Overview
Rota Vicentina is a network of walking trails in south-western Portugal along the most beautiful and best-preserved coastline of Southern Europe. The second half of the Rota Vicentina complete route goes through the beautiful Algarve region.
Our Algarve Coastal and Historical Trails walking holiday in Portugal invites you to explore the unspoiled landscapes and seascapes of Portugal’s south-western coastline combining sections of the Fishermen’s and Historical routes.
- The historic castle towns and whitewashed villages
- The rolling countryside covered in cork, carob and almond trees and citrus orchards
- Cabo de São Vicente – the most south-western point of continental Europe
- The storks which nest along the cliffs
Our Co-Founder Peter Duncan hiked along the Vicentina Coast in the spring of 2019. You can read his blog post here.
Click to view map
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival – Zambujeira do Mar
Zambujeira is a charming fishing village, famous for its picturesque cliffs, beaches, surf and fresh fish. After the check-in, our local representative will briefly clarify everything related to the tour. All the trails are fully marked, being part of Rota Vicentina’s Historical Way and Fishermen’s Trail. In the evening, have dinner in one of the restaurants overlooking the sea.
- Accommodation: Rosa dos Ventos or similar
Day 2: Zambujeira – Odeceixe | 18km
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. You’ll find plenty to explore, passing by Carvalhal Beach, the residence of the famous fado singer Amália Rodrigues and the locally famous harbour 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 to Odeceixe, where the bridge over the river sets the border between Alentejo and Algarve regions.
- Walking for the day: 18km, 6h ↑260m ↓280m
- Accommodation: Casas do Moinho or similar
Day 3: Odeceixe – Aljezur | 22km
From Odeceixe you 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 village of Aljezur.
- Walking for the day: 22km, 6h ↑400m ↓400m
- Accommodation: Vicentina Hotel or similar
Day 4: Aljezur – Arrifana Beach | 18km
Today you will follow the Fishermen’s Trail and explore the way into Arrifana beach, with amazing views over the ocean. Wonderful place to spend some time enjoying the beach.
- Walking for the day: 18km, 5-6h ↑600m ↓600m
- Accommodation: Hi Arrifana or similar
Day 5: Arrifana Beach – Carrapateira | 23km
Leaving Arrifana, you will walk south in the company of both sea and mountain, a beautiful walk enjoying the hills, dunes and flat sandy beaches from the top of the cliffs. A very primitive and untouched part of the route, which will offer a big diversity of species along the way. A blooming garden during spring time, with amazing colours from butterflies and all the different flowers, and with beautiful foliage during the fall, providing blackberries and wild strawberries to the walkers.
- Walking for the day: 23km, 6h ↑400m ↓500m
- Accommodation: Pensão das Dunas or similar
Day 6: Carrapateira – Vila do Bispo | 21km
This day brings again beautiful colours, hills meeting the sea, beautiful meadows in the valley’s bottoms, small rivers running towards the ocean and temporary ponds, extremely important for the local biodiversity. There will be opportunities to watch some unique bird species, especially as you approach Vila do Bispo.
- Walking for the day: 21km, 6h ↑300m ↓200m
- Accommodation: Hotel Mira Sagres or similar
Day 7: Vila do Bispo – Cabo de São Vicente | 19km
The last stage of your walking adventure will take you to the most south-western point of continental Europe. Also a destination for many pilgrims following the steps of St Vincent. This is a good area for bird watching, so pay attention and keep your binoculars ready.
- Walking for the day: 19km, 5h ↑210m ↓280m
- Accommodation: Mareta View or similar
Day 8: Departure
Return home or individual stay extension.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation is mainly on a bed and breakfast basis using local small hotels. The places we stay at during the tour are all privately owned, and have plenty of Portuguese character. We have carefully hand-picked all places and regularly monitor their quality. We have tried to choose accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour. Please note that many rooms with en-suite/private facilities have a shower rather than a bath, usually because of limited space.
Click to view default hotels
- Rosa dos Ventos
- Casas do Moinho
- Vicentina Hotel
- Hi Arrifana
- Pensão das Dunas
- Hotel Mira Sagres
- Mareta View
*Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal or higher value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included (usually coffee and toast/bread/croissant). A recommended list of local restaurants (based on our personal experience) will be supplied on arrival – we have listed places with character which offer delicious traditional dishes of fresh Portuguese cuisine. When no restaurant location is available on route, lunches and snacks should either be bought from local shops, or packed lunch can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before.
Difficulty and terrain
This holiday is appropriate for seasoned walkers and requires a reasonable level of fitness; average walking time is 5-6h per day (20km). Some stages can be optionally shortened (read more about difficulty grades).
The routes are on waymarked paths and trails, including walking on sand and dirt roads, and in general, the itinerary is very easy to follow. We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain.
We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed info on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available in February – May and mid-September – December. Best months to visit are March – May/June and October – November. Departures between 13 – 30 June 2022 available upon request.
The flexibility of self guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date during the season. The region is benefiting from the Mediterranean climate which brings long, warm and dry summers and very mild winters. The region receives more sun each year than California.
The spring season is warm, with temperatures averaging around 20C to 21C across the season. The autumn is typically warm and pleasant, cooling slightly by November. Late-season sun-seekers can still be found sunbathing throughout the autumn, enjoying average daily maximum temperatures ranging from 26C in September to 19C in November. December is winter’s wettest month with 96 mm of rainfall through the month, typically. Whilst the winter season is warm – expect the air to feel cool to mild, although you might find temperatures in the sunlight to be as high as 20C – the days are much shorter, with 5 to 6h expected each month through the winter.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
- From Lisbon Airport, there is a direct bus to Zambujeira do Mar with Rede Expressos. Alternatively, you can take the direct train to Santa Clara-Saboia train station; from there you can take a taxi (30min).
- From Faro, you will have to take the train to Santa Clara-Saboia and then a taxi to Zambujeira do Mar.
- On departure, you can get a private transfer to Funcheira train station (about 2h drive) and from there take direct train to Lisbon; or you can take the bus to Lagos and then bus or train to Faro.
- For more information, visit Rede Expressos or use the Omio planner above.
- Private transfers are available upon request.
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights accommodation in small hotels, as described
- 7 breakfasts
- Briefing on arrival
- Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel on all walking days
- Recommended restaurants list
- Detailed holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions and maps
- GPS tracks to use via our smartphone navigation app
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and connecting land transfers
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Local tourist taxes and entry fees (payable on-site)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
Options, extras and supplements
- A supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room
- This holiday is available for solo travellers; a supplement will be charged as accommodation and luggage transfer costs are not shared (we never mix and match – solo travellers will be accommodated in single rooms)
- Extra nights along the trail are bookable upon request
- Airport transfers
Gallery
