Porto to Lisbon By the Atlantic Road - 12 days ADVENTURE NATURE COASTAL 2018 www.portugalnaturetrails.com info@portugalnaturetrails.com
Porto to Lisbon ADVENTURE NATURE COASTAL DESCRIPTION An Adventure Throught the Northern Coastline of Portugal The Atlantic Route Porto to Lisbon takes you on a journey connecting the two Major Cities in Portugal. The previous granitic stile medieval capital in the north: Porto, and the actual Capital of Portugal: Lisbon from the discoveries era. Unveil a very unique and diverse country full of natural beauty, different sceneries and stunning coastal views while crossing natural reserves and breathtaking beaches. The big cities will surprise you and small coastal towns will have the portuguese flavor. Historical places and UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Porto, Lisbon or Sintra will enchant you and the wonderful food and welcoming people will make you want to come back for more. TRIP INFORMATION TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ACCOMMODATION DISTANCE Superior 21 73 Km/ day TOUR GRADE ROUTE FIT 100% paved road DURATION PROFILE 12 Days 11 Nights Mostly roads close to the sea with some inland sections, some short but steep up-hills START END Porto Lisbon Porto and Sintra World Heritage UNESCO sites Stunning coastal riding and some of the most famous beaches of Portugal (Figueira da Foz, Nazaré, Peniche and Ericeira) Ria de Aveiro with its Natural Reserve and and canals The Medieval and charming village of Óbidos Roca Cape, the most western point of continental Europe
THE ITINERARY DAY 1 ARRIVAL Welcome to Porto! Our guide will transfer you from the airport (20 min), to this amazing city which has something mystical that is difficult to describe. Take the rest of the day off to experience the city, taste the food, go to the top of the hills to see the great view and interact with the lovely people. Your journey starts here. ACCOMODATION Hotel Teatro DAY 2 PORTO to ESPINHO This first day starts from the old Porto, crossing Don Luís Bridge, with a spectacular view over Douro River. On the way, you will cross several small beaches like Valadares, Francelos and Miramar, by a cycling path near the coastline. Although without warm water, this beaches are good spots to take a bath and enjoy the sun (if the weather and the conditions let you). Miramar Beach is worth a stop to visit a small and intriguing little chapel, on the top of a rock situated on the shore, the famous Capela do Senhor da Pedra. ACCOMODATION Hotel Sol Verde & SPA BIKE 21 km + 100m
DAY 3 ESPINHO to AVEIRO Another fresh day by the sea!! You will also have some pine tree forests to cross and enjoy some easy and flat roads leading you to Ria de Aveiro. The river Vouga Delta (Ria de Aveiro) is a shallow coastal lagoon connected to the Atlantic Ocean. It s unique mesotidal wetland area has several branches forming islands and it is a pleasure to ride along. Arrive to the dune system of São Jacinto, an incredible natural reserve home to many valuable species and perfect to watch some wild life. At last this is where you will catch the ferry that will take you to our own little portuguese Venice Aveiro. ACCOMODATION Hotel Moliceiro BIKE 63 km + 200m DAY 4 AVEIRO to PRAIA DA MIRA Getting out of Aveiro takes us to a path that crosses a land of salt harvesting ponds, interesting views of the old ancestral works in the estuary. Ahead the route follows one dock, offering views of the arbour and some old Codfish Boats. Soon you ll cross the bridge and arrive in Barra Village, follow south by the bicycle path witch avoids the open road. The scenery will be from the Ria itself and arriving at the end of the Ria it changes to small fields and vegetable gardens until Mira Beach. ACCOMODATION Hotel Maçarico BIKE 40 km + 150m
DAY 5 PRAIA DA MIRA to FIGUEIRA DA FOZ One day of solitude crossing one of the biggest dune systems covered in a pine tree forest. Here you can feel the nature and the silence while cycling through this immense green scenery. By the end, you ll go up Serra da Boa Viagem (Good Journey Hill), a massif made of Jurassic limestones, and stop for the great view of the Atlantic! Finnish by going down to the lighthouse of Cape Mondego and continuing to the touristic town of Figueira da Foz known big its enormous beach front. ACCOMODATION Hotel Sweet Atlântico & SPA BIKE 57 km + 400m DAY 6 FIGUEIRA DA FOZ to S. PEDRO DE MOEL The day starts crossing the bridge over de Mondego River and for some kilometres follow a once important road N109 until you reach Carriço. There you will enter the cycling path named the Atlantic Way, and again the long pine forest will enchant you with the fresh smell and tell you the story of how it was planted to build the fleet of the adventurous portuguese discoverers of the seas. On the way you will pass by some small beaches and in some places the felling of being alone is huge, but distances are not as big as the day before. Places like Pedrogão or Vieira beach and São Pedro de Moel are like oasis in the countryside of covered pine forest dunes. ACCOMODATION Hotel Mar e Sol BIKE 67 km + 500m
DAY 7 SÃO PEDRO MOEL to ÓBIDOS Half way through the tour, and the excitement never stops. Leave S. Pedro de Moel and ride the coast until the epic cliff off Nazaré, a typical Portuguese fisherman village, where they dry the fish under the sun. Continue to Óbidos, the most beautiful and well preserved medieval village in Portugal, with an incredible castle on top. Feel the middle ages theme in the air as you let this beautiful place put a spell on you. ACCOMODATION Hotel Real d Óbidos BIKE 67 km + 850m
DAY 8 ÓBIDOS to PENICHE This day begins close to Óbidos lagoon which at some point joins the ocean a wonderful place with a gorgeous beach! Continue towards south and you will discover great rock formations, Carvoeiro Cape and the incredible town of Peniche, a peninsula. On this day remember, the numerous restaurants located in the Peniche serve outstanding variety of fresh fish and seafood. ACCOMODATION MH Peniche BIKE 52 km + 550m DAY 9 PENICHE to ERICEIRA Today you start by the sea, but soon go inland on where a different scenery shows up. Typical villages, white houses with red roof and beautiful countryside will invigorate you! By incredible valleys of limestone with vibrant green Mediterranean vegetation you will approach your final destination Ericeira, the Portuguese Mecca of Surf. Ericeira is also one of the most beautiful fishing villages and will be your home for the night. ACCOMODATION Vila Galé Ericeira BIKE 73 km + 900m
DAY 10 ERICEIRA to SINTRA Sintra Natural Park and hills will be the set for today s adventures cycling on a constantly up-and-down. But before, delight yourself with some of the beautiful places Sintra has to offer, like Monserrate Palace, where you can stop and visit a unique and exquisite example of Romanticism. Arriving to the village of Sintra, a UNESCO site, you have a whole free day to explore. Worthwhile to visit the astonishing Pena Palace, finding a wild fantasy of domes, towers, ramparts and walkways on one of the highest mountain peaks ACCOMODATION Sintra Boutique Hotel BIKE 38 km + 900m DAY 11 SINTRA to CASCAIS On the last day of biking cross the hills to the top and get evolved by the mystic environment close to Franciscan Capuchin Convent installed in the rock and lined with cork. Continue riding to the Atlantic Ocean and get to the most western point in continental Europe - Roca Cape, a promontory rising 150m from the sea. Discover impressive beaches nestling between cliffs artistically sculpted and finish in a scenic easy ride along the coast to get to Cascais, a lovely town on seaside. ACCOMODATION Vila Galé Cascais BIKE 41 km + 1100m
DAY 12 DEPARTURE This is it! It went by so fast. Today it is time to put all the incredible memories on your luggage and say goodbye. It has been for sure a great adventure and we truly want you to come back and discover more of Portugal infinite beautiful trails. All programs are specially designed for adventure lovers. Amazing experiences are guaranteed. We aren t responsible for possible side effects, that may include moments of extreme happiness, sense of freedom and desire to continue with us. Contact us for more information. Portugal Nature Trails is a registered trademark of Caminhos da Natureza Registered Company as RNAVT (National Registry of Travel Agencies and Tourism) and RNAAT (National Registry of Animation Agent and Tourism) Rua 7 de Junho,58, Leceia, 2730-174 BARCARENA PORTUGAL