6 Southern Portuguese Trails | Vicentina Travel Hiking Holidays

#6 SOUTHERN PORTUGUESE TRAILS

SELF-GUIDED TOURS by FOOT

Self-guided hiking is an adventure without any stress.

You travel where you want, with whom you want, and when you want without having to worry about the organization or the logistics.

We live and we run our programs in the most beautiful part of Portugal where Rota Vicentina exists.

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By booking with a local company you are contributing to a sustainable way of traveling.

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TOUR SUMMARY

DURATION: 10 nights, and 9 walks

LEVEL: easy-to-moderate

MIN. GROUP SIZE: 1

TOTAL DISTANCE: 178Km /110Miles

TOTAL CLIMB: 3536m

TOTAL DESCENT: 3714m

Price per person: 828€ (based on 2 people sharing a room)

Single Supplement: 432€

Solo Travellers Supp.: 497€

Includes:

Briefing at the first hotel on arrival and arrival package delivery;
10 nights using bed & breakfast (always with private bathroom);
One Map 1: 55 000 and One Guidebook in English, German or French, per room;
Recommended restaurants list;
Luggage transfers;
Local support (phone line);
4x4 emergency support vehicle
GPS devise and files GPX/KMZ on request.

Price excludes

Travel to the start and from the finish of your walk;
Transfers not mentioned on the voucher;
Travel insurance;
Meals other than breakfast;

Observations: Possible to add extra nights or to develop a tailor-made proposal.

FROM PORTO CÔVO
TO SAGRES OR LAGOS
ITINERARY: ARRIVAL to Porto Côvo

Day 1

After the Check-in a Vicentina Travel member will provide the briefing to clarify everything related to the tour, after that everything will sound much clearer. All the trails are fully marked, being part of Rota Vicentina’s Historical Way and Fishermen’s Trail.

The best way to reach the starting point is to travel by BUS using Rede Expressos BUS Service, however, we also have private transfers available on request.

Overnight: Porto Côvo

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STAGE - Porto Côvo to Milfontes

DAY 2

DISTANCE: 20Km/12,5Miles;

DURATION: 6h;

CLIMB 167 M;

DESCENT: 149 M;

Wonderful walk along the coastline always with an amazing sea view. Starting in a very picture historical village called Porto Côvo, passing a small Island called "Ilha do Pessegueiro" with the option to go by the beach taken the hard sand or going a little bit more inland by the dunes path. You will find some stunning beaches, some of the desert, and after that, almost at the end, you have a fishing arbor in the "north area" of Vila Nova de Milfontes.

Overnight: Vila Nova de Milfontes

Meals included: Breakfast

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STAGE - Milfontes to Longueira/Almograve

Day 3

DISTANCE: 18Km/11,18Miles or 15Km/9,3Miles using the Ferry Boat option;

DURATION: 5h;

CLIMB 263 M;

DESCENT: 283 M;

In the morning with your body full of energy, you have 2 solutions to start the journey:

A) Catching a small ferry-boat to do the river crossing, or,

B) Crossing through the bridge, taking the path from the beginning.

Both options will lead you to an easy day walking crossing fields and small cliffs, with access to several beaches, heading to Almograve, further South.

Nice place to have lunch and enjoy the local gastronomy. After lunch, it´s time to go and explore the Almograve beach. Almograve is a really small place that's why we normally use a rural tourism 3 Km inland. Ease access to it using a rural track.

Overnight: Longueira or Almograve

STAGE - Almograve to Zambujeira do Mar

Day 4

DISTANCE: 21km/13Miles;

DURATION: 6h;

CLIMB 203 M;

DESCENT: 193 M

After a morning transfer to Almogave, you will be once again exploring the landscapes along the unspoiled coastal Alentejo. Passing by Zambujeira's fishing arbor (Entrada da Barca – on route). Allowing you to walk next to the cliffs with panoramic sceneries, where you'll be able to watch cliff-nesting storks. You can use the small village of Cavaleiro to make a stop, buy some supplies and enjoy a good and homemade local dish, just before heading West to the beautiful lighthouse of Cabo Sardão. The end will be in Zambujeira do Mar, with one of the most amazing urban beaches in Portugal.

Overnight in Zambujeira do Mar

Meals included: Breakfast

STAGE - Zambujeira to Odeceixe

Day 5

DISTANCE: 18km/11,2Miles;

DURATION 6h;

CLIMB 263 M;

DESCENT: 283 M;

Maybe one of the most popular hiking routes used by the fishermen that goes South direction to the first Algarve village (Odeceixe). But before getting there, plenty does explore, feel and smell, being the Carvalhal Beach, the residence of the famous "fado" singer Amália Rodrigues and the locally famous harbor "Azenha do Mar", some of the highlights.

After recharging your batteries at these Azenha do Mar seafood restaurants after you will have the energy needed to get to Odeceixe River and cross the bridge to get to the Algarve.

Overnight: Odeceixe

Meals included: Breakfast

STAGE - Odeceixe to Aljezur

Day 6

DISTANCE: 23km/14Miles;

DURATION: 6h;

CLIMB 405 M;

DESCENT: 395 M;

From Odeceixe we keep walking near the southwest coast, passing near “ceixe´s” river banks and following south getting inside the Algarve Region. We go directly to the Moorish village of Aljezur.

Overnight: Aljezur

Meals included: Breakfast

STAGE - Aljezur to Arrifana Beach

Day 7

OPTION A- 18km/11,2Miles Combined Version or;

DURATION: OPTION A - 5h

OPTION A - CLIMB: 345M; DESCENT: 288M;

OPTION B - 12Km/74Miles (Just Historical Trail);

DURATION: OPTION B - 4h

OPTION B - CLIMB: 224M; DESCENT: 184M;

Today the route takes us to explore the way into Arrifana beach. To add a few Kms to the short walk, today we can choose to follow the fisherman’s trail, it will take until Arrifana Beach by the cliffs, with amazing views over the ocean. Wonderful place to spend some time enjoying the beach.

Overnight: Arrifana

Meals included: Breakfast

STAGE - Arrifana Beach to Carrapateira

DAY 8

OPTION A - DISTANCE: 20Km/12,5Miles (Historical way only inland route);

DURATION: 6h;

CLIMB 413M; DESCENT: 500 M;

OPTION B - DISTANCE: 22Km/13,5Miles (combined trails historical and fishermen´s);

DURATION: 6h;

CLIMB 300M; DESCENT: 250 M;

Option A - Wonderful walk along the coastline always with an amazing sea view. Starting in a very picture historical village called Porto Côvo, passing a small Island called "Ilha do Pessegueiro" with the option to go by the beach taken the hard sand or going a little bit more inland by the dunes path. You will find some stunning beaches, some of the desert, and after that, almost at the end, you have a fishing arbor in the "north area" of Vila Nova de Milfontes.

Overnight: Carrapateira

Meals included: Breakfast

STAGE - Carrapateira to Vila do Bispo

Day 9

OPTION A: DISTANCE: 22km/13Miles (Only historical trail inland);

DURATION: 6h;

OPTION A - CLIMB 299 M; DESCENT: 206 M;

OPTION B: DISTANCE: 16km/10Miles (Fishermen´s trail);

DURATION: 6h;

OPTION A - CLIMB 500M; DESCENT: 420 M;

Option A - This walk brings us again beautiful colors, hills entering the sea, amazing flat fields in the valley’s bottoms, small rivers running towards the ocean, and temporary water ponds, extremely important for the strong natural biodiversity. Be aware, there will be opportunities to watch some species of birds, especially, as you go closer to Vila do Bispo.

Option B - Will take you through the fishermen's trail where the Atlantic offers the hiker the best smells and sounds with a unique landscape to enjoy.

Overnight: Vila do Bispo

Meals included: Breakfast

STAGE - Vila do Bispo to Sagres (St. Vicentin´s Cape)

Day 10

STAGE: VILA DO BISPO - SAGRES VIA SAINT VINCENT CAPE

DISTANCE: 21km/13Miles;

DURATION 6h;

CLIMB 138M;

DESCENT: 161M;

The last stage of our adventure will take us to the most South-western point of continental Europe. A special place, not only because of it’s particular position but also due to its important role during the Portuguese discovery Era. Also destination of many pilgrims faithful to St. Vincent. A very strong and rich area for bird watching, so pay attention and keep your binoculars ready.

Overnight: Sagres

Meals included: Breakfast

DEPARTURE

Day 11

Possible to add extra nights along the trail or to develop a tailor-made proposal

We strongly suggest the connection from Sagres to the City of Lagos in 3 stages, these coastal trails are new and a part of the fishermen's trail of Rota Vicentina, allowing to walk from:

Sagres to Salema 19,5Km,12,2Miles;
Salema to Luz beach 12Km/7,5Miles;
Luz beach to Lagos 11Km/6,8Miles;

3 More stages a bit more challenging and still with time to lay down at the beach and enjoy.

Connections to Faro and Lisbon available.

Check our instructions of how-to and from, above on this same page.

If any doubts, let us know and we will figure out a solution.

HOW TO BOOK WITH US?

STEP BY STEP

Contacts

BOOKING PROCEEDINGS:

We need to receive an email from you using our online form or through our email info@vicentinatravel.com. PLEASE: let us know, which program are you seeking and your room preference (single/twin/matrimonial);
After your request we need a couple of days to confirm all accommodations availability - pre-reservation;
You will receive an email from us with the final hotel list and booking/payment conditions (booking ref., deposit, balance, etc) and also the e-voucher. This email is a pre-reservation that will become valid after a 30% deposit;
After deposit confirmation, you will receive our final confirmation and your trip code will become valid. At this point, we will ask you to provide us your arrival time to prepare all our logistics accordingly.

General Information

Hotels: The hotels described are our standard choice of accommodation, however, if these are not available then alternatives will be used using the same standard.

All rooms have a private bathroom.

Baths/Showers: Many rooms with ensuite/private facilities have a shower rather than a bath, usually because of limited space.

Breakfast: In countries such as Portugal is usually coffee and toast/bread/croissant, in some places it has more diversity available.

Special Dietary Requirements: It is important for you to tell us if you have any dietary requirements when you book your holiday so that we can inform everyone that you are staying with.

Single Supplements: are payable in every tour.

The single supplement guarantees the privacy of your own room, however, rooms can at times be small and in some places may not enjoy the same facilities as double/twin

rooms.

Language: When traveling in less frequented areas you will not necessarily come across people speaking English.

Remember you are experiencing a different culture, buy a phrasebook and try to learn a little of the local language!

Luggage: When staying in hotels, sometimes your luggage will have been taken to your room awaiting your arrival.

However, don’t be surprised if your luggage is waiting for you to take it up to your room. Please politely ask someone if you need assistance.

Guidebook/Map: Please note that one set of route notes per room booked is included in the cost of the holiday. If you require more sets of guidebooks and maps then there is a charge of 25€ per set ordered.

Insurance: All clients must have appropriate cover for the activities included for the duration of our trip.

Accommodation & Meals

Accommodation is mainly on a bed and breakfast basis using local and small hotels. The places we use for this tour are all owned locally and have plenty of Portuguese character.

A recommended list of local restaurants (based on our personal experience) will be supplied on arrival.

ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES TO/ FROM LISBON

TO VILA NOVA DE MILFONTES

FROM SAGRES

ARRIVALS

Lisboa to Vila Nova de Milfontes:

International Lisbon Airport link: http://www.lisbon-airport.com/
TRAIN/Comboio - you can get the train from Oriente Train Station to Funcheira train station, you will need a private transfer from there to the beginning (50km distance around 60€ extra cost). More information at http://www.cp.pt.
BUS Service - Rede Expressos - http://www.rede-expressos.pt/ (it goes directly to Vila Nova de Milfontes).
PRIVATE TRANSFER from Lisboa to Vila Nova de Milfontes (on request);

DEPARTURES

Sagres to Lisboa:

Sagres to Lisboa via LAGOS:
Needed: 45 minutes connection using EVA BUS from Sagres to Lagos
In Lagos, you will have BUS AND TRAIN SERVICE available
PRIVATE TRANSFER from Sagres to Lisboa (on request);

ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES TO/FROM FARO

TO VILA NOVA DE MILFONTES

FROM SAGRES

ARRIVALS

Faro to Vila Nova de Milfontes:

International Faro Airport link: http://www.faro-airport.org/
TRAIN/Comboio - you can get the train from Faro Station to Funcheira train station, you will need a private transfer from there to the beginning (50km distance around 60€ extra cost).
More information at http://www.cp.pt
BUS Service - EVABUS and REDE EXPRESSOS - You will have to take the bus to Lagos and then from there to Vila Nova de Milfontes. More info at http://www.eva-bus.com/ and http://www.rede-expressos.pt/.
PRIVATE TRANSFER from Faro to Vila Nova de Milfontes (on request);

DEPARTURES

Sagres to Faro:

Need a 45 minutes connection using EVA BUS SERVICE from Sagres to Lagos
In Lagos, you will have BUS AND TRAIN SERVICE available
PRIVATE TRANSFER from Sagres to Faro (on request)

VICENTINA TRAVEL is a Tour operator specialized in self-guided walks and bicycle holidays in ROTA Vicentina - SW Portugal

+351 964134643 also Whatsapp

self-guided or guided (English, French & German)
TAILOR-MADE PROGRAMS FOR SMALL GROUPS

#6 SOUTHERN PORTUGUESE TRAILS

SELF-GUIDED TOURS by FOOT