The Route
Many of our tours on the Rota Vicentina start with a short transfer inland to the medieval town of Cercal do Alentejo. From there, you follow the Rota Vicentina (Historical Way) for 16km (10 miles) through low hills and then across the coastal plains to the sea near Porto Covo, where you join the Fishermen’s Trail.
The Fishermen’s Trail (Trilho dos Pescadores) itself begins at Sao Torpes, which is the official start of the trail. The 10km (6 miles) stage from here to Porto Covo is probably the shortest and most gentle hike of the entire Rota Vicentina. You should therefore have some time to relax on one of the many easily accessible beaches along this section. There, the route also enters the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park that protects this vast coastline with its stunning beaches, pristine dunes and initially low cliffs. These cliffs will increase in magnitude and get more impressive as you travel south over the following days.
From the charming little fishing village of Porto Covo the route passes the island of Pessegueiro with its ancient ruins and the nearby 16th century fort on the mainland, built to protect the coast from pirates. A landscape of endless beaches and extensive dune systems eventually rises to dramatic cliffs that lead you past hidden coves to a small fishing port. From there the route guides you through fields and meadows to the charming riverside town of Vila Nova de Milfontes, located near the coast with many beautiful beaches.
Cross the river Mira on a little ferry or follow the trail over a road bridge. From the lovely beach at Furnas, the route follows a relaxing inland stretch through farmland and along shady shrubs before it returns to the coast at the beautiful Brejo Largo Beach. It eventually turns inland towards the small village of Almograve. From Almograve you follow a wonderful, varied section with red sand dunes, cliffs, the smell of pine forests, little fishing villages, a lighthouse near Cavaleiro and of course the unique sight of storks nesting and resting on precipitous cliff edges and sea stacks – one of the highlights of the Rota Vicentina.
Next is Zambujeira do Mar, a laid back seaside village that sits on top of steep cliffs and overlooks a lovely bay and beach. The trail continues with an excellent hike that spends almost the whole day close to the ocean with dramatic views. You pass the beautiful beaches of Alteirinhos, Carvalhal, Machados and Amália before a short detour inland. The route then continues to Azenha do Mar, where you will find a natural fishing harbour with some inviting restaurants. Follow the coast to one of the most outstanding views along the trail: Odeceixe Beach and the river seen from the majestic cliffs at Ponta em Branco.
At Odeceixe the Fishermen’s Trail leaves the Alentejo and enters the Algarve. A circular 15km (9.5 miles) walk from Odeceixe first follows the Fishermen’s Trail along a river back to the fabulous Odeceixe Beach and then along the first cliffs of the Algarve before turning inland through fields and pastures to return to Odeceixe.
Terrain Overview
The Rota Vicentina (Fishermen’s Trail) follows the old, unsurfaced paths used by the locals to access the beaches and fishing grounds. You therefore rarely stray far from the coast. The only exceptions are where the route has to avoid sensitive areas and fragile ecosystems or natural barriers, such as rivers. The wind and the sea are a constant companion, which generally makes for a delightful hiking experience.
Outside of the settlements the route mostly uses narrow paths that are only walkable on foot. Between 60 to 70% of the route follows sandy trails. In places, these are made up of loose and deep sand and as a result, walking there can be quite tiring.
Apart from one or two exceptions, the trail has no really rugged sections and we avoid these on our gentle tours. However, the route is in almost constant proximity to the coast and the paths often run directly above the sea. As a result there are places where the paths are quite close to the cliffs and we therefore do not recommend these tours for hikers with a fear of heights.
Between Sao Torpes and shortly before Vila Nova de Milfontes, the route is mostly close to sea level, with some minor ups and downs. After Vila Nova de Milfontes, you are usually walking through dunes and shrub at the top of the cliffs, which are between 30 and 50m (100 and 160 ft) above the sea.
The Rota Vicentina (Fishermen’s Trail) does not rise above 100m (300 ft) before Odeceixe and the highest point of our tours, on the circular hike from Odeceixe, is only 110m (360 ft) above sea level. While there is a little gentle up and down throughout the hike, the total aggregate ascent only adds up to approximately 1,200m over the route from Sao Torpes to Odeceixe.
Elevation Profile
