On a bike tour in the Camino de Santiago, you'll be joining a journey that started in the 9th Century, with the discovery, in Galiza, of the remains of St. James. This epic pilgrimage is shared by thousands of cyclists and walkers each year, as they follow the trail from France, Spain and Portugal to Santiago de Compostela. Whichever Camino you choose to ride, you are bound to marvel at the local traditions, culture, gastronomy and sense of communion between all those that share The Way - Now it’s your time to trail the Way of St James!
Where to start? I tagged along with my friends on a 6-day bike tour. We had e-bikes, although our guide, Ricardo, did not. I am not an experienced cyclist, (I am 65, but in good shape) but I absolutely loved every minute. Ricardo was patient and thorough in his preparations for each day. He led us through a variety of rides from easy to hard, but never too hard. We rode a few hours in the morning and then had beautiful accommodations to relax in the rest of the day. Ricardo also scouted out excellent 5-star accommodations as well as wonderful dining experiences each evening. These were hotels and restaurants we weren't likely to find on our own as tourists. There was no better way to see the countryside and really soak up the culture. Everywhere we went the people were kind and welcoming. Ricardo was personable, well-versed in his country's history, and did I mention he was patient? Even when one of us rode past the turn-off and he had to ride down the hill and back up again?! Live, Love, Ride is a "must-do" for anyone wanting an exciting experience and a unique way to see Spain!
After we were picked up from the airport and driven to the hotel, the magical adventure began. Riding the Douro Valley was just magnificent. The scenery and landscape could not be compared to anything I've seen before. Riding consisted of 35 to near 50 miles each day with elevations of 3,000-4,500 feet gain at an average 5-8% grade. On the last day of riding, the most difficult of all, we experienced a 16% grade that seemed to go on forever. Every day presented itself with great challenges wonderful pleasures and fantastic downhills that would go for 6-7 miles at speeds of 25+ mph. WOW!!
Our group was small with 7 riders plus 2 guides. The locations we stopped at were local places giving you a sense of real Portugal.
The people running the tour couldn't be better. They address every need from the group. We used carbon bikes from Scott that performed flawlessly even when riding on cobblestone which was in almost every town or village.
I can't speak highly enough about this adventure. However, that said, be sure to come well trained with lots of hill climbing under your seat because it's challenging everyday.
