Cycling from La Coruña to Faro – A 1,065 km Journey Across Spain and Portugal
One of the most rewarding parts of creating custom cycling maps is hearing the stories behind the rides. Recently I designed a map for a cyclist who completed an incredible journey from La Coruña in northern Spain to Faro in southern Portugal.
The ride covers an impressive 1,065.77 kilometres, travelling through two countries and along some of the most historic cycling regions of the Iberian Peninsula.
Custom cycling map from La Coruna to Faro showing route across Spain and Portugal
The Route
The journey begins on Spain’s Atlantic coast in La Coruña and travels south through several iconic cities before finishing in the Algarve.
- La Coruña
- Vigo
- Porto
- Coimbra
- Lisbon
- Faro
At this scale the map shows the major arterial road networks of Spain and Portugal, helping viewers understand the geography of the journey while keeping the cycling route clearly visible.
Atlantic Coastline
The Atlantic Ocean appears to the west, coloured deep blue fading to a lighter foam blue along the coastline. This subtle gradient highlights the dramatic Atlantic coast and gives the map a sense of depth.
At the southern edge of the map you can also see the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea, including Gibraltar and even a glimpse of Tangier across the Strait.
Mountainous Regions
Portugal’s mountainous interior is represented using engraved terrain shading. At this scale full contour lines would make the map too busy, so the mountains are instead suggested through subtle engraved relief.
This approach keeps the design clean while still conveying the landscape the cyclist travelled through.
Route Layer
The cyclist’s route is displayed in orange, a colour I use consistently for cycling routes because it stands out clearly against the terrain layers.
Even across the entire peninsula the route remains easy to follow as it travels south through Portugal’s major cities before reaching the Algarve.
Elevation Profile
An elevation profile is included beneath the map showing the terrain changes throughout the journey.
The ride climbs to approximately 580 metres above sea level before descending again toward the coast.
Some sections briefly drop to 0 metres, which likely represents a short ferry crossing across a harbour during the ride.
A Journey Worth Remembering
Long rides like this are more than just distance. They are experiences that cross landscapes, cultures, and historic cities.
Turning that journey into a custom wooden map allows the rider to display the adventure on the wall and remember every kilometre.
If you have completed a memorable ride and would like it turned into a custom laser-cut cycling map, I create maps from GPX or Strava activities for cycling, running, hiking, skiing, and other adventures.
Mr Tim
The Magic Crayons. Handcrafted Cycling Maps
