Northern Portugal

When:

Where:

Specific place:

Portugal and Spain: A Guarda - Viana do Castelo - Vila do Conde - Porto - São Jacinto - Coimbra - Nazaré - Peniche - Ericeira - Cascais - Lisboa

Length:

2 weeks

Level:

Challenging

IBP Index:

Type:

Bike Touring

Nature

Group min/máx:

4-8 people

Dates:

02/07/2023 to 12/07/2023

Waves on cliffs

We had left to roll northern Portugal. This is a linear, 2-weeks route for intermediate cyclists, that this time runs along all the north coast of the country, from Foz do Minho to Lisbon.

Linking bicycle lanes, quiet secondary roads and some boardways, we pedal its beaches, lagoons and emblematic cities, such as Porto. On the first week we cycle through the estuaries of the rivers Miño, Limia, Cávado, Ave, Douro, Aveiro and Mondego, and the North Coast Natural Park, the coastline of Vila do Conde and its ornithological reserve, or São Jacinto dunes Natural Reserve. So to reach the cradle of fado: Coimbra. After a restday we continue by the coast knowing the lagoon of Obidos, Peniche and the Natural Park of Sintra-Cascais, where we visit the most western point of Europe: Cabo da Roca. On next day we get the mouth of the Tagus river and Lisbon, where we spend another day to know this great city.

Since 1996 the historic center of Porto, since 2013 the University of Coimbra, and since 1983 the Monastery of the Hieronymites and the Tower of Belém in Lisbon, are World Heritage Sites.

Mondego estuary is a protected wetland according to the RAMSAR Convention, as well as being listed as SCI (Site of Community Importance), like Miño estuary, North Coast Natural Park, Regional Protected Landscape of the Coast of Vila do Conde and Ornithological Reserve of Mindelo, Local Nature Reserve of the Douro estuary, Natural Reserve of the Dunes of São Jacinto, Ria de Aveiro, Peniche / Santa Cruz, Cape Mondego Natural Monument, and Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, also sites classified as SCI in the Natura 2000 network. Besides, Miño estuary, Mondego estuary, Esmoriz Bar/Paramos pond, Aveiro river, Aveiro - Nazaré, and cape Raso are areas IBA (Important Bird Area) according to BirdLife International.

Scheduled itinerary:

Day 1.- Transportation to A Guarda (Pontevedra). Ferry to Caminhas and ride to Viana do Castelo (30 km), by the Miño estuary. Visits to the historic center and the Museum of Decorative Arts of Viana. Lodging.
Day 2.- Ride from Viana to Vila do Conde (55 km), by the North Coast Natural Park. Visits to the masseira fields of Aguçadoura, and to the church of the convent of Saint Clara of Vila do Conde. Lodging.
Day 3.- Ride from Vila do Conde to Porto (36 km), by the Regional Protected Landscape of the Vila do Conde Coast and the Ornitological Reserve of Mindelo. Visits to the Roman tanks of Playa Angeiras, the church of the Good Lord Jesus and the Viso farmhouse of Matosinhos. Lodging.
Day 4.- Rest day in Porto. Visits to its historic center and to the San Francisco church. Lodging.
Day 5.- Ride from Porto to São Jacinto (69 km), by the Local Nature Reserve of the Douro estuary and Natural Reserve of the São Jacinto Dunes. Lodging.
Day 6.- Ferry to Forte da Barra, ride to Figueira da Foz (77 km) and train to Coimbra. Visit to the Natural Monument of Cape Mondego. Lodging.
Day 7.- Rest day in Coimbra. Visits to the University, the old cathedral, the new cathedral and the National Memorial Park. Lodging.
Day 8.- Train to Figueira da Foz and ride to Nazaré (78 km). Visit to the Sítio of Nazaré. Lodging.
Day 9.- Ride from Nazaré to Peniche (76 km). Visits to the Santa María church of Óbidos, the Carvoeiro Cape and to the rendas de bilros of Peniche. Lodging.
Day 10.- Ride from Peniche to Ericeira (65 km). Visits to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia church of Lourinhã, and to the local parish of Ericeira. Lodging.
Day 11.- Ride from Ericeira to Cascais (56 km), by the Natural Park of Sintra-Cascais. Visits to the cabo da Roca, the Hell's entrance and the Museum of the Counts of Castro Guimarães of Cascais. Train from Cascais to Lisboa. Transportation back home.