Porto Trip Overview
The center of Portugal offers a great mix of historic cities and cultural attractions, on the one hand, beautiful beaches and rural landscapes, on the other. However different they may be, cities such as Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra or Óbidos are part of the greatest cultural treasure that Portugal has to offer. The long coastal strolls, picturesque rural areas and laid-back coastal towns build the contrast of this trip.
The trip from Porto to Óbidos is the easiest of our trips around Portugal. Most stages are flat and lead along many cycle paths and traffic-free roads. The daily average of about 65km and 450m of elevation gain makes this tour the easiest of our program.
Additional Info
* Duration: 8 days
* Starts: Porto, Portugal
* Trip Category: Outdoor Activities >> 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours
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What to Expect When Visiting Porto, Porto, Portugal
The center of Portugal offers a great mix of historic cities and cultural attractions, on the one hand, beautiful beaches and rural landscapes, on the other. However different they may be, cities such as Porto, Aveiro, Coimbra or Óbidos are part of the greatest cultural treasure that Portugal has to offer. The long coastal strolls, picturesque rural areas and laid-back coastal towns build the contrast of this trip.
The trip from Porto to Óbidos is the easiest of our trips around Portugal. Most stages are flat and lead along many cycle paths and traffic-free roads. The daily average of about 65km and 450m of elevation gain makes this tour the easiest of our program.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Porto
Stop At: Porto, Porto, Porto District, Northern Portugal
During the early evening we will have dinner and a little meeting, to better explain what to expect for the next few days. We will have the opportunity to adjust the bike and participants who arrive before night will be able to take a short walk through Porto to get to know the city.
Arrival in Porto and Distribution of bicycles for the next day’s departure.
Duration: 1 hour
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in a cozy room in a Hostel in Porto
Day 2: Porto – Ovar
Pass By: Porto, Porto, Porto District, Northern Portugal
With a panoramic view of Porto, we started our journey on the south side of the Douro River towards the ocean. We will soon find a bike path in the nearby coastal cities, which takes us along the beaches and fishing villages. If we are lucky, we see fishermen on their picturesque old trawlers challenging the waves as they did hundreds of years ago.
55km – 230m elevation 25km asphalt, 28km cycle path, 2km gravel road
Pass By: Passadicos da Barrinha de Esmoriz, R. dos Tanoeiros, Esmoriz Portugal
Following the plain we arrive at Laguna di Esmoriz. A wooden walk takes us through the bird’s paradise.
On the other side we find the seaside towns of Esmoriz and Cortegaca. Where the urban area ends, the long pine forests begin.
The Esmoriz and Paramos walkways are located between Espinho and Ovar in Barrinha de Esmoriz, also often known as Lagoa de Paramos. These walkways were built during the requalification of the Barrinha de Esmoriz and it is an indispensable means to better understand the charms of this place.
Pass By: Ovar, Ovar, Aveiro District, Northern Portugal
We finally arrived at our first accommodation, a cozy room in a house built on an old water mill in Ovar
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a cozy room in a house built on an old water mill in Ovar
Day 3: Ovar – Mira
Pass By: Ria de Aveiro, S/0 Rua do Doutor Barbosa de Magalhaes, Aveiro 3800-154 Portugal
In Ovar we are at the northern end of the Ria de Aveiro. The huge saltwater lagoon is flooded by high tide and reappears at low tide. In these circumstances, the locals start to compete with the sea birds for the delicious crabs and shells that hide in the mud.
68km – 220m elevation 37km Asphalt, 14km cycle path, 17km of dirt road
Pass By: Aveiro, Aveiro, Aveiro District, Northern Portugal
In the center of the lagoon is Aveiro. It is worth visiting the center of the small and colorful city, with water channels and traditional moliceiro boats.
These slender and colorful boats were used to collect seaweed and seaweed, and today they are used for sightseeing.
Pass By: Mira, Mira, Coimbra District, Central Portugal
With the lagoon on one side and the endless white beaches on the other, we cycle to the source of the lagoon in the wetlands of Mira.
At the end of the Ria de Aveiro, nature changes. Shaded pine forests and small freshwater lagoons characterize the landscape. We will spend the night in a beautiful country house directly on the shore of one of the lagoons.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a beautiful country house directly on the shore of one of the lagoons.
Day 4: Mira – Coimbra
Pass By: Mira, Mira, Coimbra District, Central Portugal
Today we start again from Lagoa de Mira. We continue our journey along the water channels that take us through forests and sand dunes first. From the side streets along our route we can see several lonely lagoons.
76km – 325m elevation 60km asphalt, 16km dirt road
Pass By: Montemor-o-Velho, Montemor-o-Velho, Coimbra District, Central Portugal
After a few kilometers we arrive at the small and calm village at Praia da Tocha. The historic city of Montemor-o-Velho invites us for a lunch break, before following the fertile valley of the Mondego River to Coimbra
Pass By: Coimbra, Coimbra, Coimbra District, Central Portugal
The former Portuguese capital Coimbra is home to one of the oldest universities in Europe. We can spend the rest of the day to discover its characteristic villages and historical monuments.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a comfortable room in a historic building in the heart of Coimbra
Day 5: Coimbra – Pombal
Pass By: Coimbra, Coimbra, Coimbra District, Central Portugal
Today the landscape begins to change and after leaving the plains we start to see the first hills. We started following the same path we had reached the day before, but soon left the river to the south. The side and dirt roads show us the typical landscape characterized by presses and cellars, apple plantations or pine and eucalyptus forests. We continue to follow the Arunca River and the railway line from the small town of Soure.
64km – 510m elevation 46 km asphalt, 18 km of dirt roads
Pass By: Pombal, Pombal, State of Paraiba
Just behind the city of Pombal we arrive at our next accommodation: an old water mill immersed in a forest and at the foot of a lagoon.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner: Dinner with vegetarian option.
Accommodation included: Overnight in an old watermill immersed in a forest and at the foot of a pond
Day 6: Pombal – Nazaré
Pass By: Pombal, Pombal, State of Paraiba
Today is our longest and most difficult phase. The beginning starts at the foot of the Serra de Lousa with some difficult climbs, but protected by shaded forests. After a long descent, we are finally back on the coast. We immediately realized that massive fires destroyed large parts of pine forests along the coast.
(79km – 820m elevation 53km asphalt, 20km cycle path, 6km gravel road)
Pass By: Marinha Grande, Marinha Grande, Leiria District, Central Portugal
However, when we reach the coast, in the vicinity of Marinha Grande and San Pedro de Moel, the pine forests still extend to the cliffs and beaches.
Pass By: Nazare, Nazare, Leiria District, Central Portugal
A long cycle path along the ocean offers perfect conditions to Nazaré, where we will enter directly from the Suberco viewpoint, one of the most spectacular points of view during our trip. From the viewpoint we let ourselves go to the coast and in a few minutes we entered nature again. We will spend the night in an old remote farm between the fields.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in a remote old farm between the fields
Day 7: Nazaré – Obidos
Pass By: Nazare, Nazare, Leiria District, Central Portugal
Our last day begins with the crossing of two mountains along the coast. Serra da Pescaria divides Nazaré from São Martinho do Porto. Serra do Bouro lies between the charming coastal town of São Martinho and the Arelho river. Wide views along the coast and forests are worth the effort.
44km – 650m elevation gain 38km asphalt, 6km unpaved roads
Pass By: Foz do Arelho, Foz do Arelho, Leiria District, Central Portugal
At Foz de Arelho beach and at the beginning of Óbidos Lagoon, it’s time to say goodbye to the ocean.
Pass By: Obidos, Obidos, Leiria District, Central Portugal
Along the lagoon and up and down through the wine yards we reach our final destination: the wall surrounded by the medieval city of Óbidos. Our hotel is just outside the city wall. Comfortable to end our bicycle trip and get lost in the charming alleys of the old town.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Stay overnight in a comfortable room in a very central hotel that is just outside the city wall of Óbidos
Day 8: Obidos
Pass By: Obidos, Obidos, Leiria District, Central Portugal
Breakfast at the Hotel and end of the trip.
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
