Coastal SW Iberian Route
This trip covers some of the most beautiful and unspoiled coastline of the Iberian Peninsula and most days we will be able to stop at unbelievable gold sand beaches for refreshing dive/swim or just to relax by the seaside!
Ride all the way from Lisbon across the Tagus estuary then through Costa Azul, along the Alentejo, across the Algarve and into Spain to finish in Seville!
Small sheltered bays hidden in the cliff shores will reveal their rocky intimacy and alternate with almost limitless shores where sandy beaches stretch out as far as the eye can see.
The southwestern coastline, less populous and far less developed than other costas, consists of long stretches of fabulous sandy beaches, broken up by extraordinary rugged cliffs and fantastic grottoes.
The popular region of Algarve, located on the on the extreme South of Portugal, was the last to be conquered from the Moors by the Portuguese King Dom Afonso III, in 1292. This is a brightly-colored region, with its fig trees, orange groves and almond trees in blossom, is also one of the most verdant and fertile. Traces of the Moorish presence are still seen nowadays in its unique terraces, chimneys and whitewashed houses.
The beauty and natural richness of this savage coast inspired men to develop the art of navigation, of fishing, of building ports and of defending them with watch-towers. Sagres and Lagos were the world's "Cape Canaveral" over 500 years ago when Portuguese navigators set a sail from here during the discoveries. A curious fact is that many of the inhabitants of this area were taken to the new territories e.g. the Madeira Islands.
When entering Andalusia, the world's capital of Flamenco music and dance! Be ready to experience some architecture and landscape changes, which you will appreciate as much as cultural and gastronomic delicacies.
Fresh sea fish and seafood make many of the local delicacies, meat of lamb and pork is popular too, and occasionally mixes meat and shellfish. This is best enjoyed in one of the region's special tascas, with local wine or a cold beer, the unique atmosphere will add to the experience.
Discover the SW coast of the Iberian Peninsula on a bicycle, its pleasures, heritage and landscapes of the countryside and sea!
Depending our your interest, you can choose to do this tour as a one week trip (either Lisbon to Lagos or Lagos to Seville), or for the true Iberian experience, do the full 2 week tour.
2 week Tour
Price Includes: 15 days, 14 nights accommodation with breakfast, 10 dinners w/ wine or beer, all picnics, guide, daily itinerary details, ferry crossings, Back-up vehicle, luggage transfers between accommodations; and transfers from/to Lisboa.
1 week Tour
Price Includes: 8 days, 7 nights accommodation with breakfast, 5 dinners w/ wine or beer, all picnics, guide, daily itinerary details, ferry crossings, Back-up vehicle, luggage transfers between accommodations; and transfers from/to Lisboa.
Day-by-day details
Day 1 Arrival Day: Lisboa
Afternoon: Bikes and equipment assigned to participants followed by a try out ride in Lisboa's historical waterfront to Belém and the Castle of S. Jorge.
Evening: Welcome Dinner w/ a Fado show.
(15k / 9m)
(D)
Day 2 Lisboa - Sesimbra
Morning: Departure, you will start this tour right from you hotel located in Lisboa city center with an early ferry crossing on River Tejo. Riding south to Sanctuary of "Nossa Senhora do Cabo" at Cape Espichel where you will also visit a site with dinosaur footprints! You will then steer east to the medieval Castle of Sesimbra before arriving to this traditional fishing town.
Dinner by the seaside in a place to try great seafood specialties!
(35k / 22m or 70k / 44m)
(B) (L) (D)
Day 3 Sesimbra - Praia do Pego (Carvalhal)
Leaving Sesimbra you will ride the Arrábida Nature Reserve and enjoy amazing views, over the Peninsula of Tróia, while bordering the cliff shore. You will be riding soon again, after a ferry crossing, first along the sea to visit a river fishing and rice producer community. You will continue then along the rice paddies of Comporta before arriving to Pego beach.
Optional hike through rice fields, sand dunes and along the sand beach to your destination point.
Dinner at a beachside restaurant with tasty fresh sea fish!
(50k / 31m or 80k / 50m)
(B) (L)
Day 4 Praia do Pego - Santiago do Cacém
You will ride south along the sea past vineyards and beautiful lagoons for beach lovers before arriving to Santiago do Cacém with its majestic castle of Arab origin, that was completely rebuilt by the Christians in the 12th century. Nearby is the archeological site of Miróbriga, once an important urban center in Roman times, the site contains a hippodrome, houses decorated with mural paintings, an acropolis, a forum and a very rich bathing complex.
Possible Rest Place!
(48k / 30m)
(B) (L)
Day 5 Santiago do Cacém - Zambujeira
Ride a tiny layer of paved road bordering the Atlantic from S. Torpes to P. Covo beaches and you will enjoy vantage views of this immense blue ocean. Porto Covo is small town with very attractive sand beaches hidden in the cliff shore! Continue south with cliffs dominating now the coast and the fascination of the sea becomes ever more powerful. We ride back roads that are popular only among fishermen. Porto Covo and Zambujeira are said to have some of the best beaches in Portugal.
(85 k / 53m)
(B) (L) (D)
Day 6 Zambujeira - Carrapateira
Leave Alentejo to enter the Algarve region when over the bridge of River Seixe.
Rosemary fragrance is pleasantly strong when you enter the town whose castle was the last conquered by the Portuguese to the Moorish. Carrapateira is a favorite place, your overnight here will be rewarded with a nice walk bordering ochre cliffs in between two attractive sand beaches. At dinner we recommend stewed rice with fish and grilled fish.
(55 k/34 m)
(B) (L) (D)
Day 7 Carrapateira - Lagos
You could not ride the Portuguese SW coast without riding this beautiful corner from Carrapateira to Sagres and then to Lagos, as someone said "it is at least as nice as California best shores" or "even more beautiful than Scotland".
This area was very dynamic during the discoveries and it is still maintaining a pleasant ancient look, on the extreme southwestern tip of the European continent, is Cape São Vicente (Romans' Promontorium Sacrum), opening on to a vast horizon of sea and sky. Nearby is Sagres and it was here that five centuries ago Prince Henry set up a school of navigation, which played a crucial role in the Portuguese Discoveries.
You will arrive in Lagos riding along the seashore!
(50k / 31m or 80k / 50m)
(B) (L) (D)
Day 8 Monchique - Lagos
Monchique is a thermal town and the town at highest altitude in the Algarve. Near by and further up is Fóia at 902m of altitude and starting point for today's ride! We can promise easy 20kms coasting downhill, but the next 25 will demand some work rewarded with amazing rural and scenic landscapes!
Option: Lagos is an interesting historical town and you can take advantage of a free day for shopping and sightseeing, or just to relax on the gold sand beaches!
(0 or 45 k/27 m)
(B) (L) (D)
Day 9 Lagos (Portimão) - Alte
Departing from Lagos we will ride past the historical town of Silves and will climb onto the Algarve hills and experience the Algarve that is still set back in time.
(60 k/37 m, 80 k/ 50m)
(B) (L) (D)
Day 10 Alte - Tavira
You will be riding down the hills of Algarve and back to the seaside at the picturesque fishermen's village of Tavira, enjoying the nice scenery change and the beautiful view over the River Gilão and its Roman bridge.
(50k / 31m)
(B) (L)
Day 11 Tavira - La Antilla
Across the border on your last ferry crossing, this time of the River Guadiana, will take you into the very SW Spain and the Andalucia region! Islantillha distinguishing factor is its architecture of big old houses and smaller homes lined up along the beach.
(60k / 37m or 90K / 55m)
(B) (L) (D)
Day 12 La Antilla - El Rocio
You will ride past the town of Huelva and continue riding along the Atlantic on a very scenic road when pine forests and sand dunes let us see the Atlantic waters.
After a last swim and rest at magnificent beaches of fine golden sand we will continue to the heart of the Doñana Nature Reserve: El Rocio.
(55k / 35m or 110K / 67m)
(B) (L) (D)
Day 13 Ride from El Rocio into Seville
We will leave the Pilgrimage picturesque town of El Rocio, visit Roman ruins of Italica and ride across River Guadalquivir to enter the beautiful capital of Andalusia: Seville!
(65k / 39m or 85K / 53m)
(B) (L)
Day 14 Sightseeing in Sevilla
Free day for shopping and sightseeing.
At night we will have the possibility to go for a tapas dinner and then check out some Flamenco shows.
Farewell Dinner/Party.
(B) (L) (D)
Day 15 Departure Day - In Seville
Early Morning transfer to Seville airport, then Faro and Lisboa airports.
(B)
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