"The Camino is like life: full of experiences."

Rota Vicentina on foot in Alentejo: 6 stages

Information about the trip: Rota Vicentina on foot in Alentejo: 6 stages

Discover the best of the Rota Vicentina on this carefully designed hiking program that combines the Historic Way and the legendary Fishermen’s Trail, offering one of the most scenic coastal walking experiences in Europe.
Covering 115 km (71 miles) with an easy to moderate difficulty level, this route is ideal for active travelers seeking diversity, authenticity, and breathtaking natural landscapes. The journey begins inland, following peaceful rural paths and traditional villages, before reaching the Atlantic coastline after three days of walking.

As the trail unfolds, hikers are rewarded with dramatic ocean views, towering cliffs, golden sand dunes, and endless coastal panoramas. This stretch of the Rota Vicentina is widely regarded as the most beautiful coastal trail in Europe, and arguably one of the most stunning hiking routes in the world.

By combining both routes, this itinerary offers the perfect balance between cultural heritage and wild nature, leading you through non-touristic areas to charming coastal villages and untouched landscapes along Portugal’s southwest coast.

Important note: This route is not recommended for people with vertigo or fear of heights, due to exposed cliff sections.

Travel itinerary (Summary)

  • DAY 1: Arrival to Santiago do Cacém
  • DAY 2: Stage 1, Santiago do Cacém, Vale Seco 20 km 4/5
  • DAY 3: Stage 2, Vale Seco ,Cercal do Alentejo 20 km 3/5
  • DAY 4: Stage 3, Cercal do Alentejo, Porto Côvo 17 km 3/5
  • DAY 5: Stage 4, Porto Côvo, Milfontes 20 km 1/5
  • DAY 6: Stage 5, Milfontes, Almograve 15 km 2/5
  • DAY 7: Stage 5, Almograve , Zambujeira do Mar 21 km 1/5
  • DAY 8: Return.

Travel itinerary (Detailed)

  • 1

    Arrival to Santiago do Cacém


    Briefing at the Hotel. Arriving in Santiago do Cacém, situated in the inland of Alentejo’s coast, is well worth exploring, it is an interesting town, passage point of walkers since the medieval age, it is nowadays council’s head-office; great panoramic views over the city and towards the hill with the castle and city’s church on top. Now we also have 90% of our routes marked on the field in Costa Vicentina Route, this way you can get more of all this hiking and exploring experience.
    Overnight: Santiago do Cacém

  • 2

    Stage 1, from Santiago to Vale Seco.


    Distance : 20 km Difficulty : 4/5

    Start of the stage. Time to start your adventure, following the inner Alentejo’s coast, this path will take you through forests and montado (forests of cork oaks) areas, where you’ll have the chance to take a close look over this very important tree; there’s also the chance of seeing some species of bird who use the montado areas to settle their nests.
    Overnight: Vale Seco

    Breakfast is not included but the place offers the use of a kitchen, also with a small café 500 meters away.

  • 3

    Stage 2, from Vale Seco to Cercal do Alentejo.


    Distance : 20 km Difficulty : 3/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. The third day brings a strong rural feeling to the walk, passing by many farms and cultivated fields, a good opportunity to see a different rhythm and lifestyle. Walking through forests, open cultivated fields, olive fields, small dams, and reservoirs of water. Before getting to Cercal the path takes you around the beautiful Campilhas damp, a nice place to refresh and go for a quick swim in the warmer days.
    Overnight: Cercal do Alentejo

  • 4

    Stage 3, from Cercal to Porto Côvo.


    Distance : 17 km Difficulty : 3/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. Now it’s time to go closer to the sea, this stage is the connection with the fisherman’s trail. After the first Kms by small farms and their beautiful cultivated gardens, we can even feel the eucalyptus in the air as we pass by a plantation. We’ll know the sea’s getting closer as soon as we find some flat cereal fields, with the blue already on the horizon.
    Overnight: Porto Covo

  • 5

    Stage 4, from Porto Côvo to Milfontes.


    Distance : 20 km Difficulty : 1/5

    ?Breakfast and start of the stage. 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

  • 6

    Stage 5, from Milfontes to Almograve.


    Distance : 15 km Difficulty : 2/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. 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 so depending on the season we may need to pick you there to have a second night in Vila Nova de Milfontes (don´t worry we will assume those transfers from/to) Almograve.
    Overnight: Almograve or Vila Nova de Milfontes

  • 7

    Stage 6, from Almograve to Zambujeira do Mar


    Distance : 21 km Difficulty : 1/5

    Breakfast and start of the stage. Depending on your overnight place:
    From Milfontes: After a morning transfer to Almogave.
    From Longueira: In the morning is time to get back on the trail, hiking through the cycle path that provides access to Almograve (20-minute walk). If not in the mood to walk this connection segment, you can always ask for a táxi from the host, of your accommodation there.
    From Almograve: 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 head 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

  • 8

    Return.


    After breakfast, you can take our connections to Faro and Lisbon.

Included

  • Briefing at the first hotel on arrival and arrival package delivery.
  • 6 nights using bed & breakfast + 1 night ONLY BED in VALE SECO (always with private bathroom).
  • One Map 1: 55 000 and One Guidebook in English, German or French, per room.
  • Recommended restaurants list.
  • Luggage transfers.
  • Telephone assistance (English-speaking)
  • 4x4 emergency support vehicle.
  • GPX files on request.

    • Not included

    • Flights or trains.
    • Lunches.
    • Dinners.
    • Transfers not mentioned on the voucher.
    • Single room supplement: € 465
    • SOLO traveller supplement: € 510
    • Tourist taxes.

      • Accommodations

      • All accommodations have rooms with en-suite facilities.

      Conditions

      Price per person based on double room. Minimum 2 people. SOLO traveller supplement available on request.

       
      Daily departures from February 2 to June 19 and from September 21 to November 30
       
      Low season:
      From February to May and from October to November.
       
      High season:
      June and  September.
       
      No departures:
      From June 20 to September 20
      From December 1 to February 1

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