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Starts in Nazaré
Salgado hills and Serra da Pescaria loop from Nazaré (50 km)
Coast road south, then inland on farm tracks into almond and olive country above the Salgado dunes. 800 m of steady climbing, a ridge view of the whole coast, and the Capela de Santa Ana on the way down.
Route elevation profile: from 0 m to 132 m, total ascent 969 m.
- Tour Difficulty
- Moderate
About this ride
A 50 km loop south of Nazaré that leaves the coast at Praia do Salgado and climbs into the hills behind it. Quiet farm tracks, almond and olive groves, the Serra da Pescaria limestone with its marine fossils, and a ridge viewpoint back over the Atlantic. 800 m of climbing, steady rather than steep. Comes down past the 12th-century Capela de Santa Ana with an optional swim at São Martinho do Porto before the inland lanes home.
Before you go
The ride
Coast road south from Nazaré to Praia do Salgado, then turn inland at the Serra da Pescaria. The climbing is concentrated here and in the Salgado hills behind: farm tracks through almond and olive, nothing steep, just long. The ridge viewpoint looks back along the whole coast to Nazaré. The route drops toward Salir do Porto and the Capela de Santa Ana. São Martinho do Porto is a short detour for a coffee or a swim. Return on inland lanes.
Surfaces and bike
Coast road, quiet farm tracks, inland lanes. Gravel, MTB or e-bike. Road bike only if you are happy on hardpack.
Watch for
Dogs at farm gates. They bark, they do not chase. Marine fossils and dinosaur footprints in the Pescaria limestone if you know where to look.
Water and food
São Martinho do Porto and Salir do Porto. Nothing in the hills.
When
April for wildflowers and bees. Late summer is dry and dusty. In summer start early, before the inland air heats up.
Prefer company?
This is the Salgado Hills guided e-bike tour. The flatter coastal version is the Nazaré to São Martinho coastal loop.
Along the way
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Nazaré
A picturesque fishing village famous for its giant waves, rich maritime culture, and beautiful beaches.
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Praia do Salgado
A long, wild Atlantic beach south of Nazaré framed by dunes and golden cliffs, popular with surfers and walkers seeking open shore away from the crowds.
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Salir do Porto
The quieter southern side of the São Martinho do Porto bay, a relaxed starting point for gentle rides around the lagoon and its open dune landscape.
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São Martinho do Porto
A coastal town wrapped around a near-perfect shell-shaped bay, where calm, shallow waters and a sheltered shoreline make it one of the safest swimming spots on the Silver Coast.
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Pegadas de Dinossauro
A clifftop plateau where fossilised dinosaur tracks, left some 145 million years ago in what was then a shallow lagoon, run beside sweeping views of the Atlantic.
More routes nearby
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20 km
200 m
2 h
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Paved / Gravel
Starts in Nazaré
São Gião church and Monte de São Bartolomeu loop from Nazaré (25 km)
The oldest things around Nazaré in one short ride: a 7th-century church on a farm track, a 156 m volcanic hill with a chapel on top, and the medieval ridge town of Pederneira.
25 km
200 m
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Paved / Gravel / Trail
Starts in Nazaré
Nazaré town loop: seafront, Sítio, Praia do Norte and Pederneira (30 km)
The whole of Nazaré in one easy ride: the promenade, the 110 m climb to Sítio, the deer reserve, the lighthouse above Praia do Norte and the Pederneira belvedere.
30 km
200 m
2 h
·
Paved / Gravel