cycling from Santiago to Lisbon?

[DaanCarolien]

Dear people,
In April, we will cycle from Seville to Santiago de Compostella on our recumbent tandem. It will be our first time cycling a camino and we are really looking forward to it. After Santiago, we want to cycle to Lisbon (preferably via Fatima). But we're not sure whether this is doable for us with a pretty heavy, packed bike (not electric)? Does anyone have experience with this route on a regular touring bike with luggage? If so, what was it like? And what would be a nice|good route? GPX?
Please let us know, kind regards Daan & Carolien

 

[Corned Beef]

Yes it is doable but you may need to get off and push sometimes if you take the Central route. Seems to be a hill every few miles.

Or you take the coastal to Porto and then Eurovelo 1 to Lisbon. Has a lot of [red] marked cycle lanes and flatter terrain than the internal route. There is a ferry at Aveiro and A Guida/Caminha though not sure the Caminha ferry can take a recumbent..

There is a bit of a climb into Fatima so you might need to check that section.

I split the Lisbon - Fatima - Porto in January this year between the two routes. Had to switch to the faster coastal route to make sure I could make a flight back.

 

[JoEllen]

We rode mountain bikes (not electric) from Coimbra Santiago via the Senda Litoral (after Porto). The Litoral and the Coastal because the same a few times. From Coimbra to Porto was extremely hilly and we ended up walking the bikes way too much - and it cost us a lot of daylight! From Porto north to A Guarda, yes, as said above, the terrain is much flatter. There are still some areas where it is difficult and very rocky with a bike, as well as areas along the coast where the boardwalk has been washed away and you get to push your bike through the sand.

 

[JoEllen]

Wow....I typo'd the heck out of that!! It was Coimbra to Santiago, and the Litoral and the Coastal become the same a few times.

 

[Skinnybiker]

Well it would seem to me that if you're cycling 1000km & perhaps 10,000m vertical from Sevilla, by the time you arrive Santiago you'll both be fit, know what you're capable of and perhaps jettisoned some cargo. The hills / mountains in Spain will be more work than the coastal route in Portugal, I reckon. Perhaps one piece of advice would be to avoid, if possible, the roads made from granite setts but that will not be easy in Portugal; they make for very bone & bike shaking riding. It's a long ride and I wish you well. Richard