Exploring Portugal by Bike – Stages2&3: Ovar – Praia de Mira – Coimbra

I’m not a hardcore bikepacking fanatic — just an ordinary guy who loves cycling and loves Portugal. So I decided to combine both passions into a 14-stage solo cycle tour through central and northern Portugal — riding on bike paths (Ciclopistas) wherever possible, because this is truly Ciclopista Heaven! 🇵🇹🚴‍♂️
This video covers Stages 2 and 3: from Ovar to Praia de Mira and then inland through rural landscapes to Coimbra. Could storks have caused the 2025 Iberian power outage? I had some electrifying surprises on the way…
If you enjoy cycling adventures, travel vlogs, or are planning your own bike trip in Portugal, join me on this journey and subscribe to @CiclopistaHeaven to see how my tour unfolds!

👉 Watch next: https://youtu.be/aQz1_wpHESs
📍 Route: Ovar → Praia de Mira → Coimbra
🎥 Series Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-MZJApvh-LPG7P6YPNglotBw1IrA6Fjj&si=-uLyhvG7Ks-HxWQp
#BikepackingPortugal #CyclingPortugal #CiclopistaHeaven #SoloCycling #PortugalTravel #CycleTouring #AdventureCycling #coimbra #cicloturismo #ciclovia #ExplorePortugal #TravelVlog #greenway

Credits:
Fragments of Sunlight
Music by: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos
License code: JBBZGKMJPQYV12BP
Artist: : Nick Petrov

Aeon
Music by: https://www.bensound.com/free-music-for-videos
License code: X0LW9H3XK7H6ZAIL
Artist: : Theatre Of Delays

The following tracks were sourced from YouTube Studio Audio Library (attribution not required)
Lace Tablecloths / The Mini Vandals
Hostile Planet / Quincas Moreira
The Marble Cinematic University/ Ezra Lipp
Tiburtina / Schwarzy
Instant Crush / Corbyn Kites

Hi, I’m Martin and this is Cloisha Heaven. Join me as I cycle through the heart of central and northern Portugal, taking in historic towns and cities and stunning scenery. On this 14stage tour, I’m going to share the ups, downs, and challenges of exploring this beautiful country by bike. [Music] Welcome to stage two everybody. I’ve woken up to a wonderful sunny morning in Oval. [Music] Today I’m going to be cycling southwards to Pria Deira and it’s about 70 km and pretty flat all the way. Two weeks ago, there had been a huge power cut across Spain and Portugal. The root cause hadn’t yet been identified. Just thinking, have they already ruled out nesting stalks? These beautiful calleillies are native to South Africa, but also widely found in Portugal. [Music] Oh no, no, no. [Music] Beyond Eststeratia is the Biora and the Aeru Lagoon. Biora is home to more than 200 pairs of the rare purple heron and the whole lagoon is low-lying marshland. Did I say lowlying? I obviously meant waterloed. You can never be sure what a muddy trail has in store for you. as I found out in yesterday’s stage. [Music] But I struggled on as best I could because Google Maps was guiding me towards the optimal place to cross the Rio Vuga at this bridge called Ponte Kaida. But when I got there, I was shocked to discover the bridge simply no longer existed. Thank you so much, Google Maps. So, back I went, looking for the next possible bridge. [Applause] There didn’t seem to be much of a path. So, I left the bike for a closer look. Okay, no discussion. This bridge looks like it wouldn’t hold the weight of a purple heron. But luckily, the next road bridge was not far away. And so I could travel on towards one of the highlights of this stage. The Pasadis is a huge stretch of boardwalk along the edge of the Aeru Lagoon and it’s great fun to cycle. [Music] From here, it’s only a stone’s throw or a short Miceru ride to Au, the Venice of Portugal. [Music] [Music] [Applause] I headed to the M bakery in Aeru with its unique ambiencece for a relaxing afternoon tea before heading off past the salt farms and on towards Priadira. This was a good cycle path, if not the most spectacular. [Music] [Music] My destination was the villa Parina overlooking the nearby lagoon. and it was a really comfortable place to stay. I’m looking forward to a beer, bakal, and an evening stroll along the beach where I found this sandy library and the most tranquil of Atlantic seas to bring the day to a close. [Music] Good morning everybody. After a good night’s sleep, I’m starting the day in Pria with a healthy breakfast, including high protein pudding. Then I set off past the early morning traffic jams on the Barinia. I’ve got just over 50 km ahead of me on this stage with not much climbing. So, I’m expecting it to be a relaxing ride. [Music] [Music] This is for you, dear Franciscoca. [Music] I decided not to stop at Kante, but to press onto the small town of Ansa. [Music] This unassuming place is world famous for its limestone whose high quality makes it perfect for sculpting. It was used to decorate the University of Kimbra, the Pasco Palace, and the Battalia Monastery and even exported to adorn sanctuaries in Rome and Jerusalem. Ansar’s pizzas are rightly not so famous, but the one I got here was so enormous it served me for both lunch and dinner. [Music] As I headed on, things took an unexpected turn. [Music] Why do I get this feeling those stalks are up to no good? There’s literally hundreds of them nesting on the power lines. [Music] So here we are in the historic university city of Kimbra, former capital of Portugal. [Music] Okay, I have to admit I was staying overnight in one of the less historic areas, [Music] but that evening I still got to see the park, the Santa Cruz, the Jardim Botanical [Music] and the Roman aqueduct. [Music] I even witnessed a lively political rally in the run-up to the national elections. [Music]