Fishermans Trail Portugal
10 stages of ◆Fishermans Trail Portugal◆ including accommodation & luggage | Difficulty: ▲▲▲△△
Fishermans Trail Portugal
10 stages | 12 days
Fishermans Trail Portugal
▸ 11 nights in hotels and apartments included, bed and breakfast basis.
▸ 10 walking stages from point to point, luggage transfers.
breakfast included
luggages transfers
stages between 14~22 Km. day
from February, 1st to November, 30th
full itinerary: 187,4 Km
total ascent: 3978 mts
total descent: 3972 mts
Customised app
Offline GPS navigation
Relevant information
STAGES | ACCOMMODATION:
arrival in Lisbon ↦ transfer to Porto Covo
- Optional private transfer from Lisbon to Porto Covo
- …or transfer on your own with
- 1st night in Porto Covo ▸Hotel Zé Inácio (or similar)
Porto Covo ▸ Vila Nova de Milfontes
Vila Nova de Milfontes ▸ Almograve
Almograve ▸ Zambujeira do Mar
Zambujeira do Mar ▸ Odeceixe
Odeceixe ▸ Aljezur
Aljezur ▸ Praia da Arrifana
Praia da Arrifana ▸ Carrapateira
Carrapateira ▸ Vila do Bispo
Vila do Bispo ▸ Sagres
Sagres ▸ Salema
departure day ↦ transfer to Faro or Lisbon
- Optional private departure transfer to Faro or Lisbon
- …or transfer on your own with
or 
DIFFICULTY LEVEL
This programme is for you if you are in excellent physical condition; if you can cover steep slopes and have no vertigo or health problems; if you regularly do long walks and consider yourself a good sportsman, love nature and are respectful of the environment.
See more details at:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FLEXIBLE PROGRAMME: you can rearrange the stages in order to fit days off in between them. We adapt it to your wishes.
ATTENTION: The route in stages along the Fisherman Trail in Portugal requires good physical condition and walking safety. Only suitable for regular walkers.
Well-signposted trails & GPX tracks
luggage transfer from hotel to hotel
point to point walks
traslados de equipajes
we move your luggage from one accommodation to next so that you can walk lightly
accommodations
small charming hotels, with breakfast (more information in Hotels tab)
stages
10 stages of approx. 14 - 22 Km. each, to walk the best of Fishermans Trail Portugal
Further information …
FISHERMAN TRAIL: HISTORY
The southwestern corner of Portugal — the Alentejo and Algarve coastline known as the Costa Vicentina — has always been a place people passed through rather than settled. Thinly populated, given over to farming, fishing and grazing, it stayed isolated long after the rest of the Portuguese coast was opened up. That isolation turned out to be its inheritance: an almost untouched shoreline and a biodiversity found nowhere else in Europe.
For centuries, a web of rural tracks and fishermen’s paths tied the villages to the cliffs and the beaches. Locals used them to reach the sea, move livestock and trade between settlements. Many are far older than any map of them, and it is these worn routes that became the backbone of what walkers now know as the Fishermans Trail.
Protection came first. In 1995, the creation of the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park put hard limits on building along the coast and set the region on a different path from the Algarve resorts further east. What it prevented is as important as what it preserved: there is no line of hotels between Porto Covo and Sagres because of a decision taken thirty years ago.
The walking came later. In the 2000s the idea took shape of turning those old local paths into a waymarked route — one that could bring nature tourism, sustainable development and a reason for young people to stay in the villages. The initiative came from the non-profit association Rota Vicentina Associação (founded in 2010), which brought together an unlikely coalition: guesthouse owners, farmers, municipalities, environmental NGOs and the local communities themselves. Their bet was that walkers would be worth more to this coast than another marina.
In 2012, the Rota Vicentina was officially inaugurated, with two main itineraries:
▸Trilho dos Pescadores (Fishermans Trail): hugging the coastline, along the paths traditionally used by local fishermen to reach their coves.
▸Caminho Histórico (Historic Way): an inland route linking historic villages, farm tracks and rural paths.
Together they opened with more than 350 km of signposted trails across the Alentejo and Algarve, running from Santiago do Cacém down to Cabo de São Vicente at Sagres — the headland medieval Europe took for the end of the known world. The network has kept growing since, and the bet has paid off: the Rota Vicentina is now the reference for what low-impact tourism can do for a rural coastline.
Highlights of the trip:
Fisherman Trail: along the southwestern Portuguese coast
Fishing villages and hamlets with an Atlantic flavour
Stunning landscapes on a beautiful and unforgettable hiking trail
Fishermans Trail Portugal ▸ Rota Vicentina
In the southwestern corner of Europe, where the Portuguese land plunges into cliffs overlooking the Atlantic, a labyrinth of trails lay dormant among dunes, pine forests and fields of rockrose. These were the humble Fisherman Trail and shepherds, traced by centuries of anonymous footsteps, embroidering a rugged and luminous landscape marked by the salty wind and the constant murmur of the ocean. For generations, these fisherman trail served as secret threads linking small villages, hidden orchards and inaccessible coves, invisible to the outside world but vital to those who lived on the margins of land and sea.
With the arrival of the new millennium, winds of change blew. The Costa Vicentina, protected by its natural park since 1995, was already a sanctuary of biodiversity, but also a forgotten land, where young people were leaving and the roads were overgrown with weeds. It was then that a vision emerged: what if those humble trails, in their simplicity and wild beauty, could be the veins of a renaissance? A group of dreamers — farmers, rural hoteliers, nature guides, cultural managers — came together, not just to look out to sea, but to open their land to the world. Thus was born the idea of the Rota Vicentina, not as a simple fisherman trail, but as a living tapestry of memories, landscapes and hopes.
In 2012, after years of planning, signposting and dialogue with local communities, the route was inaugurated. It was not a road, but a return to the slow pace of walking, to a journey that breathes with the earth. Two main paths unfolded: the Fisherman Trail, which winds along the cliffs, skimming the waves and seagulls; and the Caminho Histórico, which heads inland, crossing fertile valleys, whitewashed houses and Roman ruins. Each step offered not only a landscape, but a story: that of the man who goes down every day to fish for barnacles on the rocks, that of the old woman who still harvests figs under the scorching sun, that of the mills that whisper legends to the wind.
The Fisherman Trail quickly attracted walkers from all corners of the world. They came in search of the authenticity of an unspoilt landscape, where the silence is broken only by the song of the curlews and the echo of the sea. But more than tourists, they were guests in a land that was learning to reveal itself without betraying its essence. With every hiker who walked its paths, new initiatives flourished: family accommodation, taverns serving fresh fish, basket weaving and pottery workshops. The route became a bridge between tradition and the future, between man and nature.
Today, more than ten years later, the Fisherman Trail continues to grow, not only in kilometres, but also in significance. It is a song to the simple land, a tribute to the paths that, when travelled, bring life back. And with every step, a reminder: that walking is not just about moving forward, but also about listening, contemplating, and belonging again.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What fitness level do I need for the Fishermans Trail?
This is a demanding programme (▲▲▲△△): 187.4 km across 10 stages of 14 to 22 km, with a cumulative 3,978 metres of ascent and 3,972 of descent. There are no technical sections and no exposure, but there are long hours on your feet and, above all, sand: much of the Trilho dos Pescadores runs over dunes and beaches, and walking on soft sand is far more tiring than on firm ground. You need to be used to long days.
What are the 10 stages?
North to south: Porto Covo to Vila Nova de Milfontes; Vila Nova de Milfontes to Almograve; Almograve to Zambujeira do Mar; Zambujeira do Mar to Odeceixe, where the Alentejo gives way to the Algarve; Odeceixe to Aljezur; Aljezur to Praia da Arrifana; Arrifana to Carrapateira; Carrapateira to Vila do Bispo; Vila do Bispo to Sagres; and Sagres to Salema. The trail starts at Porto Covo, reached from Lisbon; on the final day you depart from Faro or Lisbon.
Where do I stay overnight?
In small, characterful hotels and guesthouses in the coastal villages, on a bed and breakfast basis, with your own room and bathroom. That's 11 nights. These are family-run houses and local guesthouses, not chains: in villages like Almograve or Carrapateira there are only a handful of beds available — and that is precisely the appeal of this route.
Do I have to carry all my luggage while walking?
No. We transfer your bag from one hotel to the next every day. You walk with just a day pack: water, snacks, sun protection and a windproof layer. On a route with this much sand and this much wind, the difference between carrying ten kilos and three is felt on every dune.
Can I rearrange the stages or add rest days?
Yes, the programme is flexible. You can build in rest days to linger in Vila Nova de Milfontes, spend an unhurried afternoon on an Algarve beach, or explore Sagres properly. Tell us what you'd like and we'll adapt the itinerary and the bookings.
When is the best time of year to walk the Fishermans Trail?
We operate from 1 February to 30 November. Spring (March to May) is probably the finest: the Natural Park is in flower, white storks are nesting on the sea cliffs — a sight found nowhere else, as this is the only population in the world that breeds on marine rock — and temperatures are mild. Autumn is excellent too. July and August are hard going, both for the heat and because the villages fill up.
How do I navigate the trail?
The Trilho dos Pescadores is waymarked with horizontal blue and green stripes on wooden posts, rocks and walls. We also give you access to our app with GPS navigation that works without mobile coverage, GPX tracks for every stage and practical route information. You download it before you leave and it works offline.
Are there river crossings or tides to plan for?
Yes, and it's worth knowing before you set off. At Vila Nova de Milfontes you cross the Mira estuary: a small boat-taxi usually runs, but if the weather turns you take the bridge instead. Some sections also sit close to the water and are easier at low tide. The boat is paid directly by you — 5 € per person. We send you tide tables and stage-by-stage notes before you travel.
How does the Fishermans Trail compare to the Camino de Santiago?
They look similar on paper — waymarked, village to village, walked over consecutive days — but they are different experiences. The Camino is a pilgrimage with centuries of tradition, a busy infrastructure of albergues and, on the popular routes, a great many walkers. The Fishermans Trail has no pilgrimage tradition and no religious destination: it follows working fishing paths along an Atlantic coastline that is still largely undeveloped. It is quieter, the accommodation is small guesthouses rather than pilgrim hostels, and the walking is physically harder because of the sand and the wind. If you've walked a Camino and want something wilder and less trodden, this is the natural next step.
Can I walk it solo?
Yes. Because the programme is self-guided there's no group and no fixed departure dates — you choose your own. The trail is safe and reasonably busy in season, so you'll cross paths with other walkers most days, and the villages are used to seeing hikers arrive on foot. English is widely spoken in the guesthouses and restaurants along the route, so language is rarely an issue. That said, at this level previous multi-day walking experience is recommended if you're going alone, and we stay contactable throughout. Ask us about the single traveller rate.
How do I get there, and are airport transfers included?
No, transfers aren't included. Getting from Lisbon to Porto Covo on arrival day, and to your departure airport at the end, is your own arrangement. You have two options: a scheduled coach with Rede Expressos or Vamus from Lisbon's Sete Rios station, or an optional private transfer we can arrange for you. Flights to Portugal aren't included either, which leaves you free to choose your times and extend your stay in the Algarve afterwards. Most walkers fly into Lisbon and out of Faro, which suits the direction of this route; both airports are well served year-round from the UK and Ireland, and Lisbon takes direct flights from North America.
If you have any further questions that haven’t been covered here, please have a look at the general FAQs section or get in touch with our team. We have extensive knowledge of Portugal and the many opportunities they offer for hiking at your own pace.
Rota Vicentina - Fishermans Trail
10 stages along Portugal's Rota Vicentina, with accommodation and luggage transfers | A route from Porto Covo to Salema across 12 days and 188 km on foot, following the Fishermans Trail beside the wildest stretch of the Atlantic coast.
Product Currency: EUR
Product Price: 985.00
Product In-Stock: InStock
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Destination
Our gallery
Pictures from the stages
Day 1
Arrival in Lisbon
Optional private transfer to Porto Covo, or transfer by bus on your own with (Lisbon Sete Rios).
Day 2
1st stage: Porto Covo ▸ Vila Nova de Milfontes
We start our first stage in Porto Covo. Today, we will pass countless beaches and small bays, but also some cliffs along the way. The sea, which will be our companion for the next few days, presents itself in all its beauty and power.
19,2 km | ↗ 163 m | ↘ 164 m
Day 3
2nd stage: Vila Nova de Milfontes ▸ Almograve
Today's stage will be a little more relaxed. We start directly at the ferry pier and cross the River Mira (€5/person). On the other side of the river, we first walk through some fields and meadows until we reach the sea again and continue our way parallel to the coast.
15,1 km | ↗ 162 m | ↘ 161 m
Day 4
3rd stage: Almograve ▸ Zambujeira do Mar
On today's stage, we will once again enjoy magnificent views. A beautiful dune landscape awaits us and we may even have the opportunity to see a few stork nests on the cliffs and high rocks. We first circle around the village of Almograve before heading towards the sea and south along the coastline.
18,8 km | ↗ 198 m | ↘ 197 m
Day 5
4th stage: Zambujeira do Mar ▸ Odeceixe
Today's stage takes us to Odeceixe and along a very beautiful path to Odeceixe beach. We pass some impressive bays, walk through a dune landscape and a small forest, cross wooden walkways directly by the sea and pass an animal enclosure.
21,5 km | ↗ 338 m | ↘ 336 m
Day 6
5th stage: Odeceixe ▸ Aljezur
Today's stage takes us along the Algarve coast. We start in the pretty village and walk along the River Seixe until we reach the coast and head south.
19,6 km | ↗ 226 m | ↘ 236 m
Day 7
6th stage: Aljezur ▸ Praia da Arrifana
The next stage of the Trilho dos Pescadores crosses the historic centre of Aljezur, descending towards the agricultural valley where small vegetable gardens follow one another until reaching the coastal area.
16,6 km | ↗ 300 m | ↘ 253 m
Day 8
7th stage: Praia da Arrifana ▸ Carrapateira
On today's stage, the cliffs reach heights of up to 100 metres in places. We start in the village and hike inland through diverse vegetation. The trail leads through fertile valleys where all kinds of vegetables used to be grown, fertilised with seaweed collected from the sea.
19,6 km | ↗ 273 m | ↘ 319 m
Day 9
8th stage: Carrapateira ▸ Vila do Bispo
Today you can look forward to breathtaking views and spectacular rock formations alongside secluded beaches with pristine sand. A journey through the true jewel of Atlantic nature.
17,2 km | ↗ 363 m | ↘ 293 m
Day 10
9th stage: Vila do Bispo ▸ Sagres
Today's tour takes us to Sagres, back to the coast and on to Cabo de São Vicente, the southwesternmost point of Europe. First, we pass the Torre de Aspa and a little later the headland Ponta do Telheiro and the beach of the same name.
20,6 km | ↗ 213 m | ↘ 272 m
Day 11
10th stage: Sagres ▸ Salema
The last stage of the Trilho dos Pescadores runs along the coast, up and down, past impressive limestone cliffs with unique shapes, and ends in Salema, a fishing village that takes its name from a tasty fish native to these waters: the salema.
19,4 km | ↗ 339 m | ↘ 362 m
Day 12
Departure or extension
Optional private transfer with or transfer on your own with to Faro or Lisbon airport, or possible extension of your stay in Portugal. TOUR LOCATION
Explore the best of the Fishermans Trail Portugal in 10 stages (12 days)
ACCOMMODATION
Subject to availability:
PORTO COVO ▸ Hotel Zé Inácio (or similar)
VILA NOVA DE MILFONTES ▸ The Blue Bamboo Hotel (or similar)
ALMOGRAVE ▸ Fishermans House (or similar)
ZAMBUJEIRA DO MAR ▸ Casa Azul (or similar)
ODECEIXE ▸ Casa Dorita (or similar)
ALJEZUR ▸ Hotel Vicentina (or similar)
PRAIA DA ARRIFANA ▸ Hotel Utopia (or similar)
CARRAPATEIRA ▸ Hotel Casa Fajarda (or similar)
VILA DO BISPO ▸ Hotel Mira Sagres (or similar)
SAGRES ▸ Mareta Beach B&B (or similar)
SALEMA ▸Hotel Residencial Salema (or similar)
Additional overnights
It is also possible to book some additional days, before or after the hiking week, or an additional week to relax.
Difficulty
To successfully achieve the 10 stages of Fisherman Trail it is necessary an excellent physical condition and steady walk. According to the year season, temperatures can be extreme (hot and/or cold). Therefore, it is necessary to have suitable warm clothes permanently, to be removed as layers if necessary. Some parts of this trail include passages with slippery loose stone. Although most of this trail is roomy enough, certain sections are quite aerial and require caution. Using hiking poles is highly recommended.
Trails
The Rota Vicentina is a well signposted network of trails. All sections where from our tours are perfectly marked. You will get from us precise indications of each route and assistance from the hotline on your walks.
We recommend
Appropriate hiking clothing and sturdy footwear. During the tours, it is necessary to have food and drink enough, as well as sun protection, a cap, wind jacket and, in the winter months, warm clothing.
Luggage transfer
We move your luggage from one accommodation to next, so on your hikes you should only carry a backpack with the essentials of the day. For the whole trip, it is recommendable to use a single suitcase, not bigger than 20 kg.
You can book at any date!
However, bear in mind that in the middle months of summer the heat can be intense.
FLY TO LISBON
...RETURN FROM FARO
Other options to consider
The Portuguese airline TAP also connects some UK airports with LISBOA o FARO. It is worth comparing prices and analysing all the possibilities 😉
FLY TO LISBON
...RETURN FROM FARO
Other options to consider
The Portuguese airline TAP also connects some UK airports with LISBOA o FARO. It is worth comparing prices and analysing all the possibilities 😉
...or search directly among airlines
Alberto
Head of Organisation
Do you have any questions? I am happy to help you. I will answer any questions you may have!
Book early! ...and get a 6% discount for bookings more than 90 days in advance, for your trip between September 15th and June 15th
PRICES, valid until 31 October 2027
(NOT bookable between December and January)
1045 € ▸ 985 € per person in double/twin room (2 persons)
| Single Suplement (room for single use)
(...and 3rd person): + 495 €
Solo Traveller (1 person): 1898 € ▸ 1785 €
Peak Tourist Season does not only mean high temperatures, crowded beaches and expensive flights. Accommodation prices also increase substantially. Therefore, during this period we are unable to offer early booking discounts and the price of the entire package may be higher than indicated. Portugal's peak tourist season begins on June, 1st and ends on September, 30th.
Any arrival date is possible - You decide your travel dates and when to start. However, we must first request availability to the accommodations.
Booking: With an initial payment of 150 € (per person), book now, guarantee your trip and pay the balance 21 days before arrival. We will confirm your reserve within 24 hours. But in the case of accommodations unavailability, we will refund the paid amount or propose alternative dates.
What does this programme include?
Accommodations - 11 nights in different small charming hotels or apartments, B&B basis
Informations - personalised information by video-talk (if desired) on your arrival day
Descriptions & GPX Tracks - to follow the walks on your mobile device
Luggage transfers - we move your luggage from accommodation to accommodation while you walk
Support 24h - we keep permanently in touch with you throughout your stay to solve any problem or enquiry you may have
What is NOT included?
▸Flights to and from your home city to Portugal are not included
▸Transfer on arrival day to the starting point and transfer to the airport on departure day: see bus timetables at or with or private transfer with
▸Lunches & Dinners
Cancellation Policy
call us on +34 922 433 001 or text us at
