A Thruhike of Portugal
The Fishermen’s Trail, part of the Rota Vicentina, is a spectacular coastal route in Portugal that brings you past charming villages, surfer beaches, and theatrical cliffs. Stork nests meets baked delicacies meets sledgehammer waves:
Welcome to the Fishermen’s Trail.
There are many options and alternate routes, but we opted to start in Porto Covo and walk south until Sagres. In total, we covered about 175 km of the trail.
If you are an avid fan of the water and the waves, and having sand in your shoes does not scare you off, then this hike is for you.
Facts & Figures
Distance: 226 km (depends on which routes you choose).
How long does the hike take: 1 to 2 weeks.
Transportation: Local buses, Blablacar, taxis or hitchhiking
Where to sleep: Hostels & hotels
What to eat: You are in town every day - max. 1 day food carries.
Gear: Sunhat, sunglasses, sunscreen, Nivea, gaiters.
A little life update…
In November, we arrived in Belgium after living on the road. We had just traveled all over the U.S. and Canada. But it was time to settle down for a bit and start saving money again. Together with a friend, we moved into a quaint house in the center of Bruges, a medieval city in Belgium (and of course well-known for the movie with Colin Farrell and Brendon Gleeson).
A life domesticated: We were actually pretty excited. During our time together, we had slept in tents and cars and under the stars, but we never lived together in a house before.
But after only 2 months, we had itchy feet. Living in a city sometimes equals spending a lot of your time indoors. Indoors is warm, convenient, and comfortable. And we began to miss the unease, challenge, and natural curiosity…
So when life allows you to take some time off, take it. With both hands. In winter, just like the birds, we migrated South for a bit. And what better place than Portugal, the country of port wine and Pastel de Nata?
Hiking stages
Porto Covo - Vila Nova de Milfontes
Vila Nova - Almograve
Almograve - Zambujeira do Mar
Zambujeira do Mar - Odeceixe
Odeceixe - Aljezur (22,5 km)
Aljezur - Arrifana (17,5 km)
Arrifana - Carrapateira (20 km)
Carrapateira - Vila do Bispo (16 km)
Vila do Bispo - Sagres (20,5 km)
Portugal’s Rota Vicentina - Gillian Price (Cicerone)
“If you have a penchant for dramatic cliffs and awesome ocean scenery with secluded sandy bays, are fascinated by gangly storks nesting on sea stacks, are able to walk around 20km per day, appreciate fresh fish and charming guesthouses and hostels…then the Rota Vicentina is definitely for you.”
