46km/28mi
- Day 3 Day 3 Caminha 48km/30mi
- Day 4 Day 4 To Ponte de Lima 53km/33mi
- Day 5 Day 5 Cycle the tracks of the ancient Santiago de Compostela route and on to Barcelos 33km/20mi
- Day 6 Day 6 To Vila do Conde 36km/22mi
- Day 7 Day 7 To Porto 34km/21mi
- Day 8 Day 8 Leave Porto
Package Confirmed Dates | Trip Status Trip Status | Price (PP) Excluding Flights | Price (PP) Including Flights | |
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April 6, 2019
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Available |
$1,735.00 |
N/A |
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April 13, 2019
|
Available |
$1,735.00 |
N/A |
|
April 20, 2019
|
Available |
$1,735.00 |
N/A |
|
April 22, 2019
|
Available |
$1,905.00 |
N/A |
|
April 27, 2019
|
Available |
$1,735.00 |
N/A |
|
May 4, 2019
|
Available |
$1,735.00 |
N/A |
|
May 11, 2019
|
Available |
$1,735.00 |
N/A |
|
May 18, 2019
|
Available |
$1,735.00 |
N/A |
|
May 25, 2019
|
Available |
$1,735.00 |
N/A |
|
June 1, 2019
|
Available |
$1,735.00 |
N/A |
|
June 8, 2019
|
Available |
$1,735.00 |
N/A |
|
June 15, 2019
|
Available |
$1,985.00 |
N/A |
|
June 22, 2019
|
Available |
$1,985.00 |
N/A |
|
June 29, 2019
|
Available |
$1,985.00 |
N/A |
|
July 6, 2019
|
Available |
$1,985.00 |
N/A |
|
July 13, 2019
|
Available |
$1,985.00 |
N/A |
|
July 20, 2019
|
Available |
$1,985.00 |
N/A |
|
July 27, 2019
|
Available |
$1,985.00 |
N/A |
|
August 3, 2019
|
Available |
$1,985.00 |
N/A |
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August 10, 2019
|
Available |
$1,985.00 |
N/A |
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August 17, 2019
|
Available |
$1,985.00 |
N/A |
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August 24, 2019
|
Available |
$1,985.00 |
N/A |
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August 31, 2019
|
Available |
$1,985.00 |
N/A |
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September 7, 2019
|
Available |
$1,985.00 |
N/A |
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September 14, 2019
|
Available |
$1,985.00 |
N/A |
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September 21, 2019
|
Available |
$1,785.00 |
N/A |
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September 28, 2019
|
Available |
$1,785.00 |
N/A |
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October 5, 2019
|
Available |
$1,785.00 |
N/A |
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October 12, 2019
|
Available |
$1,785.00 |
N/A |
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October 19, 2019
|
Available |
$1,785.00 |
N/A |
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October 26, 2019
|
Available |
$1,785.00 |
N/A |