We went to Portugal, for perhaps a slightly different holiday. We booked the Atlantic Coast Cycling Tour with Portugal Green Walks. By being self-guided, it was just myself and my husband, with a route map that was downloaded to our phones. By being supported, the route was curated for us, hotels were booked, and our luggage was hauled from point to point.
This tour took us through northern Portugal, an area called Portugal’s “Green Coast” because of its lushness. Except for Porto, every city that we visited was not even mentioned in Rick Steve’s Portugal guidebook. And yet, we were filled with tons of history and interesting churches and castles and fortresses. There were lovely squares, with cafes to rest and refuel along the way. We passed by fishing villages, small farms being tended by hand, and estuaries filled with birds. We enjoyed the lovely beaches, complete with cafes overlooking the surf. (And perhaps a beer or two was enjoyed at these cafes, of course). Along the way, we experienced colorful beach houses, rocky outcrops, marinas, ancient salt pans, and stone windmills along the shore. Our route map included "important" pastry stops in many of the small towns that we passed through – each having something new and different and delicious for us to try along the way. And even more importantly, we thoroughly enjoyed the Vinho Verde that this region is known for – it is lighter and more refreshing that a typical Portuguese wine, which was perfect after a day of bicycling. If you are looking for something “off the beaten track”, consider visiting the northern part of Portugal and check out one of Portugal Green Walks tours!