The breaking waves – cycle along the Atlantic coast of Portugal

We arrived in Valença in the late afternoon, after spending about six hours on the bus that connects Lisbon to Monção. We therefore planned a short stop, just long enough to reach the ocean and pitch the tent with the last hours of light.



Valença was the first surprise of the trip. The historic center… read more

Once out of the tent we found ourselves again enveloped in a thick fog coming from the ocean, which however made the view of the long beach of Caminha even more impressive. The sea was unusually calm and the turquoise water stretched as far as the eye could see. It has always thrilled me to observe the… read more

Through cultivated fields, forests and small, almost uninhabited country villages we continued our Portuguese Camino de Santiago in reverse to Porto. We have crossed the path of many male and female pilgrims, whose passage has become important for the economy of these areas.



We realized that we were close… read more

Leaving the checkerboard city of Espinho, we entered a unique natural environment, the Barrinha of Esmoriz. It is a lagoon of almost 400 hectares which offers shelter to numerous local fauna species and migratory birds. A system of long wooden walkways allows you to cross it while enjoying the view of… read more

This was the day we broke the record for tent dismantling times and probably speed on two wheels as well. In fact, we had decided to go and visit Aveiro and wanted to take the last ferry before the two-hour break between one ride and another.

If you want a less traumatic awakening, I advise you to organize… read more

The sixth stage was the longest of our itinerary, because we wanted to get as close as possible to the point where we would meet some friends from Lisbon the next day. It was also among the most impressive.



As soon as we left the seaside resort of Praia de Mira we took a road in the middle of the Atlantic… read more

Instead, this was the shortest stage of the trip, just about twenty kilometers to meet our friends, catch a few waves on a surfboard, have dinner with friends and celebrate Irene's birthday.



The route coincided with a long straight stretch on a cycle path parallel to the Estrada Atlântica. So far we have… read more

The eighth stage was also short. This time because the goal was to reach Nazaré, where a friend of ours who had arrived from Italy, Alessandro, would have joined us to continue the journey with us.



We therefore arrived early at the destination and after setting up the tent we went to rest in Praia do… read more

From this moment on, the three of us continued, with Alessandro full of enthusiasm for the start of his first bike trip.



From Nazaré begins a beautiful climb that leads to the crest of a hill. From here, the view of Nazaré and its southern coast is breathtaking. The road always follows the coast line… read more

Reluctantly leaving the paradisiacal Lagoon of Óbidos, we cycled along a series of dirt roads, passing through very artificial resorts a short distance from the huts where life in the fields seems to have remained unchanged for centuries.



We have thus arrived in Peniche, another well-known destination… read more

The tiredness had started to be felt and on the day of the eleventh stage I forgot to start recording as soon as I got on the saddle. In fact, this Tour lacks the first kilometers from the Ericeira campsite. In any case, there are no alternatives to the state road and you can find the complete path above… read more

The twelfth stage was perhaps the toughest. If we had found cold weather in the North, going south we felt the weather conditions change drastically. That day the air was hot.



We took the ferryboat and cycled along the cycle path that leads to Caparica and then onto dirt roads and forest tracks. Alessandro… read more

Having dismantled the tent at high speed, we ran to Setúbal to take the ferryboat (atlanticferries.pt/en/) which takes us to the Troia peninsula, a thin strip of land that separates the sea from the river estuary sad. During the crossing it is not uncommon to spot dolphins, which live here permanently… read more

We left the Santo André Lagoon with the idea of returning when we need a relaxed vacation. Around the lagoon there is a vast natural park where you can take long walks among dunes, pine forests and beaches.



After passing Sines, with its overbearing industrial area, we followed the Eurovelo 1 route, which… read more

On the last day of the trip we were again enveloped in fog, just like the first. It was funny and we joked about it for a long time, because the first part of the fifteenth stage is among the most scenic of the entire itinerary. Only that the visibility was very poor!



In Cavaleiro we stopped to visit… read more