Getting there
- Flights to Portimão (PRM) 80 km from the start
- Flights to Lisbon (LIS) 110 km from the start
Treks / Portugal
Rota Vicentina: Fishermen's Trail
Portugal · Nearest city: Lisbon (also Faro)
TypeMulti-day trek
Days4–5
Distance≈ 75 km
Climbingvaries
Highest pointlow-level
A coastal path along wild Atlantic cliffs in southwest Portugal, from Porto Covo to Odeceixe and beyond.
Fitness
Moderate
Best seasonSeptember to June
Watch out: Walking in soft sand is tiring. Allow more time than the distance suggests.
Why people choose it
It's Europe's wildest Atlantic coastline, with cliffs, storks nesting on sea stacks and empty beaches.
What makes it different
- Storks nesting on sea cliffs
- Soft sand paths along the clifftops
- Surf villages every night
Before you go
Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.
Phone and data
Phone plans from the EU and EEA roam here at home prices. Coming from the US, UK or elsewhere? A Europe data eSIM is usually far cheaper than roaming.
Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.
Insurance that covers this trek
Most travel insurance includes hiking at this height. Check that hiking is listed and that medical evacuation is covered.
Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section.
True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.
Camping and where to sleep
Wild camping is not allowed in Portugal, with fines in protected areas like the Rota Vicentina coast.
Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.
Route map
Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.
Straight lines between stops Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city
Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. We don't have the exact trail for this route yet, so stops are joined with straight lines. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.
Stops: Porto Covo → Vila Nova de Milfontes → Almograve → Zambujeira do Mar → Odeceixe
Simple overview map
Step by step
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Months before
Plan and book
- Book your first and last nights, and check whether accommodation along the way needs reserving.
- Best time to go: September to June.
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6–12 weeks before
Train and test your gear
- Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
- Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
- Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.
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Getting there
Travel to the start
- Most people start from Lisbon.
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On the trail
Walk it
- Start early each day, so you arrive before the afternoon weather and the rush for beds.
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The finish
Get home
- It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.
How the season changes things
Best time: September to June
March to May
Spring
The best time for most people: green hills, wildflowers and comfortable temperatures.
Bring
- Light layers
- Sun hat
- A light rain jacket for showers
June to August
Summer
Hot, often above 30°C, with little shade. Start at dawn and rest in the afternoon. Fire risk can close paths.
Bring
- 2–3 litres of water
- Sun hat and long sleeves
- Electrolytes
September to November
Autumn
Warm sea and settled weather in early autumn, with the first storms arriving later.
Bring
- Rain jacket from October
- Light layers
- Headlamp as days shorten
Be ready for
Soft sand
Walking in sand is slow and tiring. Allow more time, and wear gaiters to keep sand out of your shoes.
Heat
Start at dawn, rest in the shade at midday, and carry more water than you think. Electrolytes help.
Strong wind
Exposed ridges and summits can be very windy and cold. A windproof layer and hat are worth carrying even on warm days.
What you'll see
7 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.
Gear for the Rota Vicentina: Fishermen's Trail
Photo credits: Zambujeira by Bunks, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Porto Covo January -1a by Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Vila Nova de Milfontes by Francisco Santos (user: Xuaxo), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Vila Nova de Milfontes - Portugal by Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Rock formations at Praia do Carvalhal, Alentejo, Portugal by Tulumnes, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Access to Baía da Arquinha Beach, Fishermen's Trail, Zambujeira do Mar, Portugal julesvernex by Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Sunset at Odeceixe Beach, Fishermen's Trail, Odeceixe, Portugal julesvernex by Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.
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