Portugal hiking Rota Vicentina: The Fishermen’s Trail

Date: 22nd – 29th of April 2025

Private Dates: March – May & September – November

Highlights Portugal hiking, Rota Vicentina:

• Discover Lisbons culture and local food
• Follow the footsteps of Portugueses fishermen along the Alentejo coastline to wild and rugged beaches
• Nights in beautiful and authentic guesthouses and hotels
• Relax with a glass of “vino” and some tasty seafood after hiking
• Daypack hiking with luggage transfer

The Rota Vicentina is a network of hiking trails in the south of Portugal, it passes trough two provinces Alentejo and Algarve.

Beautiful trails take us along honey-coloured cliffs, down to small beaches and hidden sandy coves. This allows you to discover the “real* Portugal as you visit places only accessible by foot along the Alentejo coastline. We discover some of the best preserved coastline in Southwestern Europe.

Charming Portuguese fishing villages welcome us for the nights. Enjoy tasty local food and wine while watching the sunset and listening to the crashing waves of the Atlantic coast.

Walking Itinerary Portugal hiking, Rota Vicentina

• 7 nights
• 5 hiking days

Day 1: Arrival at Lisbon, Culinary & Wine Tour

We meet at the Hotel in Lisbon at 4.30pm for a culinary tour. We’ll saver the flavours of Portuguese food on a 3-hour tour of Lisbon’s traditional eateries. In the company of a culinary guide, we get tips on wine, petiscos, food and fado in the historical center, home to some of Lisbon’s most famous restaurants.

Night in a wonderful historic Hotel in Lisbon

Day 2: Walking tour Lisbon – Road to Porto Covo

We discover this charming city and cultural cradle. The Belém district with a concentration of history and an immense architectural memory. Among other things, we visit th eHieronymite monastery, in Manueline style, which recalls the epic of Vasco da Gama and the discovery of the Route of India. This complex, true architectural masterpiece, bears witness to the county’s power for centuries. We stroll through the city’s vibrant neighbourhoods and enjoy a nice lunch.

In the afternoon, transfer by privat shuttle to Porto Covo (1.45hrs). With it’s white-washed cottages and beautiful beaches backed by high cliffs, Porto Covo is a charming location for our second night in south-west Portugal.

• Walk: City walk 3hrs
• Overnight: Guesthouse in Porto Covo

Day 3: Porto Covo to Vila Nova de Milfontes

Today’w walking is all about beaches, sand dunes and deserted coves. From the rough beaches at Aivados to the golden sand dunes of Farol. Discover the diversity of coastal landscapes and plant life on this section,. Some tougher walking along the sand dunes is rewarded by fantastic coastal views. The small town of Vila Nova de Milfontes is the most popular resort on the Alentejo coast. Positioned on the sheltered waters of the Rio Mira estuary the town is only a stone’s throw from the Atlantic coast and any number of outstanding beaches. Although the town has expanded over the years too cater for the increasing number of visitors, the old center still retains much of its charm.

• Walk: 20km / 12 miles, +167m, – 149m, 7 hrs
• Overnight: Beach Hotel

Day 4: Vila Nova de Milfontes to Almograve

We take the small ferry to do the river crossing first and then start walking. The trail will lead us into an easy day of walking, crossing fields, and passing by small cliffs, with access to several beaches while heading to Almograve. Almograve is a nice place to have lunch and enjoy the local gastronomy. After lunch it’s time to explore the Almograve beach or to finish the route, heading to the village of Longueira, located inland.

• Walk: 11km / 6.8 miles, + 88m, . 116m, 3-4 hours
• Overnight. Beautiful rural Casa in a very quiet area, pool

Day 5: Almograve to Entrada da Barca

We walk past ochre sand dunes and high cliffs, home to over twenty species of birds, followed by a section trough some fragrant pine forests. A highlight is sure to be capturing sight of the nesting white storks – this coastline is the only place in the world, where they nest! We can make a stop at the small village of Cavaleiro, buy some supplies and enjoy a fresh orange juice. After a short walk in the afternoon we arrive at Entrada da Barca where a Taxi will bring us to our Hotel near Zambujeira do Mar.

• Walk: 18.4km / 11.4miles, + 203m, – 193m, 7 hours
• Overnight: Hotel Casa de Campo in Zambujeira do Mar

Day 6: Hiking or relaxing: Entrada de Barca to Zambujeira do Mar

Today you can either enjoy the beautiful Hotel and relax at the pool ore take 2 miles walk to laidback Zambujeira do Mar and some nice beaches and bays.

• Hotel: Same Hotel as day 5

Day 7: Hiking Zambujeira do Mar to Odeceixe

The trail today offers some of the best waves on the whole of the Fisherman’s Trail. We walk up and down to the sea on narrow cliff side paths. We walk along many beaches, a natural fishing harbour and the spectacular Ponta em Branco. This is one of the most popular hiking routes used by the fishermen going South, heading to Odeceixe, the first village in the Algarve region. We’ll fin plenty to explore passing by Carvalhal Beach, the residence of the famous fado sinter Amalia Rodrigues and the locally famous harbour of Anenha do Mar, and there are just some of the highlights. After recharging our batteries at Azenha do Mar’s seafood restaurant, wee will have the energy to continue your journey to Odeceixe, where the bridge over the river Seths the border between Alentejo and Algarve regions.

We enjoy some spectacular mountain views before following the river into Odeceixe.

• walk: 17.7km / 10.6 miles, + 263m, 283m, 6-7hours
• Overnight: Typical fishermen houses transformed into a modern boutique Hotel with a Pool

Day 8: Odeceixe to Lisbon airport

After breakfast, we travel to Lisbon airport (2,5hrs)

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Map:

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Costs Portugal hiking, Rota Vicentina :

• With 8 hiker: 2’289.00€ /hiker
• With 6 hikers: 2’656.00€ / hiker
• Single room supplement: 420.00€

Included in the price:

Organisation, privat hiking guide, all accommodations with half board as mentioned in the programme, gourmet walk day 1 with a private guide, city walking tour in Lisbon with a privat guide, all ground transfers from Lisbon airport to Faro airport in a privat van (iff group arrives at the same time, if not that transfer is not included but I can organise it), luggage transfer ( 1 piece of max. 20kg)

Not included in the price:

Personal insurances, flights to Lisbon and back from Faro, Taxis for separate arrivals at Lisbon airport, lunches and snacks, drinks, tipps

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Who is this hiking tour for?

The walking is moderat with some more difficult sections of walking on sand, and a few steep assents to cliff-top-paths! Perfect for those who would like to explore the wild and unspoiled Portugal.

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Accommodation

We stay in a mix of nice, traditional guesthouses, rural Casas, and small beach Hotels with a focus on a personal service and welcome. Enjoy the warm Portuguese hospitality!

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Meals

Breakfast in the Guesthouses and dinners in local Restaurants are included.

Packed lunch items are not included but can be bought locally from markets or cafes. Your guide will assist in finding good products and can arrange picnics.

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Grade & Terrain

This trip is graded “moderate” overall with the average daily distance being 16km. You will be walking between 3 to 7 hours a day on undulating terrain with some short ascents and descents and often on sand which does make the walking tube tiring at times.

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Baggage Transfer

Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and move on to your next overnight accommodation. We ask to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.

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Arrival at Lisbon airport

To travel from the airport to the Hotel in town a Taxi will be organised at a determinate time. If you arrive before or after please organise your own shuttle.

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Travel insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Patagontiptop GmbH that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.

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Have a look at our video

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Geography of Portugal

Portugal is situated in the extreme west of Europe, on a strip of land bordering on the Atlantic. It basically occupies a rectangle of land within the Iberian Peninsula. Almost its entire coastline faces west, endowing its beaches with a rare beauty at dusk. In the Algarve the beaches face south. The two other sides of this rectangle border on Spain.

The northern and central areas of Portugal are more mountainous than the south. Plains and gently undulating lands extend from the Tejo basin to the Algarve. The southern interior of the Alentejo is one of the areas with the least light pollution ion the whole of Europe and is therefore the perfect place for amateur astronomers. Even layer may catch sight of a shooting star streaking trough the sky from time to time. The Algarve is separated from the Alentejo by a chain of mountains.

Rivers

The country is traversed by rivers, usually perpendicularly. The Tejo, which is the largest river in the Peninsula, flows trough the centre of Portugal ad its banks are succeeded by very fertile alluvial plains and marshland. The rugged landscape of the north of Portugal is moulded by the River Douro which cuts its way trough hills and mountains. The River Guadiana marks the border with Spain in the south of Portugal and it is here that the largest dam in Europe, the Barragem do Alqueva, was constructed. Portugal has other smaller rivers which occasionally form rare wetland ecosystems at the point where they reach the sea, such as the Ria Formosa in Faro and the Ria in Aveiro at the mouth of the River Vouga.

The largest cities lie on the coast. The cities of Porto and Lisbon are situated at the mouths of the Douro and Tejo rivers respectively. Lisbon, the capital is the administrative, cultural and economic capital of the country.

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Climate

Portugal has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and glorious summers. However, the winters are harsher in the Tras-os-Montes region and the Sera de Estrela Mountains, where it is to unusual to find snow. Despite the hot summers, the sea almost always brings light breezes to make the temperatures more bearable for those less accustomed to the heat.

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