Hi
I am planing a cycling trip on the route from Lisbon in August. There will be five of us, two adults and three children 9,8 and 6,. Our current plan is to the the stages between azambuja and golega - and the stages between Ponte Di lima and Santiago.
Are these routes ok for mountain bikes and for children
Any advice on pre booking accomodation
Any advice at all - this is our first trip on the camino
We plan to fill in the gaps by train
Thanks
Ciaran
Hello Ciaran, and welcome to the forum-
The only problem that I’m seeing about taking your children with you it’s the heat. August can be very harsh in Portugal, and you can find temperatures of 35ºC or plus. So bear that in mind please.
The worst stage that you will probably have difficulties, it’s after Ponte de Lima. You’ll have to search this forum well, because there are two ways out of the town: one for pilgrims and cyclists, and other only for cyclists. The one which is communal for both, you have to go up a mountain with the bike on your back. It’s a near 500m ascent, with a huge inclination degree. If it’s hard for us who do it walking, I can’t imagine for the people who do it with their bikes on their back!
About the accommodation, it will depend where will you stay (cities), and if you don’t mind to sleep in Albergues. The Portuguese Caminho it’s the second most walked Caminho, and you will find a lot of people in August doing it, especially after Valença do Minho/Tui, the last 115/120km from Santiago.
If you can post your plan (km per day, where are you going to stop, etc, etc), that would be great for us to help you.
Best Regards
Diogo