The Trip
I (Peter) will start my cycle across Portugal. Leaving Porto airport , the trip will see me cycling through Portugal towards Lisbon airport. But I won't be taking the straight Atlantic route, i will head towards the Spanish border region climbing Portugal's highest mountains.
The idea is to cycle through most of Portugal's fantastic Nature reserves and discover the "real Portugal" away from the tourist trails.
The trip will take me along the banks of the Minho towards Parque Nacional Peneda - Geres , one of Portugal's most remote National Parks. From here, it is towards the Douro crossing Parque Natural do Alvao and also passing the famous Matheus winery. After crossing the Douro, i will head into the fabulous Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela, home to Portugal's highest mountain. After having crossed this mountain range, i will be visiting the fabulous towns of Monsanto and Marvao. From here, I will head into Parque NAtural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros, famous for its caves and limestone formation. The finish my Portuguese adventure, i will head towards to coast visiting towns like Obidos and Sintra . The entire trip will bring be 1067 km with approx. 22400 meters of climbing.
Compared to my 2019 Spain cycle, this is 30% more climbing per kilometer cycled
The idea is to cycle through most of Portugal's fantastic Nature reserves and discover the "real Portugal" away from the tourist trails.
The trip will take me along the banks of the Minho towards Parque Nacional Peneda - Geres , one of Portugal's most remote National Parks. From here, it is towards the Douro crossing Parque Natural do Alvao and also passing the famous Matheus winery. After crossing the Douro, i will head into the fabulous Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela, home to Portugal's highest mountain. After having crossed this mountain range, i will be visiting the fabulous towns of Monsanto and Marvao. From here, I will head into Parque NAtural das Serras de Aire e Candeeiros, famous for its caves and limestone formation. The finish my Portuguese adventure, i will head towards to coast visiting towns like Obidos and Sintra . The entire trip will bring be 1067 km with approx. 22400 meters of climbing.
Compared to my 2019 Spain cycle, this is 30% more climbing per kilometer cycled
Day# 1: Porto Airport to Porto (24.19 km - 215m elevation gain)
|
Day# 1 is arrival day in Porto. My plane will land around 4:30pm . After landing , i will put my bike together and head the short distance north towards Amorim where I will stay right beside the Atlantic Ocean.
|
Day# 2: Amoril to Varzea (126km - 1217m elevation gain)
|
On day# 2, will head further North towards Viana Do Costelo which I have visited before. From here, I will follow the coastal road towards beautiful Caminha which is located at the Minho estuary. From here, I will follow the banks of the Minho, a gracious river which forms a natural border between Portugal and Spain.
|
Day# 3: Varzea to Linhares (118 km - 2749m elevation gain)
|
Day# 3 will bring me to to foothills of Parque natural de Serra da Estrella. I will be passing the beautiful ancient city of Viseu.
The day will be a day of rolling hills and beautiful scenery |
Day# 4: Linhares to Covilha (49km - 1951m elevation gain)
|
Day 4 is "only" 49km , but with a total elevation gain of 1951m it will be a tough day in the saddle.
Cycling through the beautiful Parque Natural de Serra Da Estrella will be one of the highlights of the trip. Portugal's oldest and largest protected area is home to Portugal's highest mountain, Torre, which stands at 1993 meters. The Parque is in wintertime a popular location for skiing, but I am expecting warm temperatures in june. |
Day# 5: Covilha to Marvao (153 km - 2719m elevation gain)
|
Day# 5 is one of the longer days in the saddle, and it will see me climbing towards Castelo branco, a town founded at the base of a Templar castle.
Jardin do Paco is on the sightseeing list. This magnificent garden with it's box hedges is a fabulous sight. From here, it is onwards towards Nisa where I will pas barragem de Nisa which might be the perfect spot for a refreshing swim before heading towards Castelo de vida where i swill stay for the night. |
Day# 6: Marvao to Monsaraz (156 km - 1917m elevation gain)
|
Day# 6 will start with a climb towards Marvao, one of the pretty medieval villages in Portugal which is set on a granite outcrop.
After having admired the views , I will head further south getting very clsoe to the Spanish border. At lunchtime, i will find myself in Elvas. This highly fortified town was once a strategic connection between Portugal and Spain. I will also visit the magnificent Amoreira aqueduct ... CArrying on the trip, I will follow the Guadiana river which forms a natural border between Spain and Portugal. The temperatures will get much higher and 35 to 40 degrees is possible in the Alentjo region. I will finish the day in Monsaraz, a beautiful medieval town built on an outcrop. |
Day# 7: Monsaraz to Mertola (129 km - 1113m elevation gain)
|
Day 7 will bring me further south again. First town will be Mourao. From here , it will be a hot cycle towards Parque Natural Do Vale Do Guadiana.
the night will be spend in Mertola, a beautiful town located along the banks of the Guadiana river. |
Day# 8: Mertola to Porto Covo (132km - 1293m elevation gain)
|
Day 8 is a direct route towards to coast where I will reach Parque Natural do Sudoeste nearby the town of Vila Nova de Milfontes.
The evening will definitely finished with a refreshing swim in the Atlantic. |
Day# 9: Porto Covo to Charreca decaparica (129km - 1375m elevation gain)
|
Day 9 is a coastal cycle which will see me visiting Santiago Do Cacem, a town overlooked by the impressive Castelo de Santiago do Cacem.
From here , it is onwards towards Comporta from where I will cycle along the Troia Peninsula. Then I have to catch the ferry towards Setubal from where I will cycle through Parque Natural Da Arrabida. |
Day# 10: Charreca decaparica to Charreca decaparica (101km - 1794m elevation)
|
Day 10 is a tour around Parque NAtural de Sintra Cascais. Stopovers in Cascais and Sintra have been on my bucketlist for a long time, and I am really excited visiting the Palacio Nacional de sintra.
|
