Best coastal views of Rota Vicentina on the SW Coast of Portugal marked trail with support and luggage transfer. Stress-free holidays. Self-guided hiking holiday.

Highlights

 Stunning Coastal landscapes with cliffs, rivers, valleys, and the great Atlantic

 In small towns and villages, the biggest one has close to 5000 people.

 Great local gastronomy from Alentejo & Algarve Regions

 Walks along the sandy paths of Rota Vicentina

 Desert beaches along the everyday walk (except July and August).

Discovering the Alentejo & Algarve SW coast is an astonishing coastal walking program along Rota Vicentina’s Fishermen’s Trail, in the SW coast of the Alentejo region. Being mostly flat, the challenging factor here will not be elevation but the sandy sections, which will gradually decrease in length as you move South, shade is scarce in some areas, so make sure you are well prepared for the sun exposure. The pristine landscape is a constant along with this 120km/71mi walking program which, being divided into 6 walks, makes the distance covered per day to be around 20km/12.5 mi. A comfortable distance for a broad range of walking expertise.

Self-guided hiking is an adventure without any stress.

You travel where you want, with who you want, and when you want without having to worry about the organization or the logistics.

We live and run our programs in the most beautiful part of Portugal where Rota Vicentina exists.

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By booking with a local company you are contributing to a sustainable way of traveling.

After the Check-in a Vicentina Travel member will provide the briefing to clarify everything related to the tour, after that everything will sound much clearer. All the trails are fully marked, being part of Rota Vicentina’s Historical Way and Fishermen’s Trail.

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The best way to reach the starting point is to travel by BUS using Rede Expressos BUS Service, however, we also have private transfers available on request.

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Overnight: Porto Côvo

DISTANCE: 20Km/12,5Miles;

DURATION: 6h;

CLIMB 167 M;

DESCENT: 149 M;

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In the morning,  you'll be able to stock up on supplies for the day, since during the day you won’t be able to get any. At least 1.5L of Water per person and sun protection are essential. This is a Moderate walk (lack of shade), crossing several areas with loose sand, you will notice this is a really unexplored area, where you can take advantage of some astonishing views, and where the real fishermen take their chances at their risky daily job. If you are not an experienced walker it´s better to ask a Vicentina Travel member to sort it down, there are 2 options available with 14km and 8km.

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Overnight: Vila Nova de Milfontes

Meals included: Breakfast

DISTANCE: 18Km/11,18Miles or 15Km/9,32Miles using the Ferry Boat option;

DURATION: 5h;

CLIMB 263 M;

DESCENT: 283 M;

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In the morning with your body full of energy, you have 2 solutions to start the journey:

A) Catching a small ferry-boat to do the river crossing, or,

B) Crossing through the bridge, taking the path from the beginning.

Both options will lead you to an easy day walking crossing fields and small cliffs, with access to several beaches, heading to Almograve, further South.

Nice place to have lunch and enjoy the local gastronomy. After lunch, it´s time to go and explore the Almograve beach. Almograve is a really small place and normally your accommodation is using the rural tourism 3km inland in Longueira, just need to use a dirt track to reach it exploring the countryside landscape. 

Overnight: Longueira or Almograve

 DISTANCE: 21km/13Miles;

DURATION: 6h;

CLIMB 203 M;

DESCENT: 193 M

After a short transfer made by your host in Longueira, you will start from Almograve. Time to explore the landscapes along the unspoiled coastal Alentejo. Passing by Zambujeira's fishing arbor (Entrada da Barca – on route). Allowing you to walk next to the cliffs with panoramic sceneries, where you'll be able to watch cliff-nesting storks. You can use the small village of Cavaleiro to make a stop, buy some supplies and enjoy a good and homemade local dish, just before heading West to the beautiful lighthouse of Cabo Sardão. The end will be in Zambujeira do Mar, with one of the most amazing urban beaches in Portugal.

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Overnight in Zambujeira do Mar

Meals included: Breakfast

DISTANCE: 18km/11,2Miles;

DURATION 6h;

CLIMB 263 M;

DESCENT: 283 M;

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Maybe one of the most popular hiking routes used by the fishermen going South, heading to Odeceixe, the first village in the Algarve region. But while you're on the way, you'll find plenty to explore, feel and smell, passing by Carvalhal Beach, the residence of the famous "fado" singer Amália Rodrigues and the locally famous harbor of Azenha do Mar, and these are just some of the highlights.

After recharging your batteries at Azenha do Mar's seafood restaurant, you will have the energy to continue your journey until Odeceixe, where the bridge over the river sets the border between Alentejo and Algarve regions.

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Overnight in Odeceixe

Meals included: Breakfast

DISTANCE: 23km/14Miles;

DURATION: 6h;

CLIMB 405 M;

DESCENT:  395 M;

From Odeceixe we keep walking south near the coast, passing through the small agricultural village of Rogil, where you'll be able to try their famous sweet potato. After that, you will keep going south until you reach the Moorish village of Aljezur.

Hotel: overnight Aljezur

Overnight: Aljezur

Meals included: Breakfast

OPTION A- 18km/11,2Miles Combined Version or;

OPTION B - 12Km/74Miles (Just Historical Trail); 

OPTION A - CLIMB:  345M; DESCENT:  288M;

OPTION B - CLIMB:  224M; DESCENT:  184M;

Today you can take a part of the day to explore the old part of Aljezur, going to the top of the Castle, passing by the old narrow streets, or you can follow our suggestion, to go and explore the way into Arrifana beach. In the end, we will provide you with a taxi, to return from the beach to your Hotel in Aljezur.

Hotel: overnight Aljezur

Overnight: Aljezur

Meals included: Breakfast