Seafood & Paradores Route to Santiago

This tour follows splendid ocean landscapes along the Atlantic Coast from Porto to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, past traditional fishing ports, suppliers of the finest fish and shellfish in Europe. The beautiful itineraries take you through quaint coastal villages, along sandy beaches, and estuaries, over countryside tracks, through vineyards and historic towns.

This variation of the traditional Portuguese Route to Santiago has only recently been approved by Santiago Cathedral as an official Camino de Santiago, although it might be the oldest of all pilgrimage routes to this ancient sanctuary to which legend has itthatthe remains ofthe apostle St. James were taken from Jerusalem.

The program proposes scrumptious seafood dinners, delightful wine tastings in Portugal and Spain and pleasant and comfortable accommodation in charming well-located local hotels. A special feature of the tour is the possibility of upgrading four of the seven nights in a Parador, one of the Spanish network of monumental and historic boutique and luxury hotels. Located in castles, manor houses and stately homes, paradores are famous for the high standards of their hospitality and the excellence of their traditional cuisine.

The different stages of the tour consist of pleasant bike rides, beginning in Porto where you will spend the night after you arrive. Designed to cover around 40 kilometres per day, you will cycle past famous Camino de Santiago landmarks such as Viana do Castelo and Caminha in Portugal, Baiona, Pontevedra, Cambados and Arousa in Spain. There is a special feeling about following the Camino de Santiago, whether you are religious or not, possibly because one cannot remain untouched by thoughts of the great piety that, for centuries, led so many devout pilgrims to travel this route regardless of the challenges and difficulties that faced them along the way. As you approach Santiago de Compostela, you will sense their excitement and enthusiasm as you enter one of Christianity’s greatest holy cities. Do not end your biking journey without a visit to the magnificent cathedral, a place of history, faith and hope.