The Vincentina Route Historic Route has been voted one of the best trails in Europe by the prestigious European Ramblers Association (ERA). This is the first time a Western European rail has been awarded Leading Quality Trails - Best of Europe certification.

 

The distinction was awarded last month after all quality criteria were met to make the route eligible. This has meant making "some improvements and adjustments" that the Rota Vicentina team hopes to continue to implement over the next few years, read the official Rota website.

 

The Vicentina Route is a network of footpaths in southwest Portugal along the most beautiful and best preserved coastline in southern Europe. Combining the Historic Trail and the Fishermans Trail and covering 230 km (143 miles) in 12 stages, our complete Rota Vicentina hiking vacation in Portugal provides the best Rota Vicentina hiking experience.

 

 



 

Itinerary for Rota Vicentina Complete

 

 

Day 1: Arrival -  Santiago do Cacém 

Arriving at Santiago do Cacém, a medieval city located in the interior of the Alentejo coast, it is worth exploring. After check-in, our local representative will have a brief briefing to clarify everything related to the tour. All trails are fully marked, being part of the Historical Route of the Vincentian Route and the Fishermans Trail.

• Overnight in Santiago do Cacém

Day 2: Santiago do Cacém - Dry Valley

Time to start your adventure. Following the Alentejo shoreline, this inland path will follow woodlands and  montados  (cork oaks). There is also the possibility to see some endemic species of birds that use the  areas  mounted  to hit their nests.

• Walking the day: 20 km, 6h ↑ 360m ↓ 430m
• Overnight in Vale Seco

Day 3: Dry Valley - Cercal do Alentejo

The third day brings a strong rural flavor to the tour, passing many farms and cultivated fields, a good opportunity to see a different lifestyle. V there walk through forests, open fields and olive groves, past small lakes and water reservoirs. Before reaching Cercal, the path leads around the beautiful  lake of  Campilhas  , a nice place to cool off and take a quick dip on the hottest days.

• Walking for the day: 19 km, 6h ↑ 160m ↓ 200m
• Overnight in Cercal do Alentejo

Day 4: Cercal do Alentejo - Porto Côvo

Now its time to approach the ocean, this stage is the connection to the  trail  of the  Fishermen  . After a few miles passing small farms and their beautifully cultivated gardens, you can smell eucalyptus in the air as you pass a plantation. You will know that the ocean is approaching as soon as you reach some open fields, with blue already on the horizon.

• Walking for the day: 19 km, 6h ↑ 160m ↓ 200m
• Overnight in Porto Côvo

Day 5: Porto Côvo - Vila Nova de Milfontes

In the morning you will have a 25 minute transfer to Porto Côvo (early), there you can stock up on supplies for the day, since during the day you will not be able to get either. This is a moderate to strenuous walk through several areas with loose sand, you will notice that this is an unexplored area where you can have some amazing views. If you are not an experienced hiker, there are two shorter alternative hikes available - 14 km and 8 km.

• Walking during the day: 20 km, 6h ↑ 160m ↓ 150m (or 14 km / 8 km alternative tours)
• Overnight in Vila Nova de Milfontes

Day 6: Milfontes - Almogarve / Longuerira

You have two options for todays hike: a) take the small ferry to cross the river first and then start walking, or b) cross the river by foot across the bridge, following the path from the start. Both options will lead to a peaceful day of hiking through the countryside and passing small cliffs, with access to several beaches towards Almograve, further south. Almograve is a good place to have lunch and enjoy the local cuisine. After lunch, its time to explore Almograve beach, or finish the route by going to the inland village of Longueira (35 minutes walk).

• Walking the day: 17 km, 5h ↑ 90m ↓ 115m (full walk)
• Overnight at Longueira

Day 7: Almograve - Zambujeira do Mar

Leaving the Almograve behind you will again be exploring the landscapes along the untouched Alentejo coast. Pass the Zambujeira fishing port (Barca Inlet), then walk alongside the cliffs that offer panoramic sea views where you can watch the storks. You can stop in the little village of Cavaleiro, buy some supplies and enjoy a good home-cooked dish before heading west to make the beautiful lighthouse of Cape Sardon. Your walk ends at Zambujeira do Mar, with one of the most amazing beaches in Portugal.

• Walking during the day: 21 km, 6h ↑ 200m ↓ 200m
• Overnight at Zambujeira do Mar

Day 8: Zambujeira - Odeceixe

This is one of the most popular walking routes used by fishermen heading south towards Odeceixe, the first village in the Algarve region. Youll find plenty to explore, including Carvalhal Beach, the home of famed  fadista  Amália Rodrigues and the locally famous Azenha do Mar port, and these are just some of the highlights. After recharging your batteries at Azenha do Mars seafood restaurant, youll have the energy to continue your journey to Odeceixe, where the river bridge forms the border between the Alentejo and Algarve regions.

• Walking for the day: 18 km, 6h ↑ 260m ↓ 280m
• Overnight in Odeceixe

Day 9: Odeceixe - Aljezur

From Odeceixe you continue walking south, near the coast, past the small agricultural village of Rogil, where you can try the famous sweet potato. After that, you will keep going south until you reach the village of Aljezur.

• Walking for the day: 22 km, 6h ↑ 400m ↓ 400m
• Overnight in Aljezur

Day 10: Aljezur - Arrifana Beach

Today you will follow the Fihermen Trail and explore the path to Arrifana Beach with amazing ocean views. Wonderful place to spend some time enjoying the beach.

• Walking during the day: 18 km, 5-6h ↑ 600m ↓ 600m
• Overnight in Arrifana

Day 11: Arrifana Beach - Carrapateira

Leaving Arrifana, you will walk south in the company of sea and mountain, a beautiful walk enjoying the hills, dunes and flat sandy beaches of the cliff tops. A very primitive and untouched part of the route, which will offer a great diversity of species along the way. A garden blooming in spring, with startling butterfly colors and all different flowers, and beautiful leaves in the fall, providing walkers with black berries and wild strawberries.

• Walking for the day: 23 km, 6h ↑ 400m ↓ 500m
• Overnight at Carrapateira

Day 12: Carrapateira - Vila do Bispo

This day brings again beautiful colors, hills that meet the sea, beautiful meadows at the bottom of the valley, small rivers that flow into the ocean and temporary lagoons, extremely important for local biodiversity. There will be opportunities to observe some unique bird species, especially when approaching Vila do Bispo.

• Walking for the day: 21 km, 6h ↑ 300m ↓ 200m
• Overnight in Vila do Bispo

Day 13: Vila do Bispo - Cape St. Vincent

The last leg of your hiking adventure will take you to the most southwestern point of continental Europe. Also a destination for many pilgrims following in the footsteps of St. Vincent. This is a good bird watching area, so pay attention and keep your binoculars ready.

• Walking the day: 19 km, 5h ↑ 210m ↓ 280m
• Overnight in Sagres

Climate

The region is benefiting from the Mediterranean climate that brings long, hot and dry summers and very mild winters. The region gets more sunshine every year than California.

Spring

The spring season is warm, with average temperatures between 20 ° C and 21 ° C throughout the season. A quieter time of year, area visitors dont have to worry much about the rain, but there are occasional showers. In late spring, the weather is more like summer, with temperatures rising rapidly. The days grow longer during spring, with an average of eight hours of sunshine a day at the beginning of the season, increasing to about 10 hours in late spring.

summer

Sun-seeking travelers will enjoy the summer, but it can become very hot for hiking. Thats why we didnt have this holiday in July and August.

Autumn

Autumn is typically warm and pleasant, cooling slightly until November. End-of-season sun seekers can still be found sunning throughout the fall, enjoying average daily maximum temperatures ranging from 26 ° C in September to 19 ° C in November. While warm, precipitation gradually increases during the fall: 26mm in September, 56mm in October and 81mm in November.

Winter

December is the wettest month of winter with 96mm of rainfall during the month. While the winter season is warm - expect the air to be cool to mild, although you can find sunshine temperatures of up to 20 ° C - the days are much shorter, with 5-6 hours expected each month during the winter. .

What to bring

We recommend that you travel as light as possible - airlines may charge an extra fee and during ground transfers the location may be limited. Ideally, you should bring a piece of luggage weighing no more than 20 kg (for check-in) and a daily pack (15 to 20 l of backpack) for your day to day (snacks, drinking water, camera, etc. .). Below is a non-exclusive list of what to bring for this trip. More detailed information will be included in your vacation information package. If you need more information, contact a reputable authorized dealer.

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