The Rota Vicentina and Fishermen’s Trail are an extensive network of stunning hiking trails throughout southern Portugal featuring magnificent scenery, excellent weather and affordable accommodation. Fans of big coastal views will love following the incredible Atlantic coastline between Sines and Cabo São Vicente. Those who love gently rolling hills and pastoral rural scenery may prefer the Rota Vicentina Historical Way, running parallel to the Fishermen’s Trail just a couple of hours inland.
When most European trails are too cold (and often covered in snow) spending a couple of weeks hiking the trails through Portugal’s spectacular Costa Vicentina and Alentejo region is a great option. Whether you have a few weeks to hike the entire circuit or just a few days to hit the highlights, the Rota Vicentina is a European hiking standout. There are almost endless Portugal hiking trail options throughout the country but for great coastal scenery on a village-to-village trek, the Rota Vicentina is tough to beat.
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We’ve had a soft spot for Portugal ever since our first visit back in 2012. At that time, we just had brief stops in Porto and Lisbon before heading to beautiful, balmy Madeira to rest and recuperate and pick off the dried blisters from our first Camino, the month-long Camino Francés. This time around, however, mainland Portugal was the hiking destination as we tackled a 10-day version of the Rota Vicentina Portugal, with particular emphasis on the Fishermen’s Trail (Trilho dos Pescadores) sections.
The Rota Vicentina length and time it will take will depend on the route you chose and your start and end points. Being from the Canadian prairies – roughly 1,700 kilometres from the nearest ocean – we do tend to get googly eyes whenever we come across special coastal scenery. Of course, Saskatchewan is also flat, so mountains tend to make us giddy also.
Mind you, the prairies are also pretty dry, and yet I have never found much love in my heart for jungles. Maybe they just seem a little too much like a super-charged mosquito season. Who knows? The point is, we planned our route to stay along the water as much as possible. The benefits of this: scenery, cooling breezes, picturesque beach towns.
The downsides: A lot of sand walking, occasional cold winds, bleak out-of-season beach towns.
You might also like: The Best Long-Distance Hikes in Europe
How Long is the Rota Vicentina?
The entire Rota Vicentina trail includes 450 kilometres of gorgeous hiking paths.
The most popular section follows the coast the entire way. The entire Fishermen’s Trail is 226 kilometres long and is normally hiked in 13 stages, although that can be adjusted depending on your overall walking speed and how long you want your days to be.
This beautiful ocean-front trail runs from Sao Torpes to Lagos and features the best scenery of the entire Rota Vicentina trail network. We hiked from Sao Torpes to Sagres, roughly 180 kilometres, staying as close to the coast as possible.
Meanwhile, the Historical Way follows dirt roads and rural trails through farmland and small villages inland. It runs for roughly 260 km from Santiago do Cacem to Lagos, occasionally overlapping with the Fishermen’s Trail.
There are also many different “circular routes” that can be added on and a variety of at some stages along the route.
Where Does the Rota Vicentina Start?
Traditionally, trekkers start hiking the Rota Vicentina in Santiago do Cacem, which is about 1.5 hours by car from Lisbon or 2 hours from Lagos. From there you can either follow the inland Historical Way or head to the coast to follow the Fishermen’s Trail coastal route.
Getting Started on the Rota Vicentina
We started our hike in Sines on March 6th and finished in Sagres on March 15th and the Rota Vicentina walking map above shows our route. The Rota Vicentina is one of the best Portugal hiking trails and definitely the best long-distance hiking trail in the country, which was obviously reason enough to try it. Another unique feature of the Rota Vicentina, however, is that it is also one of the few places in Europe where you can hike all year-round.
Despite those glowing recommendations, the trail was still not very busy. For the most part, there was a group of around 15-20 other hikers following the same general route as us, some of whom we got to know, some of whom we came to recognize and acknowledge with a subdued smile, nod or discreet wave, and others we only ever speculated about.
What can that guy possibly be carrying in that huge grocery bag everyday that he couldn’t somehow fit in or attach to his pack? How do people walking that slowly manage to end up the same place as us all the time? Do you think that guy realizes there are other pants to hike in besides jeans? These are the thoughts that occupied our minds throughout those early days when there wasn’t much else to do but follow the trail, enjoy the view and mentally gossip.
How to Get to the Rota Vicentina Trail
We took a Rede Expressos bus from Lisbon to Sines (2 ½ hours, €14), then a taxi (€8 on a metre) out to the trailhead at Praia São Torpes. FYI: “praia” is Portuguese for beach, a word that will pop up in multiple place names throughout this guide. You can definitely walk out to the beach from the centre of Sines but it is about 8 km mostly on city roads so instead we chose to jump ahead to the good parts.
This left us with just 10 km to our first stop in Porto Covo, which was short enough that we could do the bus trip and first day’s hike all in one. It was also nice to get used to the sand walking on a somewhat less challenging day.
Rota Vicentina Portugal Map
Click the star to save this map to your Google Maps – then find it under Saved/Maps (mobile) or Your Places/Maps (desktop)
The Fishermen’s Trail
The next section from Porto Covo to Odeceixe is the part people are normally referring to when they talk about the Fishermen’s Trail. This phenomenal 75-kilometre coastal section takes 3-4 days and and follows blue and green markers. Meanwhile, the inland route, known as the Historical Way, is marked in white and red.
Somewhat confusingly, many of the trails farther south are also marked as Fisherman’s Route and then there are more alternatives and add-ons farther south called Circular Routes, which are red and yellow. It is not as confusing as it sounds (although certainly more confusing than, say, a single trail with a single set of markers, but maybe less confusing than figuring out how long to make trekking poles based on degree of incline).
The trail variants farther south that most closely follow the coast are also marked blue/green and considered the Fishermen’s Route and we stuck to those except the one day when we’d just had enough, and were quietly daydreaming about putting our feet up and drinking beer on a deck. Actually, I dreamt about that every day but we only let it affect our route once…
Rota Vicentina Trail Conditions
Pros: Tremendously scenic, easy to follow, hardly any elevation gain or loss.
Cons: Walking in sand.
This was far and away the most sand walking we’ve ever done and it certainly increases the degree of difficulty. The type of sand varied constantly – from wet, hard-packed beach walking to slightly sandy dirt trails to full-on deep trudging on sand dunes.
Of course, it also added greatly to the atmosphere of the trail, with most of the dunes traversing the edge of sheer cliffs – the feel of sand underfoot with vast coastal views unfolding on three sides while a fresh ocean breeze tickles our sweaty parts will be our most enduring memory of this trek.
Well, that, and eating buns with salami and cheese while precariously perched on a cliff edge. Or testing the wind to determine the safest direction to pee.
Anyway, as to the sand walking, using a completely non-scientific ballpark estimate based on our experience, I would suggest that it added roughly one-third to the degree of difficulty, on average. So, if you are an avid hiker and have a pretty good idea how challenging it feels for you to hike 18 km with 300m of elevation gain, plan for it to feel more like 24 km with 400m of gain.
The most sand walking is near Porto Covo, and the closer you get to Cabo São Vicente the less you’ll find.
As far as technique, we would strongly recommend treating sand walking like walking on ice (something we are all too familiar with in Saskatchewan) – take shorter steps and just lift your feet, don’t really push off, since that is when your foot tends to slip back and you waste energy. It is better to use this method and walk marginally slower than normal (our flat ground pace dropped from 5km/hr to about 3 ½ – 4 km/hr in the sand) than to push harder to keep your normal pace and wear your legs out.
As we’ll discuss in the packing section, I also found trekking poles very useful in the sand. In general, we have mixed feelings on poles. I usually only use them on particularly steep mountain trails but was glad to have them even on this relatively flat trail. When carrying a full pack up and down sandy hills it is easy to slip and slide and I found that the poles helped save energy by improving stability and balance. Plus, I love using them to point at things.
The coastal scenery was simply incredible – stunning, rugged cliffs interspersed with beautiful, empty beaches and occasional pastoral farmland. Even after Odeceixe we stuck to the coast as much as possible, despite several more direct inland options. Then we chose to finish in scenic Sagres, although it is possible to continue along a few more days as far as Lagos.
When to Go: Rota Vicentina Weather
One of the big draws of the Rota Vicentina is the climate. There are precious few places in Europe where the weather is fine for trekking as early as February, and southern Portugal is one of them. While most popular regions in the Pyrenees and Alps are still covered in snow until late June, early spring is a perfect time to trek one of the hiking trails in Portugal.
Even considering that March is normally an excellent month in these parts, we enjoyed particularly great weather. So much so that I made a big deal about it on day 5 when we saw our first real clouds. Up until then it was just perfectly clear blue skies. Gorgeous.
At the beginning and end of our trek, overnight temperatures dropped below 10C most nights and was back up around that number by the time we got started in the morning. We normally started out wearing jackets and then stripped down to t-shirts about half an hour in once the sun got a little higher and we climbed our first (admittedly minor) hill.
It sometimes reached 20C late in the afternoon but most of our hiking was done in 10-15C, which is practically perfect. Plenty warm enough for a t-shirt or even shorts but not so hot that you are constantly dripping sweat and needing to refill your water.
The nights were cold, though, so don’t just plan for the nice afternoons when you’re packing. The sun was down before 6 and we usually wore all our warm clothes just to go for dinner every night.
However, there were a weird couple of days where it got unseasonably warm – brilliant, sunny days reaching 25C. Slightly warmer than ideal when hiking but not exactly grounds for any serious whining. Just a little taste of summer in March.
We got a couple light sprinkles of rain towards the end but nothing problematic. In hindsight we could have gotten away without all that rain gear we were carrying but, in general, that would be a pretty poor bet. Rain is always a possibility along the ocean. Hope for the best but plan for the worst. Lessons learned as a lifetime Leafs fan.
Where to Stay: Rota Vicentina Hotels
Like with most of our long-distance treks, the great thing is that there is a good range of accommodation along the way. We’re not big fans of camping, at least not the kind where you carry all your gear every day (I’m much more open to the idea when I’ve got a vehicle to load up with coolers, blankets and chairs), although campgrounds are common all the way along the trail, so hiking the Rota Vicentina while camping along the way is definitely an option.
What we liked, though, is that every stage on the Rota Vicentina ends in a different town, most of which have several hotels to choose from. Budget travellers can go with basic dorm beds (€10-20 pp), people like us tend to opt for mid-range hotels (€30-50 per night for a double) and, if you like a little more luxury, many of the towns had some fancier options in the €100-200 per night range.
We were happy with all the places we stayed but would probably single out Hostel Nature in Zambujeira do Mar (friendly and helpful) and Atlantic Lodge in Aljezur (friendly with a kickass rooftop terrace) as our favourite stops. Our room in Casa Dorita on Praia Odeceixe actually had a view of the beach and ocean for just €40, an outstanding deal that may or may not be available later in the season.
One really important feature in every stop was heat, as the temperature dropped pretty quickly at night. Every room but one had some form of heat – either an air conditioner or portable electric heater – making that one (Pirata Hostel in Vila Nova de Milfontes) pretty noticeable. Fine for sleeping but not a room you wanted to hang out in. Something worth checking when picking a room.
We ended up booking all our rooms in advance but, in March, that probably wasn’t necessary. Since there aren’t that many ways to adjust the hiking schedule without simply doubling up a day, we preferred having our room reserved so that we didn’t have to spend time every day figuring it out.
However, considering how quiet the trail was at this time of year, people who crave spontaneity could probably get away without reserving and just choosing day to day. Later in spring, though, and in summer for sure, I assume it is busy enough that you’ll want to book ahead.
In each stage there are links to our specific post for that village where you can find more details and accommodation options.
How Does the Rota Vicentina Compare to Other Long Distance Hikes?
One of the great things about the Rota Vicentina is that the overall length is completely adjustable to fit your time frame. Many hikers tackle just the especially scenic Fishermen’s Trail stretch from Porto Covo to Odeceixe which typically takes 4 days.
However, the entire route from Santiago do Caçem to Lagos will probably take 17-18 days of hiking whether you stick to the coastal sections or stay inland on the Historical Way. With another dozen or so optional circular routes to choose from and some recommended rest days now and then, you could easily turn it into a month-long adventure. The most common length, however, would be 2 weeks.
As I discussed earlier in the Trail section, the total elevation gain is minimal compared to mountain trekking, but the sand walking means it is tougher than you’d expect just looking at the numbers. Early in the season the trail was very quiet and we typically only saw around 10 other hikers each day. I would expect the popularity to grow later in spring and summer, but it is clearly far less popular than nearby treks such as the Camino Francés, Camino Portuguese and Camino del Norte.
It is nowhere near as difficult as the Tour du Mont Blanc or Walker’s Haute Route (extreme elevation gains each day), the Alta Via 1 or Everest Base Camp in Nepal (elevation gain and high altitudes). We hiked part of the Abel Tasman Coastal Track in New Zealand and, other than the sand, it was fairly comparable. The Camino del Norte that runs along the north coast of Spain features similar scenery but far more elevation gain, while the Camino Portuguese Coastal Route is about the same distance but almost completely flat. The Lycian Way in Turkey and Southwest Coast Path in England also have some similarities as far as walking along the ocean.
Where to Eat: Food and Water on the Rota Vicentina
Since we spent every night in a real town with shops and restaurants, breakfast and dinner were never a problem. Some of our hotels included breakfast, other times we picked up a few things at the store the night before (yogurt, bananas, pastries). There are lots of good seafood restaurants and pretty much every town had at least one relatively cheap option.
Lunches were a bit trickier. On about half the days we passed through a town or village where we could have had a sit-down lunch. However, several of them only had one restaurant and, being so early in the season, it was hard to count on these being open when we passed through.
So we ended up packing our own lunch every day (buns, salami, cheese, oranges, chocolate, nuts). This meant we didn’t have to worry about what might be available along the way, plus allowed us to stop whenever we felt the urge and happened to find yet another amazingly scenic coastal spot.
As for water, you can drink the tap water everywhere in Portugal, so there is no need to buy disposable plastic bottles or carry a filter. We had read that some towns had water fountains but never really saw any – maybe that’s more of a summer thing.
Either way, between not passing any towns some days and not really wanting to buy something at a restaurant just so we could feel good about filling up our water bottles, we opted to carry all our water for the day right from the start. Of course, because it was early March and never got too hot we usually only needed about 3.5-4 litres (between 2 of us).
At a hotter time of year this might be a more difficult decision. And if you’re thinking about using a filter to save weight, well, we really didn’t see much for running water. Supposedly it had been a very dry winter so maybe that’s why, but I definitely wouldn’t have wanted to count on natural water sources.
We go back and forth between using a Camelbak bladder and just a couple of water bottles. We also keep a few Aquatabs with us at all times just in case we ever run low and want to treat some river or lake water. They are tiny and every now and then come in quite handy.
Rota Vicentina Hike Costs and Prices
The Rota Vicentina was much cheaper than most of the long-distance trails we’ve done. We averaged €40/night for accommodation and, even though we stayed in a couple hostels, we always had a private room. Sometimes that included breakfast. Then we spent about €10/day on lunches, breakfasts and snacks. The evening meal usually cost between €20-35 including drinks and tip. So, altogether, we spent roughly €80/day for 2 people.
Travelling alone you probably would be looking at €50/day since hotels are rarely half-price for singles, unless you went with dorms all the way, in which case you could probably get it down under €40/day.
Compared to the Tour du Mont Blanc (Fra/Ita/Swi), Walker’s Haute Route (Fra/Swi) or Alta Via 1 (Italy), the Rota Vicentina is a great bargain. On the TMB we spent €140/day for the two of us and slept in dorms most nights. Even the Everest region, in relatively cheap Nepal, was considerably more expensive at around €60/day per person once you factored in permits and transportation and porters and such. And that doesn’t include the flights to get there.
The Camino de Santiago can cost roughly the same as the Rota Vicentina if you stay in albergue dorm beds most of the time, occasional hotel rooms and order the special Pilgrim’s Menu most of the time.
Altogether, I would describe the Rota Vicentina hike as a relatively leisurely 2-week trek featuring outstanding coastal scenery and some irritating sand walking, and a terrific choice early in the season when it’s too cold in the rest of Europe. Then it is up to each trekker to decide exactly how much time they want to commit and whether they want to focus on the coast or spend more time inland.
Rota Vicentina and Fishermen’s Itinerary
Now for our daily reports, daily maps and Wikiloc links, to provide a little more detail and share a bit more of the trail’s daily flavour. The estimated hiking time includes short breaks but will vary considerably depending on your personal fitness and speed.
The links are to the Wikiloc files. Wikiloc is a hiking app that is free to join and features hiking trails all over the world. If you prefer a different trail app (AllTrails and Maps.me are two popular ones) it is possible to download the actual GPX file out of Wikiloc. From there you should be able to import it into your app of choice.
Many of the GPX tracks came from the official Rota Vicentina site, although we did find that a few followed the wrong route or didn’t include the entire day. In those cases, I’ve used different Wikiloc routes as well.
1. Sines/Praia Sao Torpes to Porto Covo
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/tp00-s-torpesporto-covo-10km-1-on-alltrails-43622311
10km, 2.5 hrs
Our bus from Lisbon (€14) to Sines took 2 ½ hours, then we opted for a taxi out to Praia Sao Torpes (€8) to avoid walking through town for 8 km. This left us with only a couple hours of hiking – a nice, easy start. It was pretty windy, yet we still chose to eat our packed lunch on the beach, despite the irritating complication of blowing sand. We soon continued on – pockets and teeth both full of sand – and slowly worked out the best system of sand walking. Short steps, lift the feet, don’t push, quietly grunt every now and then. Porto Covo is a cute little beach town that had a bit of an eerie, out of season silence, plus a dog.
For more detailed info, check out 7 Reasons to Visit Porto Covo
2. Porto Covo to Vila Nova de Milfontes
20km, 6 hrs
Now this was sand walking on a grand scale, finally. Whether traipsing along lengthy, picturesque beaches or trudging through atmospheric, wind-blown dunes, there was always plenty of sand underfoot. The views, though! While the previous day was certainly nice, this stretch is gorgeous confirmation of why you’re here.
We didn’t know it at the time but Vila Nova de Milfontes would turn out to the be busiest town of the entire trek. Real, live people walking the streets, drinking in restaurants and hanging out on the beach watching sunset (making it harder for me to surreptitiously take a leak behind a dune). We had some terrific burgers in the Riverside Pub, clearly an English expat hangout, and killed time listening to an elderly rugby fan argue the trajectory of the televised match with an obstinate 2-year-old. Then it went down to 5C over night. Just sayin’.
Find more details at Vila Nova de Milfontes: Beaches, Cliffs and Nightlife!
3. Vila Nova de Milfontes to Almograve
15km, 4.5 hrs
A nice mix of town, road and fields, before making our way back to more wonderful coastal dunes. Overall, there was less sand walking than the previous day and, knowing we had a shorter day, we eventually started meandering and exploring along the coast. We scrambled out to what looked like a small rock island that turned out to be a small rock peninsula and I climbed up to the top for incredible, expansive views of Laynni back down on the trail.
We ended up in trail conversations with 3 people all day, each of whom just happened to be from Canada. The only Canadians we would meet throughout the hike. Absolutely clear blue skies, third day running, and the guy running the hostel in Almograve happily talked soccer/football with me before describing in astonished detail the size of the previous guest’s thighs.
All the info you need here: Almograve: A Charming Traditional Portuguese Village
4. Almograve to Zambujeira do Mar
22km, 6 hrs
A really amazing day – just incredible cliff, beach and dune views. There was some road walking toward the end but for the most part it was a great hiking day.
There was one short detour around an ecologically sensitive area where we almost missed a turn but were lucky enough to run into a Belgian guy, Dries, who was dejectedly returning from having made that exact mistake, saving us the time and extra walking. Then we ended up in the same hostel together in Zambujeira do Mar – fate? Or just likely, considering there are only 2 hostels in town?
At one point we overtook another couple on the trail – the first people we’d seen in hours – and yet they managed to not even acknowledge us as we passed them and said “bom dia”. Now that’s focus. Or French.
The nesting storks, however, they kept a sharp eye on every step of my ever so stealthy approach, stopping to take a slightly closer photo every two steps, then continuing to tiptoe out to the edge like a sandy, sweaty Pink Panther.
Take a deep dive into this beautiful area by visiting The Wild Cliffs of Zambujeira Do Mar
It was so hot and sunny during the day that – for the first time ever, I believe – I sunburnt the inside of my wrists (ah, it’s the trekking poles, he slowly concluded), yet it got cold again so quickly that we ate dinner in all our clothes, plus jackets, toques and gloves.
5. Zambujeira do Mar to Odeceixe Beach
22 km, 6 hrs
Another beautiful, enjoyable day despite the grouchy warnings of the old Dutch guy in our hotel the night before who had been hiking from the other direction for 2 weeks and was “so sick of cliffs”. There was more variety than on previous days, featuring hills, shrubs, tunnels through said shrubs, actual trees, beaches and, obviously, plenty of dunes and cliffs. We still like them, though.
All day we played hiking leapfrog with a German couple – the man carrying a heavy yellow grocery bag in one hand. We simply couldn’t speculate enough about this strange development, as it seemed there were a multitude of ways that strange load could have been incorporated into their backpacks. Couldn’t bring ourselves to ask, though, so we can only assume it contained the still-dripping decapitated heads of local cats.
Or… is that why we didn’t see a single weasel, despite the Rota Vicentina website assuring us there were “abundant signs of the presence of mammals”. Signs we presumed did not include Germans carrying mystery bags.
On the bright side, we saw loads more storks, the pleasant memories of which kept us going throughout the long inland detour that took us from “just across the river, literally 200 metres away” from Odeceixe Beach all the way in to Odeceixe town and all the way back out – 8km of walking to solve that wet 200-metre gap.
At least it gave us time to stop for a couple beer in town with Dries, where Laynni took advantage of a talkative New Yorker to seize the last bread in the grocery store (yoink!).
Restaurants in Portugal often bring mixed appetizer plates and bread to your table without asking, then charge you for it later, somewhat annoying but avoidable once you expect it. Laynni got the last laugh, though, by deciding that was plenty for her and not bothering to order a meal.
Everything you need to know to plan your visit: Odeceixe and its Spectacular Horseshoe Beach
6. Odeceixe to Aljezur
19km, 5.5 hrs
As we made our way out of Odeceixe enjoying even more excellent coastal views we were suddenly stunned to silence by the appearance of a fluffy white presence hovering in the southern sky. It even had a darker, more ominous tinge along the bottom. Could it be? A cloud? A cloud! It turns out they do have those in southern Portugal, after all. Thankfully, it just kind of floated around for awhile, occasionally getting in the way of the sun for a few minutes before shuffling along a bit more. Not ideal, but we persevered.
Because we had walked the extra 4km from town to the beach the day before (somewhat sluggishly thanks to our 3-beer break), what would have been our longest day was shortened slightly and we had a head start on those leaving Odeceixe, meaning we found ourselves completely alone on the trail all morning.
The solitude and tiny cloudy reminder of how lucky we’d had it so far inspired us to go off-trail several times, sticking as tight to the coastline as possible all morning. It meant more down and up to different beaches and through some interesting ravines, one of which involved a fairly precarious (but scenic) climb.
Eventually we ended up inland and followed an unofficial Wikiloc trail to an irrigation ditch on the edge of Rogil. This refreshing detour provided an hour or so of pleasant walking along the grassy trail next to the ditch, watching alarmed frogs escaping with epic leaps into the water while startled turtles burrowed into the silty bottom. Sure, they’re no weasels, but entertaining nonetheless.
Aljezur is a fascinating historic town with an old Roman road and medieval castle across the field from the newer part of town, which is known more for its surfer hangouts and multiple pizza joints. As it was Laynni’s birthday we went all out, combining to drink dangerously close to double-digit beers between us while soaking up the warm sun on the rooftop terrace of awesome Atlantic Lodge, Skyping home and periodically debating the reason behind the rooster weathervane on the steeple of the neighbouring church.
Why not a cross, or maybe a funny Jesus bobblehead doll? Could it be the reason the enormous church bells clanged loud and long every 15 minutes from 7am to 10 pm. We can’t rule it out.
For more ideas to extend to your trip, see The Top 10 Things to Do in Aljezur
7. Aljezur to Arrifana
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/rota-vicentina-tappa-7-aljezur-praia-da-arrifana-129780844
17km, 5 hrs
HI Arrifana Destination Hostel
It took a surprisingly long time to get back to, and through, the old part of Aljezur, before making our way to the flat country roads that would eventually lead us back to the wild coast. As luck would have it, though, some mindless, uneventful terrain was the perfect backdrop to discusss our plans for Spain and Morocco after completing our time in Portugal.
While off on one of our now-patented cliff-edge detours we met up with a German expat who was relaxing, enjoying the view and casually perfecting the creepy witch’s symbol he’d made out of rocks. He was nice enough to show us the best route down the rocks to the beach and then magically appeared in front of us when we reached the far end, clearly excited to chat and possibly lure us into some weird sex stuff.
We ended up in a nice new hostel in a crappy new area of Arrifana with no shops or restaurants, then went down a serious trip planning rabbit hole. It’s sort of our thing.
8. Arrifana to Carrapateira
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/fishermens-trail-praia-de-arrifana-to-carrapateira-42951959
20km, 6 hrs
On the bright side, more terrific walking – cliffs, hill roads, beaches, etc., culminating at the mother of all beaches in Carrapateira. The downside? Not sure why I started it that way – there was no downside. Just a beautiful day of coast hiking. Again.
A long, white wind-swept crescent ending at a dramatic rocky headland featuring massive, loudly crashing waves that had us squealing like kids opening Christmas presents, or that mob snitch who just never learns. We watched a couple kite surfers and, for the first time ever, thought “you know, maybe kite surfing could be fun”. Of course, the water is freezing so, no thanks, just thinking out loud.
We spent the night in a friendly little B&B in Carrapateira where Estela welcomed us with big smiles and absurd amounts of random sweet foods. We liked our room, we liked the lasagna we had for dinner, and we were particularly enamoured with the walk light with the man falling over.
Find our more in our post Carrapateira and Praia do Amado: A Surf Mecca
9. Carrapateira to Vila do Bispo
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/carrapateira-vila-do-bispo-costal-road-14676738
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/tp-carrapateira-vila-do-bispo-40512626
20km, 6 hrs
This might have been our favourite day of the entire trek, maybe because it was starting to feel like the whole thing was winding down and our expectations were lower than before, feeling like we’d already passed the best. Not so, as this is another unbelievably scenic section. Rather than follow the official trail along the road, we cut over to the cliffs early and spent the morning enjoying more awesome wave-crashing spots and, of course, great cliff views.
It didn’t hurt that those pesky few clouds that had snuck into the sky over the past few days had disappeared again, leaving another crisp blue sky that we were now more prepared to appreciate than before.
Once again we stuck to the coast whenever possible, crossing some deep ravines and climbing out of a slightly dicey valley up from Praia Muração. Eventually we made our way inland on dirt country roads and then, while taking one last Snickers break just outside Vila do Bispo, along came Dries, the first time we’d seen him in days. Turned out we were staying in the same place again – a 3-bedroom AirBnB apartment we also shared with a pair of surfers from northern Portugal.
Walking into Vila do Bispo was creepy and quiet, and we felt like those people in an apocalyptic movie where everyone’s either dead, hiding in terror or watching you from abandoned buildings waiting for the perfect chance to sneak up and eat your brains.
Thankfully, that changed a bit once we reached the heart of town, although I’m sure nobody has described Vila do Bispo on a weekday afternoon as “vibrant” or “bustling”. There was a Lidl, though, so we stocked up for the night.
We bought the food, Dries the beer, then we mostly drank alone while Dries talked on the phone. Felt just like any party back home now (if you replace “talking” with “texting” or “randomly screwing around”).
10. Vila do Bispo – Sagres
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/ruta-vicentina-7-de-vila-do-bispo-a-cabo-san-vicente-45487833
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/fishermens-trail-vila-do-bispo-sagres-43019465
21km, 6 hrs
Our final day started off with goodbyes to Dries, then we spent a dark, cloudy morning walking along quiet gravel roads through featureless fields. It was a “winding-down” atmosphere if I’ve ever seen it, and I should know, having recently struggled skeptically through the final two seasons of Game of Thrones.
Eventually we reached the coast and some pretty dramatic rocks and cliffs again (felt like home, at this point) and the famous lighthouse at Cabo São Vicente loomed larger and larger as we slowly closed the gap over some strangely lunar terrain of pitted rock that resembled coral – very sharp and awkward to walk on.
Finally emerging to a paved road for the last stretch to the cape, we stayed well off the shoulder as cars blasted past up to a full parking lot. After a week and a half of expansive, unspoiled scenery and quiet, empty country roads, the ending was just as anticlimactic and off-putting as we’d read from other trekkers. Despite the fact it was very much low season for tourists, there were still a couple of tour buses, plus the obligatory tightly packed groups taking photos and, for some reason, sharing coffee.
Needless to say, we didn’t linger, picking up a grossly overpriced Coke before continuing on towards Sagres. Even though this final 7km stretch followed pretty close to the highway, it actually had some really dramatic cliff scenery, including a much better view back toward the lighthouse than the areas directly around it. Definitely worth walking this stretch rather than taking a bus like some bloggers had suggested.
Next stop: Sagres. Next highlight: digging some clean clothes and a laptop out of the package we’d mailed ahead. Next stop: the beach town of Armacao de Pera.
Rota Vicentina Packing List
As with any long-distance trek, the less you carry, the more you enjoy it. And, because the Rota Vicentina doesn’t involve any remote backcountry, extreme terrain or (hopefully) severe weather, it is easy to pack light. I took the following:
Backpack
I am now obsessed with the Gregory Optic 48 for longer hikes. I know 48L sounds big but it is a super-light and comfortable pack that cinches down smaller when it isn’t full.
Hiking shoes
No other footwear. I usually carry some flip-flops but left them out since we weren’t going to be in shared accommodation and because it wasn’t going to be warm enough yet to wear them around outside at night. It was fine, although there were a few times it would have been nice to have them for walking around inside the hotel or hostel.
Good socks! Everyone understands good shoes or boots are essential (my current favourites are Salomon Cross Hikes) but wearing good wool socks can make just as much of a difference.
Pants
One pair of hiking pants and one pair of long underwear. The underwear served as my “hanging out in the room” clothes and were a lot smaller and lighter than a real second pair of pants.
Laynni always hikes in compression leggings that she swears by for the extra knee, hip and muscle support.
Shorts
I wore these twice, I think, and only because we got some freaky hot weather for a couple days. Considering it was March, I probably should have left them behind.
Shirts
Two merino wool t-shirts for hiking and one long-sleeved merino wool that I wore at night. I can hike in merino for days before it starts to smell and it dries super-fast if you decide to throw it in the shower with you. I probably could have gotten away with just one of these, also.
Jackets
One North Face fleece and one ultra-light windbreaker. The perfect combo.
Hat
Necessary every day.
Toque (aka beanie, wool cap)
Necessary half the mornings and most of the nights.
Gloves
Ditto.
Rain poncho
I only wore it once, and even then, it was barely necessary. But although you can get lucky, you should assume you’ll get rained on sooner or later. We opted against carrying our rain pants and were happy with that decision, obviously.
Gaiters
Normally, these are used to keep your feet dry in wet, muddy conditions. Which could certainly happen on this trail, even if it didn’t come up for us. But I actually wore them every day just to keep my shoes from filling up with sand all the time. It worked great and now I plan to use them every time I hike sandy trails in the future. Or attend beach weddings.
Trekking poles
As I mentioned earlier, even though this trail wasn’t the kind I would normally use poles on, I was glad to have them. Unlike on the TMB, where 90% of people used poles, I’d say less than 25% used them on the Rota Vicentina. But I found they made a big difference walking in the sand and would definitely recommend using them. There are some steep parts occasionally, as well, especially farther south when we went off the main route now and then to stick closer to the coast.
Hiker Hunger Aluminum trekking poles
Collapsible grocery bag
Every day we stocked up on supplies for lunch, breakfast, or both, and it was handy having our own bag rather than going through a bunch of disposable plastic.
Sunscreen
Kind of obvious, but you’ll probably use even more than you expect on this trail. There is virtually no shade, ever. Also, because we were hiking early in the season it was dark and cold early in the morning. This meant that we didn’t usually get started until 9:30-10:00 and hiked for 5-6 hours in the strongest possible sun.
Knife
Since we were making our own lunch every day it was handy having a knife to cut buns and cheese, etc.
Medical Kit
A good medical kit is the perfect example of something you should always carry and hope to never use.
Also, since we were spending 2 months abroad altogether and had lots of other things planned after the Rota Vicentina, we arrived in Lisbon with more than the bare trekking minimum. To keep from having to carry a bunch of clothes and gear that we didn’t need yet, we packed up all our extra stuff in a collapsible duffel bag and mailed it ahead.
This made our packs a lot lighter and everything was waiting for us when we arrived at our final hotel in Sagres. I think it cost €18 including the box we bought for added protection. Keep in mind, though, that somehow the main post office in Lisbon (CTT) did not have packing tape (we had to buy some next door) and they told us that if we sent it “general delivery” the CTT in Sagres would only hold it for a week (even though I read about people who said it was 30 days – maybe larger towns?).
So it makes sense to book a hotel for your last stop and check that they are okay with accepting a package and holding it for you. We stayed at Apartamentos Atalaia – a very nice place and they happily picked up our package from the post office (about a block away) and had it waiting for us when we arrived.
There are also a couple of companies that you can pay to shuttle your gear from town to town along the way if you really want to lighten your load.
Vicentina Transfers (website has prices and online booking)
Nature Treks (they also offer airport transfers and shuttles to different points along the trail)
Trip Planning Resources
Here is a list of the most important resources we use when planning our travels, all in one convenient spot. Full disclosure, when you use any of these links to reserve or sign up for something, we receive a small commission which is greatly appreciated. However, your price does not change and we have only included products and websites that we can honestly recommend.
- We book the majority of our hotels on Booking.com. With frequent stay discounts, thousands of reviews and free cancellation, it is very rare for us to have a bad hotel experience these days.
- Wise is by far the best international multicurrency bank account we’ve found. We can now send and receive money in half a dozen different currencies, convert to dozens more with no exchange premium and pay or withdraw local currencies. Highly recommended.
- When travelling we always get SIM cards with data for our phones. Local SIM cards are sometimes a bit cheaper but if you have a relatively new smartphone (iPhone XR or newer, Samsung S20 or newer) you can just buy an eSIM online, get a QR code by email and you’re good to go. After extensive research we have found that Airalo sim cards have the best coverage and prices for most of our trips.
- If you’re interested in local guided tours, including everything from city tours to cooking lessons to adventure activities, check out the huge range of options at Get Your Guide.
Rota Vicentina Summary
Europe has so much amazing hiking, you could work at it for years and still barely scratch the surface. the main problem, though, is that almost all of the trails are only accessible for a short time period. While hiking in the Alps in July, August or very early September is an incredible experience, that doesn’t leave room for much flexibility. Plus, sometimes it feels like half of Europe is out there with you.
So how does an avid hiker fill those other 9 months of the year? It is especially difficult to find excellent hiking routes that are both accessible and in good condition in winter. And even harder yet to find long-distance hikes that can be done at this time.
Enter the Rota Vicentina. At its best in spring or fall but on option all year-round, this outstanding coastal hike is the perfect choice for those looking to hike outside the regular summer season. And since it starts just a couple of hours south of Lisbon, most Europeans can fly there and get started all in the same day. Even North Americans won’t have much trouble finding a direct (or semi-direct) flight to Lisbon these day.
Anyway, it is a truly fabulous hike, and that’s a word I don’t use lightly, generally reserving it for only the truly special – extraordinary treks, clear blue skies and fun new haircuts. Between the easy accessibility, perfect early season weather, minimal crowds and incomparable coastal scenery, it is mind-blowing that the Rota Vicentina trail isn’t more popular. I’d highly recommend getting there before the rest of Europe does.
Other useful articles you may want to check out:
A Guide to Algarve Walking in Armacao de Pera
Carros de Foc: The Best Hut-to-Hut Hike in Spain
The Walker’s Haute Route: A Complete 2023 Guide
Alta Via 1: The Best Trek in the Italian Dolomites
The Tour du Mont Blanc: The Ultimate Planning Guide
Camino Portuguese Coastal Route: Everything You Need to Know
