Bike Tour in Minho: The Green Cradle of Portugal

A 7 day bike tour designed for beginner and intermediate bike touring enthusiasts, in the cradle of Portugal: the Minho region. Ride by marked, easy macadam trails alongside luscious green landscape, from the Lima and Vez Rivers to the Atlantic Ocean, rediscovering the traces of early Portuguese history, from the 12th century on.

Relaxing in former Manor Houses, now refurbished as charming hotels, you’ll ride along the Vez and Lima Rivers, in Ponte da Barca and Arcos de Valdevez, nearby the Peneda Geres National park, towards the sea, discovering the historical centres of Viana do Castelo, Caminha and Valença, while tasting the trademark green wines, gastronomy and millennial old history of this region.

Riding by the Lima river, you’ll reach Ponte de Lima, the oldest “vila” or village, in Portugal, founded in the 12th century and best known by its Roman and Medieval bridge – a small town, which has much to offer in terms of culture, gastronomy and local wines, as this region is renowned by its typical Green wine.

Arriving to the Atlantic Ocean, you’ll get to visit Viana do Castelo, with the ever present Santa Luzia Sanctuary overlooking this piscatorial city – explore it’s historical Centre by the sea and enjoy the fresh fish and seafood of the region. From Viana, you’ll start riding by the Atlantic Ecopista, which is also a marked trail that is part of the Camino de Santiago, so you get to ride by the “Camino Português”, a pilgrimage route that started in the 9th Century with the discovery, in Galiza, of the remains of St. James.

Reaching Caminha you’ll get to see the Minho river, that serves as a natural border between Portugal and Galiza, in Northern Spain. Riding alongside the Minho river, by the Ecopista, you’ll reach Valença, where you’ll get to visit and stay for the night inside this 17th century fortress overlooking Spain, where you should try the local “Alvarinho” wines.

Day 1 – Minho Bike Tour – Transfer from Porto to Arcos de Valdevez. Option for a loop from Arcos de Valdevez to Jolda – south loop (24km, 397 meters of elevation gain)

At the scheduled time, pick-up at Porto airport and transfer to Arcos de Valdevez. Check-in at your hotel, where you'll stay for two nights, exploring the regions of Ponte da Barca and Arcos de Valdevez. If you arrive early, we suggest taking a 24 km loop ride, cycling through a bucolic and rural landscape on the right bank of the Vez and Lima rivers, riding on gravel paths and boardwalks before returning to your hotel.

Night in Arcos de Valdevez at Ribeira Collection Hotel & Spa (upgrade to a superior room in the premium option)

Day 2 – Minho Bike Tour – Arcos de Valdevez to Vilela – north loop (23km, 451 meters elevation gain)

On this day, you can choose to do a longer "loop ride" if you wish. In this case, ask your guide to provide you with the 44 km trail, visiting the picturesque and beautiful village of Sistelo – an ancient medieval village that still retains all its ancestral rural beauty. At approximately kilometer 12 of the ride, continue north towards Sistelo, where you can taste the delicious cachena meat – typical of this region. The additional 21 km (10.5 km to reach the village, returning on the same road) are all covered on a secondary asphalted road: the N202-2. Alternatively, if you prefer to keep the ride short, do the programmed 23 km loop, cycling on the Ecovia from Arcos de Valdevez – where you'll enter shortly after leaving your hotel – riding along the Vez River until you reach Vilela – kilometer 12 of your ride, and the point where you can decide whether to ride to Sistelo or turn south and return to your hotel. From here, follow the trail and continue on the secondary and asphalted roads of the small villages and places surrounding Arcos de Valdevez, for another 11 km until you return to your hotel.

Night in Arcos de Valdevez at Ribeira Collection Hotel & Spa (upgrade to a superior room in the premium option)

Day 3 – Minho Bike Tour – Arcos de Valdevez – Ponte da Barca – Ponte de Lima (23 to 29km, 344 to 427 meters of elevation gain)

Breakfast at your hotel, followed by check-out. Today you’ll start your ride going south to Ponte da Barca, where you should take your time to marvel at the local manor houses, 12th century Portuguese architecture. Then ride westwards, following the marked trails on the left bank of the Lima river. These are soft riverside macadam trails, with no climbs, that’ll lead you to Ponte de Lima, the oldest “vila” in Portugal, founded in the 12th century. With its imposing Medieval bridge marking the landscape, this small town – where we recommend stopping for lunch – has much to offer in terms of culture, gastronomy and local wines.

Night in InLima Hotel & Spa or Carmo’s Boutique Hotel (premium option)

Day 4 – Minho Bike Tour – Ponte de Lima – Viana do Castelo (27 to 39km, 151 to 381 meters of elevation gain)

Breakfast at your hotel, followed by check-out. If you stayed at Carmo's hotel on the previous night, you will need to cycle 6km (down and flat) until the town of Ponte de Lima. From here, you'll keep riding on the Ecopista by the Lima River, and heading west towards the ocean! As you get closer to the mouth of the Lima River and the Atlantic Ocean, you'll notice a change in the landscape, with the river becoming wider and the vegetation transforming from lush trees of the past days to more maritime fauna. There are no major climbs or technical terrains today. Crossing the river on the Eiffel bridge, the main entry point to Viana do Castelo, you'll be able to see the monumental Sanctuary of Santa Luzia dominating the city. The historic center of Viana is truly worth exploring and offers great options for lunch. Spend the night in the city center or go a bit higher to the Pousada, for a privileged view of the city.

Night in Viana do Castelo at Casa Melo Alvim or Pousada de Viana do Castelo (premium option)

Day 5 – Bike tour in Minho – Viana – Caminha (29 to 33km, 265 meters of elevation gain)

Breakfast at your hotel, followed by check-out. Today you’ll head North, but first you’ll ride by Viana’s beautiful city Centre, discovering its Fort and Nossa Senhora da Agonia church, before reaching the Atlantic Ecopista, which is a part of the “Camino de Santiago” pilgrimage route. This is an ocean side marked trail with no technical difficulties, that’ll lead you to Vila Praia de Âncora and then to Caminha. You’ll ride by macadam trails, backroads and boardwalks by the beautiful beaches of northern Portugal, crossing pine tree forests and some ancient pathways. Once you arrive, take the time to visit the lovely historical centre of Caminha and delight yourself with the local gastronomy, specialised mainly in fresh fish and seafood.

Night in Caminha, at Porta do Sol (room upgrade in premium option) or Palacete Villa Idalina (premium option)

Day 6 – Bike tour in Minho – Caminha – Tui (33km, 332 meters of elevation gain)

Breakfast at your hotel, followed by check-out. Leaving the ocean behind, you'll follow the left bank of the Minho River, overlooking Spain on the other side of the border, heading east along the Ecopista towards Valença. Without technical difficulties, you'll mainly follow a marked trail along the river towards Vila Nova de Cerveira – its picturesque center is worth a visit and a stop at a local café – and then towards Valença do Minho. Once in Valença, you'll need to climb a small hill around the fortress, which we highly recommend visiting – either now or after checking in at your hotel on the other side of the river, in Tui. Across the river, in addition to being in Spain and now +1 hour ahead of Portugal, it's just another 600 meters to your hotel.

Night at Parador de Tui (upgrade to a superior room in the premium option)

Day 7 – Minho Bike Tour – Transfer to Porto hotel/airport

Breakfast and check-out from your hotel. If you feel like riding a bit more, take a short loop to the historic center of Tui before being transferred back to Porto at the scheduled time.