Hike the Rota Vicentina in Portugal
Hike the Rota Vicentina in Portugal
Hike the Rota Vicentina in Portugal
8 Days Starting in Lisbon and ending in Sagres
Visiting: Lisbon, Rota Vicentina (Malhao to Vila Nova de Milfontes), Rota Vicentina (Vila Nova de Milfontes to Almograve), Rota Vicentina (Almograve to Zambujeira do Mar), Rota Vicentina (Zambujeira do Mar to Odeceixe) / Aljezur, Aljezur, Rota Vicentina (Vila do Bispo to Sagres), Sagres
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ZMXV
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Trip Styles:
Tour Overview
Portugal’s Rota Vicentina, also known as the Fisherman’s Trail, may not be Europe’s most famous walk, but it’s certainly one of its most spectacular. A world away from the bustle of Lisbon and the sunbathers of the south, you may often find you and your group are the only ones around as you cross the most scenic sections of this ancient coastal path, passing through the sunny Alentejo and Algarve regions. Join a local leader to marvel at jagged cliffs, traverse sand dunes brimming with unique wildlife, relax on heavenly beaches and feast on fresh seafood – the beauty of this corner of Portugal will stay stamped on your memory.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Lisbon
Location: Lisbon
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: dinner
Welcome to Lisbon! Portugal’s lively capital city is brimming with fascinating historical sites and fantastic restaurants. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm, where you’ll meet your local leader and new travel companions. If you arrive early, perhaps take a stroll through the winding alleyways of the charming Alfama neighbourhood or pay a visit to Sao Jorge Castle. After your meeting, head out with your leader and group to get to know each other over dinner in a local restaurant, followed by a post-dinner walk around the city, which really comes to life in the evenings.
Day 2: Rota Vicentina (Malhao To Vila Nova De Milfontes)
Location: Rota Vicentina (Malhao to Vila Nova de Milfontes)
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Leave Lisbon behind and drive towards the start of the ancient Fisherman's Trail in the southwest of Portugal, made up of an amazing collection of hiking tracks down through Alentejo and the Algarve. Jump out of your vehicle in the coastal parish of Malhao and lace up your boots for your first day of walking. Making the most of your seaside setting, most of today’s walk is along sandy sweeps of beach, crossing the dunes of Aivados and Malhao. Each beach you pass offers something different, from freshwater springs to sharp cliffs and hidden coves. As you walk, your leader will introduce you the hardy plants that live along the coast, defying the odds to thrive against a landscape of poor soil, salty air and hot sun. Today’s walk wraps up in Vila Nova de Milfontes, where you may like to cool off with a refreshing dip in the ocean.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Rota Vicentina (Vila Nova De Milfontes To Almograve)
Location: Rota Vicentina (Vila Nova de Milfontes to Almograve)
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Start the day with a boat ride from the mouth of the Mira River to Praia das Furnas, where you’ll disembark and begin your walk. On your journey to Almograve, follow the coast and pass by marshes that serve as breeding grounds for many species of fish. If travelling over summer you’ll most likely see swifts soaring overhead. Keep an eye out for small stone-age quarries tucked into the sand dunes, and you may pass a friendly local fisherman or two. Arrive in Almograve in time for lunch and head to a local restaurant with a menu brimming with fresh seafood, brought in from the fish market up the road. You may like to tuck into a tasty meal of shrimp, clams, hake or whelk. The rest of the day is for you to relax and immerse in beautiful surroundings of Almograve.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Rota Vicentina (Almograve To Zambujeira Do Mar)
Location: Rota Vicentina (Almograve to Zambujeira do Mar)
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: breaksfast
Rise bright and early to hit the trail between Almograve and Zambujeira do Mar – the scenery you’ll come upon today is some of the most dramatic and beautiful on your journey. Walk past high, jagged cliffs which serve as the nesting place of over twenty bird species – look out for peregrine falcons, rock doves, jackdaws and kestrels. The area’s layered geological history will become apparent as you pass red sands and oxidised sandstone from previous tropical climates, and remains of cold climate animals from a cooler past. Later in the day, take a short walk to Capela de Nossa Senhora do Mar, a charming little chapel overlooking the sea. You’ll have the option to bring along a picnic and watch the sun go down from this privileged spot.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Rota Vicentina (Zambujeira Do Mar To Odeceixe) / Aljezur
Location: Rota Vicentina (Zambujeira do Mar to Odeceixe) / Aljezur
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: breaksfast
Enjoy a slower start to the day before heading off for another fantastic walk, bursting with more stunning coastal scenery. Setting off from Zambujeira do Mar, walk along gentle clifftops past the beaches of Alteirinhos, Carvalhal, Machados and Amália before arriving at a natural fishing harbour in Azenha do Mar. The sand dunes on this stretch of your walk are alive with activity and home to many mammals, and while they are pretty hard to spot, you may be able to see evidence of burrows and footprints. Egyptian mongooses, beech martens, otters, weasels, genets and badgers all call this part of the country home. Finish your walk in Odeceixe and enjoy some downtime to relax on the beach or explore the village, then board a private transfer and head to Aljezur, where you will spend the night.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Aljezur
Location: Aljezur
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meals Included: breaksfast
The day is yours to enjoy the abundance of activities available in the Aljezur area. If you want to keep the momentum going, there are plenty of scenic walking trails ranging from 5 to 15km. For those who want to make the most of the waves, head to Praia da Amoreira where you can hire a stand up paddleboard, surf gear or join in with a class, or you may prefer to rent a bicycle to explore the surrounding landscapes. Of course, if you’d prefer to give your legs a rest, there are plenty of peaceful beaches to stretch out on!
Day 7: Rota Vicentina (Vila Do Bispo To Sagres)
Location: Rota Vicentina (Vila do Bispo to Sagres)
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Transfer this morning from Aljezur to Vila do Bispo where you’ll pick up another walk, first heading towards the Cabo de São Vicente, the southwesternmost point of mainland Europe. Your leader will share stories of the cape’s maritime, Phoenician and Roman past as the finish line beckons. Today’s walk will reveal rare plant life only found in this corner of Portugal, so be sure to look down as well as at the scenery around you! Skirt along the coast before finishing up in Sagres, a popular spot for surfers and holiday makers. If the name sounds familiar, it may be because of Portugal’s iconic beer which is named after the town, so this evening why not grab a cool glass of cerveja and some dinner with your group.
Included Activities:
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Day 8: Sagres
Location: Sagres
Meals Included: breaksfast
With no walks or activities planned for today, your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (3 nights), Guesthouse (4 nights) -
Malhao to Vila Nova de Milfontes guided walk
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Vila Nova de Milfontes to Almograve guided walk
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Boat ride through Mira River
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Almograve to Zambujeira do Mar guided walk
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Typical seafood lunch in Zambujeira do Mar
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Capela de Nossa Senhora do Mar evening walk
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Zambujeira do Mar to Odeceixe guided walk
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Vila do Bispo to Sagres guided walk
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Meals
7 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 1 dinners
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Typical seafood lunch in Almograve
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Transport
- As this is a walking trip the majority of distances will be covered on foot. Some stretches may be done by public bus or private vehicle.
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
- OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
- TWIN SHARE BASIS
- Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.
- CHECK-IN TIME
- Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
- PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
- If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
- FACILITIES
- Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.
Important Information
- 1. FIRST DAY: Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1. Please see Joining Point Hotel listed in the Essential Trip Information for this itinerary.
- 1. This trip starts with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1 in Lisbon. Please see Joining Point Hotel listed in the Essential Trip Information for this itinerary.
- 2. This trip ends on Day 8 after breakfast and you are free to leave at any time.
- 3. The weather in south west Portugal can get very hot in the July & August, and hikes may either start very early in the morning or be curtailed in case of extreme weather.
- 4. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
Mode of Transport
- As this is a walking trip the majority of distances will be covered on foot. Some stretches may be done by public bus or private vehicle.
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
This trip involves plenty of walking over varied and sometimes steep terrain and is best suited to travellers with a good level of mobility. Good footwear and clothing for all types of weather is recommended. Details on physical activities can be found in the itinerary.
You will be passing through remote and undeveloped parts of Portugal on your journey so you must bring a day pack to carry enough water and snacks for each day.
On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight under 15kg / 33lb. Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you are likely to encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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