TOUR REPORT: Spain and Portugal Motorcycle Tour 2026
Sunshine, Spectacular Roads and Unforgettable Memories
Tour Report by Toby & Steve
From winding roads through northern Spain to the magnificent Douro Valley, the mountains of Serra da Estrela and the breathtaking Picos de Europa, our 2026 adventure delivered everything we love about motorcycle touring — and a little bit more!
There are motorcycle tours that you remember for the roads, others for the scenery, and some for the people you share them with. Our Spain & Portugal Adventure 2026 managed to bring all three together for an unforgettable journey through two beautiful countries.
With spectacular mountain passes, sweeping bends, historic cities, fabulous hotels and temperatures reaching a sizzling 33°C and sometimes a little more, this was a tour packed with memorable moments from beginning to end. There was even a special guest appearance from Geoffrey, the RiderCamTV Unicorn of Truth!
From our sunny rendezvous in Plymouth to our safe return home aboard Brittany Ferries, the adventure was everything we had hoped for and more.
A smooth crossing into Adventure
Our adventure began with everyone safely rendezvousing in Plymouth, greeted by glorious sunshine and the sight of the Brittany Ferries Pont-Aven waiting to take us across the Bay of Biscay to Santander.
The overnight crossing was wonderfully smooth, giving everyone the opportunity to relax, catch up, get to know each other and look forward to the days ahead.
Arriving in Spain, we were soon on our motorcycles and exploring some fantastic roads. We enjoyed a gentle introduction to Spanish riding, following the winding N-634 towards our overnight stop in Llanes, a beautiful coastal town in Asturias.
After the ferry crossing, it was the perfect way to ease ourselves into the adventure, with a taste of the twisting roads and stunning scenery that lay ahead.
Winding roads, sunshine and a historic Parador
We were up bright and early for another day of exploring the roads of northern Spain.
The morning brought more lovely sunshine and a fantastic series of winding roads, with a welcome coffee stop before continuing towards lunch.
The weather had other ideas for a while, with forecast rain catching up with us as we made our way to the beautiful Parador de Corias.
Housed in an impressive historic monastery, this remarkable hotel was a memorable place to spend the night. It was also a welcome opportunity to relax after a rewarding day in the saddle.
With the forecast looking much brighter for the days ahead, Santiago de Compostela was calling.
Following the Camino towards Santiago de Compostela
The day began with a little mist, but that did nothing to dampen our enthusiasm for the roads ahead.
We headed onto the fantastic AS-14, enjoying its twisting bends as we followed a route associated with the Camino de Santiago. The morning provided exactly the kind of riding we love to share with our customers: engaging roads, beautiful surroundings and plenty to enjoy from the saddle.
After lunch in Sobrado, the sunshine returned, and we continued towards one of our favourite hotels in Santiago de Compostela.
Arriving in this historic city gave us the chance to enjoy a wonderful destination as well as the roads that brought us there.
And with a full day ahead, everyone could choose how to make the most of it.
Cape Finisterre or the historic streets of Santiago?
With the sun shining over Santiago de Compostela, our rest day offered two very different adventures.
Some of the group opted for a circular ride of around 150 miles to Cape Finisterre on Spain’s north-western coast. The spectacular coastal scenery and rewarding roads made it a tempting opportunity to get back out on the bikes.
Others chose to leave their motorcycles parked and explore Santiago on foot, wandering the city’s beautiful cobbled streets alongside the pilgrims completing their own Camino de Santiago.
The atmosphere around the historic city centre was something special, particularly around the famous cathedral and the square where so many pilgrims finish their journey.
It was a perfect example of what we want our tours to offer: the freedom to enjoy another great day riding, or the opportunity to explore somewhere extraordinary at your own pace.
Crossing into Portugal and discovering Peneda-Gerês
We left Santiago beneath clear skies and a comfortable 14°C, but the temperature would soon tell a very different story!
As we travelled through the wonderful backroads of Spain, the mercury climbed steadily, eventually passing 30°C. Vents were opened, summer gloves came out and everyone settled into the warmer conditions.
Then came the Portuguese border — and the welcome bonus of putting the clocks back an hour!
Our route took us into the spectacular Peneda-Gerês National Park, where the winding roads and beautiful natural surroundings made for a fantastic afternoon’s riding.
By the time we reached Guimarães, the group had enjoyed another memorable day exploring the best of the Iberian Peninsula.
But there was something else to celebrate.
Geoffrey, better known to the RiderCamTV community as the **Unicorn of Truth**, officially joined the group as a bona fide tourer, enjoying the ride on his Triumph.
There was just one small detail: Geoffrey didn’t have his Challenge coin to hand. Chris stepped up as his custodian for the day, ensuring that our unusual travelling companion was properly looked after.
Geoffrey had clearly taken to touring rather well!
The Douro Valley and the magnificent Serra da Estrela
Some days on a motorcycle tour are simply outstanding, and today was one of them.
Portugal treated us to fabulous weather and some of the finest winding roads of the entire adventure. We followed the Douro River for mile after mile, enjoying the scenery as the road traced its way through the spectacular valley.
The Douro is a truly special place to explore on two wheels. Its terraced vineyards, steep hillsides and sweeping river views provide a constantly changing backdrop, while the roads deliver the sort of riding that makes you want to keep going just a little further.
From the valley, we began the steady climb towards the Serra da Estrela Natural Park, Portugal’s highest mainland mountain range.
The temperature had reached a scorching 33°C during the day, but as we climbed towards our overnight stop in Covilhã, the air cooled to a much more comfortable 23°C.
After a superb day in the saddle, we settled in for the evening with another memorable stretch of Portugal behind us.
And, of course, Geoffrey needed looking after again. Michael drew the forfeit and took responsibility for our Unicorn of Truth for the day.
Touring with RiderCamTV Tours is always about the roads, the scenery and the company — and sometimes the company comes with a Unicorn!
From mountain heights to Salamanca
Leaving the Serra da Estrela mountains behind, we faced a longer riding day as we made our way towards Salamanca in Spain.
We wound our way down the mountainside from Covilhã before picking up the Douro River once again. The scenery was every bit as impressive as the previous day, although the temperature soon climbed back towards 33°C and a little higher at times.
A welcome lunch stop awaited us at a riverside restaurant in Barca d’Alva, providing the perfect opportunity to take a break, enjoy some refreshments and appreciate our surroundings.
After lunch, we crossed the bridge and continued through the national park, enjoying a wonderful succession of sweeping bends on beautifully surfaced roads.
Eventually, the landscape opened out and the twisting roads gave way to long, straight stretches across the Spanish plains.
It was a fascinating contrast to the mountain riding earlier in the day and a reminder of just how varied this part of Europe can be.
By the time we arrived in Salamanca, everyone had earned a rest. Fortunately, we had a full day ahead to explore this magnificent city.
A well-earned rest day in Salamanca
After several days of spectacular riding in the heat, our rest day in Salamanca was a welcome opportunity to slow down.
Salamanca is one of Spain’s most beautiful historic cities, with ancient paved streets, magnificent architecture and atmospheric squares that invite you to wander without a particular destination in mind.
The group enjoyed exploring the historic sights, sampling the local food and drink and soaking up the character of this remarkable place.
Sometimes the best part of a motorcycle tour is simply having time to appreciate where you’ve arrived. Salamanca provided exactly that.
With batteries recharged and another riding day ahead, we prepared to continue our journey northwards.
Salamanca to medieval Lerma
The sunshine was still very much with us as we headed towards Lerma, a beautiful medieval town around 100 miles south-east of the Picos de Europa.
With temperatures reaching 32°C, it was another proper Spanish summer’s day.
The ride provided a further opportunity to enjoy the changing landscapes of the Spanish interior before our mid-afternoon arrival in Lerma.
After checking in, many of the group wasted little time heading out to explore the town. Its historic streets and impressive architecture made it a lovely place to stretch our legs, while a well-earned beer was naturally high on the agenda for some!
It was another enjoyable evening together, with the Picos de Europa now beckoning and the final riding day of the tour fast approaching.
The breathtaking Picos de Europa
For our final major riding day, we headed towards one of northern Spain’s most spectacular regions: the Picos de Europa.
Towering mountains, deep valleys, beautiful lakes and wonderfully twisting roads make this a real highlight for motorcycle touring, and it was the perfect way to bring our riding adventure towards its conclusion.
We stopped for lunch beside the mountain lakes at Riaño, surrounded by scenery that seemed almost too beautiful to leave behind.
The roads around the mountains were every bit as impressive as the views, providing a fitting finale to the thousands of bends, changes of scenery and memorable riding experiences that had filled our journey.
From Riaño, we continued towards Cangas de Onís, where we gathered for our last evening meal in Spain.
It was a chance to relax, enjoy one final evening together and reflect on everything we had experienced over the preceding days.
There had been sunshine, a little rain, mountains, rivers, historic cities, fantastic hotels and some truly exceptional motorcycling.
Most importantly, there had been a great group of people sharing it all.
Homeward bound — but the memories stay with us
With the tour nearly complete, we made our way back to Santander through some amazing countryside on some glorious roads, including riding along a fantastic gorge before arriving and boarding the Brittany Ferries Pont-Aven for the return crossing to Plymouth.
Everyone arrived home safely after a pleasant crossing, bringing our Spain & Portugal Adventure 2026 to a close.
It had been a fantastic tour, filled with the kind of experiences that remind us why we love what we do.
From the first sunshine-filled rendezvous in Plymouth to the final mountain roads of the Picos de Europa, every day had brought something different. We had explored extraordinary places, enjoyed some of Europe’s finest motorcycling roads and shared plenty of laughs along the way.
One of the most special things about our tour adventure was the people who shared it. Some arrived as complete strangers, while others already knew each other, but it didn’t take long for everyone to become part of one big touring family. Through shared experiences, spectacular roads, unexpected moments and plenty of laughter along the way, friendships grew and bonds were formed that go far beyond the tour itself. By the time we headed home, we’re no longer just a group of riders who went on holiday together; we’re friends who have shared an adventure, made memories to last a lifetime and, in many cases, formed lifelong friendships that will continue long after the engines had stopped.
🏍️ Thank you from RiderCamTV Tours
To everyone who joined us on the Spain & Portugal Adventure 2026, a huge thank you.
Thank you for choosing to tour with us, for the camaraderie, the good humour and for helping make this such a special experience. We know that taking time out for a motorcycle holiday is a big commitment, and we genuinely appreciate the trust you placed in us.
The routes, the scenery and the hotels are all important, but it is the people who make a tour memorable. Sharing these incredible countries with such a fantastic group is what makes all the planning and preparation worthwhile.
We hope you returned home with wonderful memories, plenty of photographs and a few new stories to tell.
As for us, we have little time to sit still. Preparations are already under way for our next Spain & Portugal Adventure in 2027, and we cannot wait to return to these fantastic roads.
Fancy joining us on the next adventure?
If this tour report has sparked your imagination, why not experience the Spain & Portugal Adventure for yourself?
Discover some of the finest motorcycle roads in northern Spain and Portugal, from the spectacular winding roads of the Douro Valley and the mountain heights of Serra da Estrela to the breathtaking scenery of the Picos de Europa.
With hand-picked hotels, historic cities, incredible landscapes and the camaraderie that makes touring with RiderCamTV Tours so special, this is an adventure that delivers unforgettable memories around every bend.
**Places are limited, so don’t miss your chance to join us on our next Spain & Portugal Adventure. Your next great motorcycle adventure starts here!**
