Cycling vacation northern Portugal (18-22/05/22)

FIETS magazine is organizing a cycling vacation for its readers in an area that is still unknown territory to many; namely Northern Portugal.
Starting in the beautiful and culturally rich town of Viana do Castelo we will offer the cyclists a beautiful environment with something for everyone. On this trip it is possible to ride a road bike, gravel bike and/or mountain bike. The area has a lot of possibilities.

Viana do Castelo is one of the most beautiful cities in northern Portugal. This city by the sea played an important role in the voyages of discovery and later in cod fishing.

Viana do Castelo is easily reached from Porto or from Valença, if you are coming from Spain. From the Monte de Santa Luzia mountain, you can see the privileged geographical location of the city by the sea and at the mouth of the Lima River. You can take this magnificent view and the Templo do Sagrado Coração de Jesus, a revivalist building by Ventura Terra from 1898, as a starting point for visiting the city.

Viana is rich in palaces, churches, monasteries and drinking fountains decorated with the arms of noble families, a cultural heritage that is well worth a visit. Many streets of the historic center lead to the Praça da República, the heart of the city. Here you will also find the buildingEdifício da Misericórdia and the drinking fountain, both from the 16th century, and the oldPaços do Concelho(the former town hall). Not far from here is the Romanesque cathedralSé, the mother church of Viana.

The sea has always been the main reason for Viana's existence. In a baroque church not far from the sea, there is the statue ofSenhora da Agonia, who is venerated by the fishermen. Every year, on August 20, the statue is taken out of the church to bless the sea.

Indeed, Viana is also known for its embroidery with gold filigree and has kept its traditions alive, as you can see in the Museu do Traje (costumes and gold), the Museu de Arte e Arqueologia (with particular attention to the pottery from Viana exhibited here) or on the ship navio Gil Eanes. This ship built in the Estaleiros Navais (shipyard) of Viana do Castelo for cod fishing is anchored here again as a symbol of the traditional shipping and shipbuilding of the city.

But Viana do Castelo is also considered the "Mecca for architecture" thanks to many important names in Portuguese contemporary architecture who have designed installations and buildings for this city. ThePraça da Liberdade by Fernando Távora, theBiblioteca Municipal by Álvaro Siza Vieira, the youth hostelPousada da Juventude by Carrilho da Graça, theHotel Axis by Jorge Albuquerque or theCentro Cultural de Viana do Castelo, by Souto Moura, are just a few examples.

In the surroundings of Viana you can make fantastic cycling trips. There are several bike paths along the coast or next to the river, or along one of the many marked trails. Because of the beautiful coast, the hilly terrain on the coast and more mountainous inland, the area is suitable for all sports; from racing, gravel to mountain bike. On the fine, golden sand beaches you can surf, windsurf or kitesurf and bodyboard. So diverse in terms of sports and culture in one area is truly unique.

Details of cycling vacations in northern Portugal near Viana do Castelo

The program includes several options and we will see per day what the best suited cycling program is. For gravel and mountain bike we have created custom routes. For road bikes we have listed all options below with several choices per day.

PROGRAM

Day 1 - Arrival
Arrival at Porto airport - transfer from airport to our location in Viana do Castelo

After check-in briefing for the program
Measurement and adjustment of the bikes

Evening: dinner with briefing for the trip of day 2

GRAVEL (days 2-3-4)
Day Program
Breakfast 8:30
Meet at rendezvous point hotel
Departure 10:00
Routes custom with levels easy - average - advanced
Lunch: on the go.
19:30 Dinner

Each day there is a custom route with our local guide. Because our gravel routes are also weather dependent, we choose the appropriate routes together with our guide.

MOUNTAINBIKE (days 2-3-4)
Day Program
Breakfast 8:30
Meet at rendezvous point hotel
Departure 10:00
Routes custom with levels easy - average - advanced
Lunch: on the go.
19:30 Dinner

Every day there is a custom route with our local guide. Because our mountain bike routes are also weather dependent, we choose the appropriate routes together with our guide.

RACE (days 2-3-4)
Day Program
Breakfast 8:30
Meet at hotel rendezvous point
Departure 10:00
Routes easy - average - advanced
Lunch: on the way from the support vehicle
19:30 Dinner

Choices for the road bike program:
EASY
1-Upto Ancora - 47km - 400hm

Easy route via National Road 302, one of the most picturesque national roads of the municipality of Viana do Castelo, with beautiful scenery and mountainous surroundings. Short but very varied route. For those who want to combine cycling and conviviality, we recommend a stop at one of the beautiful terraces of Vila Praia de Âncora, at the mouth of the Âncora River, one of the purest rivers in the country.

2-Through the woods to Montaria - 55km - 532hm

If you want to stop and eat some local pork "rojões" for lunch or a delicious roasted baby goat accompanied by a good "champarrião" or vinho verde, this is the route you choose, in São Lourenço da Montaria. The entire tour is conducted in forested areas, surrounded by oaks and pines, and there are several opportunities to eat and drink along the way. If you prefer to take the "siesta" after your meal, we will take care of it and arrange a transfer for you and your bike.

3-Round the Facha "Solares" - 60.5km - 473hm

Today we drive through the southern bank of the Lima River, along the Facha road and observe some of the most emblematic "Solares" (kind of country houses) of the Minho region, important cultural heritage with years of history and tradition. This is a good suggestion for an easy route, always in the countryside, ending the tour along the north coast of Ecovia, from Vila Nova de Anha.

MEASUREMENT
4-Climbto Caminha - 72km - 624hm

Caminha is a border town at the mouth of the Minho River. One of the most picturesque towns in the region, with numerous attractions. The route to Caminha is on roads that cross forest areas, which requires some physical preparation. The return route is made along the coast, passing the famous beach of Moledo.

5-Exploring Ponte Lima - 79km - 690hm

The municipality of Ponte de Lima has a very diverse and rich landscape. In this tour you will explore some of this diversity. You will see the fields with the Vinho Verde vineyards, the pastures with cattle and the rich granite country houses, so typical of the region. This route is conducted on secondary roads, with few vehicles. It is a pleasant and relaxing experience, with time to enjoy the scenery and breathe in the rural air.

6-Round to Arcos de Valdevez - 95km - 760hm

The cities of Lima have a unique beauty because of their history, architecture, gastronomy and traditions. This route allows you to visit the three cities and explore the roads that connect them. We leave Viana do Castelo towards Ponte de Lima and then go up the Lima until Ponte da Barca to end at Arcos de Valdevez. The return trip is made along the northern bank of the Lima. It is a long ride, but it does not require intense efforts, in a route that winds through fields and mountains, with low climbs and always close to the Lima River.

ADVANCED
7-PedrasFinas - 103km - 900hm

One of the most spectacular and also demanding routes, of about 100 km, through the landscapes of the deep Minho region. Pedras Finas, an area known for granite exploration, has an average climb of 4 to 5% over 8 km, the most complicated part of the route. However, the reward comes with less demanding sections and spectacular scenery, such as the 25 km that runs along the banks of the Coura and the mountains of the Serra d'Arga to Caminha. The return route is by the sea and what is certain is... you will surely enjoy a well-deserved rest afterwards.

8-Refoios - 105km - 1413hm

The roads in Minho are fun for the eyes, but sometimes demanding for the legs. Secondary roads with immaculate surfaces take us from Viana do Castelo to Ponte de Lima and from there to the top of Boalhosa. Rest and enjoy the view. Go all the way through the vineyards down to Ponte da Barca. In Refoios, pass the monastery (current agricultural school) and continue to meander the green Minho. Via Estorãos, Lanheses we drive to Viana do Castelo.

9-Where the Lima River enters Portugal - 164km - 1888m

This is the longest route of the suggested mountain treks - but that doesn't make it the most difficult. Starting on the banks of the Lima River, climb to Vacaria and explore the mountains on the southern bank of the river. The views of the Lima River are breathtaking for much of the route, which is half uphill, ending with the descent to Ponte de Lima near the Chapel of São Cipriano. The tour ends with the return to Viana do Castelo along the northern bank of the Lima River.

Day 5 - Return trip
06:00 Breakfast
06:45 Departure to Porto
08:30h Return flight Porto - Amsterdam
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What is included?
-Staying on full board basis
-Transfer airport
-Flight ticket
-Complete care on the way with the guide or support vehicle
-Bike wash of the bikes
-Sportmassage (1x)
-Sport food package
-Mechanical support
-Use of facilities on complex like wellness, fitness room, swimming pool.
-Washing service for clothes

What is not included?
-Surcharge for bicycle suitcase
-Tourist tax p.p.
-Alcoholic beverages after dinner

Additional services to be booked;
-Professional bike fit on location
-Additional sports massages at €59.95 per session
-Hire of racing bike, gravel bike or (e-)mountain bike for the whole week €35,- p/day (Normal rate €45,- p/day)