The BlueCoastBikes Experience

Enhancing your European experience
With all the cultural nuances reflecting it's exuberant history, Portugal is one European gem still waiting to be fully uncovered. From its vastly diverse landscapes, hauntingly beautiful fado music, and rich stories of legendary discovery, to the contemporary bustling city of Lisbon, filled with luxury boutiques, exquisite café’s and first-class restaurants and modernized transportation systems. This country has something for everyone, and has that timeless effect of making explorers of us all. Whether you're into the quiet, narrow streets of the white stucco medieval villages that seem to glow in the day's fading sunsets, or the trendy bistros of the big city, Portugal has a world to uncover, and Blue Coast Bikes will help you reveal it.

Officially Licensed Bicycle Tours of Portugal's Costa Azul
Our guests' safety, security and satisfaction are our priorities on every tour. This is why Blue Coast Bikes is proud to be an officially licensed bicycle tour company of Portugal's Costa Azul with the Portuguese Tourism Institute (ITP), the national license board for Portugal's active tourism to ensure that your stay here is a memorable one.

Accommodations
When you're here, you're home. Our tours are as good as the background support that makes them possible. We work closely with our travel agents to bring you the best in first-rate unique, historical and luxury lodgings, dining and entertainment. The effort going into the quality of our tours is due to the sum of our courteous, professional community and a talented team.

Ride Ratings
Each of our routes has been given a rating, however as our tours are not a competitive event, we hesitate to assume everyone's ability. The only assumption we make is that our riders can and have handled a bicycle before, and will be able to ride at least 3 hours with all the climbs and descents expected on a "typical" route. We point out where climbing is more intense and frequent, but aside from this, we cannot foresee how our guests have prepared/trained. Overall, we have had a good sampling of riders take on our routes, from beginners to avid, and the ratings have held. The best thing about our guided tours is that a support vehicle is always on hand for those who want a good challenge but who also know their limits. Most of our tours are labeled as (moderate) meaning they have some climbs and some downhill descents, however, we always try to take the path of least resistance on our tours, be it traffic or hill. Any of our Arrábida rides consist of climbing each day, however the mileage is shortened so you can spend some time off the saddle to enjoy the amazing views over the coastal landscape. In other words, it is always recommended to train for any ride here or there, making sure you are in condition to handle a bicycle.

What to Expect
Our prices reflect the value and quality you will get on a Blue Coast Bikes bicycle tour. On a typical day (we use that term lightly), you can plan on spending three to five hours, depending on stops in villages and points of interest, riding your Trek bicycle along sunny coastal lanes and pathways, or through shady cork forests and Alentejan fields of poppies. The riding is casual with the occasional challenge to invigorate the spirit. We focus on the culture for our tours, rather than racing through the countryside in a competitive race. We'll stop in our destination towns, each picked for their traditional flavors and colorful cuisine, as well as picturesque surroundings. After lunchtime, you'll have time to browse the local scene or just take it all in over a glass of sparkling green wine and fresh pastry. Each night (guided tours) the entire group will get together at one of our favorite restaurants in each area, and celebrate the day with a festive group dinner, with all the trimmings. Our Accommodations are more than a small part of the experience. We use the luxurious Hotel & Spa Sesimbra, with views over the Atlantic, another five star Tróia Design Hotel, set in a fabulous location on the Bay of Setúbal, as well as our feature 'lodgings' of 3-5 star Portuguese Pousadas, consisting of castles and palaces or manor homes, restored to a contemporary luster in dramatic fashion. We also like to mix in the rural, and more personal side of the Portuguese culture by utilizing some of the charming country villas along the Costa Azul. Our friends will open their homes so you can feel welcome throughout your entire trip. You will feel at home here in Portugal, as we try each time to offer a trip you won't soon forget.