Rota Vicentina: The Fishermen's Trail
- Walk Portugal’s famous Rota Vicentina along the Alentejo coast
- Follow the footsteps of Portuguese fishermen to wild and rugged beaches
- Overnight stays in traditional guesthouses and small hotels
- Spot white storks nesting on the cliffs and rocky islands of Costa Vicentina
- Watch the sunset whilst enjoying a glass of ‘vinho’ and some tasty seafood
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Porto CovoThe small village of Porto Covo is located approximately 2 hours from Lisbon Airport and 2.5 hours from Faro Airport. With its small, whitewashed houses, it is an ideal starting point for your hike along the Rota Vicentina. The charming 18th-century town is easy to explore on foot. A boat trip to the nearby Ilha do Pessegueiro, with its 17th-century fortress ruins, is also worthwhile.
Located just 800m from the famous beaches of Porto Covo and 500m from the village centre, this small hotel offers comfortable cosy rooms and a small swimming pool.
Located just 20 metres from the famous Espingardeiro beach and Praia Grande beach, the hotel is the perfect place for a comfortable and peaceful stay.
Your first day’s walking is all about beaches, sand dunes and deserted coves. From the rough pebbly beaches at Aivados to the golden sand dunes of Farol, you will be amazed at the diversity of coastal landscapes and plant life on this section. Some tougher walking along the dunes is rewarded by fantastic coastal views and the chance to feel the sand between your toes if you feel like casting off your walking boots!
Ascent: 75m / Descent: 75m
Villa Eira is a small guesthouse with 6 elegantly decorated rooms, 4 apartments and a Villa that is located around 300 metres from the nearest beach. Expect a small scale accommodation with an imtimate and tailored service.
A tranquil guest house where facilities include a lovely garden and outdoor area in which you can relax. The rooms are bright and spacious, the perfect place in which to relax.
Enjoy a more relaxed day as you walk via the Mira river to Almograve. The lush vegetation and wildflowers covering the local hillsides in this area mean that it is rich in birdlife, including Alpine, Pallid and Common Swifts. If you wish to take it easy you can also shorten the day by taking a boat across the Mira River. This section of the coast is gloriously undeveloped and apart from some pockets of agriculture, there is scarce evidence of human presence.
Ascent: 94m / Descent: 51m
Vicentina Rooms is just a short stroll from the beach via a wooden walkway amongst the sand dunes. It has simply furnished rooms and a lovely outdoor pool in which to relax after a hard day’s walking.
Today's walk offers a change of scenery as you walk past ochre sand dunes and high cliffs home to over twenty species of birds, followed by a section through some fragrant pine forests. A highlight is sure to be capturing the sight of the nesting white storks—this coastline is the only place in the world where they nest! Stop off at Cape Sardao Lighthouse and marvel at the fishermen perched precariously on the cliffs as you perhaps enjoy a picnic lunch. If you are staying in Herdade do Touril you will finish early and take a slight diversion inland or if not continue down the coast. Entrada da Barca is next, a natural harbour, overflowing with fishing paraphernalia and a collection of wooden fishermen's huts. Finally reach Zambujeira do Mar, a pretty little seaside village.
Ascent: 202m / Descent: 203m
A small hotel with a privileged location 500m from the beach. Enjoy relaxing in their Andalucian style inner courtyard at the end of your day's walk and experience a lovely "home away from home" atmosphere.
Dipping up and down to the sea on narrow cliffside paths, today’s walk is an invigorating one, with some of the best views on the whole of the Fisherman’s Trail. Pass by several beaches, a natural fishing harbour and the spectacular Ponta em Branco. From this viewpoint, you look over Odeceixe beach with the mountain tops of Foia and Monchique as a backdrop. Continue to the centre of Odeceixe with its dazzling blue and white windmill (Moinho) occupying a prominent position at the top of the town and offering the perfect viewpoint over the pretty whitewashed village.
Ascent: 218m / Descent: 234m
Casas du Moinho is a lovely collection of restored village houses spread out amongst the village. Relax at the outdoor swimming pool with a view over the windmill of Odeceixe.
Located in the heart of Odeceixe, Alojamento Local-Odeceixe Verde is the ideal place to enjoy moments of peace and relaxation in a family-friendly and restful environment.
If you wish, you can take it easy today and relax by the pool at your lovely hotel or soak up the atmosphere of the laidback village of Odeceixe. The main square has plenty of bustling bars and cafes in which to enjoy some refreshments or there are also many craft shops in which to peruse. Alternatively enjoy a short walk to Odeceixe beach which takes you past the Seixe River and agricultural heartlands, where friendly farmers will give you a wave, before following fishermen trails along the coast to the beach at Odeceixe. This broad sandy beach is perfect for swimming!
Ascent: 178m / Descent: 178m
Casas du Moinho is a lovely collection of restored village houses spread out amongst the village. Relax at the outdoor swimming pool with a view over the windmill of Odeceixe.
Located in the heart of Odeceixe, Alojamento Local-Odeceixe Verde is the ideal place to enjoy moments of peace and relaxation in a family-friendly and restful environment.
After breakfast, make your way back to either Faro (1h 30) or Lisbon Airport (2h 30) for onward travel.
Other Information
Is it for me?Perfect for those who would like to explore wild and unspoiled Portugal. The walking is moderate with some more difficult sections of walking on sand, and a few steep ascents to cliff-top paths and some exposed sections, although the sea views make up for the effort! Stay in a mix of traditional small hotels and casa-style guesthouses offering warm Portuguese hospitality.
Classic Routes | If you’re the active, outdoorsy type, who’s interested in taking on the great routes of the world or looking for a challenge, then our Classic Routes are for you. We’re talking the West Highland Way, Tour Du Mont Blanc and the Passau to Vienna Danube Cycle Path, to name but a few!
Inn to Inn Walking | Walk from place-to-place changing accommodations each night. Generally staying in B&Bs, inns, and guesthouses.
Solo Travellers
The minimum age for this tour is: 18 Years
This trip is graded ‘moderate’ overall with the average daily distance being 18km. You will be walking for 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 quite tiring at times.
Note: We do not recommend this trip for anyone with vertigo since many of the clifftop paths have steep drop-offs.
Stay 1 night in a small 3* hotel, and 5 nights in traditional guesthouses with a focus on a personal service and welcome. These accommodations are subject to availability and therefore alternatives of an equal standard may be offered.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
If you require single rooms we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable.
We also welcome solo walkers on this tour, again a supplement is payable.
Meals
Breakfasts are included each day. Packed lunch items can be bought locally from markets or cafes. Dinner can be purchased in each town with many restaurants serving delicious seafood dishes!
All trails are well way-marked but you will be provided with detailed turn-by-turn directions, GPX tracks and maps in our GPS Macs Adventure smartphone navigation app. Simply download the routes to your phone for offline use and off you go!
- 1 Night in a 3* hotel and 5 nights in traditional guesthouses
- 6 Breakfasts
- Bag transfers as per your Itinerary
- Maps, route notes, GPX tracks, access to our smartphone app & info pack
- 24-7 Emergency telephone support
- Travel to Porto Covo and from Odeceixe
- Lunches, drinks and snacks
- Dinners (apart from in Touril)
- Personal equipment
- Additional nights before, during or after the walk
- Airport Transfers
This tour is available to start on any day of the week from March through to June, and then from September to November. The temperatures during these months should be very pleasant. We do not offer the tour in July and August due to high temperatures at this time of year, and the higher risk of forest fires. But please bear in mind that temperatures can still be high, with a risk of forest fires, around these peak summer months.
The temperatures during spring and autumn should be very pleasant. We do not offer the tour in July and August due to high temperatures at this time of year, and the higher risk of forest fires. But please bear in mind that temperatures can still be high, with a risk of forest fires, surrounding these peak summer months.
By Air: The nearest airports to Porto Covo are Lisbon or Faro. From Lisbon to Porto Covo, you can travel by bus (approximately 8 daily connections with a change in Lisbon city center; journey time approximately 2.5 hours; see Rede Expressos ) or by car (journey time approximately 2 hours). The best way to get from Faro to Porto Covo is by taxi (journey time approximately 2 hours).
Private Transfers: We can arrange a private taxi transfer from Lisbon or Faro airport for you at an additional cost.
By Air: Odeceixe is between Lisbon and Faro Airports and easily accessed from both. You can take a bus from Odeceixe to Lagos (1h) with Redes Expressos Buses and then another bus from there to Faro with Eva Bus (2h).
To get to Lisbon Airport, you can take a direct bus with Eva Bus or Rede Expressos which operate twice daily and take 4-5 hours.
By Taxi Transfer: We can also arrange a private transfer from Odeceixe to either Faro or Lisbon Airport for you at an additional cost. Again, please ask us for more details should you require this.
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
At Macs Adventure we care about the environment! We’re taking action to minimize the impact we have by converting the majority of all our tour documentation for online delivery. On this tour all your detailed tour information will be digitally delivered. You will have access to this documentation via “My Account” on our website.
The distances and ascents/descents are approximations of the recommended routes. Please be prepared by packing all necessary items, for example. proper rain gear, sun hat, sunscreen. Your information pack has detailed advice and a kit list on what to take. This includes good waterproof gear, walking shoes/boots, and lots of other useful bits and bobs.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care
We suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalised as Portugal is extremely popular during the Summer.
This tour is suitable for walkers with good physical fitness and is graded ‘moderate’ with average daily distance being 16km. You will be walking for between 3-7 hours per day on undulating terrain, with some short ascents and descents, and often on sand which does make the walking quite tiring at times.
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation as per your itinerary and moved onto your next overnight accommodation. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20kg per person.
Your detailed information pack will be sent to you after you book. This has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes and a day pack.
This tour is available from March-June, and then again from September to November. Any time within this period is ideal for walking. We do not offer this tour in July and August due to the high temperatures at this time of year.
You can use public transport or a local taxi to continue to your next overnight stop.
WHY MACS?
As Seen In
Around Since 2003
24,000+ Customer Reviews
Positive Impact
-
Active Travel in Portugal - Where Should I Go?Read More3 Min Read10 January 2020 -
Walking the Fishermen’s Coast – Where a Forgotten Portugal Meets the AtlanticRead More3 Min Read02 March 2020 -
WalkingEverything You Need to Know About Walking The Rota VicentinaRead More4 Min Read05 March 2020