Wild and unspoiled coastal scenery along Portugal’s Atlantic coastline on the Fisherman’s Trail
Kick off your walking boots and feel the sand between your toes on pristine, deserted beaches
Follow the footsteps of Portuguese fishermen along well-marked clifftop trails
Discover the ‘real’ Portugal as you visit places only accessible by foot
Wonderful seafood, excellent wines and glorious sunsets over the Atlantic
Walking the Fisherman’s Trail (Rota Vicentina)
A spectacular week-long walk along one of the most undisturbed, best-preserved coastlines in all of Europe. You will feel as if you are truly at the outer edge of the continent as you stroll along the ancient fisherman’s trails of Portugal’s little known south-west coast. The Rota Vicentina takes you along dramatic honey-coloured cliffs, across ravines and down to idyllic virgin beaches and deserted sandy coves, washed by the restless Atlantic Ocean.
Walk through Europe’s largest coastal natural park
The Costa Vicentina – Europe’s largest coastal natural park – is an area of incredible biodiversity. The deserted beaches attract egrets and turtles, while Europe’s only marine stork colony nests on the off-shore sea stacks. Late spring is a particularly special time, when the cliff tops are carpeted by a profusion of Mediterranean flowers, as well as aromatic eucalyptus and thyme.
The pace of life here is refreshingly unhurried. You will discover the ‘real’ Portugal as you visit sleepy, whitewashed fishing villages offering a glimpse of a way of life that has remained unchanged for decades. You will enjoy magnificent sunsets over the Atlantic as you relax at the end of your day with a glass of ‘vinho’ and some delicious freshly caught seafood, listening to the crashing of the waves on the shore.
This 8-day self-guided walking holiday follows well-marked paths along Portugal’s Rota Vicentina and the Fisherman’s Trail.
| 8 DAYS / 7 NIGHTS | From €620 per person sharing*
*high season supplement will apply during busy booking periods |
||||||||||||
| ACCOMMODATION | In very comfortable hotels on a bed & breakfast basis. All hotels are carefully selected for their location, atmosphere and/or unique services. All rooms are en-suite.
Some of the hotels we work with are listed below. If a certain hotel is unable to confirm due to lack of availability, we will request a similar one and inform you about the alternative booked.
You can also book additional night(s) at any of the accommodations along the way. |
||||||||||||
| AVAILABILITY | This trip is available all year round. You can start on any day of the week, subject to availability. | ||||||||||||
| INCLUDED |
|
||||||||||||
| NOT INCLUDED |
|
||||||||||||
Day 1: Arrive in Zambujeira do Mar
Arrival in the Algarve, at the coastal village of Zambujeira do Mar – a small and tranquil fishing village with a beautiful sandy beach set below the cliffs, a good assortment of family-run restaurants and water sports facilities.
Overnight: Zambujeira do Mar
Day 2: Almograve – Cape Sardao - Zambujeira
Distance: 20.7 km | Ascent: 175 m | 5½ – 6 hrs approx.
After breakfast, a short taxi transfer is arranged to take you to the village of Almograve, where you will start your first day’s walk. You will follow the way-marked “Rota Vicentina” coastal path, via Cavalheiro and Cape Sardao lighthouse, enjoying spectacular views along the cliffs on the way back to Zambujeira de Mar.
Option to shorten the walk by starting from Cavalheiro, instead of Almograve (9km less)
Overnight: Zambujeira do Mar
Day 3: Zambujeira - Azenha - Odeceixe
Distance: 20 km | Ascent: 220 m | 5 – 6 hrs approx.
Today you again follow part of the Rota Vicentina along the coast. Rolling sand dunes alternate with rugged cliffs – keep an eye out for the region’s famous cliff-nesting white storks. Passing by several beaches, by way of the fishing village at Azenha do Mar, before reaching your accommodation in the rural town of Odeceixe.
Overnight: Odeceixe
Day 4: Odeceixe - Aljezur
Distance: 17.5/20 km | Ascent: maximum 145 m | 5 – 6 hrs approx.
Today you follow the Rota Vicentina inland to the Medieval town of Aljezur. Take in the panoramic view from the old windmill as you leave Odeceixe, before following an irrigation canal as it winds through pastures and farmland growing sweet potatoes, maize, peanuts and tomatoes and then through an open landscape of heather and fragrant shrubs.
The alternative is a coastal route. You can take a detour to Praia Amoreira, spend some time there and then order a taxi (not incl. only 5 km) to Aljezur, a small market town of whitewashed houses and cobbled streets, dominated by the ruins of a tenth century Moorish castle. Your hotel has a small swimming pool and is conveniently close to one of the best restaurants in town.
Overnight: Aljezur
Day 5: Choice of walks from Arrifana
Distance: 15.5/23.7 km | Ascent: 200/325 m | 4½ / 7½ hrs approx.
Today begins with a short transfer to the fishing village of Arrifana. Your choice of walk from here depends on the tides; if tides are low, you can walk along rocky strands and sandy beaches. If water levels are high, you take an alternate route further inland via Bordeira. Afternoon transfer to your accommodation in the tranquil and pretty village of Carrapateira, popular with surfers for its spectacular beaches and crashing waves.
Overnight: Carrapateira
Day 6: From Carrapateira to Vila do Bispo
Distance: 19 km | Ascent: 400 m | 6 hrs approx.
After a short transfer this morning you continue your walk south towards the charming little town of Vila do Bispo, famed for its seafood. In between you will walk some sections on the coast and others inland, depending on the tides. Near the start of the walk, you’ll have a good chance of spotting local fishermen perched high on the cliffs. Your route ends in historic Vila do Bispo, where you sepnd the night at a lovely hotel with indoor swimming pool and sauna.
Overnight: Vila do Bispo
Day 7: Cape Sao Vicente
Distance: 14 km | Ascent: 150 m | 4 hrs approx.
Your final walking day takes you through pastures and fields to the southwestern-most point on the European continent. The route is characterised by monumental cliffs and outstanding coastal vistas. You walk along a flat track and then narrow fishermen’s paths above the rocky shoreline. In fine weather, you will have the option of stopping for a refreshing swim at ‘Praia do Ponto Ruiva’, before coming to the end of the Rota Vicentina at windy Cape Sao Vicente with sweeping views of the ocean.
A taxi transfer is arranged to take you back to your hotel in Vila do Bispo.
Overnight: Vila do Bispo
Day 8: End of trip
Your trip and our services come to an end after breakfast.
Getting to Zambujeira do Mar
Departure from Vila do Bispo
| / |
|
| Optional airport transfers Private taxi transfers can be booked from/to the airport (Lisbon-LIS or Faro-FAO). Prices on request |
|
| We will send you a pre-departure information pack, which contains detailed public transport information. |
Tour Reviews
We had a great time on the Fisherman’s Trail in late November. The weather was sunny and 14 – 17 C everyday. We took the Rede Expressos from Lisbon to get to Zambujera. The town was really quiet as it is the off season. The hiking was exceptional from day 1.
The only part that wasn’t great was the southern half of day 3 from Odeceixe as it took you away from the coast. We wish we would have taken the option down to the beach to finish and then taxi into Alijezur to get another “rewarding” view of a beach.
We got down to the beach south of Arrifana at low tide, and it is amazing to see, but decided it wasn’t worth walking on large rocks for a couple of Km. Make sure you time the tide for the second beach (Borderia) of the day as it is amazing. The tricky spot with the tide is right after you drop down a narrow trail to the beach. After that it is wide open.
We continued our last day hike into Sagres instead of stopping at the Cape, and arranged for the taxi to pick us up there. Some beautiful cliffs along with some interesting sink holes. We just couldn’t stop!
Every hotel was wonderful and the transfers were all on time, and our bags were sitting at the next hotel every night. The app worked great. The only time we got off trail was coming out of Murracao beach. It is a great little side trail but we couldn’t find the outlet of the trail to get out of the valley. We should have pulled out the notes. Instead we hiked back across the beach and got on the road and then found our way to the trail from the land side of it. Otherwise the app was spot on all the time. They have made the effort to get you on trails wherever possible, so you are not always on the official “Fisherman’s Trail”
We took the local bus (easy and cheap) from Vila do Bispo to Lagos and then a bus from there.
We highly recommend this trip.
A very well put together programme from Wild Rover Travel. Great communication from the company throughout and they were easily contactable when we had further questions prior to going on the trip. Great accommodation chosen by Wild Rover along the way, including clear notes/instructions to guide us throughout the week. Would highly recommend the Fisherman’s Trail, as the scenery along the route was beautiful and the food/wine was delicious! Would certainly use this company again.
Vandreturen gik henover nytåret 2019 til 2020 Logistik, kort og overnatninger på meget forskellige lokationer, var et skønt blik ind i Portugals kultur. Alt har fungeret perfekt, der har ikke været noget.
Selve vandringen ad Rota Vicentina var storslående og distancerne passede os rigtigt godt, ca. 20 km pr dag, portugeserne var meget imødekommende og hjælpsomme. På dele af turen var mærkningen ikke så tydelig, det hjalp os med GPS punkterne på telefonen. Vi kommer helt sikkert tilbage til Portugal for at vandre ad stier og ud langs havet. Kan klart anbefale Wild Rover Travel, det har været et godt bekendskab
Vi havde en helt fantastisk tur i foråret! Naturen var så smuk – farverne, duftene var intense – og det var en fornøjelse at gå i den unikke natur på egen hånd og bare opleve klipperne, skovene, kysterne, storkene og den søde lokalbefolkning. Vi var spændte på, hvordan det ville være at gå hver dag og flytte sig; men det fungerede så fint – og hver overnatning var en oplevelse. Vi kom til små charmerende byer og hoteller – trætte; men fik ladet op til næste dags vandring. Kan kun anbefale det!
Leave a Review