Compare Douro Wine - Easier Route - Fully Guided by Fold N’ Visit vs 8 Day Portuguese Coastal Way by Magic Hill Holidays
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Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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Duration | 7 days | 8 days |
Price From | $ 1,797 | $ 750 |
Price Per Day | $ 257 | $ 94 |
Highlights |
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Trip Style | Private guided tour | Self-guided tour |
Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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Travel Themes |
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Countries Visited | ||
Cities and Attractions |
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Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | NA |
Activities |
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Meals Included |
3 Lunches, 3 Picnics, and 6 Dinners |
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Description |
This cycling tour can be made all year. We recommend doing it between the months of September and October, especially during the wine production. |
Running from Porto to Baiona, the Portuguese Coastal Way is a scenic alternative to the busier classic Portuguese Way which can be found adjacent, yet, further inland. From the enchanting city of Porto, this route travels next to the Atlantic, past sandy beaches, charming fishing villages, forest trails and medieval towns like Vila do Conde and Viana do Castelo. You'll cross the Minho river by boat from Caminha to La Guarda in Galicia, trek through the heart of the Rías Baixas (the place to refresh with copious Albariño wine tastings), pass rugged coastline, stay in pretty fishing villages and gobble up delicious food before finishing in the seaside town of Baiona. This 8 day trip starts takes in just over 130km of the Portuguese Coastal Way, with average daily walking distances of 22km. This Camino is very well signposted and has a good range of services (cafes, restaurants etc) along the trail to allow for breaks and is recommended for those looking for a 'flattish' trail, next to the coast. |
Day 1: Porto – Pinhão (110 km, train transfer)
First, we’ll travel by train following the coastal waterfront of the Douro River. Fortunately, we shall attend at the hotel’s reception to get our bicycles, where we’ll have one night with breakfast included. You’ll have enough free time to visit the Pinhão railway station, its main church and, if you would like to enjoy sightseeing, having a cruise on our River Douro.
Day 2: Pinhão – Tabuaço (15 km)
Always by road with an acceptable and good inclination’s rise, we’re going to cycle along the incredible view of the Douro River, entering through Portuguese landscape heritage of humanity. Be marveled with the vineyards of the Douro and its cultivation.
Day 3: Tabuaço – Penedono (36 km)
Our cycling journey continues throughout the green landscape of the Douro region, surrounded by vineyards. Our hospitality shall be in Penedono. You can visit the castle and explore Sírigo, which holds a circular route that takes the traveler through the neighboring villages and outskirts, such as the villages of Ferronha and A-do-Bispo.
Day 4: Penedono – Marialva (27 km)
Our route departs from the Douro River heading towards South, finding our daily hospitality in Marialva. You can visit the castle of four towers and the incredible church of Santiago. A land full of castles and with history sites, being classified as a one of several historical villages of Portugal.
Day 5: Marialva – Vila Nova de Foz Côa (22 km)
The bicycle route will involve returning to the vineyards again, but now we can also watch the astonishing olives, another important Portuguese heritage, used especially as a sauce for refined dishes. Our route approaching the Douro River will be traversing its highest part, ending with an accommodation in Vila Nova de Foz Côa, a very well-known site for its pre-historic paintings.
Day 6: Vila Nova de Foz Côa
You’ll have enough free time to rest or ride freely around Foz Côa, enjoying the olives and vineyards. Later, you can embark on an expedition with a 4x4 vehicle vehicle expedition to visit the pre-historic cave paintings and the Côa Museum. Our hospitality shall be in Vila Nova de Foz Côa.
Day 7: Vila Nova de Foz Côa – Pocinho (15 km); transfer train to Porto
At 14:30, we shall return our bicycles and at 15h00 we’ll return by train to Porto. The train route is an unforgettable journey, because it makes the level of the river at the foot of the slopes of the Douro’s vineyards. We can enjoy this unique landscape of the Douro vineyards, where in the 18th Century the boatmen used to transport the wine barrels along this river and them stock them in the Port Wine cellars, in Porto.
Estimated length of trip: 118 km and 1895 m of cumulative ascents
Day 1: Arrival day to Porto
Day 2: Matosinhos – Vila do Conde (22km)
Day 3: Vila do Conde – Esposende (23km)
Day 4: Esposende – Viana do Castelo (25km)
Day 5: Viana do Castelo – Caminha (26.5km)
Day 6: Caminha – Oia (17km)
Day 7: Oia – Baiona (19km)
Day 8: Departure day from Baiona